This Officers Model heavy Cavalry saber, known as the wrist breaker" was designated the U.S. Model of 1840 but was widely used in the U.S. Civil War.

This particular example was made by "P.D.L." for P.D. Luneschloss of Solingen, Germany, one of Europe's leading Sword Makers of the period and imported by Tiffany & Company of New York City. This sword conforms exactly to the M-1840 U.S. Heavy Cavalry pattern however the interesting difference is that the mounts are all brass. Standard features include a relatively straight wooden handle covered with shark skin leather and a wire grip, hilt has three branches, brass pommel cap and guard are unadorned, steel blade has flat back with narrow and wide fuller stopped at the ricasso, iron scabbard with iron mountings. The hilt and pommel are brass, a unique feature of this manufacturer. The sword was sold to federal officers for private purchase. Marks on ricasso, "PDL" oval ring of dots. Blade length 36in.

The Model 1840 Cavalry Saber was based on the 1822 French hussar's sabre. Unlike its replacement, the Model 1860 Light Cavalry Saber the M1840 has a ridge around its quillon,
a leather grip wrapped in wire (rather than grooves cut into the wooden handle) and a flat, slotted throat. It is 44in long with a 35in blade and weighs roughly 2.5 lbs.The blade is beautifully engraved with a spread winged Eagle on on side and US on the other side. The blade has never been sharpened.

The M1840 was designed for slashing and because of its heavy flat-backed blade was given the nickname "Old Wristbreaker. It was adopted due to the army's dissatisfaction with its predecessor the model 1833 dragoon saber, the first cavalry sword adopted by the US Army.


The 1840 saber was used during the U.S.-Mexican War by US Cavalry. The main contractors were Ames of Cabotville, Horstmann, and Tiffany but due to the large number of swords required at least 1000 were made in Germany by S&K and imported. Some troopers used Prussian sabers as an alternative, which in contrast to the M1840 had straight blades.

When production ceased in 1858 over 23,700 were made. During the US Civil War it continued to be issued to Union Cavalry as in the early years it was more readily available than the M1860. George B McClellan carried one at the front, keeping his regulation officer's sword for full dress occasions. Many were also used by the Confederacy including General Nathan Bedford Forrest who had both edges of his sword sharpened to increase combat effectiveness.

Item # DROL3202

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