Model 1902 Army Officers' Sword

[3] By the early 1870s combat experience had convinced many American military officers that swords had, at best, a tertiary role in the modern army.

[6] However many disliked the idea of carrying a purely ceremonial weapon in combat, and the M1860's delicate design proved ill-suited to the rigors of military use in the field.

After many years of research by Mr. Allien, including numerous trips to Europe and making a number of patterns with both straight and curved blades, a final design was completed and laid before General John C. Kelton, who was noted as being a skilled swordsman.

The board's membership was selected to present a diverse set of military knowledge, as it also had to consider many other items of clothing and equipment, and was rather different than it might have if the adoption of a new regulation sword was its primary concern.

[15] Nonetheless, the review eventually recommended maintaining the current pattern saber and the M1902 remains the regulation sword for officers of the US army.