406. To present saber.-Being at order saber or carry saber, the command is: 1. Present. 2. SABER (or ARMS).

a. Dismounted.-At the command Present, raise and move the saber to the front, base of the hilt as high as the chin and 6 inches in front of the neck, edge to the left, point 6 inches farther to the front than the hilt, thumb extended on the left of the grip, all fingers grasping the grip.

At the command Saber (or Arms), lower the saber until the point is in prolongation of the right foot and near the ground, edge to the left, hand by the side, thumb on the left of the grip, arm extended.

When marching on foot, at eyes right (or left), the saber will be carried in the position described above, the arm swing. ing naturally as when marching without the saber.

To salute with the saber, present arms is executed when six paces from the person saluted or at the nearest point of approach, if more than six paces. The second position is held until the person saluted has passed or the salute is returned. The saber is then returned to the order or carry.

b. Mounted.-Same as when dismounted, except that after lowering the saber the hand is held slightly in rear of the thigh and the point of the saber is a little to the right and in front of the stirrup.

407. To execute port saber.-The command is: 1. Port, 2. SABER.

a. Dismounted.-Being at intervals or distances, at the carry, at the command Saber, bring the left hand, lightly closed and without constraint, the back of the hand vertical, to a position about 6 inches in front of the belt buckle. At the same time lower the saber blade to the left front until its flat side, edge to the front, rests on the middle of the left forearm. The hilt is clasped easily in the full grasp of the right hand, the right hand near the hip, the saber extending to the left front, the point about 6 inches higher than the hilt.

b. Mounted.-Being in any formation, at the carry, at the command Saber, lower the saber blade to the left front until its flat side, edge to the front, rests on the middle of the forearm. The hilt is clasped easily in the full grasp of the right hand, the right hand resting on the thigh, the saber extending to the left front, the point about 6 inches higher than the hilt.

c. The port is a very comfortable position in which to hold the saber. Accordingly, it is taken, on occasion, in order to afford relief from the fatigue and constraint of holding the saber for a prolonged period at the carry.

Second position of present saber, dismounted, with officers' saber

At all mounted exercises in which an officer acts as an individual, or as a member of a group in extended order, as, for example, at saber exercise, or when jumping obstacles, the position of port saber may be taken with safety.

At all mounted exercises in close order, except column of troopers, the position of port saber should be taken only at the halt; it should not be taken while in movement. Even at the halt great care must be exercised by an officer not to injure with the point of his saber the man or horse on his immediate left.

d. In the charge in close order, an officer who is directly in rear of others should take a modified position of port saber. This modified position is as follows: Raise the saber to a vertical position, guard to the front, grip held in the full grasp, the right hand about 12 inches in front of the right shoulder.

408. To order saber.-This is a dismounted position only. Being at carry saber, the command is: 1. Order, 2. SABER (or ARMS). At the command Saber (or Arms), drop the point of the saber directly to the front, point on or near the ground, edge down, thumb along the back of the grip.

409. To execute parade rest. This is a dismounted position only. Being at order saber, the command is: 1. Parade, 2. REST. At the command Rest, take the position of parade rest, except that the left hand is uppermost and rests on the right hand which grasps the saber, the point of the saber on or near the ground in front of the center of the body, edge to the right.

At the command ATTENTION, resume the order saber and the position of attention.

410. To stand at ease.-Being at a halt, saber in hand, the command is: 1. Stand at, 2. EASE.

a. Dismounted.-At the command Ease, carry the left foot 12 inches to the left of the right foot, at the same time carry the saber to a horizontal position in front of the body, edge down, saber grasped with both hands, backs of the hands to the front, right hand at the hilt, left hand about 8 inches from the point, arms hanging naturally.

b. Mounted.-Take the position of Port saber.

411. To return saber.-When practicable return saber should be executed at the halt. The command is: 1. Return, 2. SABER.

a. Dismounted.-At the command Return, carry the right hand opposite to and 6 inches in front of the left shoulder, saber