Jump to content

Sword: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
[pending revision][pending revision]
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by 71.7.103.161 to last version by J.delanoy (HG)
←Replaced content with ' What i'm going to use to cut off Alex43223's right ear and tailbone!!'
Line 1: Line 1:
What i'm going to use to cut off Alex43223's right ear and tailbone!!
{{redirect|Swords}}
[[Image:Espadon-Morges.jpg|thumb|100px|Swiss [[longsword]], 15th or 16th century]]
A '''sword''' is a long-edged piece of [[metal]], used as a cutting, thrusting, and slashing weapon in many [[civilization]]s throughout the world. The word ''sword'' comes from the [[Old English language|Old English]] ''[[wikt:sweord|sweord]]'', cognate to [[Old High German]] ''swert'', [[Middle Dutch]] ''swaert'', [[Old Norse]] ''sverð'' (cf.[[Danish language|Danish]] ''sværd'', [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] ''sverd'', [[Swedish language|Swedish]] ''svärd'') [[Old Frisian]] and [[Old Saxon]] ''swerd'' and [[Dutch language|Modern Dutch]] ''zwaard'' and German ''Schwert'', from a [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] root ''*swer-'' "to wound, to hurt".

A sword fundamentally consists of a [[blade]] and a [[hilt]], typically with one or two edges for striking and [[cutting]], and a point for thrusting. The basic intent and [[physics]] of [[swordsmanship]] have remained fairly constant through the centuries, but the actual techniques vary among cultures and periods as a result of the differences in blade design and purpose. The names given to many swords in [[mythology]], [[literature]], and [[history]] reflect the high prestige of the weapon (see [[list of swords]]).

==History==
===Bronze Age===
{{main|Bronze Age sword}}


Humans have manufactured and used metal bladed weapons from the [[Bronze Age]] onwards. The sword developed from the [[dagger]] when the construction of longer blades became possible, from the late 3rd millennium BC in the middle-east, first in arsenic copper, then in tin-bronze. The oldest sword-like weapons are found at [[Arslantepe]], [[Turkey]], and date to around 3300 BC. It's however believed that these are longer daggers, and not the first ancestors of swords. Swords longer than 90 cm were rare and not practical during the Bronze Age as this length exceeds the [[tensile strength]] of [[bronze]], which means such long swords would bend easily. It was not until the development of stronger alloys such as [[steel]] that longswords became practical for [[combat]].

The hilt, either from organic materials or bronze (the latter often highly decorated with spiral patterns, for example), at first simply allowed a firm grip and prevented the hand from slipping onto the blade when executing a thrust or the blade flying out of the hand in a cut. Some of the early swords typically had long and slender shaped blades intended for thrusting. Later swords were broader and were both cutting and thrusting weapons. A typical variant for European swords is the leaf-shaped blade, which was most common in North-West Europe at the end of the Bronze Age, in the UK and Ireland in particular. The Naue Type II Swords which spread from Southern Europe into the Mediterranean, have been linked by Robert Drews with the Late [[Bronze Age collapse]].<ref>[http://www.eclectichistorian.net/Griffzungenschwert/ The Naue Type II Sword<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Sword production in [[China]] is attested from the Bronze Age [[Shang Dynasty]]. The technology for bronze swords reached its high point during the Warring States period and Qin Dynasty. Amongst the Warring States period swords, some unique technologies were used, such as casting high tin edges over softer, lower tin cores, or the application of diamond shaped patterns on the blade (see [[sword of Goujian]]). Also unique for Chinese bronzes is the consistent use of high tin bronze (17-21% tin) which is very hard and breaks if stressed too far, whereas other cultures preferred lower tin bronze (usually 10%), which bends if stressed too far. Although iron swords were made alongside bronze, it wasn't until the early Han period that iron completely replaced bronze.

The earliest available [[Bronze age sword]]s of copper discovered from the [[Harappa]]n sites date back to 2300 BC. Swords have been recovered in archaeological findings throughout the [[Ganges]]-[[Jamuna]] [[Doab]] region of India, consisting of [[bronze]] but more commonly [[copper]].<ref name=allchin111-114>Allchin, pages 111-114</ref> Diverse specimens have been discovered in [[Fatehgarh]], where there are several varieties of hilt.<ref name=allchin111-114/> These swords have been variously dated to periods between 1700-1400 BCE, but were probably used more extensively during the opening centuries of the 1st millennium BCE.<ref name=allchin111-114/>

Not every culture that used bronze also developed swords. For example, the steppe tribes preferred short daggers (the [[akinakes]]). In South America, bronze was used by the [[Incas]], and although the concept of the sword was known in the form of wooden swords with stone edges (the [[macahuitl]]), they did not develop bronze swords.

===Iron Age===
{{main|Iron Age sword|Migration period sword}}
[[Iron]] swords became increasingly common from the 13th century BC.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} The [[Hittites]], the [[Mycenaean period|Mycenaean]] Greeks,{{Fact|date=February 2007}} and the [[Proto-Celtic]] [[Hallstatt culture]] (8th century BC) figured among the early users of iron swords. Iron has the advantage of mass-production due to the wider availability of the raw material. Early iron swords were not comparable to later [[steel]] blades. The iron was not quench-hardened although often containing sufficient carbon, but work-hardened like bronze by hammering. This made them comparable or only slightly better in terms of strength and hardness to bronze swords. They could still bend during use rather than spring back into shape. But the easier production, and the better availability of the raw material for the first time permitted the equipment of entire armies with metal weapons, though Bronze Age Egyptian armies were at times fully equipped with bronze weapons.

By the time of [[Classical Antiquity]] and the Parthian and Sassanid Empires in Iran, iron swords were common. The Greek [[xiphos]] and the Roman [[gladius]] are typical examples of the type, measuring some 60 to 70&nbsp;cm. The late [[Roman Empire]] introduced the longer [[spatha]] (the term for its wielder, [[spatharius]], became a court rank in Constantinople), and from this time, the term ''[[longsword]]'' is applied to swords comparatively long for their respective periods.

Chinese steel swords made their appearance from the 3rd century BCE [[Qin Dynasty]]. The Chinese [[Dao (sword)|Dao]] (刀 [[pinyin]] dāo) is single-edged, sometimes translated as [[sabre]] or [[broadsword]], and the [[Jian]] (劍 [[pinyin]] jiàn) double-edged.

The [[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]] mentions swords of Indian iron and steel being exported from India to [[Greece]].<ref> Prasad, chapter IX</ref> Indian Blades made of [[Damascus steel]] also found their way into [[Persia]].<ref> Prasad, chapter IX</ref>

===Middle Ages===
The spatha type remained popular throughout the [[Migration period]] and well into the [[Middle Ages]]. [[Vendel Age]] spathas were decorated with Germanic artwork (not unlike the Germanic [[bracteate]]s fashioned after Roman coins). The [[Viking Age]] saw again a more standardized production, but the basic design remained indebted to the spatha.
[[Image:Grotepier TN.JPG|thumb|200px|Statue of [[Pier Gerlofs Donia]], legendary warrior, holding his sword with a length of 213 cm]]
Around the 10th century, the use of properly quenched hardened and tempered steel started to become much more common than in previous periods. The Frankish [[Ulfberht]] blades (the name of the maker inlaid in the blade) were of particularly consistent high quality. [[Charles the Bald]] tried to prohibit the export of these swords, as they were used by [[Vikings]] in raids against the [[Franks]].

It was only from the 11th century that [[Normans|Norman]] swords began to develop the [[quillon]]s or [[crossguard]]. During the [[Crusades]] of the 12th to 13th century, this cruciform type of [[arming sword]] remained essentially stable, with variations mainly concerning the shape of the [[pommel]]. These swords were designed as cutting weapons, although effective points were becoming common to counter improvements in armour.

As [[steel]] technology improved, single-edged weapons became popular throughout Asia. Derived from the [[China|Chinese]] [[Jian]] or [[Dao (broadsword)|dao]], the [[Korea]]n [[hwandudaedo]] are known from the early medieval [[Three Kingdoms of Korea|Three Kingdoms]]. Production of the [[Japan]]ese [[tachi]], a precursor to the [[katana]], is recorded from ca. 900 CE (see [[Japanese sword]]).

The swords manufactured in Indian workshops find mention in the writing of [[Muhammad al-Idrisi]].<ref>Edgerton, page 56</ref>

Wootz steel which is also known as Damascus steel was a unique and highly prized steel developed on the Indian subcontinent as early as the 5th century BCE. Its properties were unique due to the special smelting and reworking of the steel creating networks of iron carbides described as a globular cementite in a matrix of pearlite. This gave the blade a very hard cutting edge and beautiful patterns. For obvious reasons it became a very popular trading material. The use of Damascus steel in swords became extremely popular in the 16th and 17th centuries.<ref>Maryon, Herbert, "Pattern-welding and Damascening of Sword-blades: Part I - Pattern-Welding," Studies in Conservation 5 (1960), p. 25 - 37. A brief review article by the originator of the term "pattern-welding" accurately details all the salient points of the construction of pattern-welded blades and of how all the patterns observed result as a function of the depth of grinding into a twisted rod structure. The article also includes a brief description of pattern-welding as encountered in the Malay keris.
</ref> <ref>Maryon, Herbert, "Pattern-welding and Damascening of Sword-blades: Part 2: The Damascene Process," Studies in Conservation 5 (1960), p. 52 - 60. A detailed discussion of Eastern wootz Damascene steels.
</ref>

===Late Middle Ages and Renaissance===
{{main|Longsword|Zweihänder}}
From around 1300 to 1500, in concert with improved [[armour]], innovative sword designs evolved more and more rapidly. The main transition was the lengthening of the grip, allowing two-handed use, and a longer blade. By 1400, this type of sword, at the time called ''[[longsword|langes Schwert]]'' (longsword) or ''spadone'', was common, and a number of 15th and 16th century ''[[Fechtbuch|Fechtbücher]]'' offering instructions on their use survive. Another variant was the specialized armour-piercing swords of the [[estoc]] type. The [[longsword]] became popular due to its extreme reach and cutting and thrusting abilities. The [[estoc]] became popular because of its ability to thrust into the gaps between plates of armor. The grip was sometimes wrapped in wire or coarse animal hide to provide a better grip and to make it harder to knock a sword out of the user's hand.

In the 16th century, the large ''Doppelhänder'' (called the ''[[Zweihänder]]'' today; both German names refer to the use of both hands) concluded the trend of ever-increasing sword sizes (mostly due to the beginning of the decline of plate armor and the advent of firearms), and the early [[Modern Age]] saw the return to lighter, one-handed weapons.

The [[Japan]]ese [[katana]] reached the height of its development at about this time. In the 15th and 16th centuries, samurai increasingly found a need for a sword to use in closer quarters, leading to the creation of the modern [[katana]].

The sword in this time period was the most personal weapon, the most prestigious, and the most versatile for close combat, but it came to decline in military use as technology changed warfare. However, it maintained a key role in civilian self-defense.

===Modern age===
{{main|Rapier|Backsword|Épée|Sword replica}}
Some{{who}} think the [[rapier]] evolved from the Spanish ''[[espada ropera]]'' in the 16th century. The rapier differed from most earlier swords in that it was not a military weapon but a primarily civilian sword. Both the rapier and the Italian [[schiavona]] developed the crossguard into a basket-shaped guard for hand protection. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the shorter [[smallsword]] became an essential fashion accessory in European countries and the New World, and most wealthy men and military officers carried one. Both the smallsword and the rapier remained popular [[European dueling sword|dueling swords]] well into the 18th century.

As the wearing of swords fell out of fashion, [[cane]]s took their place in a gentleman's wardrobe. Some examples of canes—those known as sword canes or [[swordstick]]s—incorporate a concealed blade. The [[France|French]] [[martial art]] ''[[la canne]]'' developed to fight with canes and swordsticks and has now evolved into a sport.

Towards the end of its useful life, the sword served more as a weapon of self-defense than for use on the battlefield, and the military importance of swords steadily decreased during the [[Modern Age]]. Even as a personal sidearm, the sword began to lose its preeminence in the early 19th century, paralleling the development of reliable [[handgun]]s.

[[Image:Smallsword handle steel ivory.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The hilt of the 18th century [[smallsword]] used by Captain [[John Paul Schott]] in the [[American Revolutionary War]].]]
Swords continued in use, but were increasingly limited to military commissioned [[Officer (armed forces)|officers']] and [[non-commissioned officer]]s' ceremonial [[uniform]]s, although most armies retained heavy cavalry until well after [[World War I]]. For example, the British Army formally adopted a completely new design of [[1908 and 1912 Pattern British Army Cavalry Swords|cavalry sword]] in 1908, almost the last change in British Army weapons before the outbreak of the war. The last units of British heavy cavalry switched to using [[armoured vehicle]]s as late as 1938. Swords and other dedicated melee weapons were used occasionally by various countries during [[World War II]], but typically as a secondary weapon as they were outclassed by contemporaneous [[firearms]].

The production of [[sword replica|replicas]] of historical swords originates with 19th century [[Historicism (art)|historicism]]. Contemporary replicas can range from cheap factory produced look-alikes to exact recreations of individual artifacts, including an approximation of the historical production methods.

==Terminology==
[[Image:Sword Pommel.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Hilt of a sword]][[Image:Sword Full.jpg|right|thumb|240px|Full Sword in scabbard]]
The sword consists of the [[blade]] and the [[hilt]].
The term ''[[scabbard]]'' applies to the cover for the sword blade when not in use.

[[Image:Sword parts.svg]]

====Blade====
Three types of attacks can be performed with the blade: striking, [[cutting]], and [[thrusting]]. The blade can be double-edged or single-edged, the latter often having a secondary "false edge" near the tip. When handling the sword, the ''long'' or ''true'' edge is the one used for straight cuts or strikes, while the ''short'' or ''false'' edge is the one used for backhand strikes. Some hilt designs define which edge is the 'long' one, while more symmetrical designs allow the long and short edges to be inverted by turning the sword of one's hand on the hilt.

The blade may have grooves known as [[fuller (weapon)|fullers]] for lightening the blade while allowing it to retain its strength and stiffness, similar to the effect produced by a [[Beam (structure)|steel I-beam]] used in construction. The blade may taper more or less sharply towards a point, used for thrusting. The part of the blade between the [[Center of Percussion]] (CoP) and the point is called the ''foible'' (weak) of the blade, and that between the [[Center of Balance]] (CoB) and the hilt is the ''forte'' (strong). The section in between the CoP and the CoB is the ''middle''. The ''[[ricasso]]'' or ''shoulder'' identifies a short section of blade immediately forward of the guard that is left completely unsharpened, and can be gripped with a finger to increase tip control. Many swords have no ricasso. On some large weapons, such as the [[Germany|German]] ''[[Zweihänder]]'', a metal cover surrounded the ricasso, and a swordsman might grip it in one hand to wield the weapon more easily in close-quarter combat. The ricasso normally bears the [[maker's mark]]. On Japanese blades this mark appears on the [[Tang (weaponry)|tang]] (part of the blade that extends into the hilt) under the grip.
* In the case of a rat-tail tang, the maker welds a thin rod to the end of the blade at the crossguard; this rod goes through the grip (in 20th century and later construction). This occurs most commonly in decorative replicas, or cheap [[sword-like object]]s. Traditional sword-making does not use this construction method, which does not serve for traditional sword usage as the sword can easily break at the welding point.
* In traditional construction, the [[swordsmith]] forged the tang as a part of the sword rather than welding it on. Traditional tangs go through the grip: this gives much more durability than a rat-tail tang. Swordsmiths [[peening|peened]] such tangs over the end of the pommel, or occasionally welded the hilt furniture to the tang and threaded the end for screwing on a pommel. This style is often referred to as a "narrow" or "hidden" tang. Modern, less traditional, replicas often feature a threaded pommel or a pommel nut which holds the hilt together and allows dismantling.
* In a "full" tang (most commonly used in knives and machetes), the tang has about the same width as the blade, and is generally the same shape as the grip. In European or Asian swords sold today, many advertised "full" tangs may actually involve a forged rat-tail tang.

At the base of the blade, a flap of leather could be attached to a sword's [[crossguard]], the ''Chappe'' which serves to protect the mouth of the scabbard and prevent water from entering. It is also called a ''Rain Guard''.

From the 18th century onwards, swords intended for slashing, i.e., with blades ground to a sharpened edge, have been curved with the radius of curvature equal to the distance from the swordman's body at which it was to be used. This allowed the blade to have a sawing effect rather than simply delivering a heavy cut. European swords, intended for use at [[arm]]'s length, had a [[radius]] of [[curvature]] of around a meter. [[Middle East]]ern swords, intended for use with the arm bent, had a smaller radius.

====Hilt====
The [[hilt]] is the collective term of the parts allowing the handling and control of the blade, consisting of the [[Hilt#Grip|grip]], the [[Hilt#Pommel|pommel]], and a simple or elaborate [[Hilt#Guard|guard]], which in post-[[Viking Age]] swords could consist of only a [[crossguard]] (called [[cruciform]] hilt). The pommel, in addition to improving the sword's balance and grip, can also be used as a blunt instrument at close range. It may also have a ''[[Hilt#Tassel|tassel]]'' or ''[[Hilt#Tassel|sword knot]]''.

The [[Tang (weaponry)|tang]] consists of the extension of the blade structure through the hilt.

====Scabbard====
The [[scabbard]] is a protective cover often provided for the sword blade. Over the millennia, scabbards have been made of many materials, including leather, wood, and metals such as brass or steel. The metal fitting where the blade enters the leather or metal scabbard is called the '''throat''', which is often part of a larger scabbard '''mount''', or '''locket''', that bears a carrying ring or stud to facilitate wearing the sword. The blade's point in leather scabbards is usually protected by a metal '''tip''', or '''chape''', which on both leather and metal scabbards is often given further protection from wear by an extension called a '''drag''', or '''shoe'''.

==Typology==
{{dablink|See also [[Types of swords]]}}

Swords can fall into categories of varying scope. The main distinguishing characteristics include blade shape (cross-section, taper, and length), shape and size of hilt and pommel, age, and place of origin.

For any other type than listed below, and even for uses other than as a weapon, see the article [[Sword-like object]].

===Single-edged and double-edged swords===
As noted above, the terms ''[[longsword]]'', ''[[broad sword]]'', ''[[great sword]]'', and ''[[Claymore|Gaelic claymore]]'' are used relative to the era under consideration, and each term designates a particular type of sword.

One strict definition of a sword restricts it to a straight, double-edged bladed weapon designed for both slashing and thrusting.{{Fact|date=August 2008}} However, general usage of the term remains inconsistent and it has important cultural overtones, so that commentators almost universally recognize the single-edged swords such as Asian weapons ([[Dao (sword)|dāo]] 刀, [[katana]] 刀) as "swords", simply because they have a prestige akin to their European counterparts. </br>

In most of Asian countries, sword ([[jian]] 劍, ken, pedang) is double-edged straight bladed weapon, while knife or saber ([[dāo]] 刀, do, pisau, golok) refer to single-edged one. Thus, a katana should not be translated to [[samurai sword]].


Europeans also frequently refer to their own single-edged weapons as swords — generically [[backsword]]s, including [[sabre]]s. Other terms include [[falchion]], [[scimitar]], [[cutlass]], [[dussack]], [[großes Messer|Messer]] or [[mortuary sword]]. Many of these refer to essentially identical weapons, and the different names may relate to their use in different countries at different times. A [[machete]] as a [[tool]] resembles such a single-edged sword and serves to cut through thick vegetation, and indeed many of the terms listed above describe weapons that originated as farmers' tools used on the battlefield.

====Single-handed====

[[Image:Jaguar warrior.jpg|thumb|right|[[Aztec]] Warrior holding a [[Macana]], a sword that is wooden but has [[obsidian|obsidian shards]] in the blade.]]

*[[Bronze Age sword]]s, length ca. 60&nbsp;cm, leaf shaped blade.
*[[Iron Age]] swords like the [[xiphos]], [[gladius]] and [[jian]] 劍, similar in shape to their Bronze Age predecessors.
*[[Spatha]], measuring ca. 80–90&nbsp;cm. similar to the [[Viking sword]]
*The classical [[arming sword]] of Medieval Europe, measuring up to ca. 110&nbsp;cm.
*The late medieval Swiss [[baselard]] and the Renaissance Italian [[cinquedea]] and German ''[[Katzbalger]]'' essentially re-introduce the functionality of the spatha, coinciding with the strong cultural movement to emulate the Classical world.
*The [[side-sword|cut & thrust]] swords of the Renaissance, similar to the older arming sword but balanced for increased thrusting.
*The Turkish blade; [[yatagan]] ( ''Yatağan'' in Turkish) used from 16th Century to 19th century.
*Light [[dueling sword]]s, like the [[rapier]] and the [[smallsword]], in use from [[Early Modern]] times.
*The Japanese short sword, or [[wakizashi]]
*The [[Ida (sword)|ida]] of the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] tribe of [[West Africa]]. It can also be regarded as a two-handed sword.
*The Indian [[tulwar]]
*The Arabian [[scimitar]], the similar Persian [[shamshir]].
*The East Indian [[kris]], with a wavy double-edged blade.
*The Fillipino [[itak]], ([http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/8/86/250px-Bolo_ni_Max.JPG image]) used by pre-Spanish Filipinos or Austronesians as a primary weapon in protecting its boundaries.
*The Korean Hwandudaedo (Hwando), or a sword with a short handle and a ring-shaped pommel and a wire grip.
*The Aztec [[Macana]], a wooden sword using [[obsidian]] shards in the blade.

====Two-handed====
[[Image:Katana-Dresden.jpg|thumb|[[Katana]] of the 16th or 17th century, with its ''saya''.]]
*The Japanese samurai sword, the [[katana]], [[tachi]] or [[nodachi]]
*The Indian [[khanda (sword)|khanda]]
*The [[longsword]] (and bastard sword/hand-and-a-half sword) of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
*The 16th century ''Doppelhänder'' or ''[[Zweihänder]]'' (German for "double-hander" or "two-hander").
*The Chinese anti-cavalry sword, [[zhanmadao]] of the Song Dynasty.
*The Scottish Highland [[claymore]], (or [[claidheamh mór]]-gàidhlig, great sword); in use until the 18th century.
The Scabbard can also be called a sheath.

==Punishment devices==
{{main|Executioner's sword}}
*Real swords can be used to administer various [[physical punishment]]s: to perform either [[capital punishment]] by decapitation (the use of the sword, an honorable weapon on military men, was regarded as privilege) or non-surgical [[amputation]]. In Scandinavia, where beheading has been the traditional means of capital punishment, noblemen were beheaded with a sword and commoners with an axe.
*Similarly paddle-like sword-like devices for [[physical punishment]] are used in Asia, in western terms for [[Paddle (spanking)|paddling]] or [[caning]], depending whether the implement is flat or round.
*The [[shinai]], a practice sword, is also used in Japan as a [[spanking]] implement, particularly in esteemed [[private school|private]] [[extracurricular]] schools.<ref>[http://www.corpun.com/jpsc7706.htm]</ref>

==Famous swords==
{{Trivia|date=April 2008}}

[[Image:Lame-renard-p1000662.jpg|right|thumb|250px|In [[Japanese mythology]], [[Inari (mythology)|Inari]] and her [[Kitsune]] (fox spirits) help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade ''kogitsune-maru'' (''Little Fox'') in the late 10th century. This legend is the subject of the [[noh]] drama [[Sanjo Kokaji]].]]
Apart from the aforementioned types of symbolic swords, the following individually named swords are noteworthy:
===Swords in History===
{{seealso|Types of swords#History and mythology}}
*[[Sword of Goujian]], a historical artifact from the [[Spring and Autumn Period]].
*[[Zulfiqar]] - Sword of the Muslim Prophet [[Muhammad]], [[Ali ibn Abu Talib]] and later [[Husayn ibn Ali]] in the [[Battle of Karbala]].
*[[Honjo Masamune]], Sword of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]], a feudal military dictatorship of Japan established in 1603.
*[[Jewelled Sword of Offering]], Sword of [[King George IV]] of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1820-1830).
*[[Seven-Branched Sword]], which [[Wa (Japan)|Wa]] received from [[Baekje]].

*Sword of [[Boabdil]], Sword of the last Moorish King in Spain.
*[[Tizona]], [[El Cid]]'s personal sword which exists to this day in [[Spain]] as a national treasure.
*[[Colada]], the other sword of [[El Cid]].
*[[Lobera]], the sword of the king Saint [[Ferdinand III of Castile]]
*The [[Wallace Sword]], a large Scottish [[Claymore]] believed to have been used by famous Scottish [[Patriot]] and [[knight]] [[William Wallace]], when leading the resistance against England in the late 13th century.
*A [[Mameluke sword]] was given by Prince [[Hamet Karamali]] to [[Presley O'Bannon]], an officer in the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]], during his participation in the [[First Barbary War]].
* Sword of [[Tippu Sultan]]
Tippu Sultan had lost his sword in a war with the [[ Nairs ]] of [[ Travancore ]]in which, he was defeated. The Nairs under the leadership of Raja Kesavadas, defeated the Mysore army near Aluva. The Maharaja, Dharma Raja, gifted the famous sword to the Nawab of Arcot, from where the sword went to London. The sword was on display at the Wallace Collection, No. 1 Manchester Square, London. At an auction in London in 2004, the industrialist-politician [[ Vijay Mallya ]] purchased the sword of Tippu Sultan and some other historical artifacts, and brought them back to India for public display after nearly two centuries.

=== Swords of myth and legend ===
{{seealso|Types of swords#History and mythology}}
* [[Arondight]] - Sword of [[Lancelot]]
* [[Attila the Hun]]'s sword, which he claimed was the sword of Mars, the Roman god of war
* [[Caladbolg]] - Sword of [[Fergus mac Róich]]

* [[Claíomh Solais]] - Sword of Nuada Airgeadlámh, legendary king of Ireland
* [[Colada]], the other sword of [[El Cid]].
* [[Crocea Mors]] - Sword of [[Julius Caesar]]
* [[Curtana]] - Sword of [[Ogier the Dane]] , a legendary Danish hero, and a paladin of Charlemagne
* [[Durendal]] - Sword of [[Roland]], one of [[Charlemagne]]'s paladins
* [[Excalibur]]/Caliburn/Caledflwch - Sword of [[King Arthur]]
*[[Fragarach]] - Sword of [[Manannan mac Lir]] and [[Lugh|Lugh Lamfada]]
*[[Gram (mythology)|Gram]] ([[Balmung]]) ([[Nothung]]) - Sword of [[Sigurd|Siegfried]], hero of the [[Nibelungenlied]]
*[[Hauteclere]] - Sword of [[Olivier (The Song of Roland)|Olivier]], a French hero depicted in the [[The Song of Roland|Song of Roland]]
*[[Heaven's Will]]/The Will of Heaven/Thuan Thien/Thuận Thiên. Sword of [[Vietnam]]ese [[King]] [[Le Loi]]
*[[Hrunting]] - Sword lent to [[Beowulf]] by Unferth, ineffective against Grendel's mother
*[[Joyeuse]] - Sword of [[Charlemagne]]
*[[Kusanagi]] - Sword of [[Susanoo]]
*[[Lobera]], the sword of the king Saint [[Ferdinand III of Castile]]
*Naegling - Sword of Beowulf in his old age, used to fight the dragon
*[[Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar]] - Sword of [[King Solomon]](in Persian folklore)
*Taming Sari - The Kris belonging to the Malay warrior Hang Tuah of the Malacca Sultanate.
*[[Tizona]], [[El Cid]]'s personal sword which exists to this day in [[Spain]] as a national treasure.
*[[Tyrfing]] - Cursed sword that causes eventual death to its wielder and their kin

===Swords of modern fiction===
{{seealso|Category:Fictional swords}}
<!-- There's a category for a reason folks, let's keep this at a fair minimum please...Concept examples and base influences on "modern fiction" is enough. (Example: there are many lazerswords but the most popular example of this is Star War's "lightsaber". We do not need a listing of EVERY laser sword in this category. Same goes with the video game weapons. There are thousands of them, but the notable examples like the over-sized zanpacto or the magical vorpal blade are all that's really needed in this category.-->
*The [[Lightsaber]] is a sword concept featured in the [[Star Wars]] [[Portal:Star Wars|universe]]. Its popularity has inspired similar [[laser]] based swords to have been used in other works of science fiction media.
*[[:Category:Middle-earth swords|Various swords]] from [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[Middle-earth]], including [[Narsil]] (later ''[[Andúril]]''), [[Sting (Middle-earth)|Sting]], Orcrist (sword of Thorin), Guthwine (sword of Éomer), [[Herugrim]] (sword of King Théoden) and [[Glamdring]], sword of [[Gandalf]].
*[[Rhindon]] is the gold-hilted blade of the High King Peter Pevensie in C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia.
*[[Grayswandir]] is the silver blade of prince Corwin of Amber in [[Roger Zelazny]]'s fiction book series "Amber Chronicles". Its sister blade, Werewindle, belongs to Corwin's brother Brand.
*The [[Zanbato]] is an incredibly large type of Japanese sword with a mysterious historical background that has inspired various fictional swords found in a wide variety of today's media including [[anime]] television, books and [[video games]]. Most unrealistically large swords such as the [[Buster Sword]] or the [[Tetsusaiga]] found in Japanese media today are inspired by the zanbatō.
*The [[Vorpal blade]] is a sword from the poem [[Jabberwocky]]. It has since been adopted into modern media as a type of magic sword. Similar magical swords have become common in fantasy literature, games, and art, but this particular sword has had its name continuously mentioned and spread among many works.
*[[Frostmourne]] is the soul stealing blade of Arthas in the [[Warcraft (series)|Warcraft]] series.
*[[The Sword of Kahless]] - Sword of the legendary Klingon warrior [[Kahless]]
*The [[Soul Reaver]], wielded by the protagonists Kain and Raziel in the [[Legacy of Kain]] video game series by [[Eidos Interactive]] and [[Crystal Dynamics]].
* [[Drizzt Do'Urden]], a fictional drow and the main protagonist in [[R.A. Salvatore]]'s book series, wields a pair of magically enchanted curved swords, [[Scimitar]]s, named Twinkle and Icingdeath. Twinkle, Drizzt's preferred blade, glows a bright blue when enemies are near, Drizzt has displayed the ability to control this glow and has been able to will the blade to go dark or to give off large amounts of light. Icingdeath can counter the effects of any type of fire, both natural and magical. The wielder can withstand the breath of a dragon or walk into a massive furnace without suffering the slightest of burns.
*The [[Master Sword]], the legendary Blade of Evil's Bane, used by Link in The Legend of Zelda video game series.
* Zangetsu, or "Moon Cutter", is the Zanpakuto used by Ichigo Kurosaki, the main protagonist of the Bleach anime series
* The Keyblade, sword used by Sora in the video game Kingdom hearts.
* Naegling (Oromis's sword),Zar'roc(Morzan's sword) Brisingr(Eragon's sword) in the Inheritance Series by Chistopher Paolini

==See also==
*[[Types of swords]]
*[[Swordsmanship]]
**[[Historical European Martial Arts]]
***[[German school of swordsmanship]]
***[[Italian school of swordsmanship]]
**[[Chinese martial arts]]
**[[Eskrima]] (Filipino Martial Arts)
**[[Fencing]]
**[[Krabi Krabong]] (Thailand Martial Arts)
**[[Banshay]] (Burmese Martial Arts)
**[[Silat]] (Indonesian Martial Arts)
**[[Kenjutsu]]
*[[sword-like objects]]
**[[macuahuitl]]
*[[Knight]]
*[[Oakeshott typology]]
*[[Waster]]
*[[Sword making]]
*[[List of sword manufacturers]]
*[[Damocles|Sword of Damocles]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist}}

== References ==
* Allchin, F.R. in ''South Asian Archaeology 1975: Papers from the Third International Conference of the Association of South Asian Archaeologists in Western Europe, Held in Paris'' (December 1979) edited by J.E.van Lohuizen-de Leeuw. Brill Academic Publishers, Incorporated. 106-118. ISBN 9004059962.
* Prasad, Prakash Chandra (2003). ''Foreign Trade and Commerce in Ancient India''. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 8170170532.
* Edgerton; et al. (2002). ''Indian and Oriental Arms and Armour''. Courier Dover Publications. ISBN 0486422291.
* Withers, Harvey J S; World Swords 1400 - 1945, Studio Jupiter Military Publishing (2006). ISBN 095491011.

==Further reading==
* Kao Ch'ü-hsün (1959/60). "THE CHING LU SHRINES OF [[HAN]] SWORD WORSHIP IN HSIUNG NU RELIGION." ''Central Asiatic Journal'' 5, 1959-60, pp. 221-232.

==External links==
{{commonscat|Swords}}
{{wiktionary}}
{{external links}}
* [http://www.myarmoury.com/features.html Featured articles relating to the sword at myArmoury.com]
* [http://www.thearma.org/essays/How_Were_Swords_Made.htm How Were Swords Really Made?] by John Clements (ARMA)
* [http://www.kjartan.org/swordfaq/ Japanese Sword Arts FAQ]
* [http://www.thearma.org The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts]
* [http://vikingsword.com/ Medieval Sword Resource Site] (vikingsword.com)
* [http://swordwiki.org/ SwordWiki.org]
* [[Wikibooks:Sword construction]]

[[Category:Blade weapons]]
[[Category:Ancient weapons]]
[[Category:Swords|*]]

[[ang:Sweord]]
[[ar:سيف]]
[[ast:Espada]]
[[az:Qılınc]]
[[bs:Mač]]
[[br:Kleze]]
[[bg:Меч]]
[[ca:Espasa]]
[[cs:Meč]]
[[cy:Cleddyf]]
[[da:Sværd]]
[[de:Schwert]]
[[et:Mõõk]]
[[el:Ξίφος]]
[[es:Espada]]
[[eo:Glavo]]
[[eu:Ezpata]]
[[fa:شمشیر]]
[[fr:Épée]]
[[gd:Claidheamh]]
[[gl:Espada]]
[[ko:검]]
[[hr:Mač]]
[[id:Pedang]]
[[is:Sverð]]
[[it:Spada (arma)]]
[[he:חרב]]
[[kv:Шыпурт]]
[[la:Gladius]]
[[lv:Zobens]]
[[lt:Kalavijas]]
[[jbo:cladakyxa'i]]
[[hu:Kard]]
[[ms:Pedang]]
[[nl:Zwaard (wapen)]]
[[ja:剣]]
[[no:Sverd]]
[[nn:Sverd]]
[[pl:Miecz]]
[[pt:Espada]]
[[ro:Sabie]]
[[qu:Khillaychuki]]
[[ru:Меч]]
[[sah:Кылыс]]
[[sco:Swuird]]
[[simple:Sword]]
[[sk:Meč]]
[[sl:Meč]]
[[sr:Мач]]
[[sh:Mač]]
[[fi:Miekka]]
[[sv:Svärd]]
[[ta:வாள்]]
[[th:ดาบ]]
[[vi:Kiếm]]
[[tr:Kılıç (silah)]]
[[uk:Меч]]
[[ur:تلوار]]
[[zh-yue:劍]]
[[bat-smg:Kalavėjs]]
[[zh:劍]]

Revision as of 07:35, 31 December 2008

What i'm going to use to cut off Alex43223's right ear and tailbone!!
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sword&oldid=261049933"