Unsharpened Swords

[Ass2sin]

A friend of mine has a number of swords that family members of his had carried in the "War of Northern Aggression," none were sharpened. They displayed usage & wear marks, but the edges were blunted. Was this a common practice?

 

[HFinn]

I think that the blades came from the factory semi-sharp or unsharpened, then they were sharpened before being carried to combat. Another thing is that the steel scabbards were notorious for dulling the blades. Many times sabres were sharpened only halfway or 1/3 from the tip, since this was the business end of the sword. The rest was left unsharpened so it would not be damaged when parrying strikes.

 

[The Zieg]

I think that the blades came from the factory semi-sharp or unsharpened, then they were sharpened before being carried to combat. Another thing is that the steel scabbards were notorious for dulling the blades. Many times sabres were sharpened only halfway or 1/3 from the tip, since this was the business end of the sword. The rest was left unsharpened so it would not be damaged when parrying strikes.

Yep! :thumbup:

Zieg

 

[zzyzzogeton]

I've seen references to field manual instructions where sabers were deliberately dulled when back in barracks, to be resharpened before a battle.

For some reason, a vague memory that the prevention of accidental injury to horse's ears was one reason. I might be wrong about that, obviously.

 

[horseclover]

U.S. produced swords during the ACW were (by and large) supplied unsharpened. Sharpening was most often determined by the commanding officers. Some felt sharps were ungentlemanly.

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?109091-Sharpened-swords-quot-ungentlemanly-quot

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?5896-Civil-War-Sabers-Intentionally-Left-Unsharpened

Those just two of thousands of discussions on the matter. Most European military swords in the field were sharpened during war time. Of dozens of antiques here in my racks, some never were, others blunted after service, others paper cutting sharp after more than 200 years. Most of those US officer swords not sharps, so it was not just a matter of regulation. Both the north and south fielded some sharps, there is little absolute. A majority of southern trooper swords at the outbreak would have been from militia stores.


"I've seen references to field manual instructions where sabers were deliberately dulled when back in barracks, to be resharpened before a battle."

Can you remember the exact reference? I have seen similar, as well as the use of sword knots for retention.
https://books.google.com/books?id=1bQpAAAAYAAJ

Brits in India
http://civilwartalk.com/attachments/sharpening-swords-jpg.86320/

Brits during the Boer war
http://civilwartalk.com/attachments/boerswords-jpg.86321/

The last in here, a US Starr 1818 cavalry (1821 vintage) had never been sharpened but obviously carried (as remains of the hangers are attached). Another here of about the same period, a brass hilted mounted artillery sabre quite sharp, as ground and appeared to always have been (I use thatr one for cutting). My Swedish hussar sabre from the 1750s, quite sharp. On and on. A majority of the US officer (as mentioned) swords I own were never sharpened.

Most all of the US M1906 cavalry trooper swords were sharpened and it is unusual to find one that is not.

Cheers

GC

 

[zzyzzogeton]

I should have saved the URL. It was at the end of one of those "internet ratholes" I fell down late one night searching for something else about a Persian cavalry saber I have. IIRC, it was an article about a British field manual on the care and feeding of cavalry during the late 1880s. Had segment from the manual detailing specs on how ground down the edge of sabers should be after returning from the field.