Model 1913 Cavalry Saber

The Model 1913 Cavalry Saber was designed by Second Lieutenant (later General) George S. Patton in 1913, when he was Master of the Sword at the Mounted Service School, and is commonly referred to as the Patton Saber. Following the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Patton traveled with his family to Dresden, Berlin, and Nuremberg. Seeking the greatest swordsman in Europe to study with, Patton was told the “beau sabreur” of the French Army would be the one. Adjutant M. Clèry was a French “master of arms” and instructor of fencing at the Cavalry School at Saumur. Patton went to Saumur to undergo an intense study with the master. Upon return Patton wrote a report on his sword studies that was revised for the Army and Navy Journal. Patton’s first article for the well known Cavalry Journal appeared in the March, 1913 issue. In the summer of 1913, following his advising the Ordnance Department on sword redesign, Patton was allowed to return to Saumur to study once again under Clèry.

The design was influenced by the French heavy cavalry sword of the Napoleonic Wars as well as French cavalry doctrine that emphasized the use of the point over the edge.^[1]

The Model 1913 saber features a large, basket-shaped hilt mounting a straight, double-edged, thrusting blade designed for use by heavy cavalry. It was designed in accordance with Patton's system of swordsmanship, which was published by the War Department as the 1914 Saber Exercise manual,^[2] and which emphasized the use of the point over the edge.^[3]

Its design is reflected and seen in today's Hungarian saber, which is used in sport fencing, but is heavier. A modern reproduction is 44" overall, 35" blade and weighs two and one-half pounds. The blade is straight and tapered, the front edge running the whole length of the blade and double-edged for half its length. Considering the weight of the bell and grip assembly, it would be balanced much closer to the hand than the typical weapon associated with the name "cavalry saber".

References

1. ^ Patton, George (1913). The Form and Use of the Saber. George S. Patton (Revised Edition ed.). 
2. ^ Saber Exercise 1914
3. ^ The M1913 "Patton" Saber