A New System of Sword Exercise for Infantry — John Shaqi
A New System of Sword Exercise for InfantryBurton, Richard Francis, Sir
History
A New System of Sword Exercise for Infantry
Burton, Richard Francis, Sir
Infantry drill and tactics; Swords
At times the two first feinting movements in Nos. III. and IV. may
be done more emphatically: this of course makes the movement slower,
but it is a variety which embarrasses an adversary accustomed only to
short, quick action.
§ 4. _The Reverse or Back Cuts in Manchette._
As the Manchette system has been strangely neglected, so the Reverse or
Back Cut may be pronounced unknown to the majority of the profession:
the latter, instead of utilizing the “false edge” of the blade, still
lose time and incur great danger by turning hand and wrist in using
the true edge, especially when “Cutting within the Sword.”[16] More
extraordinary still, although almost all the civilized world prefers
what is technically called the “flat-backed and spear-pointed” sabre,
yet no one seems to think of employing, or even of sharpening one of
the most important parts of the weapon.
The Regulation blade with the false edge, that is to say, the blade
sharpened from the point to the Centre of Percussion, about one-third
of the length, was introduced into England about 1844, and the first
specimens were made by the late Henry Wilkinson, acting with the
late Henry Angelo, then Superintendent of Sword Exercise.[17] This
back-edge of the blade should be ground to the sharpness of a razor.
When practising the Reverse Cuts (_Revers_ or _Rovescio_), the handle
is held loosely with the thumb and the two first fingers, and the wrist
and fore-arm should bring the blade up with a jerk, the grip being
at the same time sharply tightened. Practice will soon enable the
swordsman to deliver a strong “drawing” cut, equal to the Thrust-cut of
the so-called “Damascus” blades. This valuable movement has the immense
merit of not uncovering the swordsman, and what makes the sabre so rude
a weapon is that every movement of attack, in the old systems, lays
the body open by raising hand and point when a blow is to be given.
With the Reverse Cut no such dangerous process is necessary; the point
is still directed at the opponent whilst the cut is being delivered.
Finally, it is always unexpected by the opponent who has not practised
it, and although it rarely begins an assault, except against the
inexperienced, nor should it be done alone as a rule, it may either
follow or conclude every attack, feint or “time.”
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