Editing Classification of swords (section)

===Single-edge and curved swords===
{{main|Single-edged sword}}

These are single-cutting edged, usually thick or curved construction bladed swords, typically designed for stonger slashing, chopping, severing limbs, tripping or broad sweeping techniques; but were often very poorly designed for stabbing. Swordsmen were trained to use the bladed side in circumventing an opponent's protected flank (known as "curve into the guard"), and the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques.  The curve automatically makes a swing draw an arc making it much easier to slash.

====Backsword====
{{main|Backsword}}
The [[backsword]] was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. This type of sword had a thickened back to the blade (opposite the cutting edge), which gave the blade strength. The backsword blade was cheaper to manufacture than a two-edged blade. This type of sword was first developed in Europe in the 15th century and reflected the emergence of asymmetric guards, which made a two-edged blade somewhat redundant. The backsword reached its greatest use in the 17th and 18th century when many cavalry swords, such as the British [[1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword]], were of this form.

===={{lang|zh-Latn|Dao}}====
{{main|Dao (Chinese sword)}}
{{lang|zh-Latn|Dao}} are single-edged [[Chinese sword]]s, primarily used for slashing and chopping. The most common form is also known as the {{nowrap|'''Chinese [[sabre]]'''}}, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as {{nowrap|'''Chinese [[broadswords]]'''}}. In China, the dao is considered one of the four traditional weapons, along with the {{lang|zh-Latn|[[gun (staff)|gun]]}} (stick or staff), {{lang|zh-Latn|[[qiang (spear)|qiang]]}} (spear), and the {{lang|zh-Latn|[[jian]]}} (sword). It is considered "The General of All Weapons".

====Hook sword====
{{main|Hook sword}}
The '''hook sword''', '''twin hooks''', {{lang|zh-Latn|'''fu tao'''}} or {{lang|zh-Latn|'''shuang gou'''}} ({{zh|t=鈎 or 鉤|s=钩|p=Gou}}), also known as {{lang|zh-Latn|hu tou gou}} (tiger head hook), is a Chinese weapon traditionally associated with [[Northern Chinese martial arts|northern styles of Chinese martial arts]] and [[Wushu (sport)#Weapons Routines|Wushu weapons routines]], but now often practiced by [[Styles of Chinese martial arts#Southern styles|southern styles]] as well.

===={{lang|grc-Latn|Kopis}}====
{{main|kopis}}

Unlike the {{lang|grc-Latn|xiphos}}, which is a thrusting weapon, the {{lang|grc-Latn|kopis}} was a hacking weapon in the form of a thick, curved single edged iron sword. In Athenian art, Spartan hoplites were often depicted using a {{lang|grc-Latn|kopis}} instead of the {{lang|grc-Latn|xiphos}}, as the {{lang|grc-Latn|kopis}} was seen as a quintessential "villain" weapon in Greek eyes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ancientmilitary.com/spartan-weapons.htm |title=Spartan Weapons |publisher=Ancientmilitary.com |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref>

====Khopesh====
{{main|Khopesh}}
The [[khopesh]] is an [[ancient Egypt]]ian curved short sword with a overall length of approx. {{convert|50|to|60|cm|abbr=on}} and was typically made of bronze or iron.

====Katana====
{{main|katana}}
Historically, {{Nihongo|'''katana'''|刀}} were one of the traditionally made {{Nihongo|[[Japanese sword]]s|日本刀|[[Commons:Category:Nihonto|nihontō]]|nihon=Japan tō=sword}}<ref>{{cite Q|Q105271716|publisher=Peter Lang |page=150}}</ref><ref>{{cite Q|Q105271719|page=144}}</ref> that were used by the [[samurai]] of [[History of Japan|feudal Japan]].<ref name="Nagayama">{{Anchor|Nagayama}}{{Cite Q|author = Kokan Nagayama, trans. Kenji Mishina | publisher = Kodansha International Ltd.| location = Tokyo, Japan|Q105271721}}</ref> Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. The katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade usually with a round guard and long grip to accommodate two hands.

====Hanger====
The [[Hanger (sword)|hanger]] (obs. ''whinyard, whinger, cuttoe''), wood-knife, or [[hunting sword]] is a long knife or short sword that hangs from the belt and was popular as both a hunting tool and weapon of war.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XnnlOcLAnBIC&q=hanger+wood-knife+hunting-swords&pg=PA14 |title=Hunting Weapons: From the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century |author=Howard L. Blackmore |page=14 |via=[[Google Books]]|date= January 2000|publisher=Courier Corporation |isbn=9780486409610 |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myarmoury.com/review_ve_hanger.html |title=European Hanger |publisher=myArmoury.com |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref>

====Falchion and cutlass====
The [[falchion]] (French {{lang|fr|braquemart}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/glossairearcheol01gayv#page/212/mode/1up |title=Glossaire archéologique du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance |publisher=Paris, Société bibliographique |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref> Spanish {{lang|es|bracamarte}}) proper is a wide straight-bladed but curved edged [[Hanger (sword)|hanger]] or long knife.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/glossairearcheol01gayv#page/213/mode/1up |title=Glossaire archéologique du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance |publisher=Paris, Société bibliographique |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref> The term 'falchion' may also refer to the early [[cutlass]].

The [[cutlass]] or curtal-axe also known as a falchion (French {{lang|fr|badelaire, braquemart,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guerriers-avalon.org/index.php?id=docs&cat=armement&page=braquemar |title=Les Guerriers d'Avalon |publisher=Guerriers-avalon.org |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref> coutelas,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/glossairearcheol01gayv#page/479/mode/1up |title=Glossaire archéologique du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance |publisher=Paris, Société bibliographique |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref> malchus}}; Italian {{lang|it|coltellaccio, storta}}; <!-- Old High -->German {{lang|goh|[[messer (weapon)|messer]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/nextgen/messerdrawing.htm |title=Historical Messer Drawings |publisher=Albion-swords.com |access-date=2015-10-08 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303200717/http://www.albion-swords.com/swords/albion/nextgen/messerdrawing.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> dussack, malchus}}) is a broad-bladed curved [[Hanger (sword)|hanger]] or long knife. In later usage, 'cutlass' referred to the short naval boarding [[sabre]].{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

====Sabre====
{{main|Sabre}}
The British ''sabre'', American ''saber'', French {{lang|fr|sabre}}, Spanish {{lang|es|sable}}, Italian {{lang|it|sciabola}}, German {{lang|de|Säbel}}, Russian {{lang|ru-Latn|sablya}}, Hungarian {{lang|hu|szablya}}, Polish {{lang|pl|szabla}}, and Ukrainian {{lang|uk-Latn|shablya}} is a single-edged curved bladed cavalry sword.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showthread.php?t=108 |title=Ethnographic Arms & Armour - Article: Notes on the development of modern sabers - Role of Eastern Europe & the Hussars |publisher=Vikingsword.com |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref>

====Scimitar====
The [[scimitar]] (French {{lang|fr|cimeterre}}, Italian {{lang|it|scimitarra}}) is a type of saber that came to refer in general to any sabre used by the Turks or Ottomans ({{lang|tr|[[Kilij|kilic]]}}), Persians ({{lang|fa-Latn|[[shamshir]]}}) and more specifically the {{lang|grc-Latn|[[Stradioti]]}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Stradioti.html |title=Stradioti: Balkan Mercenaries In Fifteenth And Sixteenth Century Italy |publisher=Shsu.edu |access-date=2015-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924101628/http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Stradioti.html |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (Albanian and Greek mercenaries who fought in the French-Italian Wars and were employed throughout Western Europe).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://littre.reverso.net/dictionnaire-francais/definition/estradiot/29286 |title=estradiot : définition de estradiot, citations, exemples et usage pour estradiot dans le dictionnaire de français Littré adapté du grand dictionnaire de la langue française d'Emile Littré |publisher=Littre.reverso.net |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/glossairearcheol01gayv#page/382/mode/2up |title=Glossaire archéologique du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance |publisher=Paris, Société bibliographique |access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref> The scimitar proper was the {{lang|grc-Latn|Stradioti}} saber,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p9lA00v1LdUC&q=cimeterre+estradiots&pg=PA267 |title=Oeuvres complčtes de Bossuet |author=Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet |year=1863 |page=267 |via=[[Google Books]]|access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gMoOAQAAMAAJ&q=cimeterre+estradiots&pg=PT70 |title=Le costume historique: Cinq cents planches, trois cents en couleurs, or et ... |author=Auguste Racinet |year=1876 |via=[[Google Books]]|access-date=2015-10-08}}</ref> and the term was introduced into France by [[Philippe de Commines]] (1447 – 18 October 1511) as {{lang|fr|cimeterre}},<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CLFN_1R_jBgC&q=cimeterre+estradiots&pg=PA190 |title=Des princes français, rois de Sicile, rois de Naples |page=190 |via=[[Google Books]]|isbn=9782748377675 |access-date=2015-10-08|last1=Levasseur |first1=Michel |publisher=Société des Ecrivains }}</ref> Italy (especially the Venetian Republic who hired the {{lang|grc-Latn|stradioti}} as mercenaries) as {{lang|it|scimitarra}}, and England as ''cimeter'' or scimitar via the French and Italian terms.