Our silver saber chain is designed for wear with the Army Officer saber and scabbard, which is distinct from the sword carried by Noncommissioned Officers. The clip at the top is attached to the metal post found on the
saber guard, and the hook near the top is passed through the top scabbard loop (called the “upper hook” in Field Manual 3-21.5,
Drill and Ceremonies); the clip at the bottom is attached to the bottom scabbard loop. The saber guard is typically attached to a ceremonial belt. Sabers are carried on the wearer’s left side with the saber guard facing the rear.
Sabers are worn by Army Officers taking part in ceremonies with troops under arms, but they are also worn at civilian functions such as weddings, funerals, formal dinners and receptions, and other formal affairs. Neither DA-670-1 nor AR 670-1 provide wear guidance regarding the Army Officer Saber, with the aforementioned
Drill and Ceremonies being the only currently available resource regarding saber wear and protocol. Although it uses the Model 1902 sword for as the illustration to explain saber nomenclature (guard, grip, toe, blade, etc.), it does not state what types of sabers Offices are authorized to carry, or even outline the mandatory characteristics of an Officer's saber.