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Saber Swords
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The saber is the curved, single-edged sword of the mounted soldier: light enough to swing all day from the saddle, with a guard that protects the sword hand. Europe took the pattern from the Turkish kilij and the Hungarian hussars in the 1600s and carried it through the Napoleonic wars, the American Civil War and the last cavalry charges of the twentieth century. This collection gathers the sabers Battling Blades forges, from the classic cavalry sabre to the Turkish kilij and the Renaissance storta, alongside the naval sabers and short scimitar sabers that share the same single edge.
Choosing a saber
Patterns
The cavalry sabre is the European regulation pattern: a 38-inch single-edged blade with a moderate curve and a knuckle guard, here in 1095 high carbon steel and in a stainless display version with a tiger-head hilt. The kilij is the Ottoman saber the European pattern descends from, with the flared, widened tip called the yelman; ours is 35 inches in 1095. The storta is the Italian Renaissance saber, a shorter, broader blade with a knuckle bow, in stainless. The naval saber and the cutlass sabers are the sea service version: shorter, heavier, built for close quarters on a deck. The 28-inch tactical saber is a modern stainless interpretation. The two 19-inch scimitar sabers are the short, deeply curved eastern form, and the Qing emperor dao and the 50-inch miao dao are the Chinese sabers of the same lineage.
Length
Regulation cavalry sabers run 36 to 40 inches overall and need a full wall mount. The storta, kilij and naval patterns sit at 32 to 35 inches and fit a standard two-hook stand. The 19 and 28-inch pieces suit a shelf or a desk. Overall length is on every product page.
Steel and finish
1095 high carbon is the working steel for a saber: hard, resilient, and the closest to the regulation blades of the period. Damascus adds the layered pattern; stainless is the display option that needs the least care. Each product page states the steel, whether the sword ships sharp or dull, and what it comes with. A saber listed as battle-ready is built to a working standard: functional steel, hardened, full tang. Keep carbon steel clean, dry and lightly oiled; the cleaning kit is made for it.
Related
The saber is the European branch of a family that includes the scimitar to the east and the cutlass at sea; every single-edged curved blade in the catalogue, Chinese dao included, is gathered under curved swords. For the parts named in the listings, see parts of a sword. A saber can also be built to your own length and fittings in the custom sword builder.
Frequently asked questions
What is a saber?
A curved, single-edged sword with a guard that covers the hand, carried by cavalry from the seventeenth century onward. Saber and sabre are the same word in American and British spelling.
What is the difference between a saber and a scimitar?
The scimitar is the eastern original: more curve, a simple cross or downturned guard, one hand. The saber is its European descendant: less curve, a knuckle guard, and a regulation pattern issued to whole regiments.
What is the difference between a saber and a cutlass?
Length and setting. The cutlass is the short, heavy naval saber, usually under 30 inches, built for a crowded deck. The cavalry saber is longer and lighter for use from horseback.
What is a kilij?
The Ottoman Turkish saber, distinguished by the yelman, a widened section near the tip that adds weight to the cut. It was the model for the sabers of Poland, Hungary and, through them, the rest of Europe.
Do they come sharp?
Most 1095 and Damascus sabers are supplied with an edge and can be ordered dull for display. Stainless sabers are display pieces. The product page states the finish for each sword.