Types of swords

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Further information: Classification of swords and List of premodern combat weapons § 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]

Eastern African swords[edit]

Western African swords[edit]

Central African swords[edit]

Asian swords[edit]

Eastern Asian swords[edit]

China[edit]

Main article: Chinese sword

Japan[edit]

Main article: Japanese sword

Korea[edit]

Main article: Korean sword

Southeastern Asian swords[edit]

Swords and knives found in Southeast Asia are influenced by Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and European forms.

Indonesia[edit]

Myanmar[edit]

Philippines[edit]

Thailand[edit]

Southern Asian swords[edit]

Bhutan[edit]

Bladed weapons of the Indian subcontinent[edit]

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:

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

Post-classical European swords[edit]

Main article: Oakeshott typology

Modern European swords[edit]

North American swords[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Strong's Hebrew: 2719. חָ֫רֶב (chereb) -- a sword". biblehub.com. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Romeinse Rijk §3.1 Landmacht". Encarta Encyclopedie Winkler Prins (in Dutch). Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum. 2002.
  3. ^ Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Xyele
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