Crooked swords, like their direct counterparts, appeared during the Bronze Age. Among themselves, these variations differed primarily in balance. For direct weapons, the center of gravity was several millimeters above the guard. Curved blades balanced in the middle of the blade. Consider the features of this type of edged weapon.
Comparative characteristics
Curved swords are intended for chopping blows. The bending of the cutting edge makes the product stronger, increasing the breakdown force due to the unique configuration. The weapon inherited its features from the ax.
The center of gravity located at the top did not prevent the use of the device as a stabbing tool. The most important factor was the ability to repel blows and going around without protective shields. In addition, these modifications had a grooved butt surface, which guaranteed reliable retention of weapons in hand with the ability to repel an enemy attack.
Curved sword among the peoples of the East
These devices found their application in the Middle Ages, differing only in names and configuration. One of the first representatives of such types of knives is hopesh. Further, this development was reflected in blades of the type copyies and falkat.
Curved swords of the kopis type have one-sided sharpening, oriented to chopping blows. The length of the blades ranges from 530 to 700 millimeters. If the back of the weapon is made on one side with a sharpening, it resembles a standard variation of a machete.
In Greece, the curved swords of copis were used only to a limited extent. This follows from the rare references and displays of weapons on vases, drawings, and other images. Presumably, such a blade became the prototype of European analogues, which were brought in by merchants and mercenaries in the fifth century BC.
Falsion
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, having an extension to one end with a similar sharpening.
Another name for the specified edged weapon is lansnett. The main purpose is to inflict serious chopping blows, for which often the noses of these devices were made rounded. These knives were operated mainly by English archers, cavalry and sailors. Two-handed falsions did not have a military purpose; they more often served as the weapon of executioners.
Tao (showdao)
The curved sword among the peoples of the Chinese provinces is usually called the Tao. This character is applicable to almost all analogues, regardless of origin. All copies with one-sided sharpening fall into this list.
These include:
- Curved combat knives.
- Sabers.
- Japanese swords.
- Halberds.
Until the 15th century, the curved sword of the samurai, known to the broad masses as a katana or tao, was designated precisely as tao. 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 solid wood, the length depended on the type of sword. It is worth noting that the Tao - the most popular type of cold steel under consideration in world history, was used by both ordinary soldiers and the general staff.
Features
The development of industry and the craftsmanship of the blacksmiths made the blade much narrower with the possibility of equipping it with elman (thickening of the blade near the tip). Forging this option was much more difficult than a flat blade. At the same time, the uniform dimension made it possible to conveniently and quickly sheathe weapons.
The short, curved sword of the Janissary, like many other analogues, was initially worn without a sheath and covers, just behind a belt (following the example of an ax). It was impossible to transport a thing from 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 passed through a special ring-shaped eye. Carrying a sharp sword in this way was uncomfortable and dangerous.
Tati and its analogues
This long sword has a length of 600 millimeters and a rather large bend. This type of knives is slightly reminiscent of the European Estock, designed to equip cavalry.
In addition to the Tati in Asia and the Falchion in Europe, the Flamberg is considered a popular modification. It is one-or two-handed. This blade was often used in Switzerland and Germany (15-17 century). The Teutonic “gloomy genius, ” as it was often called, was a formidable weapon that penetrated various armor well and was distinguished by its original wave-like tip.
Read more about flumberg
Shortly after its creation, this sword cursed the church as an inhumane element. Even the capture of the enemy with him ensured that the death penalty. One, two or one and a half-handled blades of the configuration under consideration were 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 straightforward, serving to inflict chopping and stabbing punches. Two-handed specimens required endurance and a long training of striking force. The blade was sharpened along the entire length, and the wavy sections of the blade were slightly bred to the sides, according to the saw principle.
Prerequisites for the manufacture of flumberg
The appearance of a weapon such as flumberg was accompanied by several points. Even during the first Crusades, the knights managed to study the curved blades of the peoples of North Africa. A little later, a crooked Turkish sword and a Mongolian saber appeared in Europe. At the same time, a greater striking ability of the curved blade was noted, in comparison with the direct analogue identical in weight.
Nevertheless, such weapons were not widely used in Europe. Firstly, the power of the chopping blow of a heavy straight sword was an order of magnitude higher, and light sabers in a battle were practically useless against steel armor. Secondly, to bring the curved blade to the required parameters did not work (the strength of the blade noticeably decreased). On top of that, stitching 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.
Scimitar
Such sabers were often called Turkish. The crooked sword in the sheath of the Janissary terrified the enemy. To do this, Asian gunsmiths had to rack their brains for a long time on how to combine the effectiveness of a cutting blow and the simplicity of a chopping application.
As a result, sabers appeared with an unusual excessive bending of the blade. The angle of deformation reached 40-50 degrees. At first glance, such a weapon might seem ineffective, but the masters knew what they were doing. Such blades were cut and chopped synchronously. This is due to the fact that the extraction of the blade upon impact was carried out by the natural movement of the arm down, coupled with the inertia of the weapon. At the same time, stabbing with such a saber was almost impossible, so often the point was not even sharpened.
In order to give the Turkish curved sword 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, a scimitar appeared, vaguely reminiscent of ancient Egyptian hopesh.
The benefits of scimitars
Literary epics mention synonyms of a scimitar, such as a scimitar and a saber. This is not entirely true, since the weapon in question definitely has a double bend with different blade lengths. Cavalry samples could have up to 90 centimeters in length, a minimum weight of 800 grams.
Yatagans are focused on piercing, chopping and cutting 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, drafts and katanas. In order to prevent the scimitar from escaping from the hands of a rider or a foot warrior, he was equipped with “ears” that securely grasped the back of the fighter’s hand. The piercing power of scimitars speaks for itself. A fifty-centimeter blade was enough to overcome the protection of knightly armor.
Wakizashi
If Harakiri - then a crooked sword. This expression is perfectly suited to the designation of the traditional Japanese edged weapon Wakizashi. It was used mainly by samurai, worn on a belt paired with a katana. The length of the blade was from 300 to 610 millimeters, sharpening one-sided with a slight curvature, partially resembling a reduced katana. The design of this instance varied in different configurations and thicknesses. The bulge and cross section of the blades had almost the same indicators, but with a shorter working surface.
Often, swords such as wakizashi and katana were made in one workshop, taking into account the design of the corresponding style and purpose. Sometimes such weapons were called dice. In translation, this meant "a large, long or short sword" (depending on the size of the blade and the material of the hilt). For convenience, the Japanese came up with several ways of carrying weapons. The sword could be fixed with a special saga cord, scabbard, or waistband. Wakizashi were used by samurai if it was necessary to make hara-kiri or it was impossible to notice their main weapon - katana. According to etiquette, the samurai, at the entrance to the room, had to leave his combat armor and weapons with katanake (weapons of servants).
