View source for Sabre

{{Short description|Type of backsword with curved blade, designed to cut and slash}}
{{Other uses|Sabre (disambiguation)|Saber (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
<!-- British English spelling predominant in this article -->
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox weapon
|name= Sabre
|image= Rose Contract of 1812 Cavalry Saber (cropped).jpg
|image_size= 300
|caption= Cavalry saber from the early 19th century
|origin=
|type= [[Sword]]
<!-- Type selection -->
|is_bladed= yes
<!-- Service history -->
|service=
|used_by=
|wars= [[Early Modern warfare]], [[Ottoman Wars]], [[Napoleonic Wars]], [[American Revolution]], [[American Civil War]], [[Franco-Prussian War]], [[Philippine Revolution]], [[Spanish–American War]], [[Philippine–American War]], [[World War I]], [[Polish–Soviet War]], [[World War II]]
<!-- Production history -->
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=
|unit_cost=
|production_date= Early modern period
|number=
|variants=
<!-- General specifications -->
|spec_label=
|weight=
|length=
|part_length=
|width=
|height=
|diameter=
|crew=
<!-- Bladed weapon specifications -->
|blade_type=
|hilt_type=
|sheath_type=
|head_type=
|haft_type=
}}

A '''sabre''' or {{small|([[American English]])}} '''saber''' ({{IPAc-en|'|s|ei|b|@r}} {{respell|SAY|bər}}) is a type of [[backsword]] with a curved blade associated with the [[light cavalry]] of the [[Early Modern warfare|early modern]] and [[Napoleonic period|Napoleonic]] periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such as the [[hussars]], the sabre became widespread in Western Europe during the [[Thirty Years' War]]. Lighter sabres also became popular with infantry of the early 17th century. In the 19th century, models with less curving blades became common and were also used by [[heavy cavalry]].

The military sabre was used as a [[duel]]ling weapon in [[academic fencing]] in the 19th century, giving rise to a discipline of modern [[Sabre (fencing)|sabre fencing]] (introduced in the [[Fencing at the 1896 Summer Olympics|1896 Summer Olympics]]) loosely based on the characteristics of the historical weapon.

==Etymology==
The English ''sabre'' is recorded from the 1670s, as a direct loan from French, where ''sabre'' is an alteration of ''sable'', which was in turn loaned from German ''Säbel'', ''Sabel'' in the 1630s. The German word is on record from the 15th century, loaned from Polish ''szabla'', which was itself adopted from Hungarian ''szabla'' (14th century, later ''szablya'').<ref>{{Citation |last=Held |first=Robert [Hrsg |title=Polish sabres: their origins and evolution |date=2021 |url=http://archiv.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/artdok/id/eprint/7440 |access-date=2023-10-03 |publisher=Heidelberg University Library |doi=10.11588/artdok.00007440}}</ref>
The spread of the Hungarian word to neighboring European languages took place in the context of the [[Ottoman wars in Europe]] of the 15th to 17th centuries. The spelling ''saber'' became common in [[Comparison of American and British English|American English]] in the second half of the 19th century.<ref>e.g.  Report on the Military Academy at West Point, United States Congressional serial set, Volume 1089, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1861, [https://books.google.com/books?id=iGtHAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA218  p. 218].</ref>

The origin of the Hungarian word is unclear. It may itself be a loan from South Slavic ([[Serbo-Croatian]] ''[[wiktionary:sablja|sablja]]'', Common Slavic ''[[:wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Slavic/sablja|*sabľa]]''), which would ultimately derive from a [[Turkic languages|Turkic]] source.<ref>There are some alternative suggestions, deriving the term from a natively Slavic word; e.g.  Brückner (''Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego''. 1927) adduced Slavi ''sabl'' "rooster"  and Menges (''The Oriental elements in the vocabulary of the oldest Russian epos'', 1951) attempted to connect the Arabic ''[[Arab sword|saif]]''.</ref> In a more recent suggestion, the Hungarian word may ultimately derive from a [[Tungusic languages|Tungusic]] source, via [[Kipchak languages|Kipchak Turkic]]  ''selebe'', with later metathesis (of ''l-b'' to ''b-l'') and apocope changed to ''*seble'', which would have changed its vocalisation in Hungarian to the recorded ''sabla'', perhaps under the influence of the Hungarian word ''szab-'' "to crop; cut (into shape)".<ref>Possible Tungusic cognates include [[Manchu language|Manchu]] ''seleme'' "dagger", [[Evenki language|Evenk]] ''sälämä'' "sword", argued to be a natively Tungusic formation of ''sele'' "iron" plus a denominal suffix ''-me'' by Stachowski (2004).
Marek Stachowski, "The Origin of the European Word for Sabre", ''Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia'' 9 (2004), p. 135, citing V. Rybatzki, ''Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia 7'' (2002), p. 115), Menges, ''Ural-altaische Jahrbücher. Neue Folge 3'' (1983), p. 125.</ref>

==History==
===Origins===
{{Further|Backsword|Makhaira|Falchion|Talwar|Shamshir|Scimitar|Pulwar}}
[[File:Attila_kardja.jpg|thumb|This weapon was esteemed in the Hungarian royal court as the [[Sword of Attila]].<ref name="Szabados Kezdetek 2002">{{Cite book |last=Szabados |first=György |url=https://www.academia.edu/91850728 |title=A magyar történelem kezdeteiről |work=Hoppál Mihály – Szabados György szerk.: Mítosz és történelem. Második kiadás (Mítosz és Történelem Könyvek 1.) |publisher= |year=2002 |location=Szeged |pages= |language=Hungarian |trans-title=On the Beginnings of Hungarian History}}</ref> A Hungarian sabre from the first half of the 10th.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Der "Säbel Karls des Großen" |url=https://www.khm.at/en/artworks/der-saebel-karls-des-grossen-100469-1 |website=Kunsthistorisches Museum.}}</ref>]]
Though [[backsword|single-edged cutting swords]] already existed in the Ancient world, such as the ancient Egyptian and Sumerian [[sickle sword]]s, these (usually forward instead of backward curving) weapons were chopping weapons for foot soldiers. This type of weapon developed into such heavy chopping weapons as the Greek [[Machaira]] and Anatolian Drepanon, and it still survives as the heavy [[Kukri]] chopping knife of the [[Gurkhas]]. However, in ancient China foot soldiers and cavalry often used a straight, single edged sword, and in the sixth century CE a longer, slightly curved cavalry variety of this weapon appeared in southern Siberia. This "proto-sabre" (the [[Turko-Mongol sabers|Turko-Mongol sabre]]) had developed into the true cavalry sabre by the eight century CE, and by the ninth century, it had become the usual side arm on the Eurasian steppes. The sabre arrived in Europe with the [[Magyars]] and the [[Turkic migration|Turkic expansion]].<ref>Gamber, O. (1978) ''Waffe und Rüstung Eurasiens'', pp. 84, 98, 120, 124, 280</ref><ref>Nicolle, D. (2007) ''Attila and the Nomad Hordes'', p. 48</ref><ref>Nicolle, D. (1990) ''Crusader Warfare: Muslims, Mongols and the struggle against the Crusades'', p. 175. {{cite web|last1=Fashion|first1=Forensic|title=Magyar|url=http://www.forensicfashion.com/895MagyarRaider.html |website=Forensic Fashion|access-date=24 July 2015}}</ref> These oldest sabres had a slight curve, short, down-turned [[quillon]]s, the grip facing the opposite direction to the blade and a sharp point with the top third of the reverse edge sharpened.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Imperial|first1=Manning|title=Catalogue|url=http://www.manningimperial.com/catalogue/swords/sabres/magyar-sabre/536|website=Manning Imperial|access-date=24 July 2015|archive-date=24 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724163058/http://www.manningimperial.com/catalogue/swords/sabres/magyar-sabre/536|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lángó|first1=Péter|title=Archaeological Research on the Conquering Hungarians. A Review.|url=https://www.academia.edu/1919881|website=Academia.edu|access-date=24 July 2015}}</ref>

===Early modern period===
{{Further|Swiss sabre|Dusack}}
The introduction of the sabre proper in Western Europe, along with the term ''[[:wikt:sabre|sabre]]'' itself, dates to the 17th century, via the influence of the ''[[szabla]]'' type ultimately derived from these medieval backswords. The adoption of the term is connected to the employment of Hungarian [[hussar]] (''huszár'') cavalry by Western European armies at the time.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} Hungarian hussars were employed as [[light cavalry]], with the role of harassing enemy [[skirmisher]]s, overrunning artillery positions, and pursuing fleeing troops. In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, many Hungarian hussars fled to other Central and Western European countries and became the core of light cavalry formations created there.<ref>[[Bavaria]] raised its first hussar regiment in 1688 and a second one in about 1700. [[Prussia]] followed suit in 1721 when [[Frederick the Great]] used hussar units extensively during the [[War of the Austrian Succession]]. France established a number of hussar regiments from 1692 onward, recruiting originally from Hungary and Germany, then subsequently from German-speaking frontier regions within France itself. The first hussar regiment in France was founded by a Hungarian lieutenant named [[Ladislas Ignace de Bercheny]].
[http://www.hungarian-history.hu/lib/thou/thou12.htm Hungarian-history.hu] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415135710/http://www.hungarian-history.hu/lib/thou/thou12.htm |date=15 April 2008 }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=September 2015}} The Hungarian term ''szablya'' is ultimately traced to the [[Kipchak languages|northwestern Turkic]] ''selebe'', with contamination from the Hungarian verb ''szab'' "to cut".<ref>{{cite journal |author=Marek Stachowski |title=The origin of the European word for sabre |journal=Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia |volume=9 |location=Krakow |year=2004 |url=http://turkoloji.cu.edu.tr/CAGDAS%20TURK%20LEHCELERI/2004%20Sabre,%20SEC-9.pdf }}</ref>

The original type of sabre, or Polish ''szabla'', was used as a [[cavalry]] weapon, possibly inspired by Hungarian or wider [[Turco-Mongol]] warfare.

The ''[[karabela]]'' was a type of ''szabla'' popular in the late 17th century, worn by the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] nobility class, the ''[[szlachta]]''. While designed as a cavalry weapon, it also came to replace various types of straight-bladed swords used by infantry.<ref>Alaux, Michel. ''Modern Fencing: Foil, Epee, and Sabre''. Scribner's, 1975, p. 123. {{ISBN|9780684169453}}</ref> The [[Swiss sabre]] originated as a regular sword with a single-edged blade in the early 16th century, but by the 17th century began to exhibit specialized hilt types.

====Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth====
{{main|Szabla|Karabela}}

[[File:Mzwdr XXXX ml 008.jpg|thumb|right|175px|A ''[[szabla]]'' used by [[Polish Hussars]], 17th century]]
In the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (16th–18th century) a specific type of sabre-like melee weapon, the ''szabla'', was used. Richly decorated sabres were popular among the [[Szlachta|Polish nobility]], who considered it to be one of the most important pieces of men's traditional attire. With time, the design of the sabre greatly evolved in the commonwealth and gave birth to a variety of sabre-like weapons, intended for many tasks. In the following centuries, the ideology of [[Sarmatism]] as well as the Polish fascination with [[Orient]]al cultures, customs, cuisine and warfare resulted in the ''szabla'' becoming an indispensable part of traditional Polish culture.

===Modern use===
[[File:Thomas Lawrence, Charles William (Vane-)Stewart, Later 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, 1812, oil on canvas, National Portrait Gallery, London.jpg|thumb|175px|right|A British [[Hussar]] general with a scabbarded'' kilij'' of Turkish manufacture (1812)]]
[[File:Sabre mg 0644-retouched.jpg|thumb|175px|right|The ''briquet'', typical infantry sabre of the [[Napoleonic Wars]]]]
[[File:French Navy sabre img 3012b.jpg|thumb|175px|right|French Navy sabre of the 19th century, boarding sabre]]
[[File:Marxauch Sword.jpg|thumb|175px|right|Lieutenant Colonel [[Teófilo Marxuach]]'s [[Model 1902 Army Officers' Sword|M1902 officer's sabre and scabbard]] at the National Historic Trust site at [[Castillo San Cristóbal (San Juan)|Castillo San Cristóbal]] in [[San Juan, Puerto Rico]]]]The sabre saw extensive military use in the early 19th century, particularly in the [[Napoleonic Wars]], during which [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]] used heavy [[cavalry]] charges to great effect against his enemies. Shorter versions of the sabre were also used as sidearms by dismounted units, although these were gradually replaced by [[fascine knives]] and [[sword bayonets]] as the century went on. Although there was extensive debate over the effectiveness of weapons such as the sabre and [[lance]], the sabre remained the standard weapon of cavalry for mounted action in most armies until [[World War I]] and in a few armies until [[World War II]]. Thereafter it was gradually relegated to the status of a [[ceremonial weapon]], and most horse cavalry was replaced by [[armoured cavalry]] from the 1930s onward.

Where horse-mounted cavalry survived into World War II it was generally as mounted infantry without sabres. However the sabre was still carried by German cavalry until after the Polish campaign of 1939, after which this historic weapon was put into storage in 1941.<ref>{{cite book|first=Jeffrey T.|last=Fowler|page=43|title=Axis Cavalry in World War II|isbn=1-84176-323-3|date=2001|publisher=Bloomsbury USA }}</ref>
Romanian cavalry continued to carry their straight "thrusting" sabres on active service until at least 1941.<ref>{{cite book|first=Jeffrey T.|last=Fowler|page=46|title=Axis Cavalry in World War II|isbn=1-84176-323-3|date=2001|publisher=Bloomsbury USA }}</ref><ref>Klaus Richter, ''Weapons & Equipment of the German Cavalry: 1935–1945'', p. 25, {{ISBN|978-0-8874-0816-8}}</ref>[[File:Joanovitch Paul (1859–1957) The Sword Dance, Private Collection.jpg|thumb|''[[Sword dance|The Sword Dance]]'' (1890) by [[Paja Jovanović]]]]

====Napoleonic era====
Sabres were commonly used by the British in the Napoleonic era for light cavalry and infantry officers, as well as others. The elegant but effective 1803 pattern sword that the British Government authorized for use by infantry officers during the wars against [[Napoleon]] featured a curved sabre blade which was often blued and engraved by the owner in accordance with his personal taste, and was based on the famously agile [[Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre|1796 light cavalry sabre]] that was renowned for its brutal cutting power. Sabres were commonly used throughout this era by all armies, in much the same way that the British did.

The popularity of the sabre had rapidly increased in Britain throughout the 18th century for both infantry and cavalry use. This influence was predominately from southern and eastern Europe, with the Hungarians and Austrians listed as sources of influence for the sword and style of swordsmanship in British sources. The popularity of sabres had spread rapidly through Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, and finally came to dominance as a military weapon in the British army in the 18th century, though straight blades remained in use by some, such as heavy cavalry units. (These were also replaced by sabres soon after the Napoleonic era.)

The introduction of 'pattern' swords in the British army in 1788 led to a brief departure from the sabre in infantry use (though not for light cavalry), in favour of the lighter and straight bladed [[spadroon]]. The spadroon was universally unpopular, and many officers began to unofficially purchase and carry sabres once more. In 1799, the army accepted this under regulation for some units, and in 1803, produced a dedicated pattern of sabre for certain infantry officers (flank, rifle and staff officers). The 1803 pattern quickly saw much more widespread use than the regulation intended due to its effectiveness in combat, and fashionable appeal.

====Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre====
{{Further|Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre}}
The most famous British sabre of the Napoleonic era is the 1796 light cavalry model, used by troopers and officers alike (officers' versions can vary a little, but are much the same as the pattern trooper's sword). It was in part designed by the famous [[John Le Marchant (British Army officer, born 1766)|John Le Marchant]], who worked to improve on the previous (1788) design based on his experience with the Austrians and Hungarians. Le Marchant also developed the first official British military sword exercise manual based on this experience, and his light cavalry sabre, and style of swordsmanship went on to heavily influence the training of the infantry and the navy.

The 1796 light cavalry sword was known for its brutal cutting power, easily severing limbs, and leading to the (unsubstantiated) myth that the French put in an official complaint to the British about its ferocity. This sword also saw widespread use with mounted artillery units, and the numerous militia units established in Britain to protect against a potential invasion by Napoleon.

====Mameluke swords====
{{Further|Mameluke sword}}
Though the sabre had already become very popular in Britain, experience in Egypt did lead to a fashion trend for [[mameluke sword]] style blades, a type of Middle Eastern [[scimitar]], by some infantry and cavalry officers. These blades differ from the more typical British ones in that they have more extreme curvatures, in that they are usually not fullered, and in that they taper to a finer point. Mameluke swords also gained some popularity in France as well. [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington]], himself carried a mameluke-style sword. In 1831, the 'Mameluke' sword became the pattern sword for British generals, as well as officers of the United States Marine Corps; in this last capacity, it is still in such use at the present time.

====United States====
The American victory over the rebellious forces in the citadel of [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] in 1805, during the [[First Barbary War]], led to the presentation of bejewelled examples of these swords to the senior officers of the [[United States Marine Corps|US Marines]]. Officers of the US Marine Corps still use a mameluke-pattern dress sword. Although some genuine Turkish ''[[kilij]]'' sabres were used by Westerners, most "mameluke sabres" were manufactured in Europe; although their hilts were very similar in form to the Ottoman prototype, their blades, even when an expanded ''{{lang|tr|yelman}}'' was incorporated, tended to be longer, narrower and less curved than those of the true ''kilij.''

In the [[American Civil War]], the sabre was used infrequently as a weapon, but saw notable deployment in the [[Battle of Brandy Station]] and at East Cavalry Field at the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] in 1863. Many cavalrymen—particularly on the [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] side—eventually abandoned the long, heavy weapons in favour of [[revolver]]s and [[carbine]]s.

The last sabre issued to [[US cavalry]] was the [[Model 1913 Cavalry Saber|Patton saber]] of 1913, designed to be mounted to the cavalryman's saddle. The Patton saber is only a saber in name as it is a straight, thrust-centric sword. A US War Department circular dated 18 April 1934 announced that the saber would no longer be issued to cavalry, and that it was to be completely discarded for use as a weapon. Only dress sabers, for use by officers only, and strictly as a badge of rank, were to be retained.<ref>Randy Staffen, pages=76–77 "The Horse Soldier 1776–1943, Volume IV", UE443.S83, University of Oklahoma. 1979. {{ISBN|978-0806123950}}</ref>

====Police====
During the 19th and into the early 20th century, sabres were also used by both mounted and dismounted personnel in some European police forces. When the sabre was used by [[mounted police]] against crowds, the results could be devastating, as portrayed in a key scene in [[Doctor Zhivago (1965 film)|''Doctor Zhivago'']]. The sabre was later phased out in favour of the [[Club (weapon)|baton]], or nightstick, for both practical and humanitarian reasons. The [[Gendarmerie (Belgium)|Gendarmerie]] of Belgium used them until at least 1950,<ref>{{Cite video| title = Belgium Says 'NO' To Leopold     | url = http://www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=34175   | medium =  Newsreel | publisher = [[Pathé News]] | date = 3 August 1950}}</ref> and the Swedish police forces until 1965.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Tools of war;history of weapons in medieval times.|last=Ramsey|first=Syed|publisher=Alpha Editions|isbn=9789386019813|location=[Place of publication not identified]|oclc=971222281|date = 2016}}{{page needed|date=October 2024}}</ref>

==Dress uniform==
{{Further|Dress uniform|ceremonial sword|Color guard}}
Swords with sabre blades remain a component of the [[dress uniform]]s worn by most national army, navy, air force, [[Marines|marine]] and [[coast guard]] [[Military officer|officers]]. Some militaries also issue ceremonial swords to their highest-ranking [[non-commissioned officer]]s; this is seen as an honour since, typically, non-commissioned, [[Enlisted rank|enlisted]]/[[other ranks (UK)|other-rank]] military service members are instead issued a [[cutlass]] blade rather than a sabre. Swords in the modern military are no longer used as weapons, and serve only ornamental or ceremonial functions. One distinctive modern use of sabres is in the [[sabre arch]], performed for servicemen or women getting married.

==Modern sport fencing==
{{main|Sabre (fencing)}}
The [[Sabre (fencing)|modern fencing sabre]] bears little resemblance to the cavalry sabre, having a thin, {{convert|88|cm|abbr=on}} long straight blade. Rather, it is based upon the Italian dueling saber of classical fencing.  One of the three weapons used in the sport of [[fencing]], it is a very fast-paced weapon with bouts characterized by quick footwork and cutting with the edge. The valid target area is from the waist up excluding the hands.

The concept of attacking above the waist only is a 20th-century change to the sport; previously sabreurs used to pad their legs against cutting slashes from their opponents. The reason for the above waist rule is unknown,<ref>J. Christoph Amberger, ''The Secret History of the Sword,'' 1996 Hammerterz Forum, rev. ed. 1999 Multi-media Books, Inc. {{ISBN|1-892515-04-0}}</ref> as the sport of sabre fencing is based on the use of infantry sabres, not cavalry sabres.

In recent years, Saber fencing has been developing in [[Historical European Martial Arts]], with blades that closely resemble the historical types, with techniques based on historical records.

==See also==
* [[Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre]]
* [[Pattern 1908 and 1912 cavalry swords]]
* [[Szabla wz. 34]]
* [[Sabrage]], the act of opening a Champagne bottle with a sabre
* [[Buffalo Sabres]], the American professional ice hockey team that takes their name from the sword
* [[Cutlass]], the Western European equivalent
* [[Dao (Chinese sword)|Dao]], the Chinese equivalent
* [[Tachi]], the Japanese equivalent 
* [[Scimitar]], the Persian equivalent
* [[Shamshir]], the Persian equivalent
* [[Szabla]], the Central and Eastern European equivalent
* [[Talwar]], the South Asian equivalent
* [[Turko-Mongol sabers]], the East Asian equivalent
* [[Zulfiqar]], the sword of ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib
* [[Barbourofelidae]], and [[Nimravidae]], [[Feliformia|feliforms]] of which some members are called "sabre-toothed cats"
* [[Machairodontinae]], the group of [[Felidae|felids]] commonly called "sabre-toothed cats"
* [[Lightsaber]], a fictional [[sword]]-like melee weapon used in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' universe

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* W. Kwaśniewicz, ''Dzieje szabli w Polsce'', Warszawa (''History of the Sabre in Poland''), [[Bellona Publishing House|Dom wydawniczy Bellona]], 1999 {{ISBN|83-11-08894-2}}
* Wojciech Zablocki, "Ciecia Prawdziwa Szabla", '' Wydawnictwo "Sport i Turystyka"'' (1989) (English abstract by Richard Orli, 2000, [http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/zablocki_abstract.htm kismeta.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322021306/http://www.kismeta.com/diGrasse/zablocki_abstract.htm |date=22 March 2017 }})
* Richard Marsden, ''The Polish Saber'', Tyrant Industries (2015) {{ISBN|0984771654}}

==External links==
{{wiktionary|sabre}}
{{Commons category|Sabres}}
{{wikiquote}}
{{wiktionary}}

{{Swords by region}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Edged and bladed weapons]]
[[Category:Sabres| ]]
[[Category:Swords]]
[[Category:Early Modern European swords]]
[[Category:Modern European swords]]
[[Category:18th-century weapons]]
[[Category:19th-century weapons]]
[[Category:Victorian-era weapons]]
[[Category:Hungarian words and phrases]]
[[Category:American Civil War weapons]]