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List of premodern combat weapons

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This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Further information: Types of swords and Classification of swords

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 polearm or as a projectile), and the earliest gunpowder weapons which fit within the period are also included.

Offensive weapons

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Melee weapons

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Main article: Melee weapon

Hand or fist weapons and fans

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

Edged and bladed weapons

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Main article: Edged and bladed weapons

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

Swords

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Main article: Sword
Further information: Types of swords and Lists of swords

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

Curved one-handed swords
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Straight one-handed swords
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Curved two-handed swords
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Hand-and-a-half and two-handed greatswords
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Shortswords
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Delineated as 20-28 inches/51–71 cm total length.[2]

Curved shortswords

Straight shortswords

Axe-like swords
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Generally, convex blades used for heavy chopping or slashing.

Other swords
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Fighting knives and daggers

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Main articles: Fighting knife and Knife
Further information: List of daggers
Sickles and sickle like knives
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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[1] (Indian)
  • Punyal (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
  • Sickle (Improvised, worldwide)
  • Sudanese sickle knife[1] (African)

Picks and pickaxes

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Axes

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Main article: Axe

Truncheons and blunt weapons

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Main article: Club (weapon)

Usually wielded with one or two hands at close quarters with striking motions, although some sharp-pointed truncheons like the sai were more often used for stabbing.

Polearms and spears

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Main articles: Polearm and Spear

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

Blunt staves

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Main article: Stick-fighting

Spears

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

Throwing spears are listed under ranged weapons.

Polearms with axe-like blades

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Polearms with spikes and hammers
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Ranged weapons

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Main article: Ranged weapon

Thrown

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Throwing blades and darts

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Throwing spears

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

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

Throwing axes

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

Throwing balls

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  • Bolas, ayllo, liwi, qilumitautit (Central American, South American, Arctic)
  • Slungshot not to be confused with a slingshot (Improvised, Worldwide)
  • Stone, rock (Improvised, Worldwide)

Throwing sticks

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  • Boomerang (Australian, Worldwide)
  • Knobkierrie, knopkierie, knobkerry, also a blunt weapon (African)
  • Rungu (East African)
  • Stick, branch (Improvised, Worldwide)

Gunpowder weapons

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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

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

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

Firing mechanisms

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Slings

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Bows

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Longbows
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Recurved bows
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Short bows and reflex bows
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Crossbows
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Blowguns

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Projectile weapons

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Flamethrowers

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Flexible weapons

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Whips

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Used for whipping.

Sectional and composite

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Having multiple handles or holdable sections.

Chains and ropes

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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.

Defensive weapons

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Shields and body armour

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Further information: Armour and Self-defense

Shields

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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.

Armour parts

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See also

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Swords

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7.
  2. ^ a b c 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. 27 (106). Antiquity Publications Ltd: 67–76. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00024595. S2CID 163326613.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ Levine, Bernard; Weland, Gerald. Knives, swords, & daggers. New York: Barnes & Noble. p. 66.
  5. ^ Levine, Bernard; Weland, Gerald. 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".
  9. ^ a b Γεώργιος Ηλιόπουλος (Georgios Iliopoulos), "Η χαμένη πυραυλική τεχνολογία των αρχαίων Ελλήνων" (The lost missile technology of the ancient Greeks), Ιχώρ (Ihor), 27, page 12-13, Greece, 2002.
  10. ^ Γεώργιος Ηλιόπουλος (Georgios Iliopoulos), "Η χαμένη πυραυλική τεχνολογία των αρχαίων Ελλήνων" (The lost missile technology of the ancient Greeks), Ιχώρ (Ihor), 27, page 13, Greece, 2002.
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