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This is a list of 'Types of swords' found through history all around the world.

Contents

Sword types sorted by geographic origin

Africa

Mediterranean

China

European Swords

Japan

Philippines

Korea

Middle East

South Asia

Sword-like weapons of the Americas

Swords of War

European

Ancient

Pre-industrial

Colonial

Middle-Eastern

Oriental

Chinese

Japanese

Other

Named swords

History and mythology

References

See also

Sword types sorted by geographic origin

Africa

★ Flyssa

★ Kaskara

★ Nimcha

★ Shotel

★ Takoba

★ Ida

Mediterranean

★ Falcata

★ Gladius

★ Harpe

★ Kopis

★ Khopesh

★ Makhaira (μάχαιρα)

★ Spatha

★ Xiphos (ξίφος)

China

★ Butterfly sword

★ Dao (刀 pinyin dāo)

★ Hook sword

★ Jian (劍 pinyin jiàn)

★ Liuyedao

★ Dadao (大刀)

★ Changdao (长刀)

★ Miao dao (苗刀)

★ Nandao

★ Piandao

★ Wodao

★ Yanmaodao

★ Zhanmadao

European Swords

★ Anlace

★ Arming sword

★
★ Katzbalger

★
★ Sidesword

★ Backsword

★
★ Briquet

★
★ Cutlass

★
★ Falchion

★
★ Mortuary sword

★
★ Großmesser

★ Bilbo

★ Sword bayonet

★ Broadsword

★
★ Schiavona

★
★ Claymore

★ Cinquedea

★ Colichemarde

★ Curtana

★ Dirk

★ Espada Ropera

★
★ Rapier (+ Flamberge variant)

★
★
★ Smallsword

★
★
★
★ Épée

★
★
★
★ Foil (fencing)

★ Estoc

★ Falcata

★ Hunting sword

★ Karabela

★ Kriegsmesser

★ Longsword/Bastard Sword

★ Mameluke

★ Sabre

★ Schiavona

★ Schweizersäbel

★ Seax

★ Shashka

★ Shortsword

★ Spadroon

★ Szabla

★ Two-handed swords

★
★ Árije

★
★ Claymore

★
★ Greatsword

★
★
★ Zweihänder (and Flame-bladed sword variant)

★ Väkipuukko

★ Waster

Japan

★ Aikuchi (合口, 匕首)

★ Bokken (木剣)

★ Chisakatana

★ Chokutō (直刀)

★ Dōtanuki

★ Hachiwara

★ Iaito (居合刀)

★ Jintachi

★ Katana (刀; かたな)

★ Ken

★ Kodachi (小太刀)

★ Nagamaki

★ Nihonto

★ Nodachi (野太刀)

★ Ōdachi (大太刀)

★ O-katana

★ Sai

★ Shikomizue

★ Shinai (竹刀)

★ Shinken (真剣)

★ Tachi (太刀; たち)

★ Uchigatana

★ Wakizashi (脇差; わきざし)

Philippines

★ Bolo / Itak

★ Barong

★ Pinute

★ Talibon

★ Kampilan

★ Kalis

Korea

★ Hwandudaedo

★ Saingeom

Middle East

★ Acinaces

★ Khopesh

★ Kilij

★ Mameluke

★ Pulwar

★ Saif

★ Scimitar (a catch-all for several swords)

★ Shamshir

★ Yatagan

★ Shashqa

South Asia

★ Aruval

★ Dha

★ Kastane

★ Katar

★ Khanda

★ Kirpan (arguably a dagger)

★ Krabi

★ Parang pandit

★ Pata

★ Talwar

★ Golok (a catch-all for several types of sword and knife)

★ Klewang

★ Kris

★ Urumi

Sword-like weapons of the Americas

★ Macana

★ macuahuitl

Swords of War

While a sword by design is a weapon and not a dual-functioning tool as are some polearms, not all swords are/were built for the purposes of war. The rapier, for instance, was used almost entirely for civilian combat and saw only minute and unsuccessful use on the battlefield. Thus while some swords could be used both on the battle field and in a civilian setting, the reverse was usually not true.
The following is a list of some war swords:

European

Ancient

The Greek ''xiphos'' was a single-handed double-edged sword. Commonly used by Greek infantry alongside the spear and javelin, the ''xiphos's length (~60cm) made it an excellent close combat weapon. The ''Makhaira'' acted as the Greek cavalry's main sidearm. Unlike the ''xiphos'', the ''makhaira'' was slightly curved and had only a single edge. The ''kopis'' is a similar weapon, shown in use by the Ancient Persians along with the straight-bladed ''acinaces''. The Roman legionaries carried the ''gladius'', a single-handed double-edged thrusting weapon similar to both the Greek ''xiphos'' and the Persian ''acinaces''. The later Roman cavalry used a longer double-edged but still single-handed sword, the ''spatha''. This sword spread into northern Europe and became the choice sword of the Vikings.

Pre-industrial

The ''spatha'' changed over time, growing into the arming sword during the 10th and 11th centuries. The arming sword was a single-handed double-edged sword about a meter in length, with a revolutionary cruciform crossguard. Over time, the length of the blade and the hilt grew until it was capable of being handled with both of a swordsman's hands. This change brought about the longsword, a much longer two-handed double-edged weapon. As plate armour developed as a defense against both arrows and swords, the longsword became decidedly more tapered to a more pronounced tip. During the 16th Century, this tapering progression continued on some swords until the blade nearly entirely lost its flattened profile and, consequentially ability to cut. The estoc, a lengthy, slender two-handed weapon exemplifies this development.
The arming sword had not fallen into disuse, however, and produced another sword, the side-sword. This weapon, also known as a "cut and thrust sword" was a single-handed double-edged sword with a compound hilt popular during the 16th and 17th centuries. The blade was generally thinner than that of the arming sword, making swordplay quicker and point control more precise. Like the arming sword, the weapon was commonly used with a buckler for additional defence. The broadsword, a general class of swords that are single-handed, double-edged, and feature basket hilts. The schiavona and mortuary sword are excellent examples of broadswords.
During the entire evolution of double-edged swords, backswords, or single-edged swords, continued to exist. The falchion and ''Grosse Messer'' are examples of this weapon type.

Colonial

★ Naval cutlass

★ Cavalry saber

Middle-Eastern

★ saif

★ shamshir

★ kilij

★ pulwar

Oriental

Chinese

★ jian

★ zhanmadao

★ liuyedao

★ wodao

★ yanmaodao

Japanese

★ tachi

★ nodachi

★ katana

Other

★ Burmese dha

★ Filipino kampilan

Named swords

Many swords in mythology, literature, and history are named by their wielders or by the person who made them. Named swords generally indicate importance.

History and mythology

★ ''The Sword in the Stone'' - King Arthur's sword, placed by Merlin into a stone in a churchyard, which only the rightful king could remove. This sword is often identified with Excalibur (see below), but in some versions The Sword in the Stone is broken in a fight with King Pellinore.

★ 'Heaven's Will' (''The Will of Heaven'',''Thuan Thien'',''Thuận Thiên'')The Sword Gods gave to Le Loi to help him fight the Chinese.

★ Pier Gerlofs Donia, a Frisian freedom fighter and legendary warrior (leader of the Arumer Black Heap) wielded a 2,15 meter long and 78 kg heavy blade, probably Zweihander.

★ Excalibur (''Caledfwlch'',''Caliburn'', etc. see also ''Caladbolg'' below) - King Arthur's sword, given to him by the Lady of the Lake; the sword itself as well as the scabbard were magical.

★ Sword of Damocles - mythical sword of decision

★ Galatine - The sword of Sir Gawain in the Arthurian legends.

★ Arondight - The sword of Sir Lancelot in the Arthurian legends.

★ Kusanagi (Grasscutter) - A sword of equivalent importance to Japan as the Excalibur is to Britain

★ Zulfikar (''Thul fiqar'') - The legendary two-tipped sword of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib.

★ Tizona or Tizón - one of the two swords of El Cid.

★ Colada - the other sword of El Cid.

★ Crocea Mors- used by Julius Caesar in a story told by Geoffrey of Monmouth.

★ Szczerbiec - The sword of Polish kings

★ Hrunting - Unferth, associate of Beowulf

★ Gram (in the Volsung Saga) or Balmung (sometimes in later traditions) - Sigurd

★ Tyrfing - a cursed sword from the Tyrfing Cycle, which includes the Hervarar saga and parts of the Poetic Edda.

★ Hauteclaire - this sword that belonged to Olivier, another hero of ''The Song of Roland''

★ Durendal - (or Durindana) the sword that belonged to Roland, nephew of Charlemagne and here of the French epic the Song of Roland; it once belonged to Hector of Troy.

★ Joyeuse - the sword of Charlemagne (Charles the Great), the famed Medieval king of the Franks and first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

★ Curtana - the sword of Ogier the Dane, vassal of Charlemagne; this sword is reputed to be made of the same steel as Durendal and Joyeuse

★ Grus- the historical sword of Boleslaw Krzywousty (Boleslaus the Wrymouthed), medieval prince of Poland

★ Caladbolg - The sword used by the hero Fergus mac Róich in the Irish epic ''Táin Bó Cuailnge''.

★ Legbiter - Viking King Magnus Barelegs's sword.

★ Sword of Gou Jian - The sword used by King Gou Jian of Yue.

★ Honjo Masamune - The best weapon made by Japan's master swordsmith, Masamune

References

See also

★ List of fictional swords