Martin J Dougherty
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  • Home
    • A Quick Guide to MJD
    • Credits Overview
    • Work Availability
  • My Work
    • My Writing Career
    • Mainstream Publishing >
      • Military History Books
      • Fiction
      • Martial Arts & Self-Defence Books >
        • Fight to Win
        • The Self Defence Manual
      • Armed Combat Books
      • Transportation Books
      • Childrens Books
      • Fencing and Martial Arts Books
    • Games Industry >
      • Avenger Enterprises
    • Defence and Security Industry
    • My Television Work
    • Other Work
  • Martial Arts and Fencing
    • My Martial Arts and Fencing Career
    • Fencing >
      • British Federation for Historical Swordplay (BFHS) >
        • BFHS Chief Assessor
        • IL1 Guidance for Candidates
        • IL 2-4 Work in Progresss
      • The Society for the Study of Swordsmanship >
        • SSS FAQ
        • SSS Equipment and Safety
        • SSS Ranks and Grades
        • SSS Weapons
      • Smallsword Fencing
      • The Military and Duelling Sabre
      • Olympic, or 'Sport', Fencing
      • Fencing Photos
      • More Fencing Photos
    • Martial Arts & Self-Defence >
      • Combat Ju-Jitsu
      • Self-Defence
      • Nihon Tai-Jitsu
    • MJD Musings >
      • Priority
      • Respect
      • Agendas and Misconceptions
      • Light Sabres, Sabre: Lite....
      • Grappling and Groundfighting
      • The Possibility of Violence
      • Anatomy of a Streetfight
      • Self Defence and the Law
      • Coach Development in Martial Arts
      • HEMA: Martial Art or Sport?
      • Obstacles to Improvement
  • Life Stuff
    • Perthshire
    • Other Photos
    • Warkworth Castle
    • More Photos
  • Other Stuff
    • News, Updates and... Stuff.
    • Conventions, Events and Seminars >
      • Smallsword Symposium
      • Smallsword Symposium 2015
      • SWASH
      • BFHS Spring and Autumn Exchange
    • Fiction, Articles and Other Scribblings >
      • Short Fiction >
        • Holy Spirits
        • Grand Endeavour
        • Pandora's Box
        • Wheelman
        • Reactivation Clause
        • Although He May Be Poor
        • Into The Hands of God
      • Mancave Playbabes Articles >
        • Fencing Article
        • Edinburgh Article
        • Whisky Article
      • Space Exploration Articles >
        • Reaching Orbit
        • In Orbit
        • Exploration of the Solar System
        • Space Stations
        • Space Stations - White Elephants in the Sky?
        • Featured Products
    • Northumbria Police: Arrogant, High-Handed and Reckless >
      • Experiences with Northumbria Police
      • Questions But No Answers
      • Concerns About PSD
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The Military and Duelling Sabre

The military sabre is a much heavier weapon than modern fencing sabres, which have more in common with the duelling sabre favoured in the late 19th century in some quarters. Even those are much heavier than modern sporting weapons, requiring a more traditional body of technique.

The sabre is primarily a cutting weapon, although the point thrust can be used with great effectiveness upon occasion. Parries are a little wider than would be used against, say, a smallsword thrust, to absorb the impact of a blow. That is not to say that a sabre match is a study in uncontrolled swinging. Quite the opposite - control wins fights.

The key to sabre fencing is to keep the shell guard 'in the box', i.e. within the roughly rectangular space in front of the fencer. If the guard is in the box, the blade can be moved to defend using relatively small lateral or rolling/circular motions, and cuts can be made without uncovering the fencer's own body. Wild swings will either result in being hit with a thrust on the wind-up, or the opponent making an easy parry and then landing a disciplined cut of his own before retiring 'covered' to allow it to take effect.

There repertoire of possible movements with the sabre is relatively small compared to some weapons, though the subtlety possible within that body of technique is impressive. The use of timing and distance is vital, along with a measure of deception to draw the opponent into making the wrong parry or committing to an attack that will fail and leave him open to a counter.
Picture
Many different designs of military sabre have existed. Most, but by no means all, were designed primarily for cutting.

One common feature is the relatively simple handguard, which might be fairly large and cover much of the hand, or might be quite narrow with a stirrup type knuckle bow.



Picture
The duelling sabre is straight and lighter than a military model. By no means all sabre duels were fought with duelling sabres; this was merely a design that appeared quite late in the 'sabre era' for that specific purpose.

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