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CDN Army Ceremonial Swords

  • Thread starter Thread starter MAJOR_Baker
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MAJOR_Baker

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I was wondering, is there a historical basis for a member of the CDN Army to carry a sword in a ceremonial function? I have never seen it done, am I missing something?
 
If you are asking do CF officers carry swords onto parade, yes they do. I believe this is the only time you‘ll see them carry or wear it.

The historical basis would be tradition I believe.
 
A-AD-201-000/AG-000 - Canadian Forces Manual of Drill and Ceremonial. This document will contain specific information pertaining to this topic. That said, I can‘t find a copy of it online at the moment, though it does exist in e-format. If someone else has a link to an online copy (not a DIN copy), please post it here.

Generally though, Officers will carry swords on ceremonial occasions such as unit parades. Non commissioned members do not carry swords. I believe this came down from the British practice of doing the same.
 
However, high ranking NCMs carry pace sticks, right? Or at least those in certain positions (ie, RSM, CSM)
 
Drum Majors and RSMs in the infantry wear swords when the officers do. At least in the King‘s Own Calgary Regiment, the NCOs in the Guidon party carry swords rather than rifles. This may be a general armoured thing. As a note, the only time an infantry NCM actually DRAWS a sword on a parade is during a trooping of the colour.
 
Swords are only carried in No.1 Order of dress which includes white belts, gloves and medals. Officers, IIRC only carry swords when the formed body of troops are armed. Warrant officers (WO-CWO) may carry swords or sabres depending on the customs and traditions of their corps/regiment. In the Infantry it is customary for the RSM to carry a sword (sheathed) along with a pace stick, in the Armoured Corps the escorts to the Guidon (WO‘s) will be armed with sabres.
 
Sorry A little off topic...

Does anyone know where one could purchase a CF sword/sabre?

I am planning on buying one for a proposed "Chief‘s/WOs Sword" for a cadet unit.

Thanks.
 
You might want to try Penny‘s in Thunder Bay. Their website is www.pennys.ca. If they don‘t have that, they might know where you can get them. Also the PPCLI on-line kitshop has them listed. http://kitshop.ppcli.com/
 
Originally posted by willy:
[qb] A-AD-201-000/AG-000 - Canadian Forces Manual of Drill and Ceremonial. This document will contain specific information pertaining to this topic. That said, I can‘t find a copy of it online at the moment, though it does exist in e-format. If someone else has a link to an online copy (not a DIN copy), please post it here.
[/qb]
Click to expand...
I have the manual on CD Rom, right here with me, unfortunately i am computer illiterate so i wouldnt have the first clue on how to post it up on the forum, if theres a way that i can do so, let me know and it shall be done, remembering that the file is extremely large and would require alot of space.
 
Originally posted by xFusilier:
[qb] Swords are only carried in No.1 Order of dress which includes white belts, gloves and medals. [/qb]
Click to expand...
Is that a guideline or a regulation? As I‘ve seen officers carrying them on parade in Combats.
 
Do swords just go to RMC grads? S_BAker how do they do it in the US military do all offciers get a sword?
 
m_a_r_c, there isn‘t a way you could post it here without taking up excessive system resources on Mr. Bobbit‘s system. There are online copies available, mostly on the DIN, but some on the internet too, I belive. I‘m just lazy and didn‘t do an exhaustive search for it before. If someone really wants it they‘ll find it.

Edit- looks like they did. Check the thread of the same name. Combat Medic gets a gold star.

Sig Op, unless it was just as part of a parade practice or something like that (and even then, technically) the officers you saw carrying swords in combats were wrong to do so. That said, I‘ve seen it too, and it is happening at my unit more and more. There are a lot of things done in combats these days (unit parades, quarter guards, etc) that were only done in DEU a few years ago. The regulations haven‘t changed, it‘s still a no no. However, I suspect that, in addition to the fact that we‘ve become a bit lazy, the fact that new troops now have to wait a while to get DEU is one of the factors here, as nobody would want to do a parade with only half the unit.

Nonetheless, xFusilier is entirely correct, and whites aren‘t supposed to go with combats.
 
Swords can be purchased online at the RMC Kit Shop. It‘s a very good deal. Otherwise, you can get your from the ‘original‘ Commonwealth sword maker - Wilkinson‘s in London.

Their swords are absolutely beautiful and pricey.

I got mine from RMC. Let me know if you have any more questions - send me an email!
 
Do you have your own now or in the event of a parade do you have to sign one out from the armoury?
 
Sherwood,
The really nice swords that are marked Toledo are from Spain (not Ohio). I was there a couple of years ago and they have some very beautiful stuff.
 
Originally posted by Habitant:
[qb] Swords can be purchased online at the RMC Kit Shop. It‘s a very good deal. Otherwise, you can get your from the ‘original‘ Commonwealth sword maker - Wilkinson‘s in London.

Their swords are absolutely beautiful and pricey.

I got mine from RMC. Let me know if you have any more questions - send me an email! [/qb]
Click to expand...
Do you have a URL for the RMC kitshop? does it exist? I haven‘t seen one online.

Thanks!!!
 
Originally posted by recceguy:
[qb] Sherwood,
The really nice swords that are marked Toledo are from Spain (not Ohio). I was there a couple of years ago and they have some very beautiful stuff. [/qb]
Click to expand...
All swords worne By Officers are all Wilkenson.
What was Damascus Steel?
 
Originally posted by Spr.Earl:
[qb]
What was Damascus Steel?
[/qb]
Click to expand...
http://damascus.free.fr/f_damas/quest.htm

Now a days it is a fancy acid etching which puts a cool effect on the sword.

Does it really matter who makes the swords though, they will never be used for anything but show. If I had to pick what kind of sword I would want it would be a really high silicon content steel (stainless steel) so it would shine nice with minimal upkeep. Though if it were to bump into something it would get a dent.
 
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