Windlass 1796 British Light Cavalry Sabre

[@tuerkefechi]

Besides Austro-Hungarian saber types (the Austrian double monarchy was one of the first to adopt the saber into their arsenal of the military as a regulation sword), also the experiences with the Indian Tulwar in the 18th century inspired this saber type developed my Jean Gaspard le Merchant (besides how his name is sounding, he was indeed British). But other European armies like Prussia and France had already adopted the curved saber for their light cavalry units, famously the Hussars of Prussia. Of course this might be, because Prussia had like Austria much longer and easier contact to their Eastern European neighbors than Britain had. But we have to keep in mind, that curved blades already were in use much longer in Europe than the 18th century. In the 16th century the Dusägge or Tessak (using this term here for the war-Version of the famous Dussack, that is often associated incorrectly with the leather/wood training tool only) was quite common right up during the 17th century as well, especially in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Bohemia, but also in Norway and Sweden. These were baskethilted swords (sometimes full, often half-basket) with sometimes longer straight blades, but most of the time curved blades (shorter and longer as well). It is said that the origins come from the Long Messer of course, but also from eastern sabers and the contact in combat with the ottoman Kilij. But besides that also various types of Long Messer and the twohanded Kriegsmesser already had sometimes curved blades, but same as the Dussack was mainly a weapon on foot. The main difference at this time was, that these swords were used on foot mostly, while mounted combat swords remained straight for a long time onwards until the saber was adopted for the cavalry (first experiences were made during the Thirty Years war with contact to Croatian horsemen, polish and Hungarian hussars).

[@russmitchellmovement]

The shape of that kind of sabre is also very similar to Conquest-Era Hungarian sabres. Same mild curve and curved/canted handle, and that stays as a functional geometry for a lot longer than many people realize. Some of the early sabres from the region even have the "tunkou" that's so well-known on Mongol sabres. Given a choice between the two I'd throw the 1796 into some bushes immediately.

[@dlatrexswords]

Savage! Don’t let any Eastons hear you. 😂

[@russmitchellmovement]

@@dlatrexswords Matt's a good guy and there's no chance of drama. We have cordially disagreed on the greatness of this sabre since the mid-1990s, so it's not precisely a secret. The 1796 is a GREAT chopper, but it doesn't change directions easily, nor fluidly, compared to what I'm used to, and I prefer that. De Gustibus, and all that. :)

[@dlatrexswords]

@@russmitchellmovement I like to say I have no favorite children, but in that video where I’m cutting with the 1796 and the Sabre of Charlemagne….well, the steppe sabre just feels very nice in the hand ;-)

[@dlatrexswords]

Another fun review! Glad you’re enjoying the 1796, and the (very very) distant ancestor, in the Mongol sabre. Also, very neat that you point out the use of British blades on these North African/Caribbean “machetes”. These are definitely a blade type that require a deep dive as they are not well understood as an ethnographic weapon/tool, but they really look quite cool. Keep it up!

[@the.wandering.warrior]

thanks, yea it's a cool blade with veeerry interesting links globally..

[@hungarianhillbilly4144]

Excellent review. Thanks for referencing Hungarian, Polish, and Turkish influence.

[@szablotukpolski5201]

Nice film and saber :) Gretings from Poland and capitol polish saber..... szablotłuk polski

[@the.wandering.warrior]

@@szablotukpolski5201 greetings and thank you

[@Balaclavaballistics]

Lovely video. Would like to try one myself

[@DarrinKemp-lr1cz]

It looks like it will allow you to do willow leaf sabre form with it.

[@AcceleratingUniverse]

i have an 1864 civil war blade that looks identical to this with the same scabbard. my scabbard has a spike on the end so you can use the sheathed blade as hammer/warspike

[@gungrabber970]

Just found this channel and this video. Great content. Only problem is that I'm watching outside and our insects are trilling in stereo 🦗🦗🎧

[@jaimimcentire99]

A lot of people like these, but I prefer the later 1822/1845 models. They are lighter, and have more of a point, but are still actual combat weapons.

[@marvindaugherty5989]

Did you and your friends come to my house in Maine like ten years ago?

[@the.wandering.warrior]

@@marvindaugherty5989 yeah Marvin, as I recall it was a good time and we talked about martial arts and blacksmithing and things like that

[@marvindaugherty5989]

@@the.wandering.warrior good to see you Vince!!! Your video came across my feed on here.

[@the.wandering.warrior]

@@marvindaugherty5989 hope you're doing well Marvin 👍👍

[@dorukgolcu9191]

The comparison at the end I find particularly interesting. By 12-13th century the Turks were already spreading into Anatolia so I do wonder if they were still using similar weapons. Most "Turkish" swords we see in the media are modeled after the later Ottoman weapons, I think 🤔

[@the.wandering.warrior]

@@dorukgolcu9191 yes I do believe that when the turkic peoples were colonizing Anatolia they were using sabers more similar to those we see in Central Asia and Mongolia into the 1300/1400s... As I understand it, as time passes Turkic Anatolia starts to get a lot more influence from Persian and Egyptian mameluke trends and styles, culminating in what we typically associate with the later Ottoman Turks and forms our idea of what is the Turkish style..

[@raydrexler5868]

It should feel weird, you aren’t on horseback. The officers had better options for their swords than the regular enlisted cavalry. They had the option of carrying their own favorite swords.

[@the.wandering.warrior]

@@raydrexler5868 good to know

[@raydrexler5868]

@@the.wandering.warrior Yeah, it was designed to charge on horseback and cut down the enemy. It was an enormously popular design though and I know that light cavalry fought afoot, so there must be some basic techniques that it works well at.

[@greggpennington966]

Neat blade, but not really a dueling weapon , per SE. This blade would have been swung from the saddle on a horse's back. The recipient would have likely met with an instant death. The curved blade simply makes it easier to recover from the swing. Just some thoughts. I haven't heard any feedback from Hussars using this weapon as they may or may not have cared to share their thoughts in writing. Would be interesting to hear some comments from the users...

[@DRG2800]

Not entirely true, it was adopted by infantry units in the British Army.

[@Gior-hx1xg]

Ciao questa sciabola e stata mai provata in uso per combattere?

[@mariaconcepcionrodriguezhe2850]

Differential tempering?

[@0rang.utan.bananaman199]

Nope, spring tempered throughout the whole blade. With how thin it is in the last 1/3 of the blade, it would bend like crazy if differentially hardened.

[@gorbalsboy]

The scabbard was chosen for durability,not because of laziness,the tip is called a hatchet edge,it's not differential tempering (only done on spears and halberds)it's crucible steel ,tempered to be spring,,sorry wee man if your going to do a review you need to do your homework,all freely available online,all the best from sunny Troon Scotland

[@stefthorman8548]

"The scabbard was chosen for durability" yea, that's what he said

[@raphlvlogs271]

you can probably use these swords as machete like slashing chopping tools in the colonial frontier