Sabre
75971
223470232
2008-07-04T05:48:13Z
99.240.163.22
/* Sabres in popular culture */
<!-- British spelling predominant in this article -->
{{Unreferenced|date=May 2008}}
{{otheruses}}
[[Image:MuseeMarine-sabreOfficer-p1000451.jpg|thumb|French naval officers' sabre of the 19th Century]]
[[Image:Sabre bayonette carabine.jpg|thumb|From left to right: two [[bayonet]]s, a short curved infantry or artillery [[briquet]], a straight infantry officers' sabre, and a [[carbine]].]]
The '''sabre''' or '''saber''' (see [[American and British English spelling differences#-re / -er|spelling differences]]) traces its origins to the European [[backsword]] and usually but not always has a curved, single-edged blade and a rather large [[Guard (weapon)|hand guard]], covering the knuckles of the hand as well as the thumb and forefinger. Although sabres are typically thought of as curved-bladed slashing weapons, those used by the world's [[heavy cavalry]] often had straight and even double-edged blades more suitable for thrusting. The length of sabres varied, and most were carried in a [[scabbard]] hanging from a shoulder belt known as a [[baldric]] or from a waist-mounted sword belt. Exceptions not intended for personal carry include the famed [[George S. Patton#The Patton Saber|Patton saber]] adopted by the [[United States Army]] in 1913 and always mounted to the cavalryman's saddle.
==Origins of the weapon==
The origins of the sabre in its modern form are somewhat unclear, and it may come from such [[Medieval]] European designs as the [[falchion]], or the [[scimitar]] ([[shamshir]]) used by such [[Central Asian]] cavalry as the [[Turkic peoples|Turks]], [[Tatars]], and [[Mongols]]. The sabre first appeared in Europe with the arrival of the Hungarians ([[Magyars]]) in the 10th Century. Originally, the sabre was used as a cavalry weapon that gradually came to replace the various straight bladed cutting [[sword]] types on the battlefield. As time went on, sabres became insignia of rank in many armies, and dress use of sabres continues to this day in some armed services around the world.
==Use==
[[Image:Sabre mg 0644.jpg|thumb|Typical ''briquet'' of the [[Napoleonic Wars]].]]
The sabre saw extensive military use in the early 19th century, particularly in the [[Napoleonic Wars]], during which [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]] used heavy cavalry charges to great effect against his enemies. The sabre faded as a weapon by mid-century, as longer-range [[rifle]]s made cavalry charges obsolete, even suicidal. In the [[American Civil War]], the sabre was used infrequently as a weapon, but saw notable deployment in the [[Battle of Brandy Station]] and at East Cavalry Field at the [[Battle of Gettysburg]] in 1863. Many cavalrymen—particularly on the [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] side—eventually abandoned the long, heavy weapons in favour of [[revolver]]s and [[carbine]]s. Although there was extensive debate over the effectiveness of "white" weapons such as the sabre and [[lance]], the sabre remained the standard weapon of cavalry for mounted action in most armies until [[World War I]] (1914–18). Thereafter it was gradually relegated to the status of a ceremonial weapon, and most horse cavalry was replaced by [[Armoured warfare|armoured cavalry]] from 1930 on.
In the [[Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]] (16–18th century) a specific type of sabre-like [[mêlée]] weapon, the [[szabla]], was used. The [[Don Cossacks]] used the [[shashka]], which also saw military and police use in Imperial Russia and early Soviet Union.
During the 19th and in the early 20th century, sabres were also used by both mounted and dismounted personnel in some European [[police]] forces. When the sabre was used by mounted police against crowds, the results could be appalling, as in a key scene in [[Doctor Zhivago (1965 film)|''Doctor Zhivago'']]. The sabre was later phased out in favour of the [[Club (weapon)|baton]] (or night stick) for both practical and humanitarian reasons.
In the [[United States]], swords with sabre blades are worn by Army, [[United States Navy|Navy]], and [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] officers. [[United States Marine Corps|Marine]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officers]] and [[non-commissioned officer]]s also wear such swords. They are not intended for use as weapons, however, and now serve primarily in ornamental or ceremonial functions.
==In fencing==
A [[Sabre (fencing)|derivative]] of this weapon is used under this name in the [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] [[sport]] of [[fencing (sport)|fencing]] - see [[Sabre (fencing)]]. Ornamental versions of the sabre are sometimes spun and tossed by [[Color guard (flag twirling)|color guards]] or [[majorettes]] in modern [[marching band]]s and [[Drum and bugle corps (modern)|drum and bugle corps]].
==Sabres in popular culture==
{{Trivia|date=June 2008}}
* [[Juken Sentai Gekiranger]] has the character Jan Kando/GekiRed use the GekiSabers as a result of learning Fierce Beast Shark-Fist.
* In the game [[NetHack]], a silver sabre named "[[Grayswandir]]" is the most powerful of all weapons dealing double damage to every monster and also having a silver damage bonus against all demons. This is in homage to the blade carried by the protagonist in [[Roger Zelazny]]'s [[Chronicles of Amber]] fantasy novels.
*In [[Star Wars]], the weapon of the [[Jedi]] and the [[Sith]] is the [[lightsaber]], which is a weapon with an energy blade.
* The '''[[Buffalo Sabres]]''' are a professional hockey team in the [[National Hockey League|NHL]] that are located in [[Buffalo, New York]]. Since their existence in 1970, they have thought as the sabre as a "symbol of leadership, swiftness, and strength".
* In the [[Japan]]ese [[anime]] [[Space Battleship Yamato]] 2 it's possible that the character Sabera (The Princess of the Comet Empire) had her name derived from the word "Sabre."
*The strongest class of servants (and therefore the lead female character) in the [[PC game]] [[Fate/Stay Night]] is named Saber.
8 In [[Power Rangers Jungle Fury]] Kasay's second weapon is the Shark Sabre.
*In the MMORPG 9Dragons, the Heavenly Demon clan disciples use a saber as their primary weapon.
==See also==
{{Commonscat|Sabre}}
{{wiktionary}}
*[[Bokken]]
*[[Tulwar]] or [[talwar]]: the Indian equivalent of a sabre.
*[[Scimitar]] the Arabic equavalent
*[[Dao (sword)|Dao or Tao]]: the Chinese sabre or "broadsword"
*[[Katana]]: the Japanese "samurai sword"
*[[Mameluke sword]]
*[[1908 and 1912 Pattern British Army Cavalry Swords]]
*[[Sabrage]]; the act of opening a [[Champagne (wine)|Champagne]] bottle with a sabre
*[[Sword]]
*[[Szabla]]: the Eastern European sabre
== Notes ==
<references/>
</div>
[[Category:Blade weapons]]
[[Category:European swords]]
[[Category:Fencing]]
[[Category:Medieval weapons]]
[[Category:Swords]]
{{Link FA|uk}}
[[ast:Sable (arma)]]
[[bs:Sablja]]
[[br:Sabrenn]]
[[ca:Sabre]]
[[cs:Šavle]]
[[da:Sabel]]
[[de:Säbel]]
[[es:Sable]]
[[eo:Sabro]]
[[eu:Sable]]
[[fr:Sabre]]
[[ko:사브르]]
[[hr:Sablja]]
[[id:Saber]]
[[it:Sciabola]]
[[lt:Kardas]]
[[nl:Sabel (wapen)]]
[[ja:サーベル]]
[[no:Sabel]]
[[pl:Szabla]]
[[pt:Sabre]]
[[ru:Сабля]]
[[sl:Sablja]]
[[sr:Сабља]]
[[sh:Sablja]]
[[fi:Säilä]]
[[sv:Sabel]]
[[uk:Шабля]]
[[zh:佩劍]]