Who makes decent swords these days?

[hardeeflag]

I am in need of an 1840 Cavalry Saber. Who makes a decent reproduction these days? The ones I have seen are sort of crude but am just courious if this is just what is available today.

[Busterbuttonboy]

Rich
Up untill last year there was a feller, on ebay... let me finish. Who went by the name, Bigmick45 i beleive. Of Big Mick Militaria. Reguardless he had been brought up here last year as having some pretty hi quality swords. I know they are pretty nice for repops, way above indian quality and close to that of dixie gun works. Wether he is still around i am not sure, ive looked but havent found him. Likewise dixie gun works makes a nice non-regulation sword.
Drew gruber

[1st Maine Trooper]

I'm not aware of anyone currently producing a decent saber. Ordinance reproduced some very good M1860's. They compared quite well to the originals but they were not M1840's. Over on another forum there was some discussion about repro M1840's. Some fellows were comparing the offerings of Ames, Legnedary Arms and others. The bottom line is that none of the available reproductions, come close to weight, feel or durability of the originals. A majority of the repops actally mix features of both the 1840 and 1860.
For not much more than the cost of the "high" quality repops, an original can be had. Depending on what you are intending to use it for, this may be an option for you.
Good luck in your search.
Dave Myrick

[DougCooper]

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6138&highlight=repro+swords

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3105&highlight=repro+swords

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6279&highlight=sword+restoration+services

[Andrew German]

Rich,

I have a Legendary Arms 1840 sabre. The blade and guard are good, but the grip was more of a light saber shape with not enough wire wraps. I sent it to Tom Nardi at Sword Restoration Services and he put an accurate grip on and removed the India from the blade. Now I'm quite happy with it, but for the same amount I could almost have bought an 1840 reassembled from period components from him. Check his Web site. I don't know of any 1840 repros other than Legendary Arms.

Andrew German

[5th Texas]

Cold Steel now makes what they call an 1860 Heavy Cavalry saber, which means it is an 1840. I'm not sure why they refer to it as an 1860, but they know enough to call it the 'old wrist breaker.'
While I do not own a Cold Steel sword, I do own several of their knives, and I can attest that their quality is flawless, and they are built to last forever.
This Cold Steel saber will certainly be no wall hanger. It will be beautifully made, come sharp enough to shave with, and strong enough to chop saplings. It is a real sword.
They also offer a 1796 Light Cavalry Saber and an 1830 Napoleon Saber (among others).

I do own a Legendary Arms Texas Dragoon Saber which is a repro of the U.S. 1833 Dragoon Model that Ames produced for the Republic of Texas.
A note on these Indian made swords. While their quality is, well, Indian, if your buying one of the Confederate repros they come out quite accurate. The quality of a lot of the CS wartime production matches modern Indian stuff quite well, if you know what I mean...
The link to look at the Cold Steel sword(s) is below:

http://specpro.stores.yahoo.net/88hcs.html

[5th Texas]

See the previous post. (Somehow I did a double post.) :o

[paul9thky]

Rich
Up untill last year there was a feller, on ebay... let me finish. Who went by the name, Bigmick45 i beleive. Of Big Mick Militaria. Reguardless he had been brought up here last year as having some pretty hi quality swords. I know they are pretty nice for repops, way above indian quality and close to that of dixie gun works. Wether he is still around i am not sure, ive looked but havent found him. Likewise dixie gun works makes a nice non-regulation sword.
Drew gruber

I bought an 1860 light cavalry saber off that guy on ebay a year ago and it is a very well balanced saber and well constructed. Not very expensive either, mine was only about $40 plus S&H. Don't know if he's still selling them though

[GrumpyDave]

http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=bigmick45

[Mutt]

Ames is a very old company which has changes hands over the years but is still putting out swords. I'm just assuming the quality is great based on a few comments from friends long ago. I'm also not sure if they produce a M 1840 Cavlary Sword, but they do have a M 1862. Ames Sword Co. (http://www.amessword.com/body_index.html)

Best of Luck,

[Mutt]

Ames is a very old company which has changes hands over the years but is still putting out swords. I'm just assuming the quality is great based on a few comments from friends in the past as well collectors online. I'm also not sure if they produce a M 1840 Cavlary Sword, but they do have a M 1862. Ames Sword Co. (http://www.amessword.com/body_index.html)

Best of Luck,

[1st Maine Trooper]

Ames is a very old company which has changes hands over the years but is still putting out swords. I'm just assuming the quality is great based on a few comments from friends in the past as well collectors online. I'm also not sure if they produce a M 1840 Cavlary Sword, but they do have a M 1862. Ames Sword Co. (http://www.amessword.com/body_index.html)

Best of Luck,

The Ames sabers are not much better than the Indian or Pakistani repro's available nearly everywhere today. The blade is poorly shaped, too thick and resultingly unbalanced. The leather used in the grip is too thick which results in further affecting the balance and awkward feeling when in the hand. The sabbards aren't too bad though.
Additionally, the saber that replaced the M1840 Dragoon saber was the M1860 Light Cavalry Saber and not the M-1862. To the best of my knowledge, there was no M1862 saber.
Lastly as a point of correction, mounted troops carried sabers, not swords. There is a difference between the two.
Dave Myrick