West Point Cadets' Sword

West Point Cadets' Swords are swords that are traditionally worn by cadets of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. They are issued or sold only to 1st class cadets (Seniors or Upper Class Men) for official ceremonies such as Graduation.parades, formations, and drills. Cadet always carry their swords while on guard duty; others who carry swords include the Officer of the Day, cadets who are under arms, honor counsel members at hearings, the color guard, and the band Drum Major. Only cadets N.C.O.'s and Officers wear swords. All cadets under arms (i.e., those bearing weapons) must always wear a hat both inside and outdoors.

History

Pre1802

Since the US Military Academy was founded at West Point in 1802, there were no cadet swords used prior to that date.

1802 to 1839 Model 1802

There are many questions about the first cadet store issued sabers. There are no known examples, nor are there any photos. Most students of the subject believe that from 1802 to 1839, the saber probably looked like (or was) the French Grenadier Sergeant's model sword used in the Revolutionary army.

First made reference by Frederick Todd Col., U.S.A.R. in his 1955 book Cadet Gray pg. 17.

It is important to note That starting in 1802 the Cadet store became accountable for all West Point Cadet Swords. They were made on contract for the academy with tight specs, the Academy issued or sold sabers to Cadets. When the inventory ran low they put the specs out for bidding and different makers won the bidding and they made the cadet saber with the same tight spec's. The Cadet store today is still accountable for all sabers issued or sold today. Photo of all known West Point swords or Sabers are located on the Ebay guide see link below.

1839 to 1872 Model 1839

Cadet sabers made from 1839 to 1872 are very rare. The hilt is made of solid brass and the wire wrap grip was silver plated. Only 200 sabers were ordered for West Point, and the there are only a few known examples of 1839 sabers. West Point has two, The Springfield Museum has several more and there a few in collectors hands. It has been pointed out to me that the Springfield Armory Museum has several prototypes for the saber. Harold L. Peterson pointes out in his book that The Springfield Armory ordered the Swords in odd lots 40, 18, 20 in total received 200 all made by Ames. Ames made 40 for the V.M.I. the difference would be in the makes marks. The saber cost $11.00 dollars for the first 100 the price was cut back to $10.00 dollars. Copies of the orders from the Springfield Armory to Ames are shown in in his book the order clearly shows that they are ordering Swords and Not Sabers.

"Todd" Goes on to say on page 40

""The Board of Visitors of the Military Academy made a study of this matter in 1837, and reported to the Secretary of War that there was "a great want of swords to supply the cadets who, from time to time, act as commissioned and non-commissioned officers of their battalion. The present swords were used during the Revolution, are worn, scarcely capable of use any longer, and entirely unfitted for the purpose. A plan of a sword is understood to be in the War Department."

The Board finally recommended a new West Point sword be adopted and issued to cadet officers, and two years later, in May 1839, these new swords arrived. They were straight-bladed with a brass hilt. The guard formed a simple cross — and this fact has led to the story that they were modelled after the swords carried by the Crusaders. It is more likely that they were modelled after the style of sword carried by the Finance Corps.

Two years later the Commandant ordered cadet officers always to wear the sash when the sword was worn, and specified just which sergeants were entitled to this privilege.

Twice since, the design of the cadet sword has been somewhat modified ( as described later on page 68 ), but it Still retains the simple cross design of 1839.

Today the West Point cadet officer is the only man in the Army who wears a sword and sash, the sole guardian of the tradition.""

In Todd's words "the only Saber issues to cadet's was between 1839 and 1947 and it was a light Cavalry sword used for 108 years during mounted drills and tactics."

1872 to 1922 Model 1872

• 
  Model 1872

Saber issued from 1872 to 1922 were made by many makers. This sword had an MA molded into the center of the brass hand guard. It was also engraved with U.S.M.A. on the blade. This is important because so many makers made this style of sword; the engraved sword blade is the only true way to tell that it came from the academy. This style was used for other military schools, such as the Citadel or V.M.I. so if it does not have U.S.M.A. on the sword blade, it was not a West Point Cadet saber.

The Academy has had the blade engraved with its initials U.S.M.A. on every saber made for, issued or sold at the academy. Starting the engraving with the second saber the Academy had made to specs the model 1872.

The number of issued sabers were made in limited production, Cadets were issued the dress sabers it was not meant to be used as a weapon and most were returned them to the cadet store. Because cadets had no use for this type of saber in the Army, as Officers they carried another issue type. Cadets could always buy their own saber and many did. The real ones are rare. Many are replicas, just be sure of the makers name, U.S.M.A is engraved on the blade and that there is an MA molded into the center of the brass hand guard. The Eagle on the Pommel on the top of the Model 1872 faced forward this was changed on the model 1922 to be facing back.

1923 to Present Model 1922

The saber used today by cadets, the model 1922, is a slightly modified version of the cadet saber adopted in 1872. Both types have a cruciform hilt of gilt brass, with silver-colored grips, both are engraved with U.S.M.A. custom-etched on the front side of the double-edged blades, and nickel-plated-steel scabbards with gilt-brass mounts. The principal difference between the earlier and the present version is the change to a new ornament on the crossguard, which now displays an oval emblem bearing the helmet worn in Greek mythology by Athena, whose helmet design was incorporated into the Academy's heraldic arms and insignia in 1922. The 1872 saber had its MA displayed in the oval. The Eagle on the Pommel on the top of the Model 1872 faced forward this was changed on the model 1922 to be facing back.

=== Model 2011 Plaining is in the works for the first Cadet Saber due in the fall of 2011===

The WD4 is now working on a new design.

Past Makers

• Ames, Lilley Company
• M.C. Lilley & Company
• Lilley-Ames Company of Columbus, Ohio
• M.S. Meyers N.Y.C. N.Y.
• Horstmann Company Philadelphia PA

Selling and other issues

U.S.M.A. cadet swords are copyrighted by the academy and are only sold at the academy's cadet store. The sword is issued to cadet seniors for free, but must be returned at the end of their senior year. Any cadet or alumnus can buy a new sword for their own for $124.95. The sword is made today only by WKC Stahl- und Metallwarenfabrik in Solingen Germany. This sword is not allowed to be sold new by anyone other than the cadet store at West Point.

There are some retail outlets that sell this sword new on the internet, although it is a violation of West Point's policies.

The West Point Book Store had never put in an order for Sabers, They have only ordered Swords. Both Todd who talks about the orders for the swords and Peterson who shows the orders in his book calling for swords and not sabers. West Point calls it a Sword.

The cadet is allowed their first saber Army model 1902 when they are an officer and a gentleman in the Army and not before.

The cadets today call it a Saber which is fine, West Point designed and ordered them as swords. Today the book store sells them as Swords or Sabers.

See also

• U.S. regulation swords

References

1. The American Sword, by Harold L. Peterson, 1954 ISBN 978-0-9603094-1-2 ISBN 0-486-42802-8

2. Cadet Gray, by Fredrick Todd 1955 ISBN 0-595-86023-0

4. Civil War Collector’s Encyclopedia, by Francis Lord, 1963

5. The Ames Sword Company 1829-1935, by John Hamilton, 1983 ISBN 0-917218-18-3 ISBN 978-0-917218-18-7

6. Collectors’ Guide to Ames US Contract Military Edged Weapons: 1834-1906, by Ron Hickox, 1984 ISBN 0-9613064-0-8 ISBN 978-0-9613064-0-3

7. American Swords and Sword Makers, by Richard Bezdek, 1994 ISBN 0-87364-765-3 ISBN 978-0-87364-765-6

8. American Swords in the Phllip Medicus Collection, by Norm Flayderman, 1998

9. Civil War Cavalry and Artillery Sabers by John Thillman, 2001 ISBN 978-0-917218-92-7

10. Swords and Sabers of the Armory at Springfield by Burton A. Kellerstedt

11. The Army called it home Military Interiors of the 19 Century by William L. Brown III

12. Collectors guide to Ames U.S. contract military edge weapoms by Ron G. Hicksos

External links

• Ebay Reviews- USMA-West Point Sword history 1802 to today. Photo of all known West Point Swords are located on the Ebay guide.
• http://arms2armor.com/Swords/cadet1.htm
• http://www.freebase.com/view/en/west_point_cadets_sword_c_1922_present
• http://wkc-solingen.de/newshop/uswespoint.html