228 MILITARY COMMISSION TO EUROPe'. 



Cuirassiers. — Sabre and two instols ; 16 men in each sfjuadron carry a carbine instead of one 

 of the pistols ; a metallic helmet and breast plate, no back piece. 



Dragoons. — Sabre, pistol, and carbine ; metallic helmet. 



The light cavalry sabre has a blade about 32 inches long, and not much curved ; the scabbard 

 and guard of steel. 



It is rather heavy, and not particularly well balanced. 



Tlie heavy cavalry sabre is somewhat longer and straighter. 



The lance has a point 8 inches long above the knob ; two iron straps extend some 3 feet down 

 the shaft, which is about 9 feet long ; the butt tipped with iron ; pennon black and yellow ; the 

 ordinary lance sling. 



Tlie ordinary carbine and pistol present nothing remarkable ; the pistol has no strap to the butt. 



The pistol-carbine has been introduced, and will probably supplant the old fire arms. It is a 

 long single barrel pistol, with a carbine stock, which is attached by two spring catches, so that 

 it may be used either as a pistol or carbine ; the stock, when detached, is carried in one of the 

 holsters. 



The barrel of this weapon is rifled, with 4 shallow grooves, having f of a turn, and is 10| 

 inches long ; it has the same calibre and lock as the new j^attern infantry musket, which does 

 not differ materially from our own last model. 



Ths sabre belt is a plain leather waist belt, with two slings, the shorter of which may be 

 lengthened or shortened by means of a buckle ; when the man is mounted the length of this 

 sling is such that the pommel of the sabre hangs about 1 inch below the waist belt ; on foot it is 

 shortened, so that the sabre may not drag upon the ground. The belt fastens with an S hook 

 for the officers, with a buckle for the men. 



The carbine sling is like our own ; the pistol, or carbine rammer is attached to a strap sewed 

 to this sling. 



The carbine is always carried on the sling, never being put in a boot nor attached to the 

 saddle. 



The cartridge-box is of plain black leather, and slung to an ordinaiy shoulder belt ; it con- 

 tains 24 rounds, and has at one end a small compartment for cleaning utensils. 



The sabre knot is flat, and of leather. 



In the field the sabres are first ground, and afterwards whetted every two or three weeks. I 

 was informed that although the steel scabbard dulls the sabre it is regarded as being, on the 

 whole, belter than wood, as not being so liable to injury by fire, kicks, &c. 



In time of war the lance points are kept sharp by filing. The fire arms are only used on 

 guard, vidette, &c., to give the alarm, it being taken as a maxim to trust only to the steel. 

 There were several instances during the Hungarian war, when the Hungarian hussars stopped 

 to fire ; the result invariably was that they were ridden over by the lancers. 



Many of the officers think that the sabre should be more curved, as they prefer cutting to pointing. 



It is a well recognized principle that a dull sabre is entirely useless. 



When lancers use the sabre they rest the lance on the left arm. 



No pains are spared to perfect the men in the use of their weapons, for they regard this and 

 individual horsemanship as the most important qualifications of the cavalry soldier. 



The hussars wear a sabretasche attached to the waist belt. 



