cavalry holstering sidearm

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opr1945

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I seem to recall reading that cavalry solders riding horses carried their p
revolver on the right side but facing in a cross draw manner. anyone know why?

To hold gun in left hand and sword in right????
 
Probably had more to do with uniformity/regulation, I don't believe there was much consideration for the lefties and the saber hung on the right. (I think???)
Why grip forward? Who knows, does an authentic cavalry holster have a slight cant? I suppose that is the only viable position to be able to draw withe either hand.
 
So it could be drawn with either hand if you were wounded in the right arm.

The saber was on the left to allow enough length & reach to draw it with the right hand.
But it could be drawn somewhat awkwardly with the left hand over hand if necessary.

Same with the pistol on the right butt forward.
Somewhat awkward drawing with the right hand, but easily doable with practice.

Yet it could still be reached with the left hand if the right arm was disabled in battle.

Reins were in left hand normally.

rc
 
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Nathan Bedford Forrest notwithstanding, through most of the era of cavalry (not just mounted infantry or dragoons), the saber was considered the primary weapon. The pistol (and later the revolver or auto pistol) was considered a secondary weapon. The carbine, if issued, was for use when fighting on foot; it was rarely fired from horseback.

So, saber in the right hand, revolver in the left, and the reins held in the third hand? Did cavalrymen grow a third hand? Well, no, but they were trained to control the horse with their knees and legs, and the horses were trained to act with other horses as a unit, just like human soldiers.

Jim
 
It's worth noting that back before the automobile even city folks were probably above what our average equestrians are today. I don't know how well the average cavalry horse was trained but I get a sense from what I've read that the horses could be a bit rank but the riders, just like in the cowboy ranks were usually exceptional.
The long regarded notion from Hollywood that the cowboy or cavalryman rode his horse day in and day out is false. Depending on the work involved they may pick a different horse from the remuda each day. Be interesting to know the numbers of horses that the gov owned.
 
X-Rap said:
It's worth noting that back before the automobile even city folks were probably above what our average equestrians are today. I don't know how well the average cavalry horse was trained but I get a sense from what I've read that the horses could be a bit rank but the riders, just like in the cowboy ranks were usually exceptional.
The long regarded notion from Hollywood that the cowboy or cavalryman rode his horse day in and day out is false. Depending on the work involved they may pick a different horse from the remuda each day. Be interesting to know the numbers of horses that the gov owned.
Click to expand...
I cannot speak for Cavalry, but from what I understand most cowboys used 'company stock' as they could not afford their own horses. While I do believe that they would use different horses for different tasks (roping vs range riding/traveling) I know that you can develop a 'working relationship' with some of the rankest horses. My understanding is that on cattle drives, cowboys would have a minimum of two horses (one to wash and one to wear).

Granted, those old boys were good riders, but you start spending 8-10 hours on the same horse even 2 days a week, and you both start getting the hang of working together. It takes time, but it works. (have done it with a horse or two)

I once rode a horse that I feel like I had a nonverbal agreement with: I wont ask you to do anything that doesn't need done (run for no reason, spur you too much, cinch you too tight, etc); you won't try to buck/bite/kick me. After a while when she would start to get mad, I could just tell her 'quit that' and we were good to go. Of course, she lost me a few times before we worked it all out.
Worked for years. She was a top performer when she needed to be, but she was naturally lazy/bad tempered.

BTW the thread Posted by opr1945 is a really good read. lots of good info on why folks carried that way.
Calvary draw means that you can get to the gun with either hand and is not in the way of your saber (primary weapon back then)

What I thought was one of the more interesting points is that because many people had served in the military, they brought home the holster with the gun and getting another holster was an expense for something that was already working fine.
 
One's sabre is one's primary weapon, not the pistol. Hence, the pistol goes on the right side so you can draw your primary weapon in a proper civilized manner.
When one is in a hurry with both hands full, one drives with one's knees.
 
Wonder how much training and practice the cavalry got with sabres.
I always figured, movies notwithstanding, that an injun with a tommyhawk against a real swordsman would pretty much end up heap big shish kabob.
 
Holster on the right began as tradition since sword always hung from left. Remained that way long after swords stopped being primary weapons but horse still remained means of transport.

Tradition plays a lot on how the military does things.
 
Sabre drills were a part of physical training. Working with a heavy sabre built up the forearm very quickly. And yes, the sabre was worn on the left side, hilt rearward. The commands were "Draw, Sabre!" with "Draw" being the prepatry comman, and "Sabre" being the command of execution. At the command "Draw" the left hand reversed the sabre, while the right hand grasps the hilt.

As to butt forward revolver carry, "Wild Bill" Elliot, who played Red Ryder in the movies, carried a two-gun rig with butts forward. I believe Guy Madison, in his role as Wild Bill Hickock, did the same.

And, further: Cowboys often rotated their gunbelts around to the left side, leaving the butt forward, when roping. This prevented "roping" the gun butt and slinging the ol' Colt out ahead of yourself when throwing a loop.

Bob Wright
 
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