Szabla wz. 34

One of the finest weapons in a long list of Polish sabres reaching back to the early 16th century, although its introduction occurred as swords finally became obsolete as military weapons, it was successfully used in combat during the 1939 Invasion of Poland and remains in service (as szabla wz.

When Poland regained its independence in 1918, the renascent Polish Army inherited a wide variety of swords from the armies of German Empire, Russian Empire, and Austria-Hungary, as well as France, Italy, and many other states from where weapons were being imported during the Polish-Bolshevik War of 1920.

[1] Poland acknowledged the benefits of mechanization but was unable to invest heavily in many of the expensive, unproven inventions since then.

In spite of this, Polish cavalry brigades were used as a mobile mounted infantry, but also continued to be trained in fencing for a possible sabre charge.

In 1934 the Warsaw-based Technical Institute of Armaments designed a new standard combat sabre for all mounted units of the Polish Army.

[2] Unlike many contemporary designs, the sheathed sword was almost flat, which facilitated carrying the weapon and attaching it to a standard cavalry saddle.

[2] Unlike the earlier models, the new sabre was being produced by a single factory, the Kielce-based Huta Ludwików (hence the name ludwikówka often applied to the wz.34).

[2] In addition, prior to delivery, each piece of weapon had to undergo a series of rigorous stress-tests: Unlike many contemporary designs such as the American Model 1913 Cavalry Saber or the British Pattern 1908 and 1912 cavalry swords, the Polish Szabla wz.

While World War II put an end to the combat use of swords, the sabre remained a ceremonial weapon even in the Soviet-controlled army of the People's Republic of Poland.

Initially Soviet shashkas were used for that purpose, then in 1971 a new model was introduced based on World War I German cavalry sabres.