pgandy
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Post by pgandy on Jul 13, 2020 15:41:36 GMT
Some thoughts about the above sword. From what I have heard [all of which are from modern day enthusiasts] about the sword it was a good one copied by several countries for years afterwards. The British infantry (Flank Officers?) had their copy as well. The Germans used their version after the Brits declared it obsolete. I’ve only heard modern collectors having a good word for it and is currently reproduced by at least two companies. It’s a known fact that the French tried to ban it from the battlefield because of the hideous wounds it made, although the French straight bladed thrusting sword proved deadlier. With that in mind below are opinions of the men that used it from “British Sword Fighting 1600-1945”. While no sword pattern is mentioned the Peninsular War was fought 1807-1814 and from the description I assume they are talking of the P1796 LC sabre. Sorry for a pdf but couldn't get a photo. P1796 LC 1.pdf (408.47 KB) P1796 LC 2.pdf (465.84 KB)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2020 17:59:43 GMT
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Post by victoriansword on Jul 20, 2020 5:00:07 GMT
Edelweiss has it right, it’s seems like the French complaints is an apocryphal story. I’ve never seen it backed up by a primary source.
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Post by Pino on Jul 22, 2020 0:18:51 GMT
It's a known fact the complaints part is just fictional or good marketing. If the French were to be so upset about a sword that only wounded the men, they would have complained louder against cannonballs and especially more so against Cossacks!
Ironically I think the only ones that complained about the 1796s were the very British. They were very hard on their swords, a bit too much considering the Portuguese, Dutch and Germans also used the same type of swords and never really complained, the Prussians keeping theirs until as late as WW1.
Sometimes it's not the tool that is the problem but the arm that wields it.
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