The Old Guard Swords and Sabers

Page 1 of 8 US ARMY OFFICER SABER, SCABBARD AND COVER 1. SCOPE. 1.1 Scope. This specification covers the requirements for US Army Officer Saber, Scabbard and Cover for the 3rd US Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). 2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS. 2.1 The following documents of the issue in effect on the date of request for proposals, form a part of this specification to the extent specified herein: STANDARDS: Federal FED. TEST METHOD Metals; Test Methods STD. NO. 151 Military MIL-STD-105 Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes 2.2 Other Publications. 2.2.1 American Society for Testing Materials, Methods for Chemical Analysis of Metals. Application for copies of A.S.T.M. Standards should be addressed to ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA, 19428-2959. 3. REQUIREMENTS. 3.1. Sample. Vendor samples are furnished as a guide only. Minor A or B defects (or minor variations from this specification as defined in Table III) may appear in the sample, in which case this specification shall govern. Upon award, the Contracting Officer will issue the vendor a list of defects that must be corrected for preproduction and/or production samples. Except for such variations, the design, appearance, quality and workmanship in all respects not covered by this specification shall be equal to the sample. 3.2 Preproduction sample approval. When required before production is commenced, the contractor shall submit to the contracting officer for approval, a finished Saber, Scabbard and Cover conforming to the requirements for design, construction and workmanship of this specification. 3.2.1 The vendor shall submit test results covering the physical characteristics of each metal and plating as specified in this specification, along with the preproduction sample. 3.3 Materials. 3.3.1 Saber Blade. The blade shall be forged of carbon steel (grade C55) or of X30Cr13 stainless steel, and shall be carefully tempered, hardened and ground to a curved single-edged blade with a “blood” groove extending 21 inches (+/- 0.5 inch) down the blade. The Rockwell “C" hardness shall be from 48 to 54, measured at three points: 4 inches from the -- 1 of 8 -- Page 2 of 8 guard, center point of the blade, and 4 inches from the tip. If the blade is forged of carbon steel, the blade shall be nickel plated with a minimum thickness of 0.00059 inches (15 microns). The surface of the blade shall be carefu1ly polished to a bright finish. The blade tongue which holds the guard shall not be hardened. 3.3.1.1 Dimensions. The finished dimensions of Saber blade and hilt shall be in accordance with Table I. 3.3.1.2 Length. The finished blade length and overall length shall be in accordance with Table I. TABLE I SABER MEASUREMENTS BLADE OVERALL CLASS LENGTH LENGTH 1. 28" 28” (711 mm) 33-3/8" (848 mm) 2. 29" 29” (737 mm) 34-3/8" (873 mm) 3. 30" 30” (762 mm) 35-3/8" (899 mm) 4. 31" 31” (787 mm) 36-3/8" (924 mm) 5. 32" 32” (813 mm) 37-3/8" (949 mm) 6. 33" 33” (838 mm) 38-3/8" (975 mm) 7. 34" 34” (864 mm) 39-3/8" (1000 mm) Tolerances are +/- 3/8” (+/- 9 mm) ____________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: The inside dimension of Scabbard shall be ¼” (6 mm) longer than the blade length. 3.3.1.3 Etch Design. The blade shall be acid etched with the US Army saber design in accordance with commercial practice, and shall have a uniform appearance. Embossing, including letters, shall be raised (solid). All etching, embossing, and art work shall be identical on like parts. The etching shall be not only superficial but tactile. The finished design on the blade shall contain the following aspects: 3.3.1.3.1 Front Side of Left Side (curved guard facing down). The blade's front side shall contain the images of the US Colors and US Army Colors, "US," and scrollwork. 3.3.1.3.2 Spine. The spine shall incorporate scrollwork into its design. 3.3.1.3.3 Reverse Side or Right Side (curved guard facing up). The blade's reverse side shall contain a designated space for personalization, the US Coat of Arms, and crossed cannons over military flags. 3.3.1.3.4 Maker’s Mark and Historical “PROVED” Symbol:. The manufacturer’s Maker’s Mark shall appear on the blade’s ricasso on the reverse side of the blade. The Maker’s Mark shall include the country of origin. The historical six-sided star with the word “PROVED” shall appear on the blade’s ricasso on the front side of the blade. -- 2 of 8 -- Page 3 of 8 3.3.1.3.5 Acid Etch Practice. The blade design and ricasso marks shall be acid etched in accordance with commercial practice, and shall l have a uniform appearance and depth across each etch. 3.3.1.4 Balance and Weight. The individual components of the saber shall be designed, cast, and assembled where the balance point for a completed 32-inch saber is located not less than 5.0 inches from where the guard meets the blade. The finished complete saber weights shall be per Table II. TABLE II COMPLETE SABER WEIGHTS (WITHOUT SCABBARD) OVERALL CLASS WEIGHT 1. 28" 1.38 lbs (624 grams) 2. 29" 1.40 lbs (636 grams) 3. 30" 1.42 lbs (648 grams) 4. 31" 1.45 lbs (660 grams) 5. 32" 1.47 lbs (672 grams) 6. 33" 1.50 lbs (684 grams) 7. 34" 1.52 lbs (696 grams) Tolerance: +/- 0.1 lbs (+/- 45 grams) ____________________________________________________________________________ 3.3.2 Saber Hilt Assembly. The Saber Hilt assembly shall consist of the following components: 3.3.2.1 End Nut. The end nut shall be an oval design made of a solid copper-zinc alloy casting containing 85% copper (material CuZn15, DIN EN 1652). The entire end nut shall first be copper plated with a minimum thickness of 0.00059 inches (15 microns) and then nickel plated with a minimum thickness of 0.0002 inches (5 microns). The end nut shall be highly polished. 3.3.2.2 Grip Assembly. The grip assembly shall consist of a solid copper-zinc alloy casting containing 85% copper (material CuZn15, DIN EN 1652) and a black acrylonitrile butadiene styrene …