M1840 Dragoon “Wristbreaker” Saber

Description

The Model 1840 Cavalry Saber was based on the 1822 French hussar’s sabre. Unlike its replacement the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber the M1840 has a ridge around its quillon, a leather grip wrapped in wire (rather than grooves cut into the wooden handle) and a flat, slotted throat. It is 44in long with a 35in blade and weighs 6lbs.

The M1840 was designed for slashing and because of its heavy flat-backed blade was given the nickname “Old Wrist Breaker.” It was adopted due to the army’s dissatisfaction with its predecessor the model 1833 dragoon saber, the first cavalry sword adopted by the US Army. It was evident a replacement was needed so in 1838 the US Ordnance Dept bought British, French and Prussian swords and field-tested them. The troopers overwhelmingly preferred the French saber, and a copy of it was put into production in 1844. 2000 were ordered and by 1846 600 were in front-line service. The 1840 saber was used during the U.S.-Mexican War by US Cavalry. The main contractors were Ames of Cabotville, Horstmann, and Tiffany but due to the large number of swords required at least 1000 were made in Germany by S&K and imported. Some troopers used Prussian sabers as an alternative, which in contrast to the M1840 had straight blades. When production ceased in 1858 over 23,700 were made.

During the US Civil War it continued to be issued to Union Cavalry as in the early years it was more readily available than the M1860. General George B McClellan carried one at the front, keeping his regulation officer’s sword for full dress occasions. Many were also used by the Confederacy including General Nathan Bedford Forrest, who had both edges of his sword sharpened to increase combat effectiveness.