Model 1840 Cavalry Saber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Model 1840 Cavalry Saber
Type	Saber
Place of origin	United States of America
Service history
Used by	United States Army
Wars	Mexican–American War American Civil War
Specifications
Mass	2.5 lb (1.1 kg)
Length	44 in (110 cm)
Blade length	35 in (89 cm)
Blade type	Single-edged, curved

The Model 1840 Cavalry Saber was a type of sword used by soldiers on horseback. It was designed for the United States Army and became famous during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. This saber was inspired by a French sword from 1822, which was used by hussars (a type of light cavalry soldier).

This saber was quite long, about 44 inches (110 cm) (or 112 cm) from end to end. Its blade was about 35-inch (89 cm) (or 89 cm) long. It weighed roughly 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg) (about 1.1 kg). The Model 1840 was different from its replacement, the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber. It had a special ridge near its quillon (the part that protects the hand). Its handle was made of leather wrapped in wire, not carved wood.

Why the Model 1840 Saber Was Needed

The Model 1840 saber was made to replace an older sword, the Model 1833 Dragoon Saber. The US Army was not happy with the 1833 model. That older sword was based on a Napoleonic-era British sword. Soldiers said it was not strong enough for fighting.

General Philip Sheridan even used a fancy version of the older sword during the Civil War. He had the battles he fought in carved into its sheath. But it was clear that a better sword was needed for the cavalry.

Testing New Swords

In 1838, the US Ordnance Department (the army's supply branch) bought swords from Britain, France, and Prussia. They tested these swords in the field to see which one soldiers liked best. The soldiers strongly preferred the French saber.

So, a copy of the French saber was chosen for production. The first Model 1840 sabers began to be made in 1844. By 1846, about 600 of these new sabers were being used by soldiers in battle. A total of 2,000 were ordered at first.

The "Old Wristbreaker" Nickname

The Model 1840 saber was designed mainly for slashing. It had a heavy blade with a flat back. Because of its weight and how it was used, soldiers gave it the nickname "Old Wristbreaker." This name showed that it was a powerful weapon, but also that it could be tiring to use.

Use in Wars and Production

The 1840 saber was widely used during the Mexican–American War by US Cavalry soldiers. Many companies made these sabers, including Ames, Horstmann, and Tiffany in the United States. Because so many swords were needed, at least 1,000 were also made in Germany by S&K and imported. Some soldiers even used Prussian sabers, which had straight blades, as an alternative.

Continuing Use in the Civil War

Production of the Model 1840 saber stopped in 1858. By then, over 23,700 had been made. Even after a newer model (the M1860) was introduced, the Model 1840 continued to be given to Union Cavalry soldiers during the early years of the American Civil War. This was because it was more easily available than the newer M1860.

Famous generals used it too. General George B. McClellan carried a Model 1840 saber on the battlefield. He kept his official officer's sword for formal events. Many of these sabers were also used by the Confederacy. General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate leader, even had both edges of his Model 1840 sword sharpened to make it more effective in combat.

Images for kids

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  Old Wristbreaker

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  In the cavalry charges of the Mexican War US Dragoons used their sabers to slash their way through enemy lines

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  Union Cavalry Sergeant with 1840 saber