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Title:	SABER -  U.S. SABER MODEL 1906 EXPERIMENTAL CAVALRY SN# 6
Maker/Manufacturer:	SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
Date of Manufacture:	1906
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 6615
Measurements:	OL: 92CM 36 1/4" BL: 76.2CM 30"

Object Description:

U.S. SABER MODEL 1906 EXPERIMENTAL CAVALRY SN# 6
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. - Model 1906 Cavalry saber. Slightly curved, single-edged, blade. Fuller runs 18" length of blade. Long iron grips, covered with fish skin and wound with two strands of twisted and two strands of plain brass wire. Pommel is capped with iron. Guard is sheet blue metal which expands from the knuckle-bow to form a roughly oval counter-guard.

Markings:
Ricasso: SA/Ordnance bomb/6. Reverse: US/1906.

Army Ledger: "Saber. Experimental. Brown guard. O.O. 26791-0-757. Enc. 12, 13, 14."
13-036

See, Peterson, THE AMERICAN SWORD, pp. 36-37. O.O. 26791-0757 Encs. 12, 13, 14.

Notes: "In 1905 and 1906 the Ordnance Department conducted a series of experiments aimed at improving the design of the swords carried by both the officers and enlisted men in all branches of the Army. A basic pattern was decided upon and a number of swords were produced and issued to various cavalry units for testing purposes. Basically these changes included a straighter and lighter blade that was more manageable and more adapted for thrust, a grip that expanded towards the pommel and thus would insure a stronger grip during a cut, a pistol grip pommel which led to the development of this particular model are set forth at length in the annual reports for the Chief of Ordnance for 1905 and 1906." - Peterson

See, Peterson, THE AMERICAN SWORD, pp. 36-37. & O.O. 26791-0757 Encs. 12, 13, 14.

References:
Peterson, Harold L. THE AMERICAN SWORD 1775-1945. Dover Publications Inc. Mineola, N.Y. 2003.