For duck hunting.

Mastery of Weapons for certain. from Saber , Kukri, Bowie and Katana blade and we can't forget Pocket Swords Espada's

6 pounds?!? Was that with scabbard? 6 pounds seems way too heavy for single handed sword as historic swords from any peroid tend to top out at around 3 pounds. I don't know much about American swords at all, but that sounds like a sword+scabbard weight

Wikipedia (*often not a great source) says: The Model 1840 Cavalry Saber was based on the 1822 French hussar's sabre. Unlike its replacement, the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber the M1840 has a ridge around its quillon, a leather grip wrapped in wire (rather than grooves cut into the wooden handle) and a flat, slotted throat. It is 44in long with a 35in blade and weighs roughly 2.5 lbs. Off antique arms sale site "...Model 1840 heavy cavalry saber was issued to Federal dragoons during the Mexican War and then later to Union horsesoldiers engaged in the War of Rebellion. Produced by the Ames Manufacturing Company of Cabotville, Massachusetts, this saber was one of 2,550 delivered to the Ordnance Department under the Ames contract of 1851. Troopers referred to the saber as the "Old Wrist Breaker" with the main complaint against the M1840 was its excessive weight of 4 pounds, 8 oz when it rested in its scabbard." www.horsesoldier.com/products/edged-weapons/swords/3732

Most of the original 1840 heavy cavalry sabers are in that weight range and the Cold Steel version is about right in the weight. The distal taper however is about 3mm too thin as compared to an original that is about 10mm at the hilt vs. Cold Steel’s 7mm. The original is better balanced as a result and actually feels lighter in the hand than the replica which weighs about the same as the original.

Most of the original M1840's that I have examined weigh in at around 2.5 lbs plus or minus a few ounces. I have never encountered a Wrist breaker that weighs much more than that.

Yes, It is more of a hybrid of the two.

One thing that I have noticed is that the balance is better on actual historical examples than many reproductions. The U.S. Army historically specified the POB on cavalry sabers to be 5 inches from the hilt and 3 inches For infantry sabers.

@@S.A.M.S.2017 can you recommend the best balanced replicas?

@@callofthewillman4469 Cold Steel Replicas are hit and miss. Of the Cold Steel line, I have found the USMC NCO sword M1859 to be the closest to the original specs. The M1902 while the weight is about right, the distal taper is a bit flat and made 2mm thinner at the ricasso than the originals. Same with the Cold Steel Cavalry Saber. I have been looking at Universal Swords and while I have yet to purchase one of their military reproductions, they look very promising and more authentic battle reproductions as they use 1065 Carbon Steel and their dimensions seem to be closer to the originals vs. Cold Steel according to Kult of Athena. Definitely worth a look in my opinion. I am on a waiting list for their M1902. When I get one, I may do a review.

For me my choice would be the M1902 assuming the zombies can be killed as easily as regular people. It is light agile however will not take heads so if fighting immortal zombies go with a the heavy cavalry that can take a zombie head clean off in one strike.

I don't know about authentication, but rust stains are actually a good thing because it suggests that the metal is high carbon steel, which will hold a better edge. Just polish them off and keep the blade oiled and it will be fine.

It comes with a decent edge. I believe Kult of Athena offers a sharpening service if you order through them.

I recently had the opportunity to hold an actual 1840 that was for sale at an antique shop. It was lighter at about 940 grams and handled better than the CS version. The POB was a mere 5 and 3/4 inches vs CS 7 inches. Even though it was lighter, the blade was actually thicker at the ricasso at 10mm and tapers to 5mm at the midpoint and 3mm where the fuller terminates 7.25 inches from the tip. Overall blade length was 35 9/16 inches.

​@@S.A.M.S.2017 10mm at the ricasso? That is a WHOPPER of a sword, but it sounds as though it handles better than most replicas. How hard is it to find an antique and reserve engineer it? This is a rhetorical question, I know, but take some measurements before you replicate it.

@@danielflynn9141 That was pretty typical for a historical battlefield sword or saber. I have handled and examined some older Nathan Starr sabers with ricassos as thick as 12mm.

Thanks, the dialogue was unscripted and it was definitely a beast of a saber compared to the infantry sabers that we train with. It was a bit difficult to describe it any other way at that moment in time. Perhaps instead of capturing real-time first impressions, I should start scripting my reviews for a better articulated review. Once again, thank you for your constructive feed-back.

Haven’t really thought about it. I am assuming the Cold Steel M1902?

@@S.A.M.S.2017 Yes the cold steel m1902. I recently got a promotion and told myself that I’d pull the trigger on an M1902 by cold steel if I got selected for the next rank. The problem is that it appears that cold steel has discontinued this sword. So if your interested in selling I am definitely interested in buying!

Well there's two types of saber grips there's that one and then a hammer grip

That's not a saber grip.

It is, its in rowarths book art of defense on foot. Its used for heavier sabers.

@@KageNoTora74 and when I say that one I mean the one you described

Yes, if you have an opportunity to by an original that is always better. However, I myself have both. I would not use an original for backyard cutting though. That I will use a well made replica. The Cold Steel replicas are hit and miss. Most suffer from lack of proper distal taper. Their 1860 was respectable by still off by a few millimeters. The Cold Steel Marine NCO sword however is one of their better reproductions and we use that for cutting practice. The Cold Steel M1902 is thinner and flatter than the originals.

Original swords are to be used only in battle not just to try a cut with.@@S.A.M.S.2017

@@barefoofDr Yes, one must practice cutting in order to cut well in battle. Therefore I prefer to practice with a replica and save the original for battle.