Saber
The saber is a curved and (usually) single-edged bladed weapon, intended for cutting, commonly used by cavalry and infantry (officers) in the XIX and even XX. This curved character of the blade and its unique edge traditionally differentiate the saber from the sword.
This stabbing weapon arose from the need for speed in combat. This is achieved by cutting and not leaving the blade embedded in the opponent's body (unlike most one-handed swords, which are thrust).
The curvature, which is generally located from the tip to the middle of the blade, creates a deep cut.
The curvature of the saber aims to achieve, in theory, that a man on horseback, when discharging his arm with this weapon, draws a wide circle over the infant, achieving that at the cutting point the saber is always tangential. For this reason it is not skewered, but cut, thus increasing the wound without stabbing the weapon. Because of this, the sabers designed for cavalry have a great curvature, they are almost circular; Those designed for infantry have a smaller curvature, since importance must be attached to the defensive function: keeping the enemy away and stopping his blows.
History
Origin
Although single-edged chopping swords already existed in the ancient world, like the ancient Egyptian and Sumerian sickle swords, these weapons (usually curved forward rather than backward) were cutting weapons for soldiers of a foot. This type of weapon developed into heavy cutting weapons such as the Greek Machaira and Anatolian Drepanon, and still survives as the Kukri heavy cutting knife of the Gurkhas. However, in ancient China foot soldiers and cavalry often used a straight, single-edged sword, and in the 6th century of our era, a longer and slightly curved cavalry variety of this weapon appeared in southern Siberia. This "proto-saber" (the Turco-Mongolian saber) became the true cavalry saber in the VIII century AD, and in the IX century became the standard auxiliary weapon on the Eurasian steppes. The saber reached Europe with the Magyars and Turkish expansion. These older sabers had a slight curvature, short, downward-turned quillons, the hilt facing away from the blade, and a sharp point with the upper third of the sharp back.
Early Modern Period
The introduction of the saber proper into Western Europe, along with the term saber itself, dates to the century. XVII, due to the influence of the szabla type ultimately derived from these medieval swords. The adoption of the term is related to the use of the Hungarian hussar (huszár) as cavalry by Western European armies of the time. Hungarian hussars were used as light cavalry, with the function of harass enemy skirmishers, overcome artillery positions, and pursue fleeing troops. Late 17th century and early XVIII, many Hungarian hussars fled to other countries in central and western Europe and became the nucleus of the light cavalry formations created there. The Hungarian term szablya dates back to ultimately to Northwest Turkish selebe, with contamination from the Hungarian verb szab "to cut".
The original type of saber, or Polish szabla, was used as a cavalry weapon, possibly inspired by the Hungarian or broader Turco-Mongol warfare.
The karabela was a type of szabla popular in the late 17th century , worn by the noble class of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the szlachta. Although designed as a cavalry weapon, it also came to replace various types of straight-blade swords used by infantry. The Swiss saber originated as a regular sword with a single-edged blade in the early 20th century XVI, but in the XVII century > began to show specialized grip types.
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (16th centuries-XVIII) used a specific type of saber-type combat weapon, the szabla. Richly decorated sabers were popular with the Polish Nobility, who considered them one of the most important pieces of traditional men's attire. Over time, the design of the saber evolved greatly in the commonwealth, giving rise to a variety of saber-type weapons, intended for many tasks. In the centuries that followed, the ideology of Sarmatism and the Polish fascination with Eastern cultures, customs, cuisine and warfare made szabla an indispensable part of traditional Polish culture.
Modern Usage
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The saber saw widespread military use in the early 19th century century, especially in the Napoleonic Wars, during which Napoleon he used heavy cavalry charges to great effect against his enemies. Shorter versions of the saber were also used as sidearms by dismounted units, though they were gradually superseded by stubborns and sword bayonets as the century progressed. Although there was widespread debate about the effectiveness of weapons such as the saber and lance, the saber remained the standard cavalry weapon for mounted action in most armies until World War I and in a few armies until World War II. World War. Thereafter it was gradually relegated to the status of a ceremonial weapon, with most horse cavalry being replaced by armored cavalry beginning in the 1930s.
When mounted cavalry survived World War II, they generally did so as unsaber-mounted infantry. However, the German cavalry continued to carry the saber until after the Polish campaign of 1939, after which this historic weapon was shelved in 1941. The Romanian cavalry continued to carry their straight "push" in active service until at least 1941.
Napoleonic Age
Sabers were commonly used by the British in the Napoleonic era for officers of light cavalry and infantry, as well as others. The elegant but effective 1803 pattern saber that the British Government authorized for use by infantry officers during the wars against Napoleon featured a curved saber blade that was often paved and etched by the owner according to personal taste, and it was based on the famously agile 1796 light cavalry saber that was famous for its brutal cutting power. Sabers were commonly used during this time by all armies, much like the British.
The popularity of the saber had grown rapidly in Britain throughout the 18th century, both for infantry and for The chivalry. This influence came mainly from southern and eastern Europe, with the Hungarians and Austrians listed as sources of influence for saber and the fencing style in British sources. The popularity of sabers spread rapidly across Europe in the 16th and XVII, eventually coming to dominate as a military weapon in the British Army in the XVIII, although the straight blades continued to be used by some, such as heavy cavalry units. (They were also superseded by sabers shortly after the Napoleonic era.)
The introduction of the "pattern" in the British Army in 1788 led to a brief abandonment of the saber in infantry (though not light cavalry) use, in favor of the lighter, straight-bladed spadroon. The spadroon was universally unpopular, and many officers began unofficially buying and carrying sabers once more. In 1799, the army accepted it as a regulation for some units, and in 1803, it produced a specific saber pattern for certain infantry officers (flank, rifle, and staff officers). The 1803 pattern quickly found much wider use than was intended by regulation, due to its combat effectiveness and fashionable appeal.
Light Cavalry Saber Pattern 1796
The most famous British saber from the Napoleonic era is the 1796 model light cavalry, used by both enlisted men and officers (officer versions may vary somewhat, but are very similar to the enlisted saber). It was designed in part by the famous John Le Marchant, who worked to improve on the earlier design (1788) based on his experience with the Austrians and Hungarians. Le Marchant also developed the first official British military sword drill manual based on this experience, and his light cavalry saber, and his fencing style went on to strongly influence infantry and navy training.
The light cavalry saber of 1796 was known for its brutal cutting power, easily severing limbs, and giving rise to the (unproven) myth that the French made an official complaint to the British for their ferocity. This sword was also used extensively by horse artillery units and by the many militia units established in Britain to ward off a possible invasion by Napoleon.
Mamluk Swords
Although the saber had already become very popular in Britain, experience in Egypt led some infantry and cavalry officers to favor the Mamluk sword-style blades, a type of Middle Eastern scimitar. These swords differ from the more typical British ones in that they have more extreme curvatures, are not usually full, and taper to a finer point. Mamluk swords also gained some popularity in France. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, himself carried a Mamluk-style sword. In 1831, the "mameluco" it became the model sword for British generals as well as United States Marine Corps officers; in this last function, it is still used today.
United States
The American victory over rebel forces at the citadel of Tripoli in 1805, during the First Barbary War, led to the issuance of jeweled examples of these swords to senior officers of the US Marines. A mamluk-pattern dress sword is still used by United States Marine Corps officers. Although some genuine Turkish kilij sabers were used by Westerners, most "Mamluk sabres" They were made in Europe; although its hilts were very similar in shape to the Ottoman prototype, its blades, even when incorporating an expanded yelman, they tended to be longer, narrower, and less curved than those of the true kilij.
In the American Civil War, the saber was used infrequently as a weapon, but saw notable deployment at the Battle of Brandy Station and at the Eastern Cavalry Camp at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Many cavalrymen -especially on the Confederate side- ended up abandoning long and heavy weapons in favor of revolvers and carbines.
The last saber issued to the US cavalry was the 1913 Patton saber, designed to be mounted on the rider's saddle. The Patton saber is just a saber in name. It is a straight, thrust-focused saber. A US War Department circular, dated April 18, 1934, announced that the saber would no longer be issued to the cavalry and that its use as a weapon would be scrapped entirely. Only gala sabers would be kept, for the exclusive use of officers and strictly as a badge of rank.
Police
During the 19th century and early XX, sabers were also used by mounted and dismounted personnel in some European police forces. When the saber was used by mounted police against crowds, the results could be devastating, as shown in a key scene from Doctor Zhivago. The saber was later phased out in favor of the baton, or club, for both practical and humanitarian reasons. The Belgian Gendarmerie used them until at least 1950, and the Swedish police forces until 1965.
The saber as a fencing weapon
The modern saber is, along with the épée and foil, one of the three fencing weapons. Derived from the weapon used by cavalrymen. It has a bowl-shaped guard, which curves under the hand, and a T-shaped blade in cross section. The length of the saber is 90 cm and its maximum weight is 500 g. The hits or points can be achieved by ramming with the tip or producing a cut with the edge of the blade. The valid target is the entire body from the waist up, including the head and arms. Saber assaults are the fastest and most agile in fencing, so they require good physical condition.
The saber in belly dance
The saber dance (raks al sayf) originates from the traditional Egyptian martial dance El Ard, which is performed by men carrying sabers vertically, ready to fight, while they dance. Raks al Sayf involves balancing the object on the head, hip, stomach, shoulders, etc. There is not much documentation that indicates that the saber dance danced by women is common, except for a few paintings.