The military sabre is a one-handed, slightly curved cutting weapon that traces its origins to the cavalry arms of Central European steppe peoples. Over the course of the 18th and especially the 19th century, it evolved into a defining symbol of the European military elite. During the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), the sabre saw widespread and intensive use. Both light and heavy cavalry units, such as the French hussars and cuirassiers, were equipped with sabres, and infantry officers often carried them as both a status symbol and a practical weapon. The sabre was employed not only from horseback but also in combat on foot, where swift, slicing techniques and direct strikes were vital in the chaotic battlefield conditions of the 19th century.

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After the Napoleonic era, the sabre remained in military service, although its role gradually shifted from a practical weapon to a ceremonial and officer’s sidearm. In the latter half of the 19th century, a sport-oriented form of sabre fencing began to develop, leading to the codification of techniques and the rise of dueling formats. Nevertheless, the military sabre remained in use by cavalry formations up through the First World War, although its effectiveness had diminished significantly with the advent of firearms. The sabre thus carries a rich legacy—bridging tradition, military practice, and the evolution of fencing into a modern martial art.

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Within our club, we study the treatises of Charles Roworth, Alexandre Valville, and F.C. Christmann, all of whom lived around the time of the Napoleonic Wars. Their writings form the foundation of our sabre fencing curriculum.