A sabre (French: [ˈsabʁ], sometimes spelt saber in American English) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. ... In the 19th century, models with less curving blades became common and were also used by heavy cavalry.

What kind of weapon is a saber?

sabre, also spelled saber, heavy military sword with a long cutting edge and, often, a curved blade. Most commonly a cavalry weapon, the sabre was derived from a Hungarian cavalry sword introduced from the Orient in the 18th century; also a light fencing weapon developed in Italy in the 19th century for duelling.

What is a Scottish backsword?

A backsword is a type of sword characterised by having a single-edged blade and a hilt with a single-handed grip. It is so called because the triangular cross section gives a flat back edge opposite the cutting edge. ... Backswords were often the secondary weapons of European cavalrymen beginning in the 17th century.