Mameluke Sword: A Guide to the Marine Corps Officer’s Sword

The Mamluks are one of the greatest warriors the world has ever known. Inspired by the scimitar swords of the Mamluks, the Mameluke sword serves as the ceremonial saber of the United States Marine Corps officers. However, it also influenced the military swords of the French, British, and other Western armed forces. 

This article discusses the history of the Mameluke sword, its unique characteristics, and how it came to represent the Marine Corps.

Characteristics of the Mameluke Sword 

The first mention of the Mameluke sword comes from the Marine Corps Uniform Regulation in 1825. Here are the characteristics of the dress sword:

Metal and Construction

Most Mameluke blades are crafted from polished stainless steel or a heavily nickel-plated copper base, suited for its ceremonial purpose. The Marine Corps Systems Command generally inspects and certifies that each manufacturer conforms to the dress sword requirements. Hence, most officers carry blades from WKC, Atlanta Cutlery, Zubco, and other certified manufacturers.

Blade Appearance

The Mameluke sword is a saber with a single-edged, slightly curved blade. Blade appearance may vary in which the earlier blades had a fuller, from the ricasso to the tip, and no decoration on the surface. 

The 1825 model generally has a plain blade, but the 1875 model features a fancy etched blade. The more modern sword blades have gilt etching, from floral sprays to military trophies. It traditionally has a scroll bearing the words, United States Marines.

The owner’s name may be engraved on the sword, reading from tip to hilt. A Marine officer who inherits a previously engraved sword with another name may maintain it as long as the sword meets the requirements.

Size and Length

Around 1825, thew officer’s Mameluke sword had a maximum overall length of about 95 centimeters, with its blade length around 83 centimeters. Today, the blade length ranges from 66 to 88 centimeters. As a rule of thumb, the overall length is determined by its traditional handling position, in which the tip will not fall more than 1 inch above or below eye level.

Sword Mounting

Based on the 1825 model, the officer’s sword features a white ivory Mameluke hilt and a pierced pommel for a gold tassel. It may have star-shaped or diamond rivet heads on the handle instead of plain ones. It also has a straight crosspiece with an acorn-shaped ornament on the ends. Based on the regulations, this dress sword comes with a plain brass scabbard.

Today, the Mameluke sword features a braided sword knot which is often black leather. However, the mourning knot is a black silk ribbon or similar material. The scabbard is made from cold-rolled steel or stainless steel, chrome-plated, and brightly polished. It also includes two rings for sling suspensions and the tip of the scabbard shoe.

Facts About the Mameluke Sword

The Mameluke sword derives its name from the Mamluk warriors of Egypt. These warriors fascinated European society, so much so that many armies including the Americans and British, adopted their weaponry and style.

Here are the some interesting facts about the Mameluke sword:

The name Mamluk, also spelled Mameluke, comes from the Arabic word for slave.

These Mamluks were taken as prisoners of war or received as gifts. Every recruit underwent a thorough medical examination to ensure his fitness for the military service. Once accepted, he learned the basics of the Arabic language, Islamic religion, and was expected to be loyal to his sultan. These slave warriors served as the military organization of the Ayyubid sultans, but they eventually overthrew their rulers and established their own dynasty in Syria and Egypt.

The Mamluks wielded scimitars or sabers with a long, slightly curved blade. 

Other Islamic swords had broader blades, but the Mamluks wielded lighter and narrower curved blades. Their sabers had a crosspiece similar to the Turkish Ottoman kilij or Persian shamshir, and some examples even had double-edged curved blades. However, they failed to adopt field artillery weapons, so the Ottoman Empire defeated them in Syria and Egypt in 1517.

The sabers during the Mamluks period had gilt inscriptions praising their owners.

Swords from the Mamluk period featured gold-inlaid inscriptions on the blade, usually the name of the sultan or commander, his official titles, blessings, or verses from the Quran. Sabers made in Egypt were forged from Syrian steel, one of the best during the time. Swordsmiths traditionally crafted the steel blade in two parts: a rigid and pliable iron foil which is then hammered together.

Some of the Mamluks were Napoleon’s bodyguards.

After the French invasion of Egypt in 1798, the French Army recruited hundreds of Mamluk warriors to fight for Napoleon Bonaparte. They served as personal bodyguards throughout the Napoleonic Wars. The French were impressed by their reputation as fighters and many officers adopted their scimitars.

The U.S. Marine Corps officers started to wear the Mameluke sword as part of their dress uniform since 1826.

The commandant of the Marine Corps, Archibald Henderson, adopted the Mameluke sword as the officer’s sword in 1825. Beginning in 1826, the USMC officers wore their swords as part of their dress uniform except from 1859 to 1875. Today, the Mameluke sword remains a ceremonial weapon for the Marine officers, representing the USMC’s fighting legacy.

Under regulations, all Marine officers’ swords were plain and undecorated.

Contrary to popular belief, the earliest Mameluke swords associated with the Marines were brass-mounted leather scabbards—not bejeweled. The main decorations were the brass hilt, gold etching, and geometric lines.

The 1859 Uniform Regulations favored the Army sword over the Mameluke sword. 

In 1859, the Marine Corps officers abandoned their Mameluke sword in favor of the foot officer’s sword, the model 1850 Army sword which was a more efficient weapon. Unlike the Mameluke, the Army sword had a leather sheath which did not become bent like the brass scabbard of the former. Its hilt also had a knuckle guard that offered more protection to the hand.

American sergeants and corporals wore the foot officer’s sword during the Civil War.

Today, the Marine Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs) use the NCO sword, similar in design to the foot officer’s sword for ceremonial purposes. Even though several photographs from the Civil War depict them with the sword, many believe that it functioned as ceremonial weapons and had little use on the battlefield.

Several Western armed forces adopted the Mameluke sword.

During the 19th century in British Army, the officers of light cavalry and hussars adopted the Mameluke sword. In the Australian Army, the officers of Major General rank and above carry the Mameluke sword on ceremonial occasions. Other members use the infantry, cavalry, artillery, and the Scottish claymore swords.

History of the Mameluke Sword

The Marines first became prominent for fighting pirates and the Mameluke sword served as recognition for their bravery and victory.

The First Barbary War

In the late 18th century, European nations and the nascent United States paid the Barbary states: Morocco, Tunis, Algiers, and Tripoli in North Africa to protect their commerce. The North African sea raiders, called Barbary pirates, seized merchant vessels in the Mediterranean, though the attacks were not piracy but an organized government activity.

However, the Americans refused to continue payment of tribute to the piratical rulers of the Barbary states resulting in the First Barbary War, also known as the Tripolitan War which lasted from 1801 to 1805. To settle maritime differences with Tripoli, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson approved the plan of removing its government and reinstating the exiled ruler Hamet Karamanli.

Commanding the U.S. Marine Corps, first lieutenant Presley O’Bannon led the capture of Derna, a Tripolitan port city. Hamet Karamanli was so impressed with the American lieutenant that he presented his personal Mameluke sword to him. Upon O’Bannon’s return to the United States, the State of Virginia presented him with another sword similar to the earlier Mameluke.

The Mameluke Sword and U.S. Marine Corps

In 1825, Archibald Henderson, the commandant of the Marine Corps, made the standard of carrying the Mameluke sword as the dress sword of officers. By 1859, a new set of uniform regulations emerged where officers adopted the Army or foot officer’s sword which was more efficient in battles. Eventually, the Regulations of 1875 reinstated the use of the Mameluke sword.

Conclusion

The Mamluk warriors are long gone but their prowess and military legacy remains significant. Deriving its name from the Mamluk warriors, the Mameluke sword represents the bravery of the U.S. Marine Corps. This sword also influenced the types of swords of several armed forces including the French, British, and Australian armies.