Quote Originally Posted by longhuntr74 View Post
In the KOSB picture, he's actually carrying the sword in his hand, I believe. But to answer your question (based on my knowledge of US custom...not sure about the Scottish regiments), the saber is worn "backwards" with the handguard facing the body and the tip facing forward. When drawn in the manual of arms, the scabbard is grasped in the left hand and the grip is rotated forward, moving the tip rearward (the saber oriented as a downward crescent) The right hand grasps the grip and draws it from the scabbard to the front....it seems weird...but that's how it's done in the U.S. Army anyhow. Guessing the other U.S. services and perhaps the Brits/Scots are similar.
It's done in the samer manner in the U.S. Marine Corps, and we tend to carry swords a lot! NCO's, SNCO's and officers. The NCO/SNCO sword and the officer's Mamaluke sword, both have rich traditions and history within the Corps.