Original item: Only One Available. Just purchased from a private collection! This heavy Cavalry Saber, known as "Old Wristbreaker" among troops, was designated the U.S. Model of 1840, but was widely used in the War between the States on both sides. This fine example is marked by the maker on the blade ricasso with P.D.L inside an oval. This is the maker marking of P.D. Luneschloss of Solingen, Germany. This firm was one of Europe's leading Sword Makers of the period, particularly for the export market. They made both blades as well as whole swords under contract.

Both North and South imported Swords and guns from Europe and European Manufacturers, mostly in Germany, and they did not want the eventual "winning side" to be able blame them for "supplying the enemy", so they used minimized markings during this period, with no proof marks. This is a typical example that could have been used by the Confederacy or the Union.

This sword conforms quite well to the M-1840 U.S. Heavy Cavalry pattern, and is approximately 42 inches in overall length. It has a very nice brass wire bound leather grip, some of which is missing, and a brass three branch hand guard. The sword has the correctly wicked heavy curved blade measuring 36", with the "flat back" spine of the 1840 pattern. The blade is nice and clean, showing arsenal polishing, and the original blade washer is still present.

The sword comes complete with its heavy all steel scabbard, which is in good shape, with no significant dents, and a nice polished surface, showing some evidence of past pitting and corrosion.

A great example of a Civil War Era M-1840 Wristbreaker Saber: ready to display!

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 44" long with a 35" blade and weighs roughly 2.5 lbs.

The M1840 was designed for slashing and because of its heavy flat-backed blade was given the nickname "Old Wristbreaker." It was adopted due to the army's dissatisfaction with its predecessor the model 1833 Dragoon Saber, the first cavalry sword adopted by the US Army. The iron-hilted M1833 was based on a Napoleonic-era British sword used by heavy cavalry and reputed to wrap "rubber like around a man's head and was only good for cutting butter" An ornate gilded version of this earlier sword was used by General Philip Sheridan during the Civil War; Sheridan had its sheath engraved with the battles he participated in. It was evident a replacement was needed so in 1838 the US Ordnance Dept bought British, French and Prussian swords and field-tested them. The troopers overwhelmingly preferred the French saber, and a copy of it was put into production in 1844. A total of 2000 were ordered and by 1846, 600 were in frontline service.

The 1840 saber was used during the U.S.-Mexican War by US Cavalry. The main contractors were Ames of Cabotville, Horstmann, and Tiffany but due to the large number of swords required at least 1000 were made in Germany by S&K and imported. Some troopers used Prussian sabers as an alternative, which in contrast to the M1840 had straight blades.

When production ceased in 1858 over 23,700 were made. During the US Civil War it continued to be issued to Union Cavalry as in the early years it was more readily available than the M1860. George B McClellan carried one at the front, keeping his regulation officer's sword for full dress occasions. Many were also used by the Confederacy including General Nathan Bedford Forrest who had both edges of his sword sharpened to increase combat effectiveness.