Cold Steel 1796 Light Cavalry Saber Quick Review

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This may be a Bridge Too Far in my year-plus of swordsmanship as physical therapy. The Cold Steel 1796 is an absolute beast of a saber. Here's a quick look before I start re-profiling the blade, which gets me to the only real quality issue: The blade is VERY uneven, almost like a kid made it by hand out of clay. Otherwise, it could use a better edge, and the balance is a bit too far forward for me. I'll update as I do some work on it. And start learning how to use it properly. And build up muscles I haven't had to use like this.
Purchased through Amazon, but also available at Kult of Athena.

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1 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 36

@vladimirkovacevic1656 3 года назад

awesome saber but i would like if it was peened

@raphlvlogs271 3 года назад

the curvature and symmetry of the 1796 Light Cavalry Saber makes it easier to wear.

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

Definitely. Especially on horseback, but there's a lot less tripping potential in general. Also can be easier and quicker to draw.

@chroma6947 2 года назад

Considering that the english backsword and this are the same price where i am which one do you think is better for the money?

@michaelrizzo5523 2 года назад

Well, consider that I don't have much love for really curved sabers with really forward points of balance. Conversely, the Backsword is very nicely balanced for me as an effective cut-and-thrust sword, and the blade is at least even instead of lumpy like the 1796. The biggest downside to the backsword is you may not like the raspy shagreen grip. I sanded mine a bit smoother. If you want something beefier, take a look at their basket hilt broadsword.

@9SS94Cr 3 года назад

Since you are on the topic of more western-style sabers, I wonder if you have checked or handled any Japanese kyu-gunto. Most of them are basically putting katana blades into saber furniture. One even has a two-handed hilt with a knuckle bow. I always wonder how that would feel during handling, and why such design is so rare.

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

I've actually been wanting to try a Kyu Gunto but haven't found a decent reproduction, or a nice antique I can afford, but they do seem like the best of both worlds.

@9SS94Cr 3 года назад

@@michaelrizzo5523 There are some reproductions of the Chinse type 65 cavalry sword, which was a close copy of the Japanese type 32 kyu-gunto. Probably the best alternative that I can think of.

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

@@9SS94Cr Universal makes the Russo-Japanese version with the long grip, but Skal did a review and wasn't impressed. I may consider buying one to try to fit a better katana blade in it, since the fittings are decent.

@mir9302 3 года назад

Nice! Ironically, around here I can pick up an original cheaper than the Cold Steel. A lot of them show up on Auction. The German's called them the Blücher sabre. A lot of people refer to them as the "European Katana!. They can be very impressive cutters. I personally find them a bit clumsy for the sabre fencing I learned. It sure will be therapy for your wrist ;) As has been mentioned Windlass makes the western style swords for Cold Steel.

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

If I decide (or manage) to stick with this, an original is definitely the thing as the Cold Steel blade is such a lumpy, misshapen thing.

@mir9302 3 года назад

@@michaelrizzo5523 If you are interested in the historical usage of this particular sabre, you may want to Google Major-General John Gaspard Le Marchant (This sabre's designer) sword system. The book is called Rules and Regulations for the Sword Exercise of the Cavalry. It's available as a scan online.

@Rob_Fordd 3 года назад

Excellent review!

@MrEdium 3 года назад

Have You ever checked out Indian Club Swinging ? Helps out with Sword training.

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

I used to have a lot more range of motion in my wrist back when I was doing a lot of Chinese Swordsmanship and Escrima, but now that it's semi-fused, I have to move mostly from the elbow and shoulder. Talwar is looking promising, and there are some interesting exercises to go with it. I also have a basket hilt on the way.

@ROBBEAUDOIN66 2 года назад

I frankly think this is one of the most unsung production swords EVER! I love mine. I have antiques and all measure of hand made kit....But when I go hiking and just go out to drill....This sword is my go to. Its super easy to personalize as I have, it really has a ton of distal taper which is rare for modern sword makers on the upper mid to low segment, its very solid and its frankly very attractive. It has a steep...STEEP secondary edge bevel from factory, if you have it on your pack or belt from long hikes etc the " leather sheath version" the upper sheath/scabbard suspension ring fitting gets loose on the leather "little epoxy in there a couple times a year". The blade is stiff and flexy in all the correct ways. Its a modern solid honest saber, Cold Steel did good with this one! we shall see how the Hungarian saber they started selling recently holds up, but this one really does. I love mine!

@vukizbeograda7977 2 года назад

So, take absolutely perfect piece of wood, sand paper, 500 or good file, and start to taking material from both sides of sabre. From 1/4 to top of the blade. More work on top of the blade. Count numbers of your moves, or use clock. Three minute for one, tree for other side of the blade. Measure sabre weight and balance point few times per day, and put that numbers on papier. Don't make scratch only in one direction, they can be to deep. Beware when to stop working with rough file or sand papier. Then start with more high granulation of sand papier. Also get photographs of your progress, every day. You will need couple days for that work.

@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145 3 года назад

I believe the reason Cold Steel made in India is that Windlass produces the blades for Cold Steel. I own a 1796 saber but mine is not made by Cold Steel; It was definitely made by Windlass. They were available in the Atlanta aCutlery catalog sometime around the Late 1990s or early 2000s. Mine looks very much like the cold steel ones, it may be a bit wider towards the tip and mine is definitely has a peened tang but without a peen block.

@raphlvlogs271 3 года назад

the original scabbards were made entirely of steel.

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

CS makes that version but I wasn't able to find one available.

@shawnclifford362 2 года назад

My first sword was a basket hilt heavy cavalry saber. Had a lot of fun with it. Around 1981. But it was also when I learned about quality. Saber style swords are designed to stay in motion. It's the stops and starts that start fatigue. Nice sword by the way. ☘

@roblastname3988 3 года назад

I like the 1796, yea a bit tip heavy but if you can swing your wrists it works nice. I may taper off the tip a bit. I also like the CS hunting knife or I call it a cutlass.

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

I just took a little less than an inch off the tip and made it more of a hatchet point. That and some minor re-profiling has made it feel a lot better for me.

@roblastname3988 3 года назад

@@michaelrizzo5523 Thanks for the tip! How did you remove the metal? slowly with a belt sander?

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

@@roblastname3988 I have a 4X36 table sander, a 3X18 hand-held and a vibrating sander I've stocked wet-dry grits from 240-1000. I'll probably break down and add a Worksharp to that soon. I try to work on cold days and keep a container of water handy, then questionably work with my bare hands on the blade so I can feel if it's getting hot. Usually if I take my time I don't get into critical temps too quickly to catch and cool, unless I'm cutting the steel with an angle grinder. I'm on my 3rd or 4th reshaping/reduction with the 1796, a little at a time. So far I've taken off about 2oz of steel and moved the balance point back an inch. The blade is still a bit wavy but not so lumpy except in the fullers, which are harder to work with what I've got. Doing those by hand.

@paladinhansen137 2 года назад

imo I would say its the Paramerion that is the most popular saber in European history. A weapon adopted by Byzantines and on numerous icons nice video

@michaelrizzo5523 2 года назад

It looks like Cold Steel plans on putting out a similar "Hungarian Saber" soon.

@oregonborn9769 3 года назад

How do you reprofile your blades?

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

The most important thing is to keep the steel cool when using power tools, so I watch carefully for any color changes and keep a cold water quench handy. (I also unsafely work with my bare hands to feel if the steel is getting hot.) Trimming and tip reshaping is started with an angle grinder and bench grinder, but most of the work on the edges and planes is done on a 4X36 belt sander with wet/dry belt grits ranging from 120 to 1000. I'll use files for the detail work. I may use a vibrating sander for polishing but usually do it by hand with very fine sandpaper and finish with Mother's Mag. Finally I use a set of steels, stones or my Worksharp to get the edge fine. Mostly it requires a steady hand, good eye and a lot of patience to take it REALLY slow, especially with the power tools.

@JoeSteel1 3 года назад

interesting blade I think cold steel selling this on Amazon...love it best in the scarbord

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

Yes, I got a good deal for this on Amazon. Still working on the blade--it's... lumpy.

@tusharchatterjee8986 3 года назад

Sir, what is the weight of the sword. Like what is the range of weight for Cavalry soldiers

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

2lbs 3oz, which puts it historically at the top end of the heaviest non-officer swords. Officer's swords were usually half a pound lighter. The big issue is point of balance, which should be around 5" from the guard on a historic version, not 8" as this one. This is probably because the blade is not very well shaped or tapered. It makes the sword feel extremely heavy and unwieldy, more like a bent ax than a sword.

@erichusayn 3 года назад

Mine handles like a crowbar.

@michaelrizzo5523 3 года назад

Mine initially felt like a bent ax, but after some re-profiling it's getting a little better. I'll probably do an update once I get it about as good as I think I can.

@erichusayn 3 года назад

@@michaelrizzo5523 cool. Took me hours to reprofile and sharpen the edge on mine.