A MAMELUKE SABRE FOR COMENTS

Jim McDougall · 5th April 2010, 09:36 PM

Outstanding Fernando, and I think your ideas are very plausible. It does seem that there would have most certainly been a distinct awareness of these stylish sabres by Portuguese officers. The style itself is quite simple in the ivory Ottoman style grips with sword knot eyelet, and simple crossguard. This being the case we can only rely on subtle nuances such as the quillon terminals or perhaps the profile of the grips to lend identification to us.

You are right that the lances in the background in the panoply of military symbolism were pretty much a standard feature, as by thier length this would serve well as an inclusive yet visible backdrop.

The adoption of these sabres by US lancer officers was certainly inline with the American affinity for French fashion in uniforms and weaponry, and as has been noted, the French had begun use of these right after the Egyptian campaigns. American contact with these sabres was also established with thier own contact with Mamluks during the wars with Barbary pirates in this same period.

The British adoption of these sabres was not officially noted until 1822 for lancer officers, and not until 1831 for general and staff officers, but as is often the case, the regulations followed already established presence of the swords. By this time, these were well embellished and intended for dress and levee wear. It seems as noted that this sabre, by its solid simplicity, is indeed a combat weapon, and it is well known that cavalry officers had plainer example swords intended for use in combat explicitly. The agreed observation that this is a Solingen product intended to respond to the popularity of this sabre's form for officers suggests it might have been acquired by one in a number of armies of the time.

All the best,
Jim

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Threaded Mode

5th April 2010, 09:36 PM	#16
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,459	Outstanding Fernando, and I think your ideas are very plausible. It does seem that there would have most certainly been a distinct awareness of these stylish sabres by Portuguese officers. The style itself is quite simple in the ivory Ottoman style grips with sword knot eyelet, and simple crossguard. This being the case we can only rely on subtle nuances such as the quillon terminals or perhaps the profile of the grips to lend identification to us. You are right that the lances in the background in the panoply of military symbolism were pretty much a standard feature, as by thier length this would serve well as an inclusive yet visible backdrop. The adoption of these sabres by US lancer officers was certainly inline with the American affinity for French fashion in uniforms and weaponry, and as has been noted, the French had begun use of these right after the Egyptian campaigns. American contact with these sabres was also established with thier own contact with Mamluks during the wars with Barbary pirates in this same period. The British adoption of these sabres was not officially noted until 1822 for lancer officers, and not until 1831 for general and staff officers, but as is often the case, the regulations followed already established presence of the swords. By this time, these were well embellished and intended for dress and levee wear. It seems as noted that this sabre, by its solid simplicity, is indeed a combat weapon, and it is well known that cavalry officers had plainer example swords intended for use in combat explicitly. The agreed observation that this is a Solingen product intended to respond to the popularity of this sabre's form for officers suggests it might have been acquired by one in a number of armies of the time. All the best, Jim