Sicklesword/Khopesh
Used: 3rd millennium BC - 1300 BC by the Ancient Egyptians during the New Kingdom.
Use: The blade was designed for hooking an opponents shield or disarming them.
Size: Usually 50-60 centimeters in length.
Material: First bronze, then later iron.
Use: The blade was designed for hooking an opponents shield or disarming them.
Size: Usually 50-60 centimeters in length.
Material: First bronze, then later iron.
Xiphos
Used: Greco-Persian Wars and Iron age by the Ancient Greeks.
Use: Cutting, slashing, and thrusting. Only used after the spear was discarded.
Size: Was about 30 cm, later was 50-60 cm in length.
Shape: Double-edged, leaf-shaped blade.
Material: First bronze, then later iron.
Use: Cutting, slashing, and thrusting. Only used after the spear was discarded.
Size: Was about 30 cm, later was 50-60 cm in length.
Shape: Double-edged, leaf-shaped blade.
Material: First bronze, then later iron.
Makhaira
Used: Ancient Greeks.
Use: Cutting.
Size: Various.
Shape: One-edged.
Use: Cutting.
Size: Various.
Shape: One-edged.
Saber
Used: Europe and U.S. from medieval period to early 1900s.
Use: Piercing, cutting, and as a sidearm.
Shape: Usually curved, had a single-edged blade and a rather large hand guard. Sometimes was straight or double-edged.
Size: Various.
Fun Fact: Also spelled "sabre". Used as one of the three modern fencing weapons, too.
Use: Piercing, cutting, and as a sidearm.
Shape: Usually curved, had a single-edged blade and a rather large hand guard. Sometimes was straight or double-edged.
Size: Various.
Fun Fact: Also spelled "sabre". Used as one of the three modern fencing weapons, too.
Rapier
Used: Mainly in Early Modern Egypt (1600-1700s).
Use: Thrusting and Cutting.
Shape: Slender, sharp tip, long, broad.
Weight: Typically 2.2lbs.
Size: Usually I meter in length.
Use: Thrusting and Cutting.
Shape: Slender, sharp tip, long, broad.
Weight: Typically 2.2lbs.
Size: Usually I meter in length.
Broadsword
Used: 1700-1800s by Scots and English.
Use: As a heavy military sword.
Shape: Basket-like hilt and double-edged.
Use: As a heavy military sword.
Shape: Basket-like hilt and double-edged.
Walloon Sword
Used: Germany, Switzerland, France, Netherlands, and Scandinavia from the Thirty Years War and the Baroque era.
Use: Cutting, fencing, and thrusting.
Weight: Light.
Flexibility: Flexible.
Use: Cutting, fencing, and thrusting.
Weight: Light.
Flexibility: Flexible.
Smallsword
Used: Mid 1700s to late 1800s by France, U.S., and Europe.
Use: Thrusting, dueling, and fencing.
Weight: Light.
Use: Thrusting, dueling, and fencing.
Weight: Light.
Backsword
Used: Europeans and Scots from early 1400s to early 1700s.
Use: Thrusting and cutting.
Shape: Single-edged.
Use: Thrusting and cutting.
Shape: Single-edged.
Falcata
Used: During the Iron Age in Iberian Peninsula.
Use: Cutting and chopping.
Shape: The hilt is typically hook-shaped, the end often stylized in the shape of a horse or a bird. There is often a thin chain connecting the tip of the hilt with the upper section. Although it was a one-edge weapon, two-edge falcatas have been found.
Material: Iron and Steel.
Use: Cutting and chopping.
Shape: The hilt is typically hook-shaped, the end often stylized in the shape of a horse or a bird. There is often a thin chain connecting the tip of the hilt with the upper section. Although it was a one-edge weapon, two-edge falcatas have been found.
Material: Iron and Steel.
Acinaces
Used: Mostly during 1st millennium BC in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Size: Normally 35-45 centimeters in length.
Shape: Double-edged.
Fun Fact: Also a type of dagger.
Size: Normally 35-45 centimeters in length.
Shape: Double-edged.
Fun Fact: Also a type of dagger.
Gladius
Used: Ancient Rome from 4th century BC to 3rd centuries AD.
Use: Cutting, chopping, and thrusting.
Size: 64-81 cm in length and 4-8 cm in width.
Weight: 1.2-1.6 kilograms.
Shape: Pointed and double-edged.
Hilt: Wood, bone, or ivory.
Use: Cutting, chopping, and thrusting.
Size: 64-81 cm in length and 4-8 cm in width.
Weight: 1.2-1.6 kilograms.
Shape: Pointed and double-edged.
Hilt: Wood, bone, or ivory.
Spatha
Used: First millennium BC to 600AD by Europe-Rome.
Use: War and gladiator fights.
Use: War and gladiator fights.
Viking Sword
Used: Northwest Europe by the Vikings and other people from 700-1000AD.
Size: 91-100 cm in length.
Average Weight: 1.1 kg.
Width: 5 cm.
Fun Fact: An early medieval spatha.
Size: 91-100 cm in length.
Average Weight: 1.1 kg.
Width: 5 cm.
Fun Fact: An early medieval spatha.
Arming Sword
Used: Europeans from 1000-1500AD.
Use: Cutting and thrusting.
Average Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Average Size: 91 cm.
Shape: Double-edged and has a straight blade.
Use: Cutting and thrusting.
Average Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Average Size: 91 cm.
Shape: Double-edged and has a straight blade.
Longsword
Used: Europe from 1350-1550AD.
Use: Thrusting, slicing, and cutting.
Shape: Double-edged and has a straight blade.
Average Size: 120-150 cm in length.
Average Weight: 1.5 kg.
Use: Thrusting, slicing, and cutting.
Shape: Double-edged and has a straight blade.
Average Size: 120-150 cm in length.
Average Weight: 1.5 kg.
Estoc
Used: Europe from 14th to 17th centuries AD.
Use: Thrusting.
Shape: Straight and two-handed.
Size: Long.
Use: Thrusting.
Shape: Straight and two-handed.
Size: Long.
Claymore
Used: Scotland from 1400s to 1700s.
Shape: Two-handed and double-edged.
Size: About 120-140 cm in length.
Weight: About 2.2-2.8 kg.
Shape: Two-handed and double-edged.
Size: About 120-140 cm in length.
Weight: About 2.2-2.8 kg.
Espada Ropera
Used: 1450-1650 AD by Spain.
Use: Cutting.
Average Size: 111.4 cm in length.
Average Weight: 0.9 kg.
Shape: DOuble-edged with a narrow blade.
Use: Cutting.
Average Size: 111.4 cm in length.
Average Weight: 0.9 kg.
Shape: DOuble-edged with a narrow blade.
Zweihänder
Used: 1500-1550 AD by Germany.
Use: Hitting. Smashing pikes.
Size: Up to 180 cm in length.
Weight: 2-3.2 kg.
Use: Hitting. Smashing pikes.
Size: Up to 180 cm in length.
Weight: 2-3.2 kg.
Katzbalger
Used: Landsknecht and others from 15th-17th centuries AD.
Shape: S-shaped or 8-shaped guard.
Size: 75-85 cm in length.
Weigth: 1-2 kg.
Shape: S-shaped or 8-shaped guard.
Size: 75-85 cm in length.
Weigth: 1-2 kg.
Cinquedea
Used: Italy from 15th to 16th centuries.
Use: Thrusting.
Size: 10-28 inches in length.
Fun Fact: Can be a short sword or a long dagger.
Use: Thrusting.
Size: 10-28 inches in length.
Fun Fact: Can be a short sword or a long dagger.
Executioner's Sword
Used: 1540-1867 around the world.
Size: 80-90 cm.
Point: None.
Size: 80-90 cm.
Point: None.
Colichemarde
Used: 1680-1800s AD by many countries like France.
Use: Dueling.
Size: Short in length.
Use: Dueling.
Size: Short in length.
Bilbo
Used: In the 1600s by America and Europe.
Use: Cutting and thrusting.
Fun Fact: A small rapier, too.
Use: Cutting and thrusting.
Fun Fact: A small rapier, too.
Spadroon
Used: 1790-1820 by England to U.S.A. to France.
Use: Cutting and thrusting.
Shape: Can be single-edged and (more rarely) double-edged.
Hilt: Beaded or "five-ball" type.
Weight: Light.
Use: Cutting and thrusting.
Shape: Can be single-edged and (more rarely) double-edged.
Hilt: Beaded or "five-ball" type.
Weight: Light.
Pistol Sword
Used: 17th to early 19th centuries by the U.S.A., the Swedish, France, and Japan.
Fun Fact: A sword with a pistol or revolver attached. Not commonly used.
Fun Fact: A sword with a pistol or revolver attached. Not commonly used.
Hunting Sword
Used: From the 12th to 19th centuries AD by European hunting parties.
Use: Finishing off hunted animals.
Shape: Usually straight and single-edged.
Use: Finishing off hunted animals.
Shape: Usually straight and single-edged.
Épée
Used: Modern fencing.
Use: Thrusting.
Size and Weight: For adults, 300-450 grams for the Épée used in competitions and also size 5.
For children under 13, Épées are size 2.
Shape: Three-sided blade.
Fun Fact: One of the three modern fencing weapons, and also the heaviest. To use this, you need a huge amount of concentration, accuracy and speed.
Use: Thrusting.
Size and Weight: For adults, 300-450 grams for the Épée used in competitions and also size 5.
For children under 13, Épées are size 2.
Shape: Three-sided blade.
Fun Fact: One of the three modern fencing weapons, and also the heaviest. To use this, you need a huge amount of concentration, accuracy and speed.
Foil
Used: Modern fencing.
Use: Fencing, slapping, and slashing.
Types: Electric and nonelectric.
Average Size: 89 cm.
Fun Fact: Most common of the three modern fencing weapons.
Use: Fencing, slapping, and slashing.
Types: Electric and nonelectric.
Average Size: 89 cm.
Fun Fact: Most common of the three modern fencing weapons.
Pulwar
Used: By Afghanistan and Pakistan mostly during the early 1900s.
Shape: Curved and single handed.
Shape: Curved and single handed.
Shamshir
Used: By Persian people from the 12th to 18th centuries AD.
Use: Slashing and thrusting.
Shape: One-handed, curved, and with a slim blade.
Use: Slashing and thrusting.
Shape: One-handed, curved, and with a slim blade.
Khanda
Used: Rajputs, Sikhs, Marathas, and Jats.
Use: Breaking, cutting, dividing, and destroying.
Shape: Double-edged and straight. Broad blade. Blunt tipped.
Use: Breaking, cutting, dividing, and destroying.
Shape: Double-edged and straight. Broad blade. Blunt tipped.
Talwar
Used: India, Southern Asia, and Modern-day Pakistan 1300-present day.
Use: Thrusting and cutting.
Shape: Single-edged, curved blade, pointed tip.
Use: Thrusting and cutting.
Shape: Single-edged, curved blade, pointed tip.