A Mameluke sword/ˈmæməluːk/ is a cross-
hilted, curved,
scimitar-like
sword historically derived from sabres used by
Mamluk warriors of
Mamluk Egypt after whom the sword is named. Egypt was, at least nominally, part of the
Ottoman Empire and the sword most commonly used in Egypt was the same as used elsewhere in the empire, the
kilij.
The curved sabre was originally of Central Asian Turkic in origin[1][2] from where the style migrated to the Middle East, Europe, India and
North Africa.[3] In
Anatolia and the
Balkans the sabre developed characteristics that eventually produced the Ottoman kilij. It was adopted in the 19th century by several
Westernmilitaries, including the
French Army,
British Army,
Royal Sardinian Army,
Royal Italian Army and the
United States Marine Corps. Although some genuine Ottoman sabres were used by Westerners, most "mameluke sabres" were manufactured in Europe or America; their hilts were very similar in form to the Ottoman prototype, but their blades tended to be longer, narrower and less curved than those of the true
kilij, while being wider and also less curved than the Persian
shamshir.
In short, the hilt retained its original shape. but the blade tended to resemble the blade-form typical of contemporary Western military sabres. The Mameluke sword remains the
ceremonialsidearm for some units to this day.
United States Marine Corps
Marine Corps history states that a sword of this type was presented to Marine
First LieutenantPresley O'Bannon by the
Ottoman Empireviceroy, Prince Hamet, on December 8, 1805, during the
First Barbary War, in Libya, as a gesture of respect and praise for the Marines' actions at the
Battle of Derna (1805).[4] Upon his return to the United States, the
state of
Virginia presented him with a silver-hilted sword featuring an eaglehead hilt and a curved blade modeled after the original Mameluke sword given to him by Hamet. Its blade is inscribed with his name and a commemoration of the
Battle of Tripoli Harbor.[5]
Perhaps due to the Marines' distinguished record during this campaign, including the capture of the
Tripolitan city of
Derna after a long and dangerous
desert march,
Marine Corps CommandantArchibald Henderson adopted the Mameluke sword in 1825 for wear by Marine
officers. After initial distribution in 1826, Mameluke swords have been worn except for the years 1859–1875 (when Marine officers were required to wear the
U.S. Model 1850 Army foot officers' sword), and a brief period when swords were suspended during
World War II. Since that time, Mameluke swords have been worn by Marine officers in a continuing tradition to the present day.[6]
British Army
Mameluke swords were adopted by officers of
light cavalry regiments in the first decade of the 19th century, some were used as 'walking out swords' (for ornamental wear on social occasions on foot) but others were employed on active campaign. They are prominent in images of officers of the Hussars painted by Robert Dighton in 1807.[7] As officially regulated dress or
levée swords they first appear in 1822 for lancer regiments. Later, other light cavalry and some
heavy cavalry regiments also adopted similar patterns. Though broadly similar in form, each regiment's swords had individual variations in the decoration of both blade and hilt. The current regulation sword for
generals, the
1831 Pattern, is a Mameluke-style sword, as were various Army Band swords.[8]
There are a number of factors which influenced the fashion for Mameluke swords in the British Army.
The United States Marine Corps sword, discussed above, has been suggested[10] as also being influential. The 1831 Pattern General Officers' Sword is very similar to the
USMC Mameluke that pre-dated it.[citation needed]
Australian Army
The Mameluke is still used today by the
Australian Army, carried by the rank of
Major General or above on ceremonial occasions.[11]
^"The Sword". Australian Army. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
Bibliography
LTC (Ret.) Cureton, Charles H., USMC: “Early Marine Corps Swords,” The Bulletin of the American Society of Arms Collectors, No. 93, 2006, pp. 121–132.
Crouch, Howard R.: Historic American Swords. Fairfax, VA: SCS Publications, 1999, pp. 99–103.
Mowbray, E. Andrew.: The American Eagle Pommel Sword, the Early Years 1793-1830. Lincoln, RI: Man at Arms Publications, 1988, pp. 218–219.
Peterson, Harold L.: The American Sword 1775-1945. Philadelphia: Ray Riling Arms Books Co., 1970, pp. 192–193.
Robson, Brian: Swords of the British Army, The Regulation Patterns 1788 to 1914, Revised Edition 1996, National Army Museum
ISBN0-901721-33-6
External links
Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University Library 105 British military swords, dating from the 17th century to the early 20th century (including several mameluke swords) from the Cyril Mazansky Collection, on permanent display at the Annmary Brown Memorial.