In thinking about the pistol/saber debate, I remembered a picture of Col. Mosby, wearing both saber and pistols. In reading about some of his exploits, it was stated his men carried neither saber nor carbine, but were expert pistol shots. He often attacked and defeated forces larger than his own, apparently with pistol armed troops. The site carrrying the picture also discusses this issue, by example. See it here: http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/John_S_Mosby.htm Stan