Sword use for infantry (not cavalry) in the 1500s to 1800s

by thelonecourier2281

I would like to know the practical use of swords of European, and for this we are considering Poland European too for their famous saber usage, on the battlefield outside of cavalry from the 1500s to 1800s. This probably could be worded better but it's late and I'm on mobile.

poiuzttt

for this we are considering Poland European too

as opposed to...?

vonadler

Woking of /u/superplaner 's post, I'll add something myself.

All Swedish infantry carried the rapier Värja m/1685, of which more than 300 000 were made.

The infantry would march at a brisk pace four ranks deep and the first two ranks would let loose a volley at 60 paces and the second two ranks would then pass them, resume the march and then let loose their volley at 20 paces, after which a charge was made. The battalion was about 600 men strong, with 200 musketmen at each flank and 200 pikemen in the centre (the battalion was thus 50 musketmen, 50 pikemen, 50 musketmen in each of the four ranks, from left to right).

In 1708, the tactic was changed so that the volleys were loosed at 20 and 10 paces respectively. Newly raised troops from 1709 were mostly musketmen, but Karl XII re-introduced pikes in the infantry when he returned to Sweden 1714. Pikes and bayonets were supposed to be used primarily, but if conditions became cramped or formations broke down, soldiers were supposed to use their rapiers.

As /u/superplaner say, until light infantry type fighting and the fire chain replaced the battalion as the primary infantry formation, most if not all powers in Europe equipped their infantry with swords, such as this infantry cutlass from 1790 - this weapon was supposed to be used with the left hand as you held your musket in your right hand and was ot be drawn and used when two infantry lines pressed on each other.

From the Swiss pikemen (and their German landsknecht brethren) using zweihänders to break up the enemy pike formation to broadswords, shortswords, arming swords and rapiers becoming common backup weapons as the armour of infantry reverted back from half plate to nothing at all. Then the infantry cutlass became common until the rifle chain replaced the battalion as the combat formation.