Swedish m93 Finland?

[Tim Simmons]

It is heavy yes, but like rapier or epee in fencing point action is not dificult and you can slash with it. I think training would enable combatants to get used to control. However it is a cavalry sword and for that purpose very good. The sharpening of the off knuckle section you could use that cavalry flick cut that has a name to person I believe.

[Victrix]

Here is a an officer’s version (pallash). http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...t=30434&page=2 See post #34. My great uncle (see photo) served with the Royal Norrlands Dragoner (dragoons) regiment numbered K4 (k for kavalleri). They were based in Umeå in the North of the country. They wore dove blue-grey uniforms with orange collar patches. These swords are only sharpened for war and mine isn’t. It may well be that the sword in the post was sharpened for the Finnish civil war. Can’t see why it was sharpened otherwise. The sword was not worn but suspended in a frog from the saddle of the horse.

[Tim Simmons]

You now have that sword , how nice. As to the sharpening on my sword, for the most part I would say it has been done very nicely except for 16 cm which is 12cm from the hilt on the knuckle side of the blade where the file strokes have changed direction and a little deeper than the rest. If the sharpening is done in the field by a soldier you cannot expect it to be done by a skilled craftsmen with aesthetics in mind.

[werecow]

Originally Posted by Tim Simmons

It is heavy yes, but like rapier or epee in fencing point action is not dificult and you can slash with it.

I am probably not using it right (I've only ever done modern fencing so I can only go by what I can feel from the weight distribution and what I know from some HEMA youtube channels), but I find point control very difficult. To me it feels nothing like the rapiers or epées I've handled. But admittedly my experience with military rapiers is somewhat limited.
I can see it being very effective at cleaving or stabbing through a target at speed from horseback though... assuming you have the grip strength to keep giving point. But if I ever had to defend myself with it on foot I would be so slow that I would certainly die.

Mine is a little bit heavier at 1190 grams, length is similar at 93cm. It's hard to imagine that making a huge difference though. I'm probably just too feeble.

[Tim Simmons]

Sure training would be needed.

[Victrix]

Originally Posted by werecow

I am probably not using it right (I've only ever done modern fencing so I can only go by what I can feel from the weight distribution and what I know from some HEMA youtube channels), but I find point control very difficult. To me it feels nothing like the rapiers or epées I've handled. But admittedly my experience with military rapiers is somewhat limited.
I can see it being very effective at cleaving or stabbing through a target at speed from horseback though... assuming you have the grip strength to keep giving point. But if I ever had to defend myself with it on foot I would be so slow that I would certainly die.

Mine is a little bit heavier at 1190 grams, length is similar at 93cm. It's hard to imagine that making a huge difference though. I'm probably just too feeble.

Look this sword was not made for fencing. It’s a pallasch. Think of it more as a heavy broadsword. It was used to stab and slash at the opponents as part of a cavallery shock. The photo below of Norrlands Dragoner clearly shows how the sword is attached to the saddle behind the mounted dragoons. The sword is so heavy it’s not even worn by the soldiers. The troopers carried rifles and when dismounted would use the rifles as infantry rather than the swords which were left on the horses.

Quite a few Norrland Dragoner served with the Swedish Volunteer Brigade i Finland in the Winter War against the Soviet Union. The sword in the post could possibly have been sharpened for that but more for symbolical reason as I can’t imagine it being used on the frontlines.

[Tim Simmons]

Great photo. The removal of the Swedish crown on the blade is symbolic as Sweden was officially neutral and supplying arms, also Finland although a Duchy under the Tzar is a republic and not fighting for Sweden. Skermish raiders. You can Mannerhiem with the sword saddle fixings in this photo.

[Victrix]

Yes I believe this must be a civil war photo. It was whites against reds (communists). The victory of the whites under Mannerheim led to Finland’s independence from Russia as a democratic republic. The civil war was very bitter unfortunately. I think you are right that the sword must have been sharpened for this war.

[Tim Simmons]

This sword could also have come from skirmishes with reds and white in the, North Russia intervention (1918–1919)

[Tim Simmons]

North Russia 1918-19

some might this worth viewing an d staying with it. I little dry but so interesting.

https://youtu.be/GQmaRZ9H8u4?si=x3sPeykuiunYwWDo