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Woo! Sylum history with pics!
The first true swords started appearing mid-Bronze Age around the 17th century BC and were made from bronze rather than steel, and rarely exceeded 3 ft. in length. Iron swords appeared around the 13th century BC and became common around the 8th century BC. The Proto-Celtic Hallstatt culture was among the first to switch to iron swords, but it wasn’t long before steel was discovered and swords of stronger strength could be easily made.
Swords are either single or double-edged. They’re also categorized by the number of hands needed to use.
By definition, true swords must be double-edged, but many weapons now considered swords have a single edge. These weapons include the katana, the scimitar, and the sabre.
Bronze and Iron Age swords are generally single-handed. Other common single-handed swords include Roman short swords, European light dueling swords, Arabian scimitars, and Japanese short swords or wakizashi.
All long swords are two-handed, this category includes the Claymore and the Katana.
Now for a list of relevant or at least popular swords:
The Cutlass is a single-edged, single-handed sabre and was good for slashing. It was a favorite of sailors and pirates because it was easy to use and very effective in close quarters. Other swords related in design to the cutlass are the traditional sabre and the scimitar.
The Katana is a one-edged, two-handed Japanese sword that, like the longsword, was used for amputation. Katanas are fairly light as far as swords go and intricate martial arts have developed around the weapon. The katana is almost iconic with its association with the samurai. Katanas are known for being incredibly sharp.
The Longsword or Bastard Sword is double-edged and two-handed. It is used for slashing and thrusting. Bastard Swords have long hilts to easily accommodate two hands. The Swords were used during the middle-ages and the Renaissance. The slashes from a longsword cause extensive trauma to the strikkee and, unlike the Spatha or the Cutlass, was actually used with the intention of severing limbs. Claymores fit into the longsword category.
The Spatha is a doubled-edged, single-handed roman sword and was good for both slashing and stabbing. The style was later adopted by the Vikings and the Normans.
The first true swords started appearing mid-Bronze Age around the 17th century BC and were made from bronze rather than steel, and rarely exceeded 3 ft. in length. Iron swords appeared around the 13th century BC and became common around the 8th century BC. The Proto-Celtic Hallstatt culture was among the first to switch to iron swords, but it wasn’t long before steel was discovered and swords of stronger strength could be easily made.
Swords are either single or double-edged. They’re also categorized by the number of hands needed to use.
By definition, true swords must be double-edged, but many weapons now considered swords have a single edge. These weapons include the katana, the scimitar, and the sabre.
Bronze and Iron Age swords are generally single-handed. Other common single-handed swords include Roman short swords, European light dueling swords, Arabian scimitars, and Japanese short swords or wakizashi.
All long swords are two-handed, this category includes the Claymore and the Katana.
Now for a list of relevant or at least popular swords:
The Cutlass is a single-edged, single-handed sabre and was good for slashing. It was a favorite of sailors and pirates because it was easy to use and very effective in close quarters. Other swords related in design to the cutlass are the traditional sabre and the scimitar.
The Katana is a one-edged, two-handed Japanese sword that, like the longsword, was used for amputation. Katanas are fairly light as far as swords go and intricate martial arts have developed around the weapon. The katana is almost iconic with its association with the samurai. Katanas are known for being incredibly sharp.
The Longsword or Bastard Sword is double-edged and two-handed. It is used for slashing and thrusting. Bastard Swords have long hilts to easily accommodate two hands. The Swords were used during the middle-ages and the Renaissance. The slashes from a longsword cause extensive trauma to the strikkee and, unlike the Spatha or the Cutlass, was actually used with the intention of severing limbs. Claymores fit into the longsword category.
The Spatha is a doubled-edged, single-handed roman sword and was good for both slashing and stabbing. The style was later adopted by the Vikings and the Normans.