1860 Heavy Cavalry Officers Sabre

At the outbreak of the American Civil War, there were two types of sabres issued to the Federal Cavalry: “light” and “heavy”. The light version was popular, but the heavy model, dubbed the “Old Wrist Breaker” was the one worth owning, as it was a superior weapon. Its 34" blade offered big reach advantages over most sabres, and its substantial weight gave it the leverage to easily crush bones and sever limbs or even a head with a single blow. The brass guard had three bars to protect the hand and the grip was wire bound leather and capped with a sturdy pommel. In its double ringed, steel scabbard, it could be easily attached to a saddle or to a belt.

Sabers and swords were not generally sharpened but if the cavalry did sharpen them they only sharpened perhaps six inches at the tip end.

Specifications:
Total length: 101 cm
Blade length: 86 cm
Grip length: 10.5 cm
Weight: 1.05 kg
Blade thickness (base): 6.0 mm
Blade width (base): 2.8 cm
Point of Balance (PoB): 19.5 cm