Curved swords: description, history, application

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

Curved swords, like their direct counterparts, appeared during the Bronze Age. Among themselves, these variations differed, first of all, in balance. For direct weapons, the center of gravity was a few millimeters above the guard. Curved blades were balanced in the middle part of the blade. Consider the features of this type of edged weapons.

Comparative characteristics

Curved swords are meant for slashing. The curvature of the cutting edge makes the product stronger, increasing the penetration power due to the unique configuration. The weapon inherited its characteristics from the ax.

The center of gravity placed at the top did not interfere with the use of the device as a piercing tool. The most important factor was the ability to repel strikes and get around without protective shields. In addition, these modifications had a corrugated surface of the butt, which guaranteed a secure hold of the weapon in the hand with the ability to repel an enemy attack.

Curved sword among the peoples of the East

These devices have been used sinceMiddle Ages, differing only in names and configuration. One of the first representatives of such types of edged weapons is khopesh. Further, this development was reflected in the blades of the Kopis and Falkat types.

Kopis-type curved swords have one-sided sharpening, focused on chopping blows. The length of the blades ranges from 530 to 700 millimeters. If the back of the weapon is sharpened on one side, it resembles a standard machete variation.

In Greece, kopis curved swords were used to a limited extent. This follows from the rare mentions and displays of weapons on vases, drawings and other images. Presumably, just such a blade became the prototype of European analogues, which were brought by merchants and mercenaries in the fifth century BC.

Falchion

The curved swords of this series are also called falchion from the English word falchion. The weapon is a European element with a single blade, extended towards one end with a similar sharpening.

Another name for the specified melee weapons is lansknetta. The main purpose is to deliver serious chopping blows, for which the noses of these devices were often made rounded. These knives were mainly used by English archers, cavalry and sailors. Two-handed falchions did not have a military purpose, they more often served as a tool for executioners.

Dao (shoudao)

The curved sword among the peoples of the Chinese provinces is usually called Tao. This hieroglyph is applicable to almost all analogues, regardless of origin. To this listall specimens with one-sided sharpening fall.

These include:

Curved combat knives.
Sabers.
Japanese swords.
Halberds.

The curved sword of the samurai, known to the masses as a katana or tao, until the 15th century was designated precisely dao. This weapon is one of the oldest in China. The end of the blade was sharpened as much as possible, the handle was made of hard wood, the length depended on the type of sword. It is worth noting that the dao is the most popular type of edged weapon in question in world history, used by both ordinary soldiers and generals.

Features

The development of industry and the skill of blacksmiths made it possible to make the blade much narrower with the possibility of equipping it with elman (thickening of the blade near the point). This option was much more difficult to forge than a flat blade. At the same time, the uniform dimension made it possible to conveniently and quickly sheathe weapons.

The Janissary's short curved sword, like many other analogues, was first worn without scabbards and covers, just behind the belt (following the example of an ax). It was impossible to transport a thing made of Damascus steel in this way, and therefore such swords began to be placed on silk ribbons. One edge was attached to the handle, and the second was passed through a special annular eye. Carrying a sharp sword this way was awkward and dangerous.

Tati and its analogues

This long sword has a length of 600 millimeters and a rather large curve. This typebladed weapons are slightly reminiscent of European estoks designed to arm cavalrymen.

Besides tati in Asia and falchion in Europe, flamberg is considered a popular modification. It is single or double handed. This blade was often used in Switzerland and Germany (15th-17th century). The Teutonic "gloomy genius", that's what it was often called, was a formidable weapon that pierced various armor well, and was distinguished by its original wavy tip.

More about flamberge

Shortly after being created, said sword was cursed by the church as an inhumane element. Even getting the enemy captured with him guaranteed that the death pen alty. One-, two- or one-and-a-half-handled blade of the considered configuration was equipped with several rows of antiphase bends. As a rule, the curved parts lasted 2/3 of the length from the guard to the tip of the blade.

The ending itself remained straight, served for chopping and stabbing. Two-handed samples required endurance and long-term training in the force of striking. The blade was sharpened along its entire length, and the wavy sections of the blade were slightly parted to the sides, according to the principle of a saw.

Preconditions for flamberg making

The appearance of weapons such as flamberge was accompanied by several moments. Even during the period of the first Crusades, the knights managed to study the curved blades of the peoples of North Africa. A little later, a curved Turkish sword and a Mongolian saber appeared in Europe. At the same time, a greater striking ability of the curved blade was noted, compared with the direct analogue, identical in weight.

So notsuch weapons have not received less widespread use in Europe. Firstly, the power of the chopping blow of a heavy straight sword was an order of magnitude higher, and light sabers in battle were practically useless against steel armor. Secondly, it was not possible to bring the curved blade to the required parameters (the strength of the blade noticeably decreased). On top of that, stabbing techniques began to be practiced when using edged weapons. In addition, confrontations were often fought in narrow streets or in houses where it was difficult to take full advantage of the saber.

Yatagans

Such sabers were often called Turkish. The curved sword in the scabbard of the Janissary terrified the enemy. To do this, Asian gunsmiths had to rack their brains for a long time over how to combine the effectiveness of a cutting blow and the ease of chopping.

The result was sabers with an unusually over-curved blade. The deformation angle reached 40-50 degrees. At first glance, such a weapon might seem ineffective, but the masters knew what they were doing. Such blades cut and chopped synchronously. This is due to the fact that the retraction of the blade upon impact was carried out by the natural movement of the hand down, coupled with the inertia of the weapon. At the same time, it was almost impossible to stab with such a saber, so often the tip was not even sharpened.

In order to endow the Turkish curved sword with the ability to deliver a stabbing blow, it was necessary to adjust the handle and blade on the same line, giving the last element a double curvature. As a result anda scimitar appeared, vaguely resembling the ancient Egyptian khopesh.

Advantages of scimitars

Literary epics mention scimitar synonyms such as scimitar and saber. This is not entirely true as the weapon in question definitely has a double curve with different blade lengths. Cavalry samples could be up to 90 centimeters long, with a minimum weight of 800 grams.

Scimitars are focused on stabbing, chopping and secant action. For this, both the lower part and the upper segment of the blade were used. There were no guards on such weapons, unlike swords, checkers and katanas. In order to prevent the scimitar from escaping from the hand of a horseman or a foot soldier, he was provided with “ears” that securely clasped the back of the fighter’s hand. The penetrating power of scimitars speaks for itself. A fifty-centimeter blade was enough to overcome the protection of knightly armor.

Wakizashi

If hara-kiri - then with a crooked sword. This expression perfectly matches the designation of the traditional Japanese cold weapon wakizashi. It was used mainly by samurai, worn on a belt paired with a katana. The length of the blade ranged from 300 to 610 millimeters, the sharpening was one-sided with a slight curvature, partly resembling a reduced katana. The design of this instance varied in different configurations and thicknesses. The convexity and section of the blades had almost the same indicators, but with a shorter working surface.

Often wakizashi and katana swords were made in the sameworkshop, taking into account the design of the appropriate style and purpose. Sometimes such weapons were referred to as daise. Translated, this meant "big, long or short sword" (depending on the size of the blade and the material of the handle). For convenience, the Japanese came up with several ways to carry weapons. The sword could be fixed with a special saga cord, scabbard or belt placement. Wakizashi were used by samurai if it was necessary to make hara-kiri or it was impossible to notice their main weapon - the katana. According to the etiquette, the samurai, upon entering the premises, had to leave their combat armor and weapons with the katanake (weapons servant).

Short description of Japanese swords

So, among the most popular weapons in the Land of the Rising Sun were:

Dice. Short, curved pieces with versatility.
Wakizashi. A short sword worn at the waist. It was kept paired with a katana, had a blade length of 500 to 800 millimeters, and was distinguished by a slight curvature of the blade.
Katana. One of the most popular weapons of the samurai, with different dimensions and a slightly curved blade.
Kodati and kati. These are small small swords, more comparable to knives of a specific shape.