Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post - Were sabres used effectively in U.S. Civil War?

fernando · 28th December 2009, 07:31 PM

Maybe the following constitutes an amazing addition ... or contradiction

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I was once investigating why the revolver, judging by the way holsters were made, was suspended by civil war troopers on the right side and in a inclined position, as to be drawn with the left hand.
The explanation was that, as the sabre was appointed to be the primary weapon, was to be held with the rigth hand; the revolver being a support item, was to be used by the left.
It appears that, at least theoreticaly, reliability laid on the edged weapon, in a period when firearms were already quite efective and, as discussed here, sabres were not even sharpened

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Or should we assume that the symbolism of the sabre was superior to actual survival rules?

Fernando

28th December 2009, 07:31 PM	#7
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,642	Maybe the following constitutes an amazing addition ... or contradiction . I was once investigating why the revolver, judging by the way holsters were made, was suspended by civil war troopers on the right side and in a inclined position, as to be drawn with the left hand. The explanation was that, as the sabre was appointed to be the primary weapon, was to be held with the rigth hand; the revolver being a support item, was to be used by the left. It appears that, at least theoreticaly, reliability laid on the edged weapon, in a period when firearms were already quite efective and, as discussed here, sabres were not even sharpened . Or should we assume that the symbolism of the sabre was superior to actual survival rules? Fernando