List of premodern combat weapons

This is a list of historical pre-modern weapons grouped according to their uses, with rough classes set aside for very similar weapons. Some weapons may fit more than one category (e.g. the spear may be used either as a pole weapon or as a projectile), and the earliest gunpowder weapons which fit within the period are also included.

Further information: Types of swords and Classification of swords
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Melee weapons
Main article: Melee weapon

Hand or fist weapons and fans

Single-handed weapons not resembling a straight dagger blade, usually wielded without wrist action; often protects the forearm.

Edged and bladed weapons
Main article: Edged and bladed weapons

Thrusting and slicing weapons for close quarters melee. Col. D.H. Gordon's classification has been used where applicable.[2][3]

Swords
Main article: Sword
Further information: Types of swords

Long swords were classified by Gordon as longer than 28 inches/71 cm.[2]

Curved one-handed swords
  • Ayudha katti (South and Southeast Asian)[1]
  • Butterfly sword (Chinese)
  • Cutlass, hanger, hangar (European)
  • Dao, beidao, zhibei dao (Chinese)
  • Dao (Northeastern Indian)
  • Dha (Southeast Asian)
  • Dussack, disackn, dusack, dusagge, dusegg, dusegge, dysack, tesak, thuseckn, tuseckn (European debated. Although some list this weapon only as a wooden practice sword, others state that there are real metal examples.)[1]
  • Falchion (European)
  • Hunting sword (European)
  • Hwando (Korean)
  • Kampilan (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
  • Karabela (European)
  • Kastane (Sri lankan)
  • Khopesh, sappara, sickle sword (Egyptian, Middle Eastern)
  • Kilij (Middle Eastern, North Indian)
  • Klewang (Southeast Asian)
  • Krabi (Southeast Asian)
  • Liuyedao (Chinese)
  • Mameluke (Middle Eastern)
  • Messer, großmesser, hiebmesser, kriegsmesser, langes messer (German, European)
  • Nimcha (African)
  • Piandao (Chinese)
  • Pulwar (Middle Eastern)
  • Sabre, briquet (European)
  • Schweizersäbel (European)
  • Scimitar, saif (Middle Eastern)
  • Shamshir (Middle Eastern, Pakistanian and North Indian)
  • Shashka (Caucasian, Circasian)
  • Szabla (Polish, Lithuanian)
  • Talwar (Middle Eastern, Pakistanian and North Indian)
  • Yanmaodao (Chinese)
Straight one-handed swords
Curved two-handed swords
Hand-and-a-half and two-handed greatswords
Shortswords

Delineated as 20-28 inches/51–71 cm total length.[2]

Straight shortswords
Curved shortswords
Axe-like swords

Generally, convex blades used for heavy chopping or slashing.

Other swords

Fighting knives and daggers
Main articles: Fighting knife and Knife
Further information: List of daggers
Sickles and sickle like knives

Generally short, concave blades used for heavy cutting.

  • Arit (Maduresian, Indonesian)
  • Karambit, kerambit, korambit (Minangkabauian, Indonesian)
  • Kujang (Sundanese, Indonesian)
  • Kukri (Indian)
  • Mandau (Malaysian, Indonesian, Bornean, Bruneian)
  • Pichangatti (Indian)[1]
  • Punyal (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
  • Sickle (improvised, worldwide)
  • Sudanese sickle knife (African)[1]
  • Wedong (Southeast Asian)

Picks and pickaxes

Axes
Main article: Axe

Clubs and blunt weapons
Main articles: Club (weapon) and Club

Wielded with one or two hands at close quarters with swinging motions.

Pole weapons and spears
Main article: Pole weapon

Wielded mainly with two hands. Primarily for melee with sweeping, thrusting, and or hooking motions.

Blunt staves
  • Bâton français (European)
  • Bō (Japanese)
  • Eku (Okinawan)
  • Gun (Chinese)
  • Jō (Japanese)
  • Lathi (Indian)
  • Naboot, shoum, nabboot, asa, asaya (Middle Eastern)
  • Quarterstaff (European)
  • Shareeravadi (Middle Asian)
  • Taiaha (New Zealandian)

Spears
Main article: Spear
Further information: List of types of spears § Spears which are usually used in melee combat

Thrown spears and javelins are listed under ranged weapons.

Polearms with axe-like blades

Polearms with spikes and hammers

Ranged weapons
Main article: Ranged weapon

Thrown

Spears and javelins
Further information: List of types of spears § Spears which are usually thrown

All could be used as polearm spears, but were designed and primarily used for throwing.

Throwing sticks

Throwing blades and darts

Throwing axes

Could also be used as axe weapons, but were specifically designed for throwing.

  • Francisca, francesca (European)
  • Hunga munga, danisco, goleyo, njiga (African)
  • Hurlbat, whirlbat (European)
  • Nzappa zap (African)
  • Tomahawk also an axe weapon (American)

Throwing balls

Bows

Longbows

Recurved bows

Short bows and reflex bows

Crossbows

Slings

Blowguns

Gunpowder weapons
An illustration of an "eruptor", a proto cannon from the 14th century Ming Dynasty book Huolongjing. The cannon was capable of firing proto shells, cast iron bombs filled with gunpowder.

Composite projectile weapons

Having a built-in gun or ranged weapon combined with some other type of weapon.

  • Ax match and wheellock (European axe with five barrells under a removable blade)[1]
  • Carbine axe (European axe)[1]
  • Halberd double barreled wheellock (European halberd)[1]
  • Mace wheellock (European mace)[1]
  • Matchlock axe dagger (European axe, dagger, matchlock combination)[1]
  • Pistol sword (European sword)
  • War hammer wheellock (European pick hammer)[1]

Flamethrowers

Flexible weapons

Whips

Used for whipping.

Sectional and composite

Having multiple handles or holdable sections.

Chains and ropes

Having a heavy object attached to a flexible chain or rope. Wielded by swinging, throwing, or projecting the end, as well as wrapping, striking, and blocking with the chain or rope, sometimes attached to another type of weapon.

  • Chigiriki (Japanese)
  • Cumberjung, double ended flail, flail with quoits (Middle Asian)[1]
  • Flail, fleau d'armes, kriegsflegel (European)
  • Flying claws (Chinese)
  • Flying guillotine (Chinese)
  • Kusari-fundo, manrikigusari, manriki (Japanese)
  • Kusari-gama (Japanese)
  • Kyoketsu-shoge (Japanese)
  • Lasso, uurga, lariat (American, Chinese)
  • Meteor hammer, dragon's fist, dai chui, flying hammer, sheng bao, liu xing chui (Chinese)
  • Rope dart, jouhyou, rope javelin, sheng biao (Japanese, Chinese)
  • Slungshot not to be confused with a slingshot (improvised, European, Japanese, Chinese)
  • Surujin, suruchin (Okinawan)

Defensive weapons

Armors

Shields

Used not only to block strikes and missiles but also swung outwardly (or in quick upward motions) to strike an opponent. Also used to rush an opponent (known as shield bashing). Some shields had spikes, sharp edges, or other offensive designs.

See also
Swords

References
  1. Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7.
  2. Cope, Anne, ed. (1989). Swords and Hilt Weapons. New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 8. ISBN 1-55584-290-9.
  3. Gordon, Col. D.H. (1953). "Swords, Rapiers and Horse riders". Antiquity. Antiquity Publications Ltd. 27 (106): 67–76.
  4. Levine, Bernard; Gerald Weland. Knives, swords, & daggers. New York: Barnes & Noble. p. 66.
  5. Levine, Bernard; Gerald Weland. Knives, swords, & daggers. New York: Barnes & Noble. p. 200.
  6. "Igorot Head Hunting Axe #2". Traditional Filipino Weapons.
  7. "Spear (Sang) Indian". The Met.
  8. "Northern spear".
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