Sword Review - Windlass 1796 British light cavalry saber

[@HobieH3]

I handed mine yesterday to someone that is a relatively experienced HEMA saber fencer and he was quite impressed with the handling.

[@GiorgioS-hx1xg]

ciao e stata usata in combattimento contro un altra sciabola ? se reggesse sarebbe perfetta da usare

[@allopez8563]

Actually Windlass has always produced well heat treated sword blades . The problem with Windlass was the lacking of acurate distal taper and whippiness of the blades.

[@FortuneFavoursTheBold]

Excellent review and some fanTAstic cutting! Thanks for the shoutout! I like the discussion about the number of topics that I didn't talk about in my review like the scabbard and the sharpening job. I am happy that your sword doesn't come with any real defect. My scabbard is curiously a lot heavier to be historically accurate, and the leather washer is fit well (I still cut it out and tossed it anyway). But it's great to have a sword that handles right, because they replicates the antique original down to a T. This is what they should have done all along on all of their models. Mine has some defects in the hilt, but due to how great the handling is and how accurate it is, I still love it. It feels lightweight but due to the balance the sword does a lot of work for you and the edge aligns pretty easily perhaps due to the curvature.

[@alientude]

Thanks! And your review was outstanding as well. Seems like no matter what, Windlass can't quite seem to get everything right. The flaws on mine are relatively minor, but yours are worse. I just don't understand how they messed up the scabbard on mine, unless they intentionally did so.

[@ernestolynch1926]

I second your opinion regarding the review and the products of Windlass Steelcrafts. I was about to write my own "thankyou" note, but after seeing yours, I have nothing to add.

[@FortuneFavoursTheBold]

Glad to be in agreement🙂

[@ernestolynch1926]

@@FortuneFavoursTheBold Did you have a chance to read one (so far, the only one) review of this sword at Atlanta Cutlery? While the temptation is rather high to buy this sword, after reading the review I mentioned, I thing I'd rather save money to avoid disappointment. Oh, and I do have in my collection the British-made sword, and it is just perfect in every way. I am still hunting for an Indian sword that was designed based on the 1796 British light cavalry saber, but with the three-bar guard.

[@FortuneFavoursTheBold]

@@ernestolynch1926 I didn't read any review, because I reviewed this sword myself on my channel.

[@neopythagorean]

Great review. Very fair and balanced. You pretty much answered all my questions about this sabre. I ordered one of these from MR but it’s back ordered so it’s anyone’s guess as to when I’ll actually receive it. I do have the Cold Steel version of this sabre and I like it a lot.

[@urseliusurgel4365]

Le Marchant advised that only the last 6 to 8 inches of the blade be sharpened. This was to enforce using the optimal part of the blade for cutting and to stop troopers getting their swords hopelessly embedded in the body of an enemy, by cutting with the central portion of the blade.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

Awesome review! Yup, I have those plastic inserts on many of my CS/Windlass scabbards, and the ones in my old CS 1796 scabbard eventually just fell out, having been secured by a few squares of that tacky foam used for hanging posters.

[@alientude]

Thanks! I'm pretty confident the plastic inserts are part of the second batch, which is just shitty on Windlass's part imo.

[@michaelrizzo5523]

@@alientude Yup, and without them, my sword is pretty loose. My backsword cut right through one on a resheathing and it still snags. Awful feature.

[@Kit-vb5rm]

THANK'S FOR YOUR EXCELLENT REVIEW, AFTER WATCHING THIS I FELT ABLE TO CHOOSE FROM WHAT APPEAR TO BE THE BEST QUALITY SWORD AVAILABLE. I CHOSE THE L K CHEN . QUITE A BIT MORE EXPENSIVE BUT I HOPE IT WILL BE WORTH THE PRICE AND THE WAITING TIME (9 MONTH'S, APPROX.) REGARDS Kit.

[@alientude]

Glad I could help!

[@dlatrexswords]

Excellent review Kyle. Cover nuts to bolts and everywhere inbetween! For all that you claim to not have experience with a sabre you do some fine cutting, so thank you for sharing it regardless, and showing what someone even with less experience can expect from this sword. While some antiques can show rippling in the blades, I agree that 'Windlass level rippling' is a distinct manufacturing characteristic and could help distinguish a new from old sword (might be hard to tell from a photograph, but in person it should be apparent to an experienced eye). Trust your instincts! Yes, the hole through the knuckle bow was used for the sword knot. The langets projecting forward from the top of the guard are intended to interface with the throat of the scabbard to help secure the blade; I've never heard of using a thumb on them, but hey it works for you! Also very disappointing to hear about the odor coming off of the blade. That should not be something new sword owners have to contend with. Did the Royal Armouries swords have the same issue?

[@alientude]

The Wakefield hanger didn't have the odor problem, no. I imagine with all the work they put into the packaging of those swords, they wouldn't want you hit with that smell when you open it up!

[@urseliusurgel4365]

I have two originals, one a trooper's the other an officer's, and the blades have some rippling. It is the result of being forged, subsequent grinding reduces the rippling, but does not eliminate it entirely. You can see a photo my officer's sabre on the Wikipedia page for the 1796 LC sabre.

[@dzmitryart3429]

Hi! I have seen some small black dots and lines on the blade, is it okay for sabre?

[@gazt445]

Superb review thank you.

[@timporsch2669]

Thank you for the review. I checked my scabbard, and yes, sure enough, there are white plastic inserts (looks like some kind of nylon) as well as some light rust. Since I received the sabre relatively recently my guess is that my example also belongs to the second batch. While I am at it, the "finish" on my scabbard also seems kind of rough, with quite visible "whirls" and marks from a polishing wheel. The leather covering of the swordgrip is a bit of a bummer as well, since it is quite thin, soft, and not properly attatched to the wood below/ not properly pressed into the grooves. I am no novice to replacing grip coverings, but because of the backstrap-construction this would/will prove to be a bit more of an undertaking. It seems like Windlass did not anticipate the massive interest in this product and had to, somehow, cope with the amount of orders (which consequently relates to a seeming loss of quality in some aspects of the product) The sword handles quite well and seems nicely tempered (gotta love that distal taper ;D). Interestingly, my example came with a sharpened backedge as well. All in all still a very nice product and valuable addition to the reproduction-sword-market (Would love some proper 1796 HC and Spadroon reproductions as well, HINT HINT) . PS: Where I am from (Germany) its retail price ist currently below the Cold Steels offerings, so no need to bother with those.

[@alientude]

Windlass cutting corners to meet demand? Color me not surprised! At least they didn't revert to their standard 4-5mm thick bar stock, and still got the feel of the sword right.

[@travhammer]

I have Cold Steel's version. It's a great Sabre. Have handled one?

[@alientude]

No, I have not handled that one. I believe Windlass makes it as well.

[@sinisterswordsman25]

Interesting review, I personally don't really care about the scabbard. It's kinda shady that windlass is cheaping out on them but I'm pretty sure the reason they made them heavy in period was to keep them from bouncing around like crazy on horseback so... just saying as long as the sword is good the scabbard is like bonus for display and safe storage. I'd let that one slide personally. And I will when I buy one lol. It handles well and cuts beast, that's enough for me. I'm optimistic that Matt Easton will be a good influence on windlass and we're going to getting alot of aggressively not bad stuff from them from now on. 🤘 appreciate the effort you put into your videos thanks. I wonder who sent it to you?

[@listenup455]

Great review! I really want this sword, but I'm a little nervous about the QC. I would hate to get a bad one.

[@alientude]

Thanks! If you buy from Museum Replicas, they tend to have very good customer service and accept returns for defects pretty easily. In my experience, of course.

[@listenup455]

Good to know, thanks!

[@tycheist]

Just oil the washer

[@darveshzamindar]

Present price of such talwar sword made from rail track is 4000 Indian rupees , if made from truck leaf spring , price is around 2500 rupees , windlass is a costly one

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

beautiful polish on that saber

[@alientude]

It's British, not Polish! 🤣 Sorry for the bad joke.

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

@@alientude its funny Kyle,i love that scabbard is steel i dont like floppy sheats.

[@SirJaymesDAudelée]

I get that you’re an enthusiast and there’s nothing wrong with that. But I wonder if anyone would care much for all these details who actually had to use it in battle. I mean I’d have just the one question…CAN IT KILL A DUDE? LOL