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Types of swords
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{{short description|Bladed weapon}} {{further|Classification of swords|List of premodern combat weapons#Swords}} {{Dynamic list}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2022}} This is a list of types of [[sword]]s. The term [[:wikt:sword|sword]] used here is a narrow definition. This is not a general [[List of premodern combat weapons]] and does not include the [[machete]], [[macuahuitl]] or similar "sword-like" weapons. ==African swords== ===Northern African swords=== * [[Flyssa]] (19th century Algeria) * [[Kaskara]] (19th century Sudan) * [[Khopesh]] (Egyptian) * [[Mameluke sword]] (18th to 19th century Egyptian) * [[Nimcha]] (15th to 19th century Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) ===Eastern African swords=== * [[Billao]] (Somali) * [[Shotel]] (Eritrea and Ethiopian) ===Western African swords=== * [[Akrafena]] (Ghana and Togo) * [[Ida (sword)|Ida]] (Nigeria and Benin) * [[Takoba]] (Mali and Niger) ===Central African swords=== * [[Ikakalaka]] * [[Ikul]] * [[Mambele]] * [[Ngulu (weapon)|Ngulu]] ==Asian swords== ===Eastern Asian swords=== ====China==== {{main|Chinese sword}} * [[Dao (Chinese sword)|Dao]] (刀 [[pinyin]] dāo) "sabre" ** [[Baguazhang|Baguadao]] (八卦道) ** [[Butterfly sword]] (蝴蝶雙刀) ** [[Changdao (sword)|Changdao]] (長刀) ** [[Dao (Chinese sword)|Dadao]] (大刀) ** [[Liuyedao]] (柳葉刀) ** [[Miaodao|Miao dao]] (苗刀) ** [[Nandao]] (南刀) ** [[Piandao]] (片刀) ** [[Wodao]] (倭刀) ** [[Yanmaodao]] (雁翎刀) ** [[Zhanmadao]] (斬馬刀) * [[Jian]] (劍 [[pinyin]] jiàn) ** [[Shuangshou jian]] (雙手劍) * [[Hook sword]] (鉤) ====Japan==== {{main|Japanese sword}} * [[Nihonto]] (日本刀; にほんとう) ** [[Bokken]] (木剣) ** [[Chokutō]] (直刀) ** [[Guntō]] (軍刀) *** Kyū guntō (旧軍刀) *** Shin guntō (新軍刀) ** [[Hachiwara]] (鉢割) ** [[Iaitō]] (居合刀) ** [[Jintachi]] (陣太刀) ** [[Katana]] (刀; かたな) ** [[Tachi#History|Kenukigata tachi]] (毛抜型太刀) ** [[Kodachi]] (小太刀) ** [[Nagamaki]] (長巻) ** [[Ninjato]] (忍者刀) ** [[Ōdachi]]/Nodachi (大太刀/野太刀) ** [[Katana#History|Sasuga]] (刺刀) ** [[Shinai]] (竹刀) ** [[Shinken]] (真剣) ** [[Shikomizue]] (仕込み杖) ** [[Tachi]] (太刀; たち) ** [[Tantō]] (短刀; たんとう) ** [[Tsurugi (sword)|Tsurugi]] (剣) ** [[Wakizashi]] (脇差; わきざし) ** [[Naginata]] (なぎなた) ** [[Sai (weapon)]] (サイ) ====Korea==== {{main|Korean sword}} * [[Hwandudaedo]] (환두대도; 环首大刀) * [[Saingeom]] (사인검) ===Southeastern Asian swords=== Swords and knives found in Southeast Asia are influenced by Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern, and European forms. ====Indonesia==== * [[Alamang]] * [[Amanremu]] * [[Badik]] * [[Balato (sword)]] * [[Blakas]] * [[Gari (sword)]] * [[Golok]] * [[Kabeala]] * [[Karambit]] * [[Keris]] * [[Klewang]] * [[Kujang (weapon)|Kujang]] * [[Langgai Tinggang]] * [[Luwuk (sword)|Luwuk]] * [[Mandau (knife)|Mandau]] * [[Niabor]] * [[Palitai]] * [[Pandat]] * [[Parang (knife)|Parang]] * [[Rencong]] * [[Sewar]] * [[Si Euli]] * [[Sikin Panjang]] ====Myanmar==== * [[Dha (sword)|Dha]] ====Philippines==== * [[Balasiong]] * [[Balisword]] * [[Butterfly knife|Balisong]] * [[Bangkung]] * [[Banyal]] * [[Barong (sword)|Barong]] * [[Batangas (sword)|Batangas]] * [[Bolo knife|Bolo]] * [[Dahong Palay]] * [[Gayang]] * [[Golok|Gulok]] * [[Kalis]] * [[Kampilan]] * [[Panabas]] * [[Pinuti]] * [[Pirah]] * [[Sundang]] * [[Susuwat]] * [[Utak]] ====Thailand==== * [[Dha (sword)|Daab]] * [[Krabi (sword)|Krabi]] ===Southern Asian swords=== ====Bhutan==== * [[Patag (sword)|Patag]] ====Bladed weapons of the Indian subcontinent==== * [[Kirpan]] * [[Talwar|Tegha]] * [[Sirohi sword]] * [[Asi (Mahabharata)|Asi]] * [[Firangi (sword)|Firangi]] * [[Hengdang]] * [[Talwar]] * [[Kayamkulam vaal]] * [[Khanda (sword)|Khanda]] * [[Malappuram Kathi]] * [[Moplah (sword)|Moplah]] * [[Pata (sword)|Pata]] * [[Ram-dao]] * [[Urumi]] ====Sri Lanka==== * [[Kastane]] ===Western and Central Asian swords=== * [[Acinaces]] (Scythian short sword) * Chereb ({{Script/Hebrew|חֶרֶב}}, modern Hebrew ''khérev''): ancient Israelite sword mentioned 413 times in the [[Hebrew Bible]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Strong's Hebrew: 2719. חָ֫רֶב (chereb) -- a sword |author= |work=biblehub.com |date= |access-date=3 November 2022 |url= https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2719.htm}}</ref> The Ancient Greeks and Romans also introduced various types of swords, see [[#Ancient Europe]]. ====Post-classical period==== All of the [[Islamic world]] during the 16th to 18th century, including the [[Ottoman Empire]] and [[Persia]] were influenced by the "[[scimitar]]" type of single-edged curved sword. Via the [[Mameluke sword]] this also gave rise to the European cavalry [[sabre]]. Terms for the "scimitar" curved sword: * [[Kilij]] (Turkish) * [[Pulwar]] (Afghanistan) * [[Shamshir]] (Persia) * [[Talwar]] (Indo-Pakistani) * [[Yataghan]] (Turkish) * [[Khanjar]] (Arabian) * [[Arab sword|Saif]] (Arabian) * [[Scimitar]] (Arabian) * [[Zulfiqar]] (Arabian) ==European swords== ===Ancient European swords=== * [[Bronze Age sword#Europe|Bronze Age European swords]] ** [[Harpe]]: mentioned almost exclusively in Greek mythology * [[Iron Age sword#European swords|Iron Age European swords]] ** [[Falcata]]: one-handed single-edged sword – blade {{convert|48|–|60|cm|abbr=on}} – with forward-curving blade for slashing ** [[Falx]]: Dacian and Thracian one-handed or two-handed single-edged curved shortsword for slashing ** [[Gladius]]: Roman one-handed double-edged shortsword for thrusting (primary) and slashing, used by [[legionary|legionaries]] (heavy infantry)<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Romeinse Rijk §3.1 Landmacht |encyclopedia=[[Encarta]] Encyclopedie [[Winkler Prins]] |date=2002 |publisher=Microsoft Corporation/Het Spectrum |language=nl}}</ref> and [[gladiator]]s, and late Roman light infantry. 3rd century BCE Roman Republic – late Roman Empire. ** [[Kopis]]: one-handed single-edged sword – blade {{convert|48|–|60|cm|abbr=on}} – with forward-curving blade for slashing ** [[Makhaira]]: Greek one-handed, single-edged shortsword or knife for cutting (primary) and thrusting ** [[Pugio]]: Roman dagger ** [[Rhomphaia]]: Greek single-edged straight or slightly curved broadsword – blade {{convert|60|–|80|cm|abbr=on}} – for slashing (primary) and thrusting ** [[Spatha]]: Celtic/Germanic/Roman one-handed double-edged longsword – blade {{convert|50|–|100|cm|abbr=on}} – for thrusting and slashing, used by gladiators, cavalry and heavy infantry. 3rd century BCE Gaul/Germania – Migration Period. ** [[Xiphos]]: Greek one-handed, double-edged Iron Age straight shortsword ** Xyele: The short, slightly curved, one-edged sword of the Spartans.<ref>[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0062%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DX%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Dxyele-harpers Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898), Xyele]</ref> * [[Migration Period sword]]s ** [[Spatha]]: continuation, evolved into *** [[Ring-sword]] (ring-spatha, ring-hilt spatha), Merovingian period *** [[Viking sword]] or Carolingian sword ** [[Migration Period sword#Krefeld type|Krefeld type]] ===Post-classical European swords=== {{main|Oakeshott typology}} * [[Knightly sword|Arming sword]]: high medieval knightly sword * [[Backsword]] * [[Baselard]] * [[Carracks black sword]] * [[Cinquedea]] * [[Claymore]]: late medieval Scottish sword * [[Curtana]]: a medieval term for a ceremonial sword * [[Estoc]]: thrust-oriented sword * [[Falchion]] * [[Flamberge]] * [[Hunting sword]] * [[Longsword]]: late medieval * [[Messer (sword)|Messer]] * [[Misericorde (weapon)|Misericorde]] * [[Paramerion]]: Eastern Roman Byzantine sword * [[Parrying dagger]] * [[Poignard]] * [[Rondel dagger]] * [[Schiavonesca]] * [[Seax]]: shortsword, knife or dagger of varying sizes typical of the Germanic peoples of the Migration Period and the Early Middle Ages, especially the [[Saxons]], whose name derives from the weapon. * [[Small sword]] * [[Spadroon]] * [[Stiletto]] * [[Viking sword]] or Carolingian sword: early medieval spatha * [[Zweihänder]]: 1500–1600 Germany ===Modern European swords=== * [[Basket-hilted sword]] * [[Colichemarde]] * [[Cutlass]] * [[Dirk]] * [[Dusack]] * [[Executioner's sword]] * [[Karabela]] * [[Katzbalger]] * [[Sgian-dubh]] * [[Swiss degen]] * [[Szabla]] * Early modern fencing ** [[Feder (fencing)|Feder]] ** [[Rapier]] ** [[Sabre]] ** [[Spada da lato]] * [[Modern fencing]] (sport equipment) ** [[Épée]] ** [[Foil (fencing)]] ** [[Sabre (fencing)]] ==North American swords== * [[U.S. regulation swords]] (sabres, and in some instances [[Fascine knife|fascine knives]] shaped like short swords) ==See also== * [[Classification of swords]] * [[List of daggers]] * [[List of premodern combat weapons]] * [[Lists of swords]] ==References== {{reflist}} {{Swords by region}} [[Category:Lists of swords|Type]] [[Category:Lists of weapons|Swords]] [[Category:Edged and bladed weapons|swords]]
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