 When the sabre was used by mounted police against crowds, the results could be devastating, as portrayed in a key scene in "Doctor Zhivago".The sabre was later phased out in favour of the baton, or nightstick, for both practical and humanitarian reasons.The Gendarmerie of Belgium used them until at least 1950,<ref></ref> and the Swedish police forces until 1965.<ref></ref>

Swords with sabre blades remain a component of the dress uniforms worn by most national army, navy, air force, marine and coast guard officers.