US military history: last recorded use of a sword?

MatthewVanitas

MatthewVanitas

Go Army, Beat Navy!
Joined
Oct 6, 2004
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We used to ponder about this in the barracks, and this seems like a good place to ask.

When was the last verifiable/recorded time that a US military member used an _issue_ sword in combat? I'd guess that there was some use in WWII, as the Navy cutlass was still being issued. The Japanese certainly used swords, and it'd certainly be cool (in an odd way) if there are any documented tales of US/Japanese swordfights in the islands.

There are barracks-tales of Marines who bought hardier versions of the dress swords, sharpened them up, and took them to Vietnam and '91 Kuwait. No idea if those are factual at all.

I did personally see an LAV crewman get disciplined for bringing an 24" gunshow "katana" to the Iraq war, so presumably some kids are bringing junk swords for bravado, but that's outside the scope of this discussion.

Mameluke sword, NCO saber, naval cutlass: when was the last time that any of these were actually used in combat?
 
My guess would be WWII. There were definitely machetes in Vietnam. I dont think I could see a company comander letting someone haul a sword around in Kuwait.
 
This one makes me wonder whether it was going on missions, or simply stenciled and held in the armoury for him.

http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/product_details.php?itemID=8215

Maybe worthy of some research but the Morehouse name is a common one in easily viewed records. Maybe someone wants to take a stab;) at the type of stenciling to refrence a date the marking of it.

Cheers

Hotspur; if it went on drops, it was probably with other gear
 
Well, depending on your definition a Khukuri could be considered a "short sword". And I know there are some service men carrying/trucking those around today.
I read a post not too long ago about a individual removing a bad guy's arm in a cave with one. Reliable source? I don't remember. But if you have ever held a 15" Sirupati, it feels much more reassuring than a 7" Kabar.
 
limited to american forces? during the falklands war, a british SBS commando faught with an antique battleaxe.
 
MatthewVanitas said:
We used to ponder about this in the barracks, and this seems like a good place to ask.

When was the last verifiable/recorded time that a US military member used an _issue_ sword in combat? I'd guess that there was some use in WWII, as the Navy cutlass was still being issued. The Japanese certainly used swords, and it'd certainly be cool (in an odd way) if there are any documented tales of US/Japanese swordfights in the islands.
Click to expand...

Well, there's definitely records of long blade-to-long blade (in this case bolo vs katana) action in the Philippines. GM Leo Giron was a Sergeant in the US Army, iirc.

His book is available at Dan Inosanto's Academy (and website) -- I think it's a reprint of GM Giron's earlier out of print WWII memoir along with new sections on Giron Escrima techniques and some other stuff.
 
"Memories Ride" is the earlier (out of print?) book I mentioned, and I think it is reprinted in its entirety in the new book along with some other writings/interviews and a lot of technique photographs.
 
the OSS parachuted large smachetes and sword-daggers with D-guards to guerillas in the philippines, both american guerillas who staye behind and filipino scouts.
 
I can't remember the exact source--it might have been in a history book called simple War, by this historian named Gwin Dyer--but I recall reading that the last time the sword was used in combat by the U.S. military was during the U.S. Civil War. If I remember the anecdote correctly, this officer (I can't remember for which side--the north?) began a charge by pulling out his sword and running out into the open. He was mowed down almost immediately by concentrated rifle fire. End of role of sword as combat weapon. Machetes, of course, are still used all the time, especially in third-world civil wars.
 
Didn't Teddy Roosevelt lead the charge up san-juan hill with his sabor drawn? At least that's how he's depicted in that big bronz statue in my history book, and "we all know a highschool history book wouldn't misrepresent something like that!"

Honestly, If you,ve spent any time at your local nursing home, or VFW post, you'll have heard more than a few accounts of some Japaneese Samuri /vs (usually someone from the 75th infantry or one of Merrills Marauders) in the Berma campaign.
 
I'll stir this one up. Check out the book "Boarders Away" by William Gilkerson. He has a story of a USN Model 1941 Klewang Cutlass being used in the Korean War.
 
I am pretty sure I remember reading about a Japanese American Marine in Vietnam who carreid a short sword across his back and used it several times. The story was in the Stars and Stripes Newspaper, it would have been 1968/69 time frame.
 
Donnie Shearer, a decorated combat vet (Marine) and swordmaker that specializes in Scottish baskethilts, told me recently of a solder that used a sword of his on an AK-toting insurgent in Iraq. He sent pictures of the soldier with the sword. Not sure how such a thing would be verified, though.
 
The answer is Africa. During the 90's, hutus and tutisis were killing each other off by the hundreds of thousands with matchetes and clubs. It goes to show that violence is a much more complicated question than gun ownership.
 
If you are considering machetes as a sword, then they are still used in combat, extensivly. I would say that true swords are still used in parts of the Middle East, although using them on tied-up prisoners isn't really combat. I am still an active (and ageing) fencer, so I guess that could be considered mock combat.

The last time a sword was really used in combat and issued for such use was probably the Japanese in WW-II. Also, I believe that groups of Cossacks actually mounted Cavalry sword charges against German tanks on the Eastern Front (gutsy devils, if not real smart). Those men had more courage than I ever had when I was a young Marine, although I would relish an opportunity like that now, as age takes it's toll.

Semper Fi!
 
Also, I believe that groups of Cossacks actually mounted Cavalry sword charges against German tanks on the Eastern Front (gutsy devils, if not real smart).

You're probably thinking of the Polish cavalry. I don't have a page handy but this is often referenced in threads such as these.

Cheers

Hotspur; Hugh Fuller may be along to elucidate the context
 
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