British Cavalry Sword of 1912

British Cavalry Sword of 1912 with Steel Scabbard

The 1912 Cavalry Sword was the very last sword issued to cavalry officers in the British Army—at a time when mounted charges had become largely obsolete and swords were hardly used as weapons in combat. It was considered the finest cavalry sword ever designed and saw service in the First World War.

The 1912 model was clearly based on the 1908 model, but was far more elaborately decorated. Upon its introduction, it was issued to all officers to replace the mismatched swords they had previously acquired privately. Compared to the standard sword, the hilt was more refined: while the 1908 standard version for enlisted men had a rubber or Bakelite grip, these materials were replaced in the officer's version with sharkskin leather inlaid with nickel silver wire. Furthermore, the bowl-shaped guard was decorated with a floral etched engraving (honeysuckle motif), entirely in the style of 19th-century officer swords.

The 1912 model is still used today as a ceremonial sword by British, Australian, and Canadian cavalry units.

The beautiful, affordable reconstruction we offer here features a straight, single-edged blade made of EN45 spring steel, which is fullered for approximately two-thirds of its length. The unsharpened edge is approximately 1 mm thick. The hilt has a handguard, and the generously sized, bowl-shaped guard faithfully reproduces the motifs that adorned the historical originals. The grip, with its wooden core, is wrapped in black leather and twisted steel wire.

The cavalry sword is supplied with a matching all-steel scabbard featuring two bands, movable carrying rings, and a wide, rounded pommel or butt.

This sword is designed as a collector's item or decorative object and is also ideally suited as a prop, for example, to complete your costume.

Details:

- Material: Blade made of EN45 spring steel (carbon steel, not stainless), guard and pommel made of steel, grip made of wood with leather covering and steel wire wrapping

- Overall length: approx. 109 cm

- Blade length: approx. 89 cm

- Hilt: approx. 20 cm

- Max. blade width: approx. 3 cm (tapering to approx. 2 cm at the tip)

- Blade thickness: approx. 4 mm (tapering to approx. 1 mm at the tip)

- Edge thickness: approx. 1 mm

- Point of balance: approx. 17 cm in front of the guard

- Includes metal scabbard with carrying rings

- Weight without scabbard: approx. 0.98 kg

- Weight with scabbard: approx. 1.7 kg

The above specifications may vary slightly from piece to piece.