LK Chen US 1860 Light Cavalry Saber
Mar 23, 2023 23:41:26 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 23:41:26 GMT
LK Chen US 1860 Light Cavalry Saber
Specifications
Blade length: 35 inches
Blade width: 1 inch at base, 0.75 inches at termination of greater fuller
Grip length: 4.5 inches on the inside, 6 inches on the outside
Sword Weight: 2.2 pounds (1,013g)
Sword Weight with Scabbard: 3.6 pounds (1,655g)
Blade thickness
At base: 9.3mm6” up the blade: 6.2mm
12” up the blade: 4.6mm
18” up the blade: 4.1mm
24” up the blade: 3.4mm
30” up the blade: 2.8mm
Near the tip: 2mm
Point of Balance: 4 inches from guard
Overview
The replica US 1860 Light Cavalry Saber manufactured by LK Chen is a 1:1 replica of an antique saber manufactured by American company Emerson and Silver in 1864. LK Chen meticulously studied this antique and has documented their experience with it on their website, which includes images of the line drawings they made compared to the original.
Link to LK Chen’s listing: lkchensword.com/us-1860-cavalry-saber
I purchased the sword on September 25, 2022, for $475 USD. My sword shipped from China on December 7, 2022. I received the sword on December 13, 2022. Production of this sword took approximately ten weeks. I received several updates via email from LK Chen’s representative, KK, during this process. He was also responsive to my email requests, replying generally within 24 hours.
KK is also something of a US Civil War history buff and has actually visited Gettysburg. The film, Gettysburg, is also one of his favorites. Due to his experiences, he was very passionate about recreating this specific model of sword, and when I shared with him that I have an ancestor who wielded this very same model of sword, he spoke with great reverence and respect for his service and felt compelled to ensure the replica sword was recreated to the most exacting standards.
My ancestor was Corporal Ira Sergeant of the NY 22nd Cavalry. I have a clipping below that documents his service, in addition to a photograph of a different soldier from the NY 22nd pictured with a US 1860 saber worn at his side. I do not possess Corporal Sergeant’s original sword, nor do I have a photo of him, but I know from relatives that his saber was once a family possession prior to its sale at an auction.
I have always wanted a quality replica of this saber as a way of connecting with my ancestor and due to my education and avocation as a historian. I do not own an antique saber, but I recently held and examined an antique US 1860 saber also made by Emerson and Silver in 1864. While this antique saber is not in my possession to provide a comparative analysis, I do have anecdotal experience handling and examining it, admittedly from a novel perspective as this was my first time handling an original.
Construction
The Hilt
The hilt parts are cast brass, and the coloration of the brass is on par with historic brass manufacturing here in the United States, which compared to brass manufactured in China, has a higher copper concentration and is a darker yellow color. I was pleased to see LK Chen get this detail correct. Similarly, the brass is 5mm in thickness at the guard, which may interest the more knowledgeable buyer because most replicas get this detail wrong, and feature brass guards that are too thin, and could not sustain blows from other weapons without catastrophic failure. Additionally, this error also has a negative impact on the weight and balance of the weapon. So, kudos to LK Chen for getting this correct. The castings are clean with no pitting or rough edges.
The grip is made of wood covered in leather and wrapped in brass wire. It is an ergonomic shape and provides a good fit for various grips: hammer and handshake grips feel very natural. The section of the brass guard facing the spine of the blade is also slightly curved upwards so that one can comfortably push their thumb up against it while using a handshake grip. This style of grip with the thumb extended was very popular with saber wielders, and many antiques show signs of additional modification to facilitate this style of grip.
The quality of the leather and the wrap are excellent. The brass wire is countersunk into the grip so that it does not tear up one’s hand during use, but it provides an extra amount of traction. One could comfortably wield this sword without a glove. The wire also seems to be of an appropriate thickness or gauge.
The pommel cap is well-made, is fitted to the guard securely, and the peen is nicely executed. Not much to report other than these basic facts.
An undyed leather washer is fit between the base of the blade and the brass guard. This helps provide a watertight seal between the blade and the guard and ensures that no water will enter the scabbard while the saber is sheathed.
The Blade
The blade is exquisitely made to my eyes. The blade has no warps, bends, or twists. The blade is symmetrical, there is little evidence of rippling, and the polish is very even; it has a near mirror finish. This is a cut above most swords at this price point, which often have a satin finish. In fact, it’s superior to many swords at a higher price point. I have enclosed a photo that shows the reflection of my hand in the blade.
The ricasso section, the greater fuller, and the minor fuller are well executed, as are the transitions between these various cross sections.
The distal taper is superbly done. My blade tapers from 9.3mm at the base to 2mm at the tip. LK Chen’s website reports their blade is 8mm thick at the base and 3mm at the tip. For some, this disparity may be unacceptable, but I am quite tolerant of these minor differences between replicas, provided the weight and balance of the blade are well executed (more on this later). For comparison, the original sword I handled was just under 9mm at the base and roughly 2.5mm at the tip. It is clear that there were minor differences/tolerances between the originals. Therefore, I believe this will not present an issue for most buyers, especially at this price point.
The edge of the sword blade is properly apexed and has a single bevel. There is a minor micro-bevel that is barely seen with the naked eye. The blade is well-sharp but is not shaving sharp. I easily tore through paper with the sword, but it did have a few spots that need additional honing. For this price point, I feel this degree of sharpening is excellent, but it could use some improvement.
The Scabbard
The scabbard is a major selling point for this replica. It is made of steel and is joined by brazing. I cannot see a demarcation line with my naked eye, which is excellent. The finish on the steel is a satin finish.
The interior of the scabbard is lined with wood. Most replica saber scabbards are not fabricated in this manner. This means that whenever the saber is drawn or sheathed, the blade drags against the steel portion of the scabbard, which has a dulling effect on the edge. The wood liner prevents the edge from dulling. So kudos to LK Chen for getting this correct. To my knowledge, they are the only manufacturer that is currently doing this. Although, I admit my knowledge of fabricating steel scabbards is rather limited.
The sword blade fits perfectly within the scabbard. It locks into place, there are no gaps, and it is easy to draw the sword, but does require some force to unsheathe it.
The only nitpick I have about the scabbard are the suspension rings. Both of my suspension rings have gaps. I believe LK Chen should go the extra mile here and join the ends of the rings together and braze them. This would help ensure the rings fit more securely, and it just looks better.
Handling Characteristics
I freely admit that I am out of my depth when it comes to handling military sabers. I would defer to the judgement of more expert users on how well this replica saber handles, but I would like to provide my preliminary observations as a novice.
The sword weighs 2.2 pounds and has a point of balance of 4 inches from the hilt. As such, the sword feels light and nimble, and one does not easily tire while wielding it. Despite its relative lightness (many Oriental sabers are much lighter), it does feel as though it would strike and slash with authority given its forward balance.
Gripping the sword is extremely comfortable and feels natural, no doubt due to its quality construction, but also due to its quality design.
The blade flexes significantly, but mostly in the last third of the blade. Given the blade’s concave distal taper, this is to be expected. I have enclosed a photo showing the blade flexing. I was deterred by the owner of the antique saber I examined from testing the flex of the blade, so I cannot compare it to LK Chen’s replica. I would greatly appreciate some feedback from more knowledgeable sword friends here. Are these blades meant to flex to this degree? Are there noticeable tolerances between originals in terms of blade rigidity?
Overall, I would say this blade is very user friendly due to its lively handling due in part to the excellent distal tapering, weight, and balance of the sword.
Conclusion
From my perspective as a sword buyer with rudimentary knowledge of these original swords, LK Chen’s replica is a quality 1:1 replica and is likely the most superior replica of this model on the market today. I previously owned the same model manufactured by Windlass and I can report that it is a superior by leaps and bounds; the Windlass replica currently retails for approximately $180 USD. Is it worth spending the extra $300 for LK Chen’s replica? If one is not wearing the sword purely as a costume piece, then it is unquestionably well worth the additional cost, especially when one considers the quality of its construction relative to its price point.
From a customer service perspective, I greatly appreciate KK’s correspondence with me and his knowledge of and appreciation for the history of this sword. The 10-week wait time was not bad, but I was a little miffed that I missed out on purchasing the first batch that was manufactured. Several swords from that first production run wound up on Kult of Athena while my sword was still being made. Looking back, I am unfazed by the amount of time I waited and I am grateful to have received a quality sword.
