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Types of swords

This is a list of types of swords. The term 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

Eastern African swords

Western African swords

Central African swords

Asian swords

Eastern Asian swords

China

Japan

  • Nihonto (日本刀; にほんとう)
  • Bokken (木剣)
  • Chokutō (直刀)
  • Guntō (軍刀)
  • KyÅ« 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)
  • 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)
  • 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 (剣)
  • Wakizashi (脇差; わきざし)
  • Naginata (なぎなた)
  • Sai (weapon) (サイ)

Korea

  • 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/Malaysia

Myanmar

Philippines

Thailand

Southern Asian swords

Bhutan

Bladed weapons of the Indian subcontinent

Sri Lanka

Western and Central Asian swords

  • Acinaces (Scythian short sword)
  • Chereb (, modern Hebrew khérev): ancient Israelite sword mentioned 413 times in the Hebrew Bible.

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:

European swords

Ancient European swords

  • Bronze Age European swords
  • Harpe: mentioned almost exclusively in Greek mythology
  • Iron Age European swords
  • Falcata: one-handed single-edged sword – blade – 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 legionaries (heavy infantry) and gladiators, and late Roman light infantry. 3rd century BCE Roman Republic – late Roman Empire.
  • Kopis: one-handed single-edged sword – blade – 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 – for slashing (primary) and thrusting
  • Spatha: Celtic/Germanic/Roman one-handed double-edged longsword – blade – 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.
  • Migration Period swords
  • Spatha: continuation, evolved into
  • Ring-sword (ring-spatha, ring-hilt spatha), Merovingian period
  • Viking sword or Carolingian sword
  • Krefeld type

Post-classical European swords

Modern European swords

North American swords

See also

References