While, it was a practise of some to sharpen their Sabers, particularly in the south, it was not necessary to sharpen them or to even keep them sharp. R. Lee Ermy on his military tech, History Channel programs "Lock and Load", in one segment, demonstrated the effectiveness and amount of damage an UNsharpened Saber could inflict when combined with the power and speed of a galloping horse. Even a blunt steel bar will cut you in half if enough force is applied.