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Cutlasses, heavy swords with a single cutting edge and curved blade, were originally designed for cavalry. They are now used as ceremonial blades and in sport fencing, which uses a lightweight version with a V or Y-shaped blade. Saber fencing allows strikes with the side of the blade and targets the entire upper body.
Cutlasses, a type of sword, have been made and used for centuries and their exact origins are unknown, although historians suspect they may be related to Middle Eastern blades. While no longer used in warfare, these blades often appear on military uniforms as an indicator of rank and status. A derivative of this sword is also used in sport fencing, although a real saber and a fencing saber bear little resemblance.
These swords are heavy, with a single cutting edge and a slightly curved blade. The handle is also heavy and arched, protecting the knuckles and fingers of the hand. Originally, they were designed for members of the cavalry. Throughout the 19th century, sabers were used in active warfare around the world, perhaps most notably by Napoleon’s soldiers.
Over time, the horse was phased out of warfare, eliminating the need for mounted soldiers except on ceremonial occasions, and swords were replaced by pistols and other long-range weapons. However, the cutlass had become such an iconic weapon that many servicemen came to keep it as a ceremonial blade. You can often see sabers on display at military parades and other formal events involving members of the military, and traditionally many of these blades are sharp and fully serviceable.
A fencing saber is very different. These have a “V” or “Y” shaped blade and are lightweight yet strong. Like a traditional saber, the fencing version has a single cutting edge, and strikes with the side of the blade as well as the tip are acceptable strikes in competition. To prevent injury, the tip is bent, creating a button so that the blade bends when it contacts someone, rather than penetrating the person.
Since strikes with the side of the blade are acceptable in saber fencing, this style of fencing is distinctive and unique. People who engage in this type of sport fencing tend to be extremely agile, using an assortment of movements to corner their opponents. The entire upper body is an eligible target in this fencing, allowing people to score blows in a variety of creative ways.
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