Rough riding Saber Tossing

[jpbab]

I am new to cav reenacting and have recently started to take my horse on some more agressive trails with all my gear and weapons mounted. I have noticed on about 50% of occasions and usually after some moderate cantering that the lower scabbord support strap becomes unhooked. any tips on stopping this from happening? I have on rare occasions seen the sword belts with no swivel clasps and just using the leather looped through the scabbord rings was used. How common is this? I am trusting that the dimensions on the sword belt are accurate but I also notice that the scabbord is suspended almost entirely deom the upper strap while the lower strap has slack. Is this correct?

TIA

[AZReenactor]

Re: Rough riding Saber Tossing

It is my understanding that the enlisted cavalry saber belt didn't include snap hooks and hooking the leather directly through the saber rings was how it was most often used.

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Rough riding Saber Tossing

Jeffery,
According to the Ordinance Manual, the front saber strap should be 17 inches and the rear strap ahould be 34 inches in length. Even though some were used, snaps were not issued to troopers. The straps were intended to be buttoned directly to the suspension rings on the scabbard. When mounted, saber is to be unhooked and hanging vertically. If the saber hilt is tipped to the front this is an unsafe condition caused by the rear strap being too short and should be rectified immediately.
Dave Myrick

[KyCavMajor]

Re: Rough riding Saber Tossing

Jeffery,
If I mayoffer some sugestions...

1) Make SURE the retaining rings on the scabard are welded closed. Most repos have rings that are not and at some point they WILL seperate and cause you to lose your saber.

2) The swivel snaps are not made for mounted use. If they don't come un snapped they will break the spindly shaft that they swivel on, if I have seen one broken, I have seen a thousnd. Use the double button type fastener instead, passing the strap through the ring. Once you learn to manipulate them they are nearly as convient to use as the snaps.

Wha daur meddle wi' me?
Wha daur meddle wi' me?
My name is little Jock Elliot,
And wha daur meddle wi' me?

I ride on my fleet-footed grey,
My sword hangind doun by my knee,
My name is little Jock Elliot,
And wha daur meddle wi' me?

In raids I ride always the foremost,
My straik is the first in melee,
My name is little Jock Elliot,
And wha daur meddle wi' me?

[jpbab]

Re: Rough riding Saber Tossing

The more I ride the more I feel "common sense" is the answer. I know there will always be "personal choice" options in every troopers setup.

So common sense told me to remove the swivels snaps. I kept them on thinking this might be more "authentic." So now they are removed. Thanks for that tip.

The stap lengths are accurate. The sword is as Ames sword and the rings are welded. I will admit that I did loose some rings on my since replaced cheap Indian sword. (The entire sword once dropped away from the horse in a canter. ) However the hardware store had some decent replacements that did not stretch open even though they were not welded. Now, welded rings, accuarate strap lengths, removed swivels and I should be okay.

Thanks for the tips. I will need more in the future.