Types of swords
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This is a list of types of swords.
The term sword used here is a narrow definition. This is not a general List of premodern combat weapons and does not include the machete or similar "sword-like" weapons.
African swords
[edit]Northern African swords
[edit]- Flyssa (19th century Algeria)
- Kaskara (19th century Sudan)
- Khopesh (Egyptian)
- Mameluke sword (18th to 19th century Egyptian)
- Nimcha (15th to 19th century Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia)
Eastern African swords
[edit]Western African swords
[edit]Central African swords
[edit]Asian swords
[edit]Eastern Asian swords
[edit]China
[edit]- Dao (刀 pinyin dāo) "sabre"
- Jian (劍 pinyin jiàn)
- Shuangshou jian (雙手劍)
- Hook sword (鉤)
Japan
[edit]- Nihonto (日本刀; にほんとう)
- Bokken (木剣)
- Chokutō (直刀)
- Guntō (軍刀)
- Kyū guntō (旧軍刀)
- Shin guntō (新軍刀)
- Hachiwara (鉢割)
- Iaitō (居合刀)
- Jintachi (陣太刀)
- Katana (刀; かたな)
- Kenukigata tachi (毛抜型太刀)
- Kodachi (小太刀)
- Nagamaki (長巻)
- Ninjato (忍者刀)
- Ōdachi/Nodachi (大太刀/野太刀)
- Sasuga (刺刀)
- Shinai (竹刀)
- Shinken (真剣)
- Shikomizue (仕込み杖)
- Tachi (太刀; たち)
- Tantō (短刀; たんとう)
- Tsurugi (剣)
- Wakizashi (脇差; わきざし)
- Naginata (なぎなた)
- Sai (weapon) (サイ)
Korea
[edit]- Hwandudaedo (환두대도; 环首大刀)
- Saingeom (사인검)
Southeastern Asian swords
[edit]Swords and knives found in Southeast Asia are influenced by Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and European forms.
Indonesia
[edit]- Alamang
- Amanremu
- Badik
- Balato (sword)
- Blakas
- Gari (sword)
- Golok
- Kabeala
- Karambit
- Keris
- Klewang
- Kujang
- Langgai Tinggang
- Luwuk
- Mandau
- Niabor
- Palitai
- Pandat
- Parang
- Rencong
- Sewar
- Si Euli
- Sikin Panjang
Myanmar
[edit]Philippines
[edit]- Balasiong
- Balisword
- Balisong
- Bangkung
- Banyal
- Barong
- Batangas
- Bolo
- Dahong Palay
- Gayang
- Gulok
- Kalis
- Kampilan
- Panabas
- Pinuti
- Pirah
- Sundang
- Susuwat
- Utak
Thailand
[edit]Southern Asian swords
[edit]Bhutan
[edit]Bladed weapons of the Indian subcontinent
[edit]- Kirpan
- Tegha (curved sword)
- Sirohi sword
- Asi
- Firangi
- Hengdang
- Talwar
- Kayamkulam vaal
- Khanda
- Malappuram Kathi
- Moplah
- Pata
- Ram-dao
- Urumi
Sri Lanka
[edit]Western and Central Asian swords
[edit]- Acinaces (Scythian short sword)
- Chereb (חֶרֶב, modern Hebrew khérev): ancient Israelite sword mentioned 413 times in the Hebrew Bible.[1]
The Ancient Greeks and Romans also introduced various types of swords, see #Ancient Europe.
Post-classical period
[edit]All of the Islamic world during the 16th to 18th century, including the Ottoman Empire and Persia were influenced by the "scimitar" type of single-edged curved sword. Via the Mameluke sword this also gave rise to the European cavalry sabre.
Terms for the "scimitar" curved sword:
- Kilij (Turkish)
- Pulwar (Afghanistan)
- Shamshir (Persia)
- Talwar (Indo-Pakistani)
- Yataghan (Turkish)
- Khanjar (Arabian)
- Saif (Arabian)
- Scimitar (Arabian)
- Zulfiqar (Arabian)
European swords
[edit]Ancient European swords
[edit]- Bronze Age European swords
- Harpe: mentioned almost exclusively in Greek mythology
- Iron Age European swords
- Falcata: one-handed single-edged sword – blade 48–60 cm (19–24 in) – with forward-curving blade for slashing
- Falx: Dacian and Thracian one-handed or two-handed single-edged curved shortsword for slashing
- Gladius: Roman one-handed double-edged shortsword for thrusting (primary) and slashing, used by legionaries (heavy infantry)[2] and gladiators, and late Roman light infantry. 3rd century BCE Roman Republic – late Roman Empire.
- Kopis: one-handed single-edged sword – blade 48–60 cm (19–24 in) – with forward-curving blade for slashing
- Makhaira: Greek one-handed, single-edged shortsword or knife for cutting (primary) and thrusting
- Pugio: Roman dagger
- Rhomphaia: Greek single-edged straight or slightly curved broadsword – blade 60–80 cm (24–31 in) – for slashing (primary) and thrusting
- Spatha: Celtic/Germanic/Roman one-handed double-edged longsword – blade 50–100 cm (20–39 in) – for thrusting and slashing, used by gladiators, cavalry and heavy infantry. 3rd century BCE Gaul/Germania – Migration Period.
- Xiphos: Greek one-handed, double-edged Iron Age straight shortsword
- Xyele: The short, slightly curved, one-edged sword of the Spartans.[3]
- Migration Period swords
- Spatha: continuation, evolved into
- Ring-sword (ring-spatha, ring-hilt spatha), Merovingian period
- Viking sword or Carolingian sword
- Krefeld type
- Spatha: continuation, evolved into
Post-classical European swords
[edit]- Arming sword: high medieval knightly sword
- Backsword
- Baselard
- Carracks black sword
- Cinquedea
- Claymore: late medieval Scottish sword
- Curtana: a medieval term for a ceremonial sword
- Estoc: thrust-oriented sword
- Falchion
- Flamberge
- Glaive
- Hunting sword
- Longsword: late medieval
- Messer
- Misericorde
- Paramerion: Eastern Roman Byzantine sword
- Parrying dagger
- Poignard
- Rondel dagger
- Schiavonesca
- Seax: shortsword, knife or dagger of varying sizes typical of the Germanic peoples of the Migration Period and the Early Middle Ages, especially the Saxons, whose name derives from the weapon.
- Small sword
- Spadroon
- Stiletto
- Viking sword or Carolingian sword: early medieval spatha
- Zweihänder: 1500–1600 Germany
Modern European swords
[edit]- Basket-hilted sword
- Colichemarde
- Cutlass
- Dirk
- Dusack
- Executioner's sword
- Karabela
- Katzbalger
- Sgian-dubh
- Swiss degen
- Szabla
- Early modern fencing
- Modern fencing (sport equipment)
North American swords
[edit]- U.S. regulation swords (sabres, and in some instances fascine knives shaped like short swords)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Strong's Hebrew: 2719. חָ֫רֶב (chereb) -- a sword". biblehub.com. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
- ^ "Romeinse Rijk §3.1 Landmacht". Encarta Encyclopedie Winkler Prins (in Dutch). Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum. 2002.
- ^ Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Xyele