Szabla wz . 34 Szabla wz . 34 ( literally " 1934 Pattern Szabla " ) was the last service sword issued to the Polish cavalry and other mounted units of the Polish Army . One of the finest weapons in a long list of Polish sabres reaching back to early 16th century , although ironically its introduction occurred as swords finally became obsolete as military weapons . Successfully used in combat during the 1939 Invasion of Poland , it remains in service ( as szabla wz . 1934 / 2002 ) as a ceremonial weapon . History . The Polish cavalry units have been using sabres rather than broadswords at least since 16th century . In 18th century Poland ceased to exist as a sovereign nation in the effect of the partitions of Poland , but the Polish sabre , or szabla , remained in use . First as a weapon of various Polish units serving in the armies of other powers , and then its ' use spread to practically all light cavalry units in Europe and elsewhere . The British Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre was perhaps the best - known clone of the sabre used by Polish hussars . When Poland finally regained her independence in 1918 , the renascent Polish Army inherited a wide variety of swords from the armies of German Empire , Russian Empire and Austria - Hungary , as well as France , Italy and many other states from where weapons were being imported during the Polish - Bolshevik War of 1920 . Experiences in the war shaped Polish Army organizational and operational doctrine . Unlike the trench warfare of World War I , the Polish - Soviet War was a conflict in which the cavalry ' s mobility played a decisive role . Poland acknowledged the benefits of mobility but was unable to invest heavily in many of the expensive , unproven inventions since then . In spite of this , Polish cavalry brigade s were used as a mobile mounted infantry , but also continued to be trained in fencing for a possible sabre charge . Because of that a need arose to create a new , standard weapon to be issued to all cavalry units of the Polish Army . In April 1921 the Ministry of Military Matters introduced the szabla wz . 1921 , a new design combining the features of various swords used by the Polish Army until that date . Resembling the original 17th century sabres , the new 1921 pattern was based primarily on the sabres produced during World War I in small numbers for the Polnische Wehrmacht ( retroactively designated " szabla wz . 1917 " ) . The new sabre served as both a combat and ceremonial weapon of the Polish Army . This made the 1921 design not ideal for either cutting or thrusting , as compromises had to be made and the curvature was not the best suited for cavalry combat . In 1934 the Warsaw - based Technical Institute of Armaments designed a new standard combat sabre for all mounted units of the Polish Army . While similar to the 1921 Pattern Sabre , the new sword was designed strictly as a combat weapon , with ergonomic grip , well - carved hilt and the curved blade designed for both powerful cuts and easy swings . Unlike many contemporary designs , the sheathed sword was almost flat , which facilitated carrying the weapon and attaching it to a standard cavalry saddle . Unlike the earlier models , the new sabre was being produced by a single factory , the Kielce - based Huta Ludwików ( hence the name " ludwikówka " often applied to the wz . 34 ) . This allowed for much higher production standards and much higher uniformity . According to a post - war evaluation by one of the users , Capt . Eng . Janusz Wielhorski , " it was commonly seen as a perfect weapon . Well - balanced , nicely fitting and uncommonly easy to cut with . Out of 100 contemporary French broadsword s only two or three could cut nicely , while all wz . 34 sabres I used were perfect for that " . In addition , prior to delivery , each piece of weapon had to undergo a series of rigorous stress - tests : The new weapon entered production in 1936 and immediately entered service as a standard sword of all mounted units of the army . By 1939 roughly 40 , 000 pieces have been delivered in four identical series of 9999 pieces each . On 1 July 1938 the Polish Army had 39 , 564 Pattern 1934 sabres in its ' stores and in first - line units . Unlike many contemporary designs such as the American Model 1913 Cavalry Saber or the British Pattern 1908 and 1912 cavalry swords , the Polish Szabla wz . 34 was used in actual combat on numerous occasions . While by late 1930s the Polish cavalry was primarily a formation of mounted infantry and was not supposed to be used as typical Napoleonic - era cavalry , during the Nazi and Soviet Invasion of Poland of 1939 there were 16 confirmed cavalry charge s in which the Polish units used the sabres against enemy soldiers . Contrary to a widespread yet counter - factual myth , most of them were successful . Post - war ceremonial sabres . While World War II put an end to combat use of swords , the sabre remained a ceremonial weapon even in the Soviet - controlled army of the People ' s Republic of Poland . Initially Soviet shashka s were used for that purpose , then in 1971 a new model was introduced based on WWI German cavalry sabres . Eventually in 1975 a commission set up by the Polish Army Museum designed a new szabla wz . 1976 - a parade sabre for use by the Polish Army ( wz . 1976 WP ) and the Polish Navy ( wz . 1976 MW ) . Both variants were based on the original pre - war wz . 34 , but also included design elements from earlier sabres , notably from the 17th century hussar sabre . The initial batch was manufactured in the museum , later the Łódź - based WiFaMa factory took over and continues to manufacture short batches of the wz . 1976 . In 2000 the Polish Army incorporated the Szwadron Kawalerii Wojska Polskiego ( Polish Army ' s Cavalry Squadron ) , an all - cavalry honor guard unit . In 2002 the unit adopted the szabla wz . 34 sabre as the main weapon . Manufactured by the WiFaMa works under the designation szabla wz . 1934 / 2002 , the new sabre is basically identical to the pre - war wz . 1934 .