The Model 1840 Cavalry Saber was based on the 1822 French hussar's sabre. Unlike its replacement, the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber, the M1840 has a ridge around its quillon, a leather grip wrapped in wire (rather than grooves cut into the wooden handle) and a flat, slotted throat. It is 44 inches (110 cm) long with a 35-inch (89 cm) blade[1] and weighs roughly 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg).
The M1840 was designed for slashing, and because of its heavy flat-backed blade was given the nickname "Old Wristbreaker".[2] It was adopted due to the army's dissatisfaction with its predecessor the model 1833 Dragoon Saber, the first cavalry sword adopted by the US Army.[3] The iron-hilted M1833 was based on a Napoleonic-era British sword used by heavy cavalry and reputed to wrap "rubber like around a man's head and was only good for cutting butter".[4] An ornate gilded version of this earlier sword was used by General Philip Sheridan during the Civil War; Sheridan had its sheath engraved with the battles he participated in.[5] It was evident a replacement was needed so in 1838 the US Ordnance Dept bought British, French and Prussian swords and field-tested them. The troopers overwhelmingly preferred the French saber, and a copy of it was put into production in 1844.[6] A total of 2,000 were ordered and by 1846, 600 were in frontline service.
The 1840 saber was used during the Mexican–American War by US Cavalry. The main contractors were Ames of Cabotville, Horstmann, and Tiffany but due to the large number of swords required at least 1,000 were made in Germany by S&K and imported. Some troopers used Prussian sabers as an alternative, which in contrast to the M1840 had straight blades.[7]
When production ceased in 1858 over 23,700 had been made.[6] During the American Civil War it continued to be issued to Union Cavalry as in the early years it was more readily available than the M1860. George B. McClellan carried one at the front,[8] Many were also used by the Confederacy including General Nathan Bedford Forrest who had both edges of his sword sharpened to increase combat effectiveness.
Old Wristbreaker
In the cavalry charges of the Mexican War US Dragoons used their sabers to slash their way through enemy lines
model, 1840, cavalry, saber, based, 1822, french, hussar, sabre, unlike, replacement, model, 1860, light, cavalry, saber, m1840, ridge, around, quillon, leather, grip, wrapped, wire, rather, than, grooves, into, wooden, handle, flat, slotted, throat, inches, l. The Model 1840 Cavalry Saber was based on the 1822 French hussar s sabre Unlike its replacement the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber the M1840 has a ridge around its quillon a leather grip wrapped in wire rather than grooves cut into the wooden handle and a flat slotted throat It is 44 inches 110 cm long with a 35 inch 89 cm blade 1 and weighs roughly 2 5 pounds 1 1 kg Model 1840 Cavalry SaberTypeSaberPlace of originUnited States of AmericaService historyUsed byUnited States ArmyWarsMexican American WarAmerican Civil WarSpecificationsMass2 5 lb 1 1 kg Length44 in 110 cm Blade length35 in 89 cm Blade typeSingle edged curvedThe M1840 was designed for slashing and because of its heavy flat backed blade was given the nickname Old Wristbreaker 2 It was adopted due to the army s dissatisfaction with its predecessor the model 1833 Dragoon Saber the first cavalry sword adopted by the US Army 3 The iron hilted M1833 was based on a Napoleonic era British sword used by heavy cavalry and reputed to wrap rubber like around a man s head and was only good for cutting butter 4 An ornate gilded version of this earlier sword was used by General Philip Sheridan during the Civil War Sheridan had its sheath engraved with the battles he participated in 5 It was evident a replacement was needed so in 1838 the US Ordnance Dept bought British French and Prussian swords and field tested them The troopers overwhelmingly preferred the French saber and a copy of it was put into production in 1844 6 A total of 2 000 were ordered and by 1846 600 were in frontline service The 1840 saber was used during the Mexican American War by US Cavalry The main contractors were Ames of Cabotville Horstmann and Tiffany but due to the large number of swords required at least 1 000 were made in Germany by S amp K and imported Some troopers used Prussian sabers as an alternative which in contrast to the M1840 had straight blades 7 When production ceased in 1858 over 23 700 had been made 6 During the American Civil War it continued to be issued to Union Cavalry as in the early years it was more readily available than the M1860 George B McClellan carried one at the front 8 Many were also used by the Confederacy including General Nathan Bedford Forrest who had both edges of his sword sharpened to increase combat effectiveness Old Wristbreaker In the cavalry charges of the Mexican War US Dragoons used their sabers to slash their way through enemy lines Union Cavalry Sergeant with 1840 saberNotes edit The Horse Soldier Relic Man U S Sword Identification US M1833 Dragoon Sword First Dragoons at Fort Tejon Sheridan s 1833 Saber a b Model 1840 Heavy Cavalry Dragoon Saber USCAV COM U S Cavalry Saber NPS General George Brinton McClellan biography References edit The Horse Soldier Archived from the original on 2008 11 18 Retrieved 2008 09 18 Article on M1840 on relicman website Archived from the original on 2008 09 07 Retrieved 2008 09 18 US M1833 Dragoon Sword Weapons Identification Service C Alan Russell Retrieved 2008 09 18 First Dragoons Dragoons at Fort Tejon Archived from the original on 2008 05 17 Retrieved 2008 05 17 Sheridan s 1833 Saber Smithsonian The Smithsonian Retrieved 2008 05 17 Brown B Model 1840 Heavy Cavalry Dragoon Saber 1844 1858 Archived from the original on 2009 02 26 Retrieved 2008 09 18 U S Cavalry Saber GlobalSecurity org 2007 06 03 Archived from the original on 2012 02 19 Retrieved 2008 09 18 General George Brinton McClellan nps gov U S National Park Service 1999 Archived from the original on 2006 06 18 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Model 1840 Cavalry Saber amp oldid 1140632669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
