Pattern 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre - Historical Weaponry

During the battle of Waterloo one of the most celebrated actions of the day came during the British counterattack, known to history as the charge of the Royal Scot Greys, immortalised by Lady Elizabeth Butler in her famous painting, Scotland Forever.
Wellington’s cavalry commander, the Earl of Uxbridge, ordered the Household and Union Heavy Cavalry Brigades to attack the French infantry that was pressing the allied centre. Initially held in reserve but witnessing the 92nd Gordon Highlanders falling back in disorder, the Scots Grey joined the fray and routed a French column. Ultimately their advance petered out once they were confronted by the main French line but their exploits that day captured the imagination of many.
In this age of gunpowder how destructive was sabre wielding cavalry man?
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[@jacobharris3208]

The French officers did not " complain " that's a nonsensical myth. The sword most certainly could split a head, that's not a legend. And the 1796 light cavalry sword was not used with the wrist for moulinets, it's a huge chopping sword. Pretty bizarre to hear an "expert" talk like this

[@choiettech]

The moulinets are likely a case of training vs actual use. At the very least Le Marchant's manual teaches the use of the wrist moulinets which became a staple of 19th century British Fencing technique.

[@TheArmourersBench]

And incredibly, not a man of the heavy brigades was carrying a 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre during their charge at Waterloo.

[@daniel-leejones8396]

Exactly

[@althesmith]

I have an original heavy cav sword from that battle. Point was modified to a spear tip like a lot of them.

[@jacobharris3208]

That's because they were heavy cavalry. So they were issued and using the 1796 heavy cavalry saber. The light cavalry used the issued 1796 light cavalry saber

[@jacobharris3208]

So ridiculous the myth that French officers "complained" about the 1796. What does that even mean?? Who did they complain to? I mean these guys are in the middle of a brutal and terrible war where there's cannon balls splitting people in half left and right but they decided to go to (nobody knows exactly) and "complain" about the mean English sabers. And who cares about the 1796 heavy cavalry sword, just the light cav model, that one is particularly mean 😢

[@vorynrosethorn903]

It should also be mentioned that the British light and heavy cavalry sabres were based on Austrian models, the army the French fought the most, they had been dealing with these designs since the revolution itself.
Everything we know suggests they if they thought anything it was that they were insufficient at the thrust and thus inferior to their own swords.

[@jebbush458]

Claims French officers made official complaints about the sword are unsubstantiated.

[@imbastyczny]

Czy prezentowana szabla na tym filmie jest z firmy cold steel tak czy nie

[@cechoslovak6728]

It's look like a cold steel trash.

[@baphomet418]

Please get the Windlass reproduction that's available now. That Cold Steel thing he's using doesn't compare to the originals

[@jacobharris3208]

No kidding. It's also about as shard as a spoon. If it had any sort of edge on it that rib cage would have been hewn clean through

[@vorynrosethorn903]

L K Chen is also making one now, which doesn't have many of the quality inconsistencies of windless.

[@stewarthayhurst1079]

Should not have titled this the 1796 light cavalry sabre but the 1796 heavy cavalry if you are using the Scott grey as a example you would be better of going to the peninsular and using the light cavalry

[@johndavid9973]

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