Jenő Fuchs successfully defended his 1908 Olympic title, the first man to win multiple medals in the sabre.

Béla Békessy took silver and Ervin Mészáros earned bronze.

Four of the eight finalists from 1908 returned: gold medalist Jenő Fuchs, silver medalist Béla Zulawszky, fifth-place finisher Péter Tóth, and sixth-place finisher Lajos Werkner, all of Hungary.

Austria made its fourth appearance in the event, most of any nation, having missed only the 1904 Games in St. Louis.

European sabre rules at the time used a larger target area than the post-World War I standard.