Pen is mightier than the sword

Jim McDougall · 10th May 2011, 04:25 AM

Thanks David, and the sword was of course typically a back up weapon in the case of infantry ranks and artillery if emplacement was overrun. In the case of cavalry, the charge with the sabre was characteristically de riguer even into the 20th century with Great Britain and Europe (a great book on this subject is "Charge to Glory", James Lunt). I remember years ago talking with a British brigadier who led one of the last cavalry charges in India in plains in the Northwest Frontier about 1932. Best of all was handling the M1912 officers cavalry sword he wielded in that charge, and in a place of honor over his fireplace was a portrait of his horse.

The M1796 was indeed criticized by Napoleon and his marshals for the terrible wounds these sabres caused, and absolutely right, the French did favor 'giving point' as thrusts were usually fatal, encouraging the British to try to find an effective sword for both, beginning with the M1821/29 cavalry sabres. The M1796 was developed by then Captain Gaspard LeMarchant of the British cavalry ,see "Scientific Soldier", cannot recall author but biography of him and his study of the swords he considered to arrive at the chosen form which included tulwar, shamshir and other sabre types. If you read Robson, Wilkinson and some of the books on these military swords, it is amazing how much empirical study as well as field results from actual campaigns became intensely studied. There are a number of interesting prototypes for various patterns which actually did vary in blade length later in the 19th century though.
LeMarchant was truly a cavalry soldiers voice toward developing these swords, and was killed in a cavalry charge in Spain in the Napoleonic campaigns.

Very good point about regulation swords and thier being somewhat difficult in corresponding to other ranks troops with varying physical size as these were purchased en masse and issued indiscriminately without corresponding size considerations in most of the cases. With officers of course thier swords were custom order and privately acquired so you will often see dramatic variations in size.

Naturally in colonial or campaign circumstances, as in any field situation away from the 'parade ground' environment, men will use whatever best suits the need and as required and opportunity allows.

All the best,
Jim

10th May 2011, 04:25 AM	#13
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Thanks David, and the sword was of course typically a back up weapon in the case of infantry ranks and artillery if emplacement was overrun. In the case of cavalry, the charge with the sabre was characteristically de riguer even into the 20th century with Great Britain and Europe (a great book on this subject is "Charge to Glory", James Lunt). I remember years ago talking with a British brigadier who led one of the last cavalry charges in India in plains in the Northwest Frontier about 1932. Best of all was handling the M1912 officers cavalry sword he wielded in that charge, and in a place of honor over his fireplace was a portrait of his horse. The M1796 was indeed criticized by Napoleon and his marshals for the terrible wounds these sabres caused, and absolutely right, the French did favor 'giving point' as thrusts were usually fatal, encouraging the British to try to find an effective sword for both, beginning with the M1821/29 cavalry sabres. The M1796 was developed by then Captain Gaspard LeMarchant of the British cavalry ,see "Scientific Soldier", cannot recall author but biography of him and his study of the swords he considered to arrive at the chosen form which included tulwar, shamshir and other sabre types. If you read Robson, Wilkinson and some of the books on these military swords, it is amazing how much empirical study as well as field results from actual campaigns became intensely studied. There are a number of interesting prototypes for various patterns which actually did vary in blade length later in the 19th century though. LeMarchant was truly a cavalry soldiers voice toward developing these swords, and was killed in a cavalry charge in Spain in the Napoleonic campaigns. Very good point about regulation swords and thier being somewhat difficult in corresponding to other ranks troops with varying physical size as these were purchased en masse and issued indiscriminately without corresponding size considerations in most of the cases. With officers of course thier swords were custom order and privately acquired so you will often see dramatic variations in size. Naturally in colonial or campaign circumstances, as in any field situation away from the 'parade ground' environment, men will use whatever best suits the need and as required and opportunity allows. All the best, Jim