"How To"
Create and Train Your Color Guard Unit

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Swords   and   Hangers

Except for Officers, swords should not be worn by members of the Color Guard.   We discourage this practice for safety reasons.  When marching it is necessary to keep your left hand on the sword's scabbard in order to keep it from tripping you.  You cannot do this and use both hands to support a flag pole.  We recognize that historically it was sward carrying junior officers that usually served as the color bearers, hence titles such as "Ensign" are used, but our primary concern is the safety of our guardsman.

1.  Hangers (which we will discuss in detail later)

2.  Hunting Swords

3.  Short Sabers

4.  Small Swords

5.  Sabers

6.  Naval Cutlasses (were not used by the Continental Line)

It is difficult for us of the 21st Century to fully appreciate the deep personal connotations of the 18th century sword.  It symbolized social standings in the community.  To Officers it was a symbol of their rank and to field officers and the ranks it was the weapon of "last resort" used in hand-to-hand combat.  Many swords were family heirlooms and strong emotional ties existed.  This is evident in numerous wills in which the cherished weapon was designated to go to chosen family members.  George Washington specifically mentioned the disposition of his swords in his will, leaving them to each of his nephews.  William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George S. Washington, Bushrod Washington and Samuel Washington.  These swords were accompanied with an injunction:  "...not to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self defense or in defense of their Country and it's rights, and in the latter case, to keep then unsheathed and prefer falling, with them in their hands, to the relinquishment thereof."  These sentiments were repeated in many wills.

There was no standardization of sword design in the 18th century, that was the providence of the sword's maker.

The Officer purchased the type of sword his position required, but the design was a matter of availability, personal choice and economics.  Some swords were purely functional, while others were works of decorative art.

It was the gentlemanly practice of the day to permit an Officer surrendering his command to retain his sword - a matter of chivalry.  But, this was not the case for his subordinates.  Their swords were collected by their captors.  A sword so acquired was greatly prized by American Officers - a trophy of victory and carried with a great deal of personal pride.

It is interesting to note that the method of carrying a sword was also dictated by rank.  Company Officers (Lieutenants through Majors) wore their swords suspended from a shoulder belt, worn over their uniform coat.  Lieutenant Colonels and above wore their swords on a waist belt or a shoulder belt, under their coats.

Replicas of Revolutionary War swords are readily available and usually come with a dulled blade.  Authentic swords of the era usually had razor sharp edges.  As a matter of safety, take your sword to a good machine shop and have them take the edge off.  We also recommend the same procedure for the tip.  This can be accomplished by a skilled machinist without damaging the sword or it's appearance.

As stated, there are a variety of sword patterns or styles.  The saber, a heavy sword, usually with a curved blade, was the weapon of choice of the Cavalry and most officers.  Because of their length, 30 inches to 36 inches they were cumbersome to carry when on foot.  Senior Officers preferred two swords, a saber for field duty, where confrontation with the enemy was possible, and a light sword, commonly called a "Small Sword" for use in camp.   These were usually 28 inches in length and decorative.  It is questionable if they would be very effective in combat.

Hangers

An authentic and a safe alternative to the sword is the carrying of a short sword or Hanger (with a blade averaging 25 inches in length).  The Hanger is a throw back to the 17th century when muskets were not equipped with bayonets.   Soldiers had to rely on the Hanger as his only means of protection in hand-to-hand combat.  Its short length, usually reaching just below the knee, made it convenient to carry.  In 1768 a Royal Warrant decreed that only Sergeants, Grenadier Companies, Fifers and Drummers were to carry them.  As the soldier became more comfortable with the bayonet, the use of the Hanger diminished.   But, it was still common during the Napoleonic Wars and was the preferred side arm of artillerymen until the late 19th century.

It is interesting to note that we have surviving examples of belts that had scabbards for bot a Hanger and bayonet.

When equipping your Color Guard with weapons, please keep safety foremost in your mind.  We do not want to publish casualty lists!

It is also important to keep public perception in mind.  When appearing before our own, the presence of Halberts and Spontoons is readily acceptable, but to the general public their appearance infers our inability to procure muskets.