永遠的老血膽(運動員與軍刀) @ S.Pz.Abt 502 E-COMPANY

(在此先感謝老虎大的友情贊助.)

(官拜少將的巴頓老爹)

喬治˙巴頓將軍是1912年斯德哥爾摩奧運現代五項中，於300米自由式項目在37個競爭對手中排名第六，擊劍於29個競爭者中排名第三，三千公尺越野賽馬中以時間統計成績拿下第三(雖然在競爭馬隊中排第四)；老爹在4000公尺越野賽跑中衝過終點線後50公尺就翻了過去，不過這個項目他擊敗其他12個對手排名第三。

(與兩名同僚合影的巴頓(左).拍下這照片的時間正值一戰.才距離斯德哥爾摩奧運沒過幾年.巴頓便以美國遠征軍再次踏上歐洲大陸.)

所以巴頓將軍的總排名為該屆的第五名。

不過巴頓將軍的手槍成績不太好看，他於32位競爭者中排名第20；他堅持用比較難控制的.38口徑而不是像其他31位選手使用.22，而這種槍枝的唯一優勢就是彈孔比較好認～

剛剛提到一點就是巴頓的擊劍術是他個人特別的專長。

1912年奧運比賽結束之後，巴頓與家庭成員就展開一場歐洲之旅，足跡遍遊德勒斯敦，柏林以及紐倫堡(巴頓的德語沒有法文好，但是他也沒想到33年後他會再一次以另一種勝利者的姿態重遊故地，以及客死異鄉)。巴頓的行程還有另外一項目地，就是拜訪歐洲最厲害的劍客與劍術，但不是踢館，是拜其為師。

有人告訴巴頓法國陸軍的軍刀與騎兵是巴頓應該親炙的，於是巴頓拜訪位於索謬爾騎兵學校劍術科的教官，也是法國兵械大師的M˙克磊易(M. Clèry)。

巴頓由於時間不多，因此在其門下僅僅停留短占時間作密集的切磋與學習。巴頓將這一次重要的學習寫成一份心得報告，並且分別發表於陸軍與海軍的期刊上，於1913年3月刊登初在陸軍期刊上。這篇報告由於巴頓的名聲讓巴頓於該年夏天先行拜會兵工署的兵刃設計部，並且又獲得高層同意再度前往索謬爾至克磊易門下學習。

喝了法國墨水之後回到堪薩斯州萊利堡(Fort Riley) 的巴頓如今已經是聲望如日中天，當時才29歲的他被譽為美國有史以來最年輕的＂兵劍大師＂("Master of the Sword")。巴頓在萊利堡的工作當然也以改善並且加強美國騎兵的現代化擊劍技術為主，同時巴頓也從格鬥技術中衍生出設計M1913式騎兵刀(Model 1913 Cavalry Saber)的概念與標準。

這個就是巴頓的設計，M1913式軍刀。

M1913軍刀與傳統騎兵刀有很大的差異，首先是傳統軍刀大多數擁有一到優美的弧線，這個設計目的在於讓騎兵在揮砍的時候享有最大的力矩下由圓周形成最大的扭力讓騎兵以三角肌，胸大肌，斜背肌，闊背肌加上馬匹的動能用比較輕鬆的方式把敵方的脖子，或者腦袋劈開；劈的最好的是腦袋會直溜溜的一邊轉一邊旋然後以拋物線的方式飛出去個大老遠。

但是M1913軍刀卻完全揚棄了這個傳統，巴頓引述拿破崙的說法，

＂不要用砍的！＂＂用刀尖！用刀尖！＂

("Ne coupez pas ! Le point ! Le point!"；拿破崙是這麼要求他麾下的騎兵如是作。)。

因此巴頓把軍刀設計成為筆直的刃體，方便直刺；不過也有雙刃設計以利於砍劈，並且在刺入之後方便將刀刃抽出讓敵方大量失血死亡。M1913軍刀還有個一般軍刀比較稀少的設計就是它的刀鍔部分過分地強調防護，所以讓刀柄有如被麵包籃裝盛的視覺外觀。M1913軍刀設計成功之後計畫發配由美國輕騎兵使用。

上面是M1913式軍刀鍔部的特寫；請點閱放大。

隨後在1914年巴頓在所舉辦的年度軍刀練習賽中呈現出一套完整的訓練方式讓外界了解美國騎兵在劍術上，不論是騎兵作戰或者騎兵得徒步作戰，都有突飛猛進的發展。也因此M1913是軍刀被外界俗稱為＂巴頓式軍刀＂。

直式兵刃(劍)其實自有史以來一直到進入1900年代以後一直沒有太大的變化；巴頓的設計雖然基本上不能說對於劍有革命性的改變，但是巴頓對於握持這件事上卻堅持並且發揮獨到的慧眼；M1913軍刀偏斜彎曲的刀柄利於握持時展開凸刺的動作，保持流暢，同時在揮砍之間也能夠提供足夠力道協助。

這在傳統的軍刀上，這兩點不是以刀刃形狀的設計方式作為改善加強砍劈的威力，就是必須改變握持的姿勢與攻擊的招式來將就武器的條件。無怪乎因此巴頓的設計確實對當時的劍術以及軍刀的發展被譽為＂軍刀使用的變革＂。

巴頓的軍刀在http://www.pattonhq.com/sword.html網頁上載有原文，這篇文章點出他的設計精髓；他並不贊同以砍劈的方式，亦及傳統的馬刀有個優美的弧線，在他的觀點下修正成為筆直的直線，以刃部前方1/3為攻擊重點部位，儘量以刺擊為主。

原文如下：

In the Peninsula War, the English nearly always used the sword for cutting. The French dragoons , to the contrary, used only the point which almost always caused a fatal wound. This made the English say, "The French don't fight fair." Marshal Saxe wished to arm the French cavalry with a blade of a triangular cross section so as to make the use of the point obligatory. At Wagram , when the cavalry of the guard passed in review before a charge, Napoleon called to them, "Don't cut! The point! The point!"

The point is vastly more deadly than the edge. While it might be possible to inflict a crippling blow with the edge (were the swing unrestricted by the pressing ranks of the charge or by the guard of attack) the size and power of the blow is so reduced there is grave doubt it would have sufficient power to do any damage to an opponent's body, protected by clothing and equipment. And even should the blade reach the opponent, it's power to unhorse is dubious.

The cavalryman rides at a man to kill him. If he misses, he goes on to another, moving in straight lines with the intent of running his opponent through. As to the question of recovering his sword thrust into an opponent, when a man has been run through he is going to be pretty limp and will probably fall from his horse, clearing the weapon for you. It would seem, then, that the straight sword possesses all of the advantages of the curved sword for cutting, besides the proper use of the point, which the other does not, and that in using the point in the charge not a single advantage of the edge is lost, while many disadvantages are overcome. In addition, the highest possible incentive to close with the enemy is given.

The Egyptian expedition under Napoleon gave fresh impetus to the saber. Many real scimitars were carried back to France at it's close. The famous sword of Marengo carried by Napoleon was of this type. Murat also carried one, probably because it gave increased possibilities for being decorated with jewels.

The Cavalry Sword Model 1913 [designed by Lt. Patton] is an ideal thrusting weapon and at the same time, one which can give a cutting blow at least one third harder than our former saber.

The sharpened back edge makes it much easier to withdraw from a body than would be the case if it were single edged. The use of the point is taught exclusively. In the charge with the point, all the energy of the horse is conserved and he becomes a steel-pointed missile.

When using the point, the almost prone position of the trooper reduces the target and facilitates the speed of the horse.

Of the foregoing advantages of the point, the fact of increased reach is paramount. The point will outreach and outkill the edge in a charge; hence if we meet foes using the edge against our point, we have them. If our enemy also uses the point, we are simply fighting fire with fire and our superior swords and greater physical strength tips the scale a little our way; whereas, in such a case, had we continued to use the edge, we would have been lost. Against infantry, the point is the only thing. The bayonet has a long reach and against it the cut is of little use. Among wagons or artillery, the point alone can reach opponents behind wheels or shields.

Is it possible for the soldier in battle to always take up the extremely extended positions described in the regulations? No, not any more than it will always be possible to always get the proper sight setting for the rifle. The positions described are the best and the more rigidly and accurately they are enforced at drill, the more approximately will they be assumed in battle.

Will the edge ever be used? It will. Man is not very far removed from his cave ancestor. And as battle was a primal pastime, so modem man engaged in it more readily retrogrades to his hairy progenitor. It was for this reason-together with the added facility in withdrawing it-that the sword was made sharp. We do not teach it any more than we do biting in a fist fight. At the last extremity, both are useful and will be used. The longer we can defer, by practice, that state of hysteria in which either will be used, the more deadly we make our swordsman or boxer.

Will the point always be successful? No, but in all circumstances it gives the largest chance of success.

(Edited by Charles M. Province from several "Saber" articles by Lt. George S. Patton, Jr.)

http://www.pattonhq.com/sword.html