cutlass question

In the same vein as the link between the words cuttoe/couteau, I've read of a link between the French word "coutelas" (big knife or short sword with one edge) and the English word cutlass...in fact, after looking it up in a French dictionary, it seems coutelas used to be spelled (and pronounced) "coutelasse" in the 15th century, which could have led to the word cutlass...

On a side note, I really like that British hanger you posted, Mr. Hopkins.

Reflingar

I like the ridiculously curved austro-hungarian sabres

Technically, there was no such animal. There were Ames examples dated as early as 1857 but the light did not supplant the heavy (both mle1822 derivatives) until the ordnace regulations of 1861. The light is basically the officer weight version of the mle1822 trooper. Considering the two American versions associated with the 1840s, through the century, it is easier to simply refer to them as the heavy or light. There were also adjustments in 1872 of an even lighter build but the "light" continued into the 20th century and existing armoury stock were sometimes refitted with the iron baskets of the truly labeled 1906.

A good link for easy access to the 1861 ordnace regulations (published in 1862) can be found here.
howardlanham.tripod.com/link11d.htm

The book is also available on Google Books for free download.

Cheers

Hotspur; it is easier for some to think of it (and sell it) as an 1860 but its more complicated than that

Oh noes, soviets

M.