Best Sabre Swords for Collectors Under $500

Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting to explore the world of sabre swords, finding a quality piece without breaking the bank can be a real challenge. Sabre swords, known for their curved, single-edged blades and historical significance in cavalry charges, offer a unique blend of beauty and history. In this guide, I’ve curated a list of the best sabre swords available for under $500. Each recommendation balances cost, craftsmanship, and collectability, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck. While I’ll share my insights and preferences to help guide your choices, the final decision will always rest in your capable hands. Let’s explore some options that promise to enhance your collection without emptying your wallet.

Top Sabre Sword

• Official U.S. Cavalry Sabre, 1860
• Shamshir Sword
• Russian M1881 Dragoon Officer Shashka Sabre
• Chinese Sabre Sword
• Cold Steel Talwar Sword , Black
• Chinese Sabre HSU Wushu Dao

Official U.S. Cavalry Sabre, 1860

Specifications

• Overall: 107 cm
• Blade Length: 99 cm
• Weight: 995 Grams
• Not Sharp
• Blade Material: Alloy Steel
• Decorative
• Price: 189$

This U.S. Cavalry Sabre replica captures the essence of the historical military swords. It features a hand-forged blade made from high carbon steel that’s built to be tough—it can bend more than 20 degrees and easily spring back into shape. The handle is wrapped in leather and detailed with rolled thread, while the brass guard is hand-carved with care, featuring designs that include the “U.S.” insignia and the phrase “E Pluribus Unum” alongside traditional military decorations.

Though this blade is for display and not for cutting, its detailed engravings and the solid brass elements make it a standout piece. It comes with a steel sheath that has bronze details, ensuring it looks great either displayed or stored. The sword is about 99 cm long, with the blade itself being 84 cm, and it weighs just under a kilogram.

This sabre is a great choice for anyone interested in military history or looking for a striking addition to their collection. It also includes a pod for easy handling and display.

Shamshir Sword

Specifications

• Blade Length: 71 cm
• Sharp Blade
• Blade Material: Carbon Steel
• Price: 279$

This sword is a modern take on the classic Persian blade, known for its distinctive curved shape that was historically favored by cavalry. Made from carbon steel, this sword is not only beautiful but also fully functional, suitable for various cutting practices. The blade measures 71 centimeters in length, offering a balanced feel that works well for both left-handed and right-handed users due to its ambidextrous design.

The handle is crafted from walnut wood, which not only provides a sturdy grip but also adds a rich, dark contrast to the blade’s silver color. The elegant finish is complemented by details in gold, black, and brown, enhancing its visual appeal.

Included with the sword is a matching scabbard and a stand, making it easy to display this piece prominently in your collection or home. The handmade nature of this sword ensures that each piece is unique, with personal touches that make it not just a weapon, but a work of art. Whether you’re a collector or a practitioner, this weapon promises to be a cherished addition to your arsenal.

Russian M1881 Dragoon Officer Shashka Sabre

Specifications

• Overall: 89 cm
• Blade Length: 76 cm
• Weight: 820 Grams
• Not Sharp
• Blade Material: Alloy Steel
• Price: 153$

This replica of the 1811 model Russian dragoon shashka brings a piece of military and cultural history into your collection. The shashka, meaning “long knife” in Circassian, is a sabre renowned for its roots in Caucasian tradition and is still used today by Cossack cavalry units.

Crafted from spring steel EN45, this sabre features a blade approximately 76 cm long, with the total length of the sword reaching about 89 cm. The wooden handle and brass handguard, complete with a distinctive ring at the end, stay true to the traditional design, ensuring both authenticity and a comfortable grip.

While the blade itself is not sharpened, making it safer for display purposes, the sword maintains its practical appeal as a fully functional weapon. It comes with a leather-wrapped wooden scabbard adorned with brass fittings, enhancing its display value while offering protection and easy storage.

Weighing around 820 grams without the scabbard, this shashka is balanced and manageable, ideal for enthusiasts of military memorabilia or collectors seeking a historically significant piece with practical features.

Chinese Sabre Sword

Specifications

• Overall Length: 92.1 cm
• Weight: 1043.3 grams
• Sharp
• Blade Material: 1060 Carbon Steel
• Price: 263$

The Cold Steel Chinese Saber is a finely crafted weapon that blends traditional aesthetics with modern forging techniques. Hand-forged from 1060 carbon steel, this saber features a moderately curved blade designed for optimal cutting and slashing, while still maintaining effective thrusting capabilities. The blade includes a single ¾ length fuller and culminates in an upswept point that is as functional as it is visually striking.

The hilt of the saber is protected by a solid brass disc guard, intricately engraved in classical style, adding an element of historical elegance. The handle is constructed from a hardwood core, wrapped in black silk cord for a secure grip, and finished with a brass bolster and pommel that complement the guard’s design.

This saber comes with a hardwood scabbard that is covered in black leather and adorned with brass fittings, enhancing its overall aesthetic appeal. While distinctly Chinese in style, this saber is versatile enough for re-enactors portraying warriors from various Steppe cultures, including Mongolian, Chinese, and Manchurian, as well as martial artists seeking a historically inspired, functional piece.

Overall, the saber measures 36.25 inches in length and weighs 36.8 ounces, making it a balanced and manageable weapon for both display and practical use.

Cold Steel Talwar Sword , Black

Specifications

• Overall: 86 cm
• Blade Length: 73 cm
• Weight: 1077 Grams
• Blade: Sharp
• Blade Material: 1090 High Carbon
• Price: 200$

The Cold Steel Talwar Sword draws inspiration from historical debates and modern craftsmanship to create a weapon that not only pays homage to traditional Indian swordsmanship but also challenges conventional Western preferences in sword design. Historically, the Western world has favored point-oriented, thrusting swords. However, the writings of D.A. Kinsley, particularly his accounts from battles across the British Empire, suggest that edge-oriented cutting swords like the Talwar were often more effective in skirmishes.

Encouraged by Kinsley’s work, Lynn C. Thompson, President of Cold Steel, decided to produce a cutting sword that embodies the best attributes of both Eastern and Western designs. The result is the Indian Talwar, which features a strongly curved blade reminiscent of British Light Cavalry but adapted with a wider hatchet point that enhances its cutting power. This design choice not only makes the Talwar a formidable weapon but also a piece of martial heritage.

The blade itself is hand-forged from 1090 carbon steel, known for its toughness and durability, and includes a broad fuller and a combat-sharp edge. The brass hilt is intricately decorated and ergonomically designed with short, thick quillons, a single knuckle bow, and a traditional dish-shaped pommel that ensures a secure grip.

Completing this exceptional sword is a high-quality scabbard made from wood, covered in black leather, and reinforced with a thick brass throat and chape. With its total length of 33-7/8 inches and a blade that measures 28-3/4 inches, the Talwar Sword is not just a tribute to the skilled swordsmen of India’s past but a versatile and effective weapon for both collectors and martial artists today.

Chinese Sabre HSU Wushu Dao

Specifications

• Blade material: 65Mn high carbon steel
• Overall length: 95 cm
• Blade length: 69.5 cm
• Weight: 1485 g
• Blade: Sharp
• Price: 494$

The Hsu Wushu Dao, designed by the esteemed Sifu Adam Hsu, is a Chinese Sabre tailored specifically for the dynamic movements of Wushu, a traditional Chinese martial art. Master Hsu’s expertise in martial arts is evident in every aspect of this sabre’s design, focusing on optimal functionality, weight, and balance to enhance the practitioner’s performance. Forged from robust 65Mn high carbon steel, the Dao promises both durability and a sharp edge that meets the rigorous demands of Wushu. The blade itself is fullered, contributing to the sword’s lighter weight and agile handling. It measures approximately 69.5 cm in length, while the overall length of the sword is about 95 cm, providing substantial reach without compromising maneuverability.

A unique feature of this Dao is its bent “ox-tail” pommel, designed to speed up the drawing of the blade, an essential factor in martial arts where reaction time is crucial. Additionally, the pommel includes a small metal ring for attaching a tassel or piece of cloth, which can serve both aesthetic and practical purposes in training or performance. The accompanying scabbard is as functional as it is stylish, equipped with metal carrying rings along with a throat and chape, all crafted to the high standards of Hanwei’s renowned quality. The total weight of the sabre is approximately 1485 grams, making it comfortably light for both new and experienced practitioners.

Last Words

As we look at different sabre swords, each one stands out with its unique design and historical significance. These swords are more than just tools; they’re a link to the past, crafted with attention to detail and functionality. Whether you’re a collector or a martial arts enthusiast, each sabre offers something special—from the rugged practicality of the Indian Talwar to the elegant precision of the Hsu Wushu Dao. Choosing a sabre is about finding a balance between beauty and utility. It’s about appreciating the craftsmanship that goes into each blade and the history it represents. Whether you’re adding to a collection or starting one, these sabres are not just purchases but investments in a rich martial tradition.