86 BULLETIN- 16 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



wire and surmounted by a plain convex brass strip, which terminates 

 in a plain convex pommel. The knuckle guard is formed of a plain, 

 slender, brass strip, which is continued above the blade to form a 

 quillon of the same type. The National Museum collection includes 

 a saber *^ of this character that was carried during the Spanish- 

 American War by Capt. Allyn Capron, United States Artillery. It 

 was loaned to the Museum in 1906 by Mrs. Allyn Capron. 



CAVALRY OFFICERS' SABERS 



The National Museum includes a number of Cavalry officers' 

 sabers that were remodeled at the national armory in Springfield, 

 Mass., in 1873. These sabers are exceptionally artistic in design and 

 finish. The obverses and reverses of the blades of all are decorated 

 with the United States arms and trophy and floral designs. The 

 grips are covered with black fishskin and wound with gilt wire. 

 The pommels are brass helmet-shaped pieces decorated with an 

 eagle displayed and sprays of laurel. The knuckle guards consist 

 of brass strips with three branches. The counterguards are oval- 

 shaped and bear on the side adjoining the grip an eagle displayed 

 and a half circle of 13 stars. There are included several sabers ''^ 

 of this type in the collection that were obtained from the War 

 Department. Another,^" carried during the Spanish-American War 

 by Maj. Gen. Frederick Dent Grant, United States Army, was 

 presented to the National Museum in 1903 by Mrs. Grant. A third 

 saber of this type in the museum collection was carried by Capt. 

 Allyn K. Capron when he was killed at Las Guasimas, Cuba, June 

 24, 1898. This saber was lent to the Museum in 1906 by Mrs. Capron. 



ENLISTED MEN'S CAVALRY SABERS, 1913 



In 1913 an entirely new type of saber ^^ was adopted for use by 

 enlisted men of the United States Cavalry. It has an exceptionally 

 long straight blade with a narrow, deep, central groove. The grip 

 IS made of corrugated steel with a plain convex top and pommel. 

 The guard is a single heavy solid steel sheet molded in full basket 

 form with the blade passing through the center. 



ALL OFFICERS' SABERS, 1902 



In February, 1889, a board of Infantry officers reported that the 

 Infantry sword ^^ was defective and unsuited to their use. This 



** Leugth, 93 cm. Blade, 81 cm. long, '2 em. wide. 



*» Length, 96 cm. Blade, 81.5 cm. long, 2 cm. wide. PI. 27, fig. 1. 



^^ Length, 99.8 cm. Blade, 86.2 cm. long, 1.9 cm. wide. PI. 27, fig. 2. 



^' Length, 107 cm. Blade, 89 cm. long, 3 en*, wide. 



52 Referring to swords of the type described above as the staff and line oiHcers' swords. 



