Over the years of reenacting, I watched many re-enactors struggle with the problems raised while trying to wear a sword on their belt and do some other act such as walk, climb or descend steps and sit down. The sword, when hanging improperly, seems to always get in the way. The novice always seems to hang the sword from the hook on the belt, but hangs it from the hook the same way it hangs from the straps, guard forward and drag to the rear. This gets in the way while walking, interferes with ladies dresses or other persons walking close by, hits the ground, is inconvenient when sitting down, and can bang on the steps or trip the wearer while going up or down stairs. I remember one particular infantry officer who carried a cavalry sabre and walked with his hand up in the guard like it was a ski pole. I always thought this presented a rather comical sight. Definitely the curved sabre causes more of a problem when carried incorrectly than a straighter blade sword.
The hook hanging from the left side of the belt at the top of the front sword strap is to carry the sword while dismounted and not using the sword (all branches). The Cavalry Drill compiled by Maj. George Washington Patten in 18861 from the 1841 Cavalry Tactics (a.k.a.: Poinsett's Tactics)1 states on page 13 under The Sabre Exercise, "This is taught to a squad of from eight to ten men, placed in one rank, nine feet from each other, having the sabre hooked up with the hilt to the rear." Today Patten's works is commonly referred to as Poinsett's as it will be here.
To stay current with European military trends, the War Department had Col. Philip St. George Cooke revamp Poinsett's. The result was Cavalry Tactics, or Regulations for the Instruction, Formations, and Movements of the Cavalry of the Army and Volunteers of the United States (a.k.a. Cooke's Tactics).2 Cooke's states on page 53 under the command Draw-SABRE, "1. At the first part of the command, unhook the sabre with the left hand, and bring the hilt to the front." Poinsett's contains the exact wording under that command on page 13.
Under the command Return-SABERS, Poinsett's on page 15 states, "...hook up the sabre with the hilt to the rear." While under the same command, Cooke's states on page 54, "...turning with the left (hand) the hilt toward the body, and so round to the rear, hook up the sabre, and drop the left hand."
Instruction for Field Artillery approved by Secretary of War John B. Floyd, March 6, 1860 states Under Manual of the Sabre on page 84 para. no. 19, "They will be exercised for a portion of the time in the facings and marchings, wearing their sabers sheathed and hooked up." Further on page 84 under the command 1. DRAW. 2. SABRE., "...unhook the sabre with the left hand, and bring the hilt to the front...". Then on page 85 under the command 1. RETURN. 2. SABRE., "...and hook up the sabre. This is done by seizing the upper ring between the thumb and the fore finger of the left hand, back of the hand up, raising the scabbard, whilst turning the hilt toward the body, until it points to the rear; passing the ring over the hook attached to the waist-belt."
I could not find a reference in Hardee's concerning carrying or hanging officers' swords. However, the Field and Staff Officer's sword has a unique modification for hooking it up with the point forward. The regulation version of the sword has a double clam shell guard. The shell half closest to the body can be hinged up so that it hangs flatter next to the body. Turning the guard to the rear would place the protruding shell half against the body. So, the upper scabbard band has a ring on both the top and bottom edge (as it hangs from the straps). To hang this sword, the hilt is pivoted straight back, drag forward, and hung on the hook by the bottom scabbard ring.
It is obvious that elevating the sword and hanging it with the drag (point) forward was the desired result more than the guard to the rear. Most swords simply do not have two upper scabbard rings and turning a curved blade makes the drag extend forward in a more controllable position than a second ring would facilitate. The left elbow can be slightly pressed against the body and forward of the properly hung sword guard while walking. This keeps the drag forward and resting forward and slightly across the left leg and out of the way of feet and people in the rear. The left hand falls naturally on the scabbard to rotate the drag of the sword (already up curved in the case of sabres) further up and forward out of the way when sitting down and going up and down stairs. When sewing the buckle on a sword belt, the front sword strap, and hook, should be in the middle of the left side or slightly forward of the center, but never to the rear of center as this will tend to get the drag of a hanging sword caught behind the left leg (and in front of the right leg).