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The Pattern 1908 cavalry trooper's sword (and the 1912 Pattern, the equivalent for officers) was the last service sword issued to the cavalry of the British Army. It has been called [ 3 ] [ 4 ] the most effective cavalry sword ever designed, although its introduction occurred as swords finally became obsolete as military weapons.
In common with British cavalry swords of the era, they were cut-and-thrust swords. In 1892, a new, straight, blade was introduced, mated to the existing Gothic hilt. Presaging the introduction of the 1908 pattern cavalry sword , the curved blade was abandoned in favour of a straight, stiff blade optimised for the thrust.
An officer's 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry fighting sabre - belonging to William Tomkinson of the 16th Light Dragoons; the sword shows evidence of having been ground down in the quarter of the blade nearest the point - possibly due to damage to the edge - it no longer exhibits the increase in blade width near to the point An officer's 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry fighting sabre by J. Johnston ...
The introduction of 'pattern' swords in the British army in 1788 led to a brief departure from the sabre in infantry use (though not for light cavalry), in favour of the lighter and straight bladed spadroon. The spadroon was universally unpopular, and many officers began to unofficially purchase and carry sabres once more.
The term "single-handed sword" or "one-handed sword" was coined to distinguish from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" swords. "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. [11] It is also used as a possible gloss of the obscure term tonsword by Nares (1822); [12] "one-handed sword" is somewhat later, recorded from c. 1850.
The British 1796 Heavy Cavalry Trooper's Sword was a direct copy of the Austrian pallasch sword pattern of 1769 for heavy cavalry (it later received an iron scabbard (1775), in which form it was adopted by the British).
Similar swords were also found in India, and these probably influenced British officers also. Mameluke swords, both Middle Eastern and copies made in Europe, were adopted, unofficially, by officers of light cavalry regiments in the first decade of the 19th century, some were used as 'walking out swords' (for ornamental wear on social occasions ...
A type of military backsword – a British 1796 heavy cavalry sword purchased by Sweden in 1808. A backsword is a type of sword characterised by having a single-edged blade and a hilt with a single-handed grip. [1] It is so called because the triangular cross section gives a flat back edge opposite the cutting edge. [2]