Citizendia

"Swords" redirects here. For other uses, see Swords (disambiguation).
Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century
Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century

A sword is a long-edged piece of metal, used as a cutting and/or thrusting weapon in many civilizations throughout the world. The Longsword is a type of European Sword used during the Late medieval and Renaissance periods approximately 1350 to 1550 (with early and late use reaching A Civilization is a society in which large numbers of people share a variety of common elements The word sword comes from the Old English sweord, which cognates to Old High German swert, Middle Dutch swaert, Old Norse sverð (cp. Middle Dutch is a collective name for a number of closely related West Germanic dialects (whose ancestor was Old Dutch) which were spoken and written between 1150 Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age modern Scandinavian sværd/sverd/svärd: Danish sværd, Norwegian sverd, Swedish svärd) Old Frisian and Old Saxon swerd and Modern Dutch zwaard, from a Proto-Indo-European root *swer- "to wound, to hurt". The North Germanic languages or Scandinavian languages make up one of the three branches of the Germanic languages, a sub-family of the Indo-European languages Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the Norwegian ( norsk) is a North Germanic Language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is an official language Swedish ( is a North Germanic language spoken by more than nine million people predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along the Old Frisian was the West Germanic language spoken between the 8th and 16th centuries by the people who had settled in the area between the Rhine Old Saxon, also known as Old Low German ( ISO 639 -3 code osx) is the earliest recorded form of Low German, documented from the 9th century Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname A sword fundamentally consists of a blade, a hilt, and a pommel, typically with one or two edges for striking and cutting, and a point for thrusting. A blade is the flat part of a Tool, Weapon, or Machine (such as a fan) that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. Cutting is the separation of a physical object or a portion of a physical object into two portions through the application of an acutely directed force The basic intent and physics of swordsmanship has remained fairly constant down the centuries, but the actual techniques varied among cultures and periods as a result of the differences in blade design and purpose. Physics (Greek Physis - φύσις in everyday terms is the Science of Matter and its motion. Swordsman redirects here For the comic book characters see Swordsman (comics. The names given to many swords in mythology, literature, and history reflect the high prestige of the weapon (see list of swords). The word mythology (from the Greek grc μυθολογία mythología, meaning "a story-telling a legendary lore" Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology This is a list of Types of swords found through history all around the world

Contents

History

Bronze Age

Main article: Bronze Age sword
The famed 2500-year-old Sword of Goujian, a first-level protected artifact of the People's Republic of China
The famed 2500-year-old Sword of Goujian, a first-level protected artifact of the People's Republic of China

Humans have manufactured and used metal bladed weapons from the Bronze Age onwards. Bronze Age Swords appear from around the 17th century BC, evolving out of the Dagger. The Sword of Goujian ( Traditional Chinese: 越王勾踐劍, Simplified Chinese: 越王勾践剑 is an archaeological artifact of the Spring Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for 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. A dagger (from Vulgar Latin: 'daca' - a Dacian Knife) is a typically double-edged blade used for Stabbing or thrusting The 3rd millennium BC spans the Early to Middle Bronze Age. It represents a period of time in which Imperialism, or the desire to conquer grew to prominence The oldest sword-like weapons are found at Arslantepe, Turkey, and date to around 3300BC. Melid (modern Arslantepe, near Malatya, Turkey) was a Hittite city at the Tohma River, the ancient name of a tributary Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches 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. Tensile strength \sigma_{UTS} or S_U is the Stress at which a material breaks or permanently deforms Bronze is any of a broad range of Copper alloys, usually with Tin as the main additive but sometimes with other elements such as Phosphorus It was not until the development of stronger alloys such as steel that longswords became practical for combat. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 The ComBat was an Aluminium Cricket bat and the subject of an incident that occurred at the WACA cricket ground in Perth in December 1979.

The hilt, either from organic materials or bronze (the latter often highly decorated f. e. with spiral patterns), 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. The early swords typically had long and slender shaped blades intended for thrusting (rapiers). 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. The Bronze Age collapse is the name given by those historians who see the transition from the [1]

Sword production in China is attested from the Bronze Age Shang Dynasty. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The Shang Dynasty ( Chinese: 商[[wiktionary 朝|朝]] or Yin Dynasty ( 殷[[wiktionary 代|代]] was according to traditional sources the The technology for bronze swords reached it's highpoint 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 the sword of Gou Jian). 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 history of Indian sword goes back as far as 1050 ad. exemplified by several sculptures, paintings and coins. However, the earliest available swords of copper discovered from the Harappan sites date back to 2300 B. C. Swords have been recovered in archaeological findings throughout the Ganges-Jamuna Doab region of India, consisting of bronze but more commonly copper. The Ganges (ˈgænʤiːz also Ganga, Devanāgarī: hi गंगा in most Indian languages) is the major river in the Indian subcontinent A Doab ( Persian, Urdu: dō, "two" + āb, "water" or "river" is a term used in India and India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country [2] Diverse specimen have been discovered in Fatehgarh, where there are several varieties of hilt. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Fatehgarh is a Cantonment town in Farrukhabad district in the state of Uttar Pradesh [3] These swords have been variously dated to periods between 1700-1400 BC, but were probably used more extensively during the opening centuries of the 1st millennium BCE. The first millennium is a period of time that commenced on January 1, 1, and ended on December 31, 1000, of the Julian calendar. [4]

Not every culture that used bronze also developed swords. The steppe tribes f. e. preferred short daggers (the akinakes). The acinaces, also spelled akinakes ( Greek ἀκινάκης or akinaka (unattested Old Persian *akīnakah) is a type 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. The macuahuitl (a name derived from the Nahuatl language) is a Weapon shaped like a wooden club

Iron Age

Main articles: Iron Age sword and Migration period sword

Iron swords became increasingly common from the 13th century BC. Swords made of Iron (as opposed to Bronze) appear from the Early Iron Age (ca Swords of the Migration Period show a transition from the various ancient Germanic sword types (similar to Hallstatt swords Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 The Hittites, the Mycenaean Greeks, and the Proto-Celtic Hallstatt culture (8th century BC) figured among the early users of iron swords. The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people who spoke a language of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family and established Mycenaean Greece is a cultural period of ancient Greece taking its name from the archaeological site of Mycenae in northeastern Argolis, in the Peloponnese Phonological reconstruction Consonants The phonological changes from Proto-Indo-European to Proto-Celtic Consonants may be summarised as follows The Hallstatt culture was the predominant 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. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 The iron was not quench hardened although often containing sufficient carbon, but workhardened just like bronze by hammering. This made them comparable or only slightly better in terms of strength and hardness to bronze swords. So they could still bend during use, rather then 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. Classical antiquity (also the classical era or classical period) is a broad term for a long period of cultural History centered on the Mediterranean The Greek xiphos and the Roman gladius are typical examples of the type, measuring some 60 to 70 cm. The xiphos ( Greek: ξίφος is a double-edged single-hand Sword used by the Ancient Greeks. Gladius is a Latin word for Sword. Early ancient Roman swords were similar to those used by the Greeks 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. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The spatha was a type of straight Sword with a long point measuring between 0 The Spatharius, wielder of a Roman short sword (between 070 and 1 m the Spatha, became known as a court-rank in Constantinople. The Longsword is a type of European Sword used during the Late medieval and Renaissance periods approximately 1350 to 1550 (with early and late use reaching

Chinese steel swords make their appearance from the 3rd century BC Qin Dynasty. Not to be confused with the Qing Dynasty, the last dynasty of China The Chinese Dao (刀 pinyin dāo) is single-edged, sometimes translated as sabre or broadsword, and the Jian (劍 pinyin jiàn) double edged. Dao ( "knife"is a category of single-edge Chinese Swords primarily used for slashing and chopping ( Sabres, often called a broadsword Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use The sabre or saber (see spelling differences) is a kind of Sword that usually but not always has The jian is a double-edged straight Sword used during the last 2500 years in China. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use

The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions swords of Indian iron and steel being exported from India to Greece. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea ( Periplus Maris Erythraei) is a Greek Periplus, describing navigation and trading opportunities Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία [5] Indian Blades made of Damascus steel also found their way into Persia. Damascus steel is a hot- forged Steel used in Middle Eastern Swordmaking from about 1100 to 1700 AD The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia [6]

Middle Ages

The spatha type remained popular throughout the Migration period and well into the Middle Ages. The Migration Period, also called Barbarian Invasions, or sometimes Völkerwanderung ( German for "wandering of peoples" is the English name Vendel Age spathas were decorated with Germanic artwork (not unlike the Germanic bracteates fashioned after Roman coins). Swedish prehistory the Vendel era ( 550 - 793) is the name given to a part of the Germanic Iron Age (or more generally the Age of Migrations A bracteate (from the Latin bractea, a thin piece of metal is a flat thin single-sided Gold coin produced in Northern Europe predominantly The Viking Age saw again a more standardized production, but the basic design remained indebted to the spatha. Viking Age is the term denoting the years from about 700 to 1066 in European history.

Around the 10th century, the use of properly quench hardened and tempered steel started to become much more common then 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. Charles the Bald ( 13 June 823 – 6 October 877) Holy Roman Emperor (875–877 as Charles II) and King of West Francia A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group

It is only from the 11th century that Norman swords begin to develop the quillons or crossguard. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. On a Sword or some knives, the crossguard (or cross-guard) is a bar of metal at right angles to the blade placed between the blade and the Hilt On a Sword or some knives, the crossguard (or cross-guard) is a bar of metal at right angles to the blade placed between the blade and the Hilt 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. The Crusades were a series of military campaigns of a religious character waged by much of Christian Europe against external and internal opponents The arming sword (also sometimes called a knight's or knightly sword) is the single handed Cruciform Sword of the High Middle Ages 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. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Derived from the Chinese Jian or dao, the Korean hwandudaedo are known from the early medieval Three Kingdoms. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The jian is a double-edged straight Sword used during the last 2500 years in China. Dao ( "knife"is a category of single-edge Chinese Swords primarily used for slashing and chopping ( Sabres, often called a broadsword Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. The Hwandudaedo is a type of ancient Korean sword from the Three Kingdoms of Korea era (2nd half of the 1st century B The Three Kingdoms of Korea ( refer to the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla, which dominated the Korean peninsula Production of the Japanese tachi, a precursor to the katana, is recorded from ca. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. The is a Japanese sword, often said to be more curved and slightly longer than the Katana. A is a type of Japanese sword ( nihontō) and often is called a "samurai sword 900 AD (see Japanese sword). A Japanese sword, or, is one of the traditional bladed weapons of Japan.

The swords manufactured in Indian workshops find mention in the writing of Muhammad al-Idrisi. Abu Abd Allah Muhammad al-Idrisi al-Qurtubi al-Hasani al-Sabti or simply El Idrisi ( Arabic أبو عبد الله محمد الإدريسي Latin: [7]

Late Middle Ages and Renaissance

Main articles: Longsword and Zweihänder

From around 1300 to 1500, in concert with improved armour, innovative sword designs evolved more and more rapidly. The Longsword is a type of European Sword used during the Late medieval and Renaissance periods approximately 1350 to 1550 (with early and late use reaching The ( German for "two hander" also called Bidenhänder or Bihänder) is a Two-handed sword primarily of the Renaissance. Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact 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 langes Schwert (longsword) or spadone, was common, and a number of 15th and 16th century Fechtbücher offering instructions on their use survive. The Longsword is a type of European Sword used during the Late medieval and Renaissance periods approximately 1350 to 1550 (with early and late use reaching Martial arts manuals are instructions with or without illustrations detailing specific techniques of Martial arts. Another variant was the specialized armour-piercing swords of the estoc type. The French estoc or English "tuck" was a variation of the Longsword focused intensely on fighting against mail or Plate armour. The longsword became popular due to its extreme reach and cutting and thrusting abilities. The Longsword is a type of European Sword used during the Late medieval and Renaissance periods approximately 1350 to 1550 (with early and late use reaching The estoc became popular because of its ability to thrust into the gaps between plates of armor. The French estoc or English "tuck" was a variation of the Longsword focused intensely on fighting against mail or Plate armour. 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 ( German for "two hander" also called Bidenhänder or Bihänder) is a Two-handed sword primarily of the Renaissance. The term modern period or modern era (sometimes also modern times) is the period of history that followed the Middle Ages between c

The Japanese katana reached the height of its development at about this time. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. A is a type of Japanese sword ( nihontō) and often is called a "samurai sword 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. A is a type of Japanese sword ( nihontō) and often is called a "samurai sword

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 articles: Rapier, Backsword, Épée, and Sword replica

Some think the rapier evolved from the Spanish espada ropera in the 16th century. A rapier is a relatively slender sharply pointed Sword, used mainly for thrusting attacks mainly in use in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries A backsword is a Sword having a Blade with only one edge The back of the sword is often the thickest part of the blade and acts to support and strengthen it The épée ('epeɪ is the modern derivative of the original Duelling Sword, the Rapier, used in sport fencing. Sword replicas may be produced as a singular reproduction of a specific historical Sword, e A rapier is a relatively slender sharply pointed Sword, used mainly for thrusting attacks mainly in use in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries Overview The espada ( espade lit sword) ropera was the forerunner of and in Spain a contemporary of the Rapier. 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. The Schiavona was a Renaissance sword that became popular in Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries 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. The small sword or smallsword (also court sword, fr épée de cour or dress sword) is a light one-handed Sword designed for thrusting Both the smallsword and the rapier remained popular dueling swords well into the 18th century. The European dueling sword in the narrow sense is a basket and cage hilted weapon in use specifically in Duels from the late 17th to the 19th century

As the wearing of swords fell out of fashion, canes took their place in a gentleman's wardrobe. A cane is a long straight wooden stick generally of Bamboo, Malacca ( Rattan) or some similar plant mainly used as a support such as a Walking stick Some examples of canes—those known as sword canes or swordsticks—incorporate a concealed blade. A swordstick or cane-sword is a Cane incorporating a concealed Blade. The French martial art la canne developed to fight with canes and swordsticks and has now evolved into a sport. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Martial arts are systems of codified practices and traditions of training for Combat.

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. The term modern period or modern era (sometimes also modern times) is the period of history that followed the Middle Ages between c Even as a personal sidearm, the sword began to lose its preeminence in the early 19th century, paralleling the development of reliable handguns.

The hilt of the 18th century smallsword used by Captain John Paul Schott in the American Revolutionary War.
The hilt of the 18th century smallsword used by Captain John Paul Schott in the American Revolutionary War. The small sword or smallsword (also court sword, fr épée de cour or dress sword) is a light one-handed Sword designed for thrusting In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots"

Swords continued in use, but were increasingly limited to military commissioned officers' and non-commissioned officers' ceremonial uniforms, although most armies retained heavy cavalry until well after World War I. An officer is a member of an armed force who holds a position of authority A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer) also known as an NCO or Noncom, is an enlisted member of an Armed force A uniform is a set of standard Clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All For example, the British Army formally adopted a completely new design of cavalry sword in 1908, almost the last change in British Army weapons before the outbreak of the war. The 1908 Pattern Cavalry Trooper's Sword (and the 1912 Pattern the equivalent for officers) was the last service sword The last units of British heavy cavalry switched to using armoured vehicles as late as 1938. An armoured fighting vehicle ( AFV) is a military Vehicle, protected by armour and armed with Weapons Most AFVs are equipped for driving in rugged 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. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including A firearm is a Tool that projects either single or multiple Projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion

The production of replicas of historical swords originates with 19th century historicism. Sword replicas may be produced as a singular reproduction of a specific historical Sword, e Not to be confused with Historicism. Historicism refers to artistic styles that draw their inspiration from copying historic styles or artisans 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

Hilt of a sword
Hilt of a sword
Full Sword in scabbard
Full Sword in scabbard

The sword consists of the blade and the hilt. A blade is the flat part of a Tool, Weapon, or Machine (such as a fan) that normally has a cutting edge and/or pointed end typically made The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The term scabbard applies to the cover for the sword blade when not in use. A scabbard is a Sheath for holding a Sword or other large blade

Image:Sword parts.svg

Blade

Three types of attacks can be performed with the blade: striking, cutting, and thrusting. Cutting is the separation of a physical object or a portion of a physical object into two portions through the application of an acutely directed force Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Newton 's Second and Third Laws. 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 fullers for lightening the blade while allowing it to retain its strength and stiffness, similar to the effect produced by a steel I-beam used in construction. fuller is a rounded or beveled groove on the flat side of a blade such as a Sword, Knife, or Bayonet (shown 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 center of percussion is the point on an object where a Perpendicular impact will produce translational and rotational forces which perfectly cancel each other out at some 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. ricasso is a part of some sword and knife blades It is an unsharpened and unbevelled section just above the guard or handle Many swords have no ricasso. On some large weapons, such as the 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. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The ( German for "two hander" also called Bidenhänder or Bihänder) is a Two-handed sword primarily of the Renaissance. The ricasso normally bears the maker's mark. On Japanese blades this mark appears on the tang (part of the blade that extends into the hilt) under the grip. The tang of a Sword or fixed-blade Knife is that part of the Blade extending into and usually through the grip that is fastened to it

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. On a Sword or some knives, the crossguard (or cross-guard) is a bar of metal at right angles to the blade placed between the blade and the Hilt 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. In Anatomy, an arm is one of the Upper limbs of an animal The term arm can also be used for analogous structures such as one of the paired upper limbs Remote Authentication Dial In User Service ( RADIUS) is a networking protocol that provides centralized access authorization and accounting management for people or computers In Mathematics, curvature refers to any of a number of loosely related concepts in different areas of geometry Middle Eastern swords, intended for use with the arm bent, had a smaller radius. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East.

Hilt

The hilt is the collective term of the parts allowing the handling and control of the blade, consisting of the grip, the pommel, and a simple or elaborate guard, which in post-Viking Age swords could consist of only a crossguard (called cruciform hilt). The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. Viking Age is the term denoting the years from about 700 to 1066 in European history. On a Sword or some knives, the crossguard (or cross-guard) is a bar of metal at right angles to the blade placed between the blade and the Hilt For the resurrection device/parasite at the Hyperion Cantos see Cruciform (Hyperion Cantos. 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 tassel or sword knot. The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The hilt (sometimes called the haft) of a Sword is its handle consisting of a guard, grip and pommel.

The tang consists of the extension of the blade structure through the hilt. The tang of a Sword or fixed-blade Knife is that part of the Blade extending into and usually through the grip that is fastened to it

Scabbard

The scabbard is a protective cover often provided for the sword blade. A scabbard is a Sheath for holding a Sword or other large 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

See also Types of swords

Swords can fall into categories of varying scope. This is a list of Types of swords found through history all around the world 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. Sword replicas may be produced as a singular reproduction of a specific historical Sword, e

Single-edged and double-edged swords

As noted above, the terms longsword, broad sword, great sword, and Gaelic claymore are used relative to the era under consideration, and each term designates a particular type of sword. The Longsword is a type of European Sword used during the Late medieval and Renaissance periods approximately 1350 to 1550 (with early and late use reaching The term claymore (ˈkleɪmɔr or /kleɪˈmɔr/ from Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mòr, "great sword" may refer to one of two distinct types

One strict definition of a sword restricts it to a straight, double-edged bladed weapon designed for both slashing and thrusting. 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 (dāo 刀, katana 刀) as "swords", simply because they have a prestige akin to their European counterparts. Dao ( "knife"is a category of single-edge Chinese Swords primarily used for slashing and chopping ( Sabres, often called a broadsword A is a type of Japanese sword ( nihontō) and often is called a "samurai sword

Europeans also frequently refer to their own single-edged weapons as swords — generically backswords, including sabres. A backsword is a Sword having a Blade with only one edge The back of the sword is often the thickest part of the blade and acts to support and strengthen it The sabre or saber (see spelling differences) is a kind of Sword that usually but not always has Other terms include falchion, scimitar, cutlass, dussack, Messer or mortuary sword. This article describes the Medieval Weapon For the Finnish Heavy Metal band see Falchion (band. A scimitar (ˈsɪmɪtə is a Sword with a curved blade design finding its origins in Southwest Asia A cutlass is a short thick Sabre or slashing Sword, with a straight or slightly curved Blade sharpened on the cutting edge and a Hilt often A Dussack (also dusack dysack tesak tuseckn thuseckn disackn or dusägge dusegge dusegg is a type of short single-edged sword from Central and Eastern Europe and also a A großes Messer (meaning "great knife" also called Hiebmesser) was a type of German single-edged Sword, similar to a Falchion, 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. The machete (məˈʃɛti is a large cleaver -like cutting tool A broader definition of a tool is an entity used to interface between two or more domains that facilitates more effective action of one domain upon the other

Single-handed

Two-handed

Katana of the 16th or 17th century, with its saya.
Katana of the 16th or 17th century, with its saya. A is a type of Japanese sword ( nihontō) and often is called a "samurai sword

Punishment devices

Main article: Executioner's sword

Symbolism

Further information: Saif#Symbolism

The sword can symbolize warfare or violence in general, but also strength or virility (as a phallic symbol), and metaphorically intellect or reason. The Arabic word saif (سيف and variations Saif Sayf Seif generally means Sword. "Symbolic" redirects here For other uses see Symbolism (disambiguation and Symbolic (disambiguation. Warfare refers to the conduct of conflict between opponents and usually involves escalation of aggression from the proverbial "war of words" between politicians Violence is the exertion of force so as to injure or abuse The word is used broadly to describe the destructive action of natural phenomena like Storms and Earthquakes Virility refers to any of a wide range of masculine characteristics viewed positively The word phallus can refer to an erect Penis, or to an object shaped like a penis Intelligence (also called intellect) is an Umbrella term used to describe a property of the Mind that encompasses many related abilities such as the capacities Reason involves the ability to think understand and draw Conclusions in an Abstract way as in Human thinking

Jesus' statement "for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. " (παντες γαρ οι λαβοντες μαχαιραν εν μαχαιρα αποθανουνται; Matthew 26:52) is made in a literal context (Simon Peter drawing his sword against the soldiers in Gethsemane), but gives it an allegorical twist. Makhaira (from Greek μάχαιρα, also transliterated machaira or machaera; an Ancient Greek word PIE Gethsemane ( Greek ΓεσΘημανι Gesthēmani ' Hebrew: גת שמנים, from Aramaic גת שמנא Gat Šmānê, lit Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword (υπερ πασαν μαχαιραν διστομον), piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart", the sword is an allegory for "keen" or "piercing" discernment. Makhaira (from Greek μάχαιρα, also transliterated machaira or machaera; an Ancient Greek word PIE

In Arabic, saif "sword" also stands for warfare in general. The Arabic word saif (سيف and variations Saif Sayf Seif generally means Sword. Another example of this metaphorical significance comes in the adage The pen is mightier than the sword, attributed to Edward Bulwer-Lytton. "The pen is mightier than the sword" is a metonymic Adage coined by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839 for his play Richelieu Or the Edward George Earle Lytton Bulwer-Lytton 1st Baron Lytton ( May 25, 1803 – In the moral anecdote about the tyrant Damocles, the sword suspended above a leader is a metaphor for the ever present danger that accompanies power.

Swords form a suit in Latin suited playing cards which include the Italian suited Tarot decks (replaced by spades in the French deck of modern playing cards and in modern French suited Tarot or Tarock decks. A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper thin card or thin plastic figured with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing Card games Spades is a partnership Trick-taking card game, in which the object is for each pair or partnership to take at least the number of tricks they bid on before play began A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper thin card or thin plastic figured with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing Card games ) In divinitory Tarot, the sword is often interpreted as representing air, as well as intelligence. The tarot (also known as tarocchi, tarock or similar names is typically a set of seventy-eight cards comprised of twenty-one trump cards, one In the Tarot deck the uninverted swords represent ill fortune with the Ten of Swords being the worst.

The sword often functions as a symbol of masculinity and particularly as a phallic symbol of virility. The word phallus can refer to an erect Penis, or to an object shaped like a penis Virility refers to any of a wide range of masculine characteristics viewed positively

Swords are also used as emblem or insignia (in or on formal dress such as uniforms, badges, various objects, even coats of arms), especially:

Its symbolic meaning is also reflected in the existence of prestigious titles, linking people of valor to it, such as:

Crossed swords have their own particular symbolism, and are in the Miscellaneous Symbols area of Unicode at U+2694 (⚔):

It is also not unusual for swords to represent reason - as in "cutting through" a series of elements in a problem in order to leave only those with proven relevance, most famously of Alexander the Great cutting the Gordian Knot. Sword of Allah ( سيف الله, English Transliteration: Saifullah) was a title given to Khalid ibn al-Walid by The Miscellaneous Symbols plane of Unicode (2600–26FF contains various glyphs representing things from a variety of categories Astrological, Astronomical In Computing, Unicode is an Industry standard allowing Computers to consistently represent and manipulate text expressed in most of the world's Genealogy (from Greek: el γενεά el-Latn genea, "descent" and el λόγος el-Latn logos, "knowledge" is the study of A biography (from the Greek words bíos (βίος meaning "life" and gráphein (γράφειν meaning "to write" is an account Killed in action ( KIA or K I A) is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces by other Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' The Gordian Knot is a Legend associated with Alexander the Great.

Famous swords

In Japanese 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.
In Japanese mythology, Inari and her Kitsune (fox spirits) help the blacksmith Munechika forge the blade kogitsune-maru (Little Fox) in the late 10th century. Japanese mythology is a system of beliefs that embraces Shinto and Buddhist traditions as well as agriculture-based Folk religion. is the Japanese Kami of Fertility, Rice, Agriculture, Foxes Industry, and worldly success This legend is the subject of the noh drama Sanjo Kokaji. or is a major form of classic Japanese musical Drama that has been performed since the 14th century

Apart from the aforementioned types of symbolic swords, the following individually named swords are noteworthy:

Swords in history

See also: Types of swords#History and mythology

Swords of myth and legend

See also: Types of swords#History and mythology

Swords of modern fiction

See also: Category:Fictional swords
See also: List of fictional swords

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The Naue Type II Sword
  2. ^ F. This is a list of Types of swords found through history all around the world Swordsman redirects here For the comic book characters see Swordsman (comics. HEMA redirects here See HEMA (disambiguation for other uses Historical European Martial arts are Martial arts of European origin The German school of fencing ( de Deutsche Fechtschule) is the historical system of Combat taught in the Holy Roman Empire in the Late Medieval The term Italian school of Swordsmanship is used to describe the Italian style of fencing and edged-weapon combat from the time of the first extant Italian swordsmanship Kung fu and wushu are popular terms that have become synonymous with Chinese Martial arts. " Eskrima " or " Escrima " refers to a class of Filipino Martial Arts that emphasize stick and sword fighting Fencing is the art of armed Combat involving Cutting, Stabbing, or slapping bludgeoning Weapons directly manipulated by hand is the Japanese martial art specializing in the use of the Japanese Sword ( Katana) Sword replicas may be produced as a singular reproduction of a specific historical Sword, e The macuahuitl (a name derived from the Nahuatl language) is a Weapon shaped like a wooden club Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. Ewart Oakeshott's typology of the medieval Sword is based on Blade morphology. A waster (ˈweɪstər is a wooden practice weapon usually a Sword. Sword making, historically has been the work of specialized smiths or metalworkers called Bladesmiths or Swordsmiths Modern armorers and swordsmiths still ply their Sword replicas may be produced as a singular reproduction of a specific historical Sword, e R. Allchin, 111-112
  3. ^ F. R. Allchin, 111-112
  4. ^ F. R. Allchin, 114
  5. ^ Prasad, chapter IX
  6. ^ Prasad, chapter IX
  7. ^ Edgerton, page 56

References

External links

Further reading

Dictionary

sword

-noun

  1. (Weapon) A long-bladed weapon having a handle and sometimes a hilt and designed to stab, cut or slash.
  2. Someone paid to handle a sword.
  3. (tarot) A suit in the minor arcana in tarot.
  4. (tarot) A card of this suit.
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic