Old Wrist-Breaker

The heavy Model 1840 Cavalry Saber earned this dubious nickname, yet served for decades.

- Phil Spangenberger

The U.S. Cavalry’s first official-issue saber—the Model 1833, although graceful and handsome, was disliked by the troops. Considered altogether too light, difficult to thrust properly, and prone to breakage of the blade, U.S. Ordnance wanted a more substantial saber. While considering a replacement, the U.S. Ordnance Department felt that the Ames Sword Co., which produced the ’33 Dragoon saber, was incapable of turning out a suitable substitute, so they turned to England, France and Germany for swords.

An order of about 1,400 various European cavalry sabers was purchased in 1839 as part of a field trial. Deciding on an 1839 Prussian-made blade, an order was placed with the Solingen, Germany, firm of Schnitzler and Kirschbaum (S&K) on August 28, 1840, for 4,155 swords for different branches of the Army. Included were 2,000 of an 1822 French-pattern ned saber for the cavalry, at the price of $3 per blade. Officially dubbed th he “Cavalry sabre-Model of 1840,” they first arrived in the U.S. in October 1841.