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Types of swords

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Further information: Classification of swords and List of premodern combat weapons § Swords
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

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

North African swords

East African swords

West African swords

Central African swords

Asian swords

East Asian swords

China

Main article: Chinese sword

Japan

Main article: Japanese sword

Korea

Main article: Korean sword

Southeast Asian swords

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

Indonesia

Myanmar

Philippines

Thailand

South Asian Swords

Bhutan

Bladed Weapons of Indian subcontinent

Sri Lanka

West and Central Asian swords

  • 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

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

Ancient Europe

  • Bronze Age European swords
    • Harpe: mentioned almost exclusively in Greek mythology
  • Iron Age European swords
    • Falcata/Kopis: one-handed single-edged swords (blade 48–60 cm) 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.
    • Makhaira: Greek one-handed, single-edged shortsword or knife for cutting (primary) and thrusting
    • Rhomphaia: Greek single-edged straight or slightly curved broadsword (blade 60–80 cm) for slashing (primary) and thrusting
    • Spatha: Celtic/Germanic/Roman one-handed double-edged longsword (blade 50–100 cm) 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
  • Migration Period swords

Post-classical Europe

Main article: Oakeshott typology
  • Arming sword: high medieval knightly sword
  • Curtana: a medieval term for a ceremonial sword
  • Longsword: late medieval
  • Backsword
  • Falchion
  • Estoc: thrust-oriented
  • Claymore: late medieval Scottish
  • Paramerion: Eastern Roman Byzantine sword
  • 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.
  • Viking sword or Carolingian sword: early medieval spatha
  • Zweihänder: 1500-1600 Germany

Modern Europe

North American swords

See also

References

  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.
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