ti The katana proper is from 2 feet inches to 2 feet 9 inches long, and is the common straight sword of the Japanese military class. The Druid or short sword was the weapon allowed to he worn by the tradesmen. and all others not al lowed to wear the katana. The /of/calker: is a small sword worn by the ladies of the military class.
The modern military sword of all civilized na tions is so constructed as to combine all the advantages of cutting and thrusting. The thrust is regarded as by far the most effective attack, but as it demands considerable skill and coolness, and as the average soldier (who in modern cam paigns will in the majority of instances have been hastily taken from civil life) cannot he always counted upon to remember his training and will very naturally use the cut, it has led to the compromise above described. A good sword is required to be sufficiently elastic to permit of its being bent. or to resist a heavy blow without breaking or other injury, and also to be strong enough to deliver a thrust without bend— fug too 111111.1). Equally important is the re quirement that it be as light as possible. consist ent with the strength required. and that it be well balanced. The military blades of to-day are all closely similar in design. They art' nearly straight, but sufficiently heavy toward the point to enable the soldier to deliver a very effective cut. The only exception is the sword
adopted by the French Government in 1S99, which is a long sword designed only for thrust ing. It is 35 inehes in length of blade from hilt to point, and weighs 2 pounds 6 ounces with out the scabbard, which latter is made of steel, with a wood lining. The German cavalry sword is 32Y. inches long from hilt to point, and weighs 2 pounds °times without the seabbard. The scabbard, like that of the French and British, is of steel with wood lining. The British cavalry officer's sword measures 35 inches from hilt to Point, and weighs without the scabbard 2 pounds; while the sword of the trooper measures inehes, and is 2 pounds ounces in weight. The British infantry sword (officer's) measures inehes from hilt to point, and weighs, without scabbard, 2 pounds 3 onnees. In the 'United States Army the sword proper has been abolished and a single form of sabre is now worn by all officers. These are issued in lengths of 30, 32, and 34 inches. The troopers of the United States cavalry have a sabre which is designed for both cutting and thrusting, and differs from the light artillery sabre, which is intended for elating only and is more curved. In addition to the article FENCING, already mentioned, the reader is referred to the articles CAVALRY; TACTICS, Dl ILITARY.