The European sword consists of two main parts:

The device of the European one-handed sword

1) handles, which in turn consists of tops (apples), handles, guards (crosses), shank

2) blade edge, which in turn consists from the valley, blade and point.

Blade

Blade- has many interpretations united by a common message. The blade is: 1) the cutting part of a cold weapon or a knife (interpretation dictionary, Ushakov); 2) the cutting and piercing part of edged weapons (interpretation dictionary, Ozhegov); 3) a strip, in general, the steel part of a cold, sharp weapon (except for a bayonet) and a knife (interpretation dictionary, Dal).

And yet, what should be the key concept? It would be correct to contact legal concept the words blade- extended metal warhead edged weapons with a point, with a point and one or two blades, or with two blades, which is part of a strip, this definition enshrined in GOST R 51215 98. This is the generally accepted understanding of the word - blade.

However, we will also derive the specific concept of a blade associated with the reality of the Zbroevy Falvarak workshop, the blade of the ZF workshop, this an extended metal warhead of the product, with a point, with a point and one or two blades, or with two blades, which is part of a strip, outwardly and structurally similar to melee weapons.

The main feature: the master artisans of the Polar Division do not make edged weapons, but make mass-dimensional copies).

1) Consider in more detail the individual parts of the hilt:

Top (apple):

pommel- this element of the sword device is designed to balance it, only a balanced sword is suitable for skillful fencing by it, in different schools of weapons art the balance may be different. However, it is considered the accepted way to measure the balance of a sword - this is measured with the fingers of the hand, as a rule, a good balance for a European blade should be four fingers from the guard of the sword.

How to balance with fingers?

We take the blade of the sword and look at its balance, for this we put the blade on one finger of the hand, removing or bringing the finger closer to the guard, we find the point when neither side outweighs the other. This is where the balance will be.

In addition, the pommel serves to support the hand, this is especially important because during the battle the sword begins to slide until the hand rests on the pommel.

Sword handle:

sword hilt - designed to hold the sword with the hand. The hilt of the sword should lie comfortably in the hand, because a non-comfortable hilt can interfere with your fencing capabilities. Therefore, when buying a sword, you need to pay attention to how well the hilt fits your hand. On the this moment it is possible to single out and classify swords with confidence according to the number of grips with the hand of the handle. So at the moment swords are divided into:

- One-Handed Swords
- Half-handed swords
- Two-handed swords

Usually under one-handed swords meaning light European blades designed for fast swordsmanship with one hand, such swords are usually light and have a blade of 50 to 80 cm. and are classic weapons of both role-playing and medieval reenactment movements.

Under the swords one and a half grip(bastards), refers to swords that can be held with both one hand and two. The swordsman, depending on the situation, can fence with one hand and hold the shield with the other, but in case of need, he can take such a sword in two hands and fence with it, holding it with both hands, thereby reducing the fatigue of one hand. By medieval standards, a one and a half hand sword was chest-high to the owner. This length allows you to keep the opponent with a one-handed sword at a greater distance and thus get the opportunity to strike from a greater distance. Now it is not uncommon for a bastard sword to become a weapon for a beginner who is just embarking on the path of comprehending the basics of fencing. This type of sword is widely used among both role players and reenactors of the Middle Ages.

Two-handed swords , as a rule, these are large, heavy knightly swords of the espadon type, fencing with such a sword requires considerable physical strength and skills. This sword is designed for holding and fencing with two hands, thanks to its blade length of more than 110 cm, it is a weapon long range. By medieval standards, a two-handed sword was chin-deep to the wearer. In general, two-handed swords are very dangerous in fencing, as they often inflict significant injuries. At the moment, swords of this type are quite rare in the role-playing and reenactment movement. In the role-playing movement, this sword has gained relevance due to the fact that such swords, thanks to the rules of combat interaction in a role-playing game, cause more damage to the enemy than a one-handed or one-and-a-half-handed sword. But their manufacture requires a significant amount and high quality of the material, coupled with the high skills of the master - therefore, two-handed swords are much less common than one and a half handed or double-handed swords. In addition, such swords often become artifacts or other symbols of magic in an RPG. In the movement of reenactors of the Middle Ages, the double-dealer is not widely used due to the fact that in order to work with two hands during duels or buhurts, a fencer needs a very high-quality protective armor complex.

The specified classification and sizes of swords are relative and taken from our experience and the experience of other masters. So, for example, in Japan, a 50 cm long sword, like a wakizashi, or a 70 cm long sword, like a katana, have a two-handed grip. With the same success, the European bastard can be with a two-handed grip.

Like the pommel, the hilt is included in the system blade balancing. Especially this statement applies to swords made according to the "welded glass" system and then according to the system of "steel pipe", "welded steel plates". For historical swords, this is less relevant, because the hilt of such swords is made of wood, although, for example, the ninja sword, shinobi-ken, has an all-metal hilt.

Guards (crosses, the name "kresalo" is also found)

sword guard- this element of the sword hilt is designed to protect the hand during fencing, from blows with the blade of the enemy's sword. Different countries and peoples have created guards of various shapes. In addition to the entire guard, it performs the function of balancing the sword.

Shank

on the guard can be either present or absent. It is believed that the presence of a shank on the sword allows the blade to better absorb the impact energy and thereby protect the blade from vibration and loosening in the hilt.

2) Consider in more detail the individual parts of the blade:

sword blade

sword blade- the sharp edge of a cutting, chopping tool (interpretation dictionary, Ozhegov); the sharp side (working part) of the blade (Historical Dictionary). So, the blade is the combat, cutting part of the blade.

- groove, longitudinal recess on the blade. The first and most obvious function of the fullers is to lighten the blade: with the same dimensions, the blade with fullers has significantly less weight. If the valleys are formed by a cutting tool in a homogeneous material, then with a slight decrease in mechanical strength (compared to the workpiece), weight is noticeably lost (especially with wide valleys on a long blade). When bending and twisting, the middle part of the blade is slightly loaded, so it can be removed almost painlessly. In cross section, the blade with symmetrical wide valleys is similar to an I-beam, which is known in architecture for its significant rigidity with low mass. According to some sources, the I-profile in architecture was borrowed from bladed weapons. If the dol is performed by forging, then in this place (usually closer to the butt) the blade material is hardened, which makes it possible to form the blade by forging without fear of significant deformation (curvature) in the plane of the blade, a strong “lifting” of the blade tip above the line of the butt. During heat treatment, a thin blade and a thick butt of the blade are heated and cooled unevenly. The valleys are leveling temperature conditions, reducing the mass of the thick part of the blade. The balance of the blade-hilt changes with dolami. On some types of knives, wide valleys prevent sticking (freezing in winter conditions) of the cut product on the blade, reducing the area of ​​contact between the blade bare and the cut plane. The aesthetic function is most significant on short-bladed weapons and tools. Dol gives the blade external swiftness and aggressiveness, adds a third dimension (depth) to the plane of the knife, carries an associative load, because it is associated in culture with the romance of long-bladed weapons, criminal finks and is emotionally colored called "blood flow".
Blade edges

- this is the part of the sword directly intended for inflicting a chopping, cutting blow to the enemy. Depending on the type and kind, the sword can be double-edged, i.e. have two edges, or have only one, like a falchion, saber, broadsword, katana. There were also triangular blades and tetrahedral blades (estok, konchar), but they were exclusively piercing weapons and served to pierce armor. The internal section of the blade is different, it can be a rhombus, an oval, etc.
point

- The point is intended for stabbing. In the early Middle Ages, it was often more sharply simply rounded off. But already at the time crusades the edge of the sword began to be sharpened for stabbing at the weak points of the armor.

Sheath

- designed to protect the sword from the effects of the external environment, as well as to carry the sword.
Mouth of sword scabbard

- a metal plate that performs a decorative function, in addition, it serves to strengthen the entrance to the scabbard, preventing the halves of the scabbard from dispersing.
Scabbard tip

- a metal overlay that performs a decorative function, like the mouth of the sword, in addition, it serves to tighten the skin of which, as a rule, the sword is fitted.
The mouth and tip appeared during the Crusades. And they were borrowed from the scabbard of oriental swords.

Sword. Of course, he is the most famous and revered type of edged weapons. For several millennia, the sword not only faithfully served many generations of warriors, but also performed the most important symbolic functions. With the help of a sword, a warrior was knighted; he was necessarily one of the items used in the coronation of European crowned persons. The good old sword is still widely used in various military ceremonies and it never even occurs to anyone to replace it with something more modern.

The sword is widely represented in the mythology of various peoples of the world. It can be found in Slavic epics, Scandinavian sagas, in the Koran and the Bible. In Europe, the sword was a symbol of the status of its owner, distinguishing a noble person from a commoner or a slave.

However, despite all the symbolism and romantic halo, the sword was primarily a melee weapon, the main function of which was to destroy the enemy in battle.

The medieval knight's sword resembled a Christian cross, the arms of the cross formed a right angle, although practical value it didn't. Rather, it was a symbolic gesture that equated the knight's main weapon with the main attribute of Christianity. Before the knighting ceremony, the sword was kept in the church altar, cleaning this murder weapon from filth. During the ritual itself, the priest gave the sword to the warrior. Pieces of sacred relics were often placed in the hilts of combat swords.

Contrary to popular belief, the sword was not the most common weapon either in ancient times or in the Middle Ages. And there are several reasons for this. First, a good combat sword has always been expensive. There was little quality metal, and it was expensive. The manufacture of this weapon took a lot of time and required high qualifications from the blacksmith. Secondly, possession of a sword at a high level required many years of hard training; learning to wield an ax or a spear was much easier and faster. The future knight began to train from early childhood ...

Various authors give excellent data on the cost of a combat sword. However, one thing is for sure: the price was high. In the early Middle Ages, an average blade was given an amount equal to the cost of four cows. An ordinary one-handed sword made by a famous craftsman was even more expensive. The weapons of the highest nobility, made of Damascus steel and richly decorated, cost fabulous money.

This material will give the history of the development of the sword, from ancient times to the late Middle Ages. However, our story will mainly touch on European weapons, because the topic of bladed weapons is too extensive. But before proceeding to a description of the main milestones in the development of the sword, a few words should be said about its design, as well as a classification of this weapon.

Anatomy of a sword: what weapons are made of

A sword is a type of edged weapon with a straight double-edged blade, designed for chopping, cutting and stabbing. The blade occupies most of the weapon, it can be more adapted for chopping or, conversely, stabbing.

For the classification of bladed weapons, the shape of the blade and the way it is sharpened are very important. If the blade has a curve, then such weapons are usually referred to as sabers. So, for example, the well-known Japanese katanas and wakizashi are two-handed sabers. Weapons with a straight blade and one-sided sharpening are classified as broadswords, cleavers, gross messers, etc. Swords and rapiers are usually distinguished into separate groups.

Any sword consists of two parts: the blade and the hilt. The cutting part of the blade is a blade, and it ends with a point. The blade may have a rib and fuller, which makes the weapon lighter and gives it additional rigidity. The unsharpened part of the blade near the hilt is called the ricasso or heel.

The hilt of the sword consists of a guard, hilt and pommel or pommel. The guard protects the fighter's hand from hitting the enemy shield, and also prevents it from slipping after the blow. In addition, the cross can also be used to strike, it was actively used in some fencing techniques. The pommel is necessary for proper balance of the sword, and it also prevents the weapon from slipping out.

Another characteristic of the sword is the cross section of the blade. It can be different: rhombic, lenticular, etc. Any sword has two tapers: the thickness of the blade and its length.

The sword's center of gravity (balance point) is usually slightly above the guard. Although, this parameter can also change.

A few words should be said about such an important accessory as a scabbard for a sword - a case in which the weapon was stored and transported. Them top part is called the mouth, and the lower one is called the tip. Sword scabbards were made of wood, leather, metal. They were attached to the belt, saddle, clothing. By the way, contrary to popular belief, they did not carry a sword behind their back, because it is inconvenient.

The mass of the weapon varied within a very wide range: the short gladius sword weighed 700-750 grams, and the heavy two-handed espadon weighed 5-6 kg. However, as a rule, a one-handed sword had a mass of no more than 1.5 kg.

Classification of fighting swords

Combat swords can be divided into several groups depending on the length of the blade, although such a classification is somewhat arbitrary. In accordance with this characteristic, the following groups of swords are distinguished:

• A short sword with a blade length of approximately 60-70 cm;
• A long sword with a blade from 70 to 90 cm. Both foot and horse warriors could use such a weapon;
• Swords with a blade length above 90 cm. Most often, such weapons were used by cavalrymen, although there were exceptions - for example, the famous two-handed swords of the late Middle Ages.

According to the grip used, swords can be divided into one-handed, one-and-a-half and two-handed. The one-handed sword had dimensions, weight and balance that allowed fencing with one hand, in the second hand the fighter, as a rule, held a shield. A one-and-a-half or one-and-a-half sword could be held with one or two hands. It should be noted that this term was introduced by weapons experts only at the end of the 19th century; contemporaries did not call these swords that way. The bastard sword appeared in the late Middle Ages and was in use until the middle of the 16th century. A two-handed sword could only be held with two hands; such weapons became widespread after the appearance of heavy plate and plate armor. The largest of the combat two-handed swords had a weight of up to 5-6 kg and dimensions exceeding 2 meters.

The most famous and popular classification of medieval swords was created by the English researcher Ewart Oakeshott. It is based on the shape and design of the blade of the weapon. In addition, Oakeshott designed crosses and pommel designs. Using these three characteristics, you can describe any medieval sword, bringing it to a convenient formula. Oakeshott's typology covers the period from 1050 to 1550.

Advantages and disadvantages of the sword

As mentioned above, learning how to wield a sword with dignity was very difficult. This required many years of training, constant practice and excellent physical training. The sword is the weapon of a professional warrior who has devoted his life to military affairs. It has both serious advantages and significant disadvantages.

The sword is good for its versatility. They can stab, chop, cut, reflect the blows of the enemy. It is suitable for both defensive and offensive combat. Blows can be applied not only with a blade, but also with a cross, and even with a pommel. However, like any other universal tool, it performs each of its functions worse than a highly specialized tool. You can really stab with a sword, but a spear (at long range) or a dagger (at close range) will do it much better. And the ax is more suitable for chopping blows.

The combat sword is perfectly balanced and has a low center of gravity. Thanks to this, the sword is a maneuverable and fast weapon, it is easy to fence with it, you can quickly change the direction of attack, make false attacks, etc. However, this design significantly reduces the “armor-piercing” capabilities of the sword: it is quite difficult to cut through even simple chain mail. And against plate or plate armor, the sword is generally ineffective. That is, against an armored enemy, it is practically possible to use only stabbing blows.

The undoubted advantages of the sword include its relatively small size. This weapon could be constantly carried with you and, if necessary, instantly used.

As mentioned above, the manufacture of a sword was a very complex and time-consuming process. It required high qualification from the master. A medieval sword is not just a strip of wrought iron, but a complex composite product, usually consisting of several pieces of steel with different characteristics. Therefore, the mass production of swords was established only in the period of the late Middle Ages.

The Birth of the Sword: Ancient Times and Antiquity

We do not know when or where the first sword appeared. It is likely that this happened after a person learned to make bronze. The most ancient sword was found on the territory of our country, during the excavation of a tomb in Adygea. A short sword made of bronze found there dates back to the fourth millennium BC. It is currently exhibited in the Hermitage.

Bronze is a fairly durable material, allowing you to make swords of a decent size. This metal cannot be hardened, but under heavy loads it bends without breaking. To reduce the likelihood of deformation, bronze swords often had impressive stiffening ribs. It should also be noted the high resistance of bronze to corrosion, thanks to which we now have the opportunity to explore authentic ancient swords that have come down to us in a fairly good condition.

Bronze weapons were made by casting, so they could be given the most complex and intricate shapes. As a rule, the length of the blade of bronze swords did not exceed 60 cm, but examples of more impressive sizes are also known. So, for example, during excavations in Crete, archaeologists discovered swords with a meter-long blade. Scholars believe that this large sword was probably used for ritual purposes.

The most famous blades of the ancient world are the Egyptian khopesh, the Greek mahaira, and the kopis. It should be noted that due to one-sided sharpening and the curved shape of the blade along modern classification they are not all swords, but rather cleavers or sabers.

Around the 7th century, swords began to be made from iron, and this revolutionary technology spread very quickly in Europe and the Middle East. The most famous iron swords of Antiquity were the Greek xiphos, the Scythian akinak and, of course, the Roman gladius and spatha. It is curious, but already in the 4th century, blacksmiths-gunsmiths knew the main “secrets” of sword production, which would remain relevant until the end of the Middle Ages: making a blade from a package of steel and iron plates, welding steel blade plates onto a soft iron base and carburizing a soft iron billet.

Xiphos is a short sword with a characteristic leaf-shaped blade. At first they were armed with infantry hoplites, and later the soldiers of the famous Macedonian phalanx.

Another famous iron sword of Antiquity is the akinak. The Persians were the first to use it, from them the akinak was borrowed by the Scythians, Medes, Massagets and other peoples. Akinak is a short sword with a characteristic crosshair and pommel. Later, a large sword (up to 130 cm) of a similar design was used by other inhabitants of the Northern Black Sea region - the Sarmatians.

However, the most famous blade of Antiquity is without a doubt the gladius. Not really prevaricating, we can say that with his help a huge Roman Empire was created. The Gladius had a blade length of about 60 cm and a wide cutting edge, which made it possible to inflict powerful and accentuated stabbing blows. This sword could also cut, but such blows were considered additional. One more hallmark The gladius had a massive pommel designed to better balance the weapon. The short stabs of the gladius in close Roman formation were truly deadly.

Another Roman sword, the cavalry spatha, had an even greater influence on the further evolution of bladed weapons. In fact, this sword was invented by the Celts, the Romans simply borrowed it. This large sword was much better suited for arming riders than the "short" gladius. It is curious that at first the spata did not have a point, that is, it could only be cut with it, but later this shortcoming was corrected, and the sword gained universality. For our story, the spatha is very important, because it was from it that the Merovingian-type sword originated, and hence all subsequent European blades.

Middle Ages: from the Roman spata to the knight's sword

After the fall of the Roman Empire, Europe plunged into dark times for several centuries. They were accompanied by the decline of crafts, the loss of many skills and technologies. The very tactics of warfare were simplified, and the Roman legions soldered by iron discipline were replaced by numerous barbarian hordes. The continent plunged into the chaos of fragmentation and internecine wars...

For several centuries in a row, armor was hardly used in Europe, only the richest warriors could afford chain mail or plate armor. The situation was similar with the spread of bladed weapons - the sword from the weapon of an ordinary infantryman or horseman turned into an expensive and status thing that few could afford.

In the 8th century, the Merovingian sword, which is a further development of the Roman spata, became widespread in Europe. It got its name in honor of the French royal Merovingian dynasty. It was a weapon designed primarily for slashing. The Merovingian sword had a blade 60 to 80 cm long, a thick and short cross and a massive pommel. The blade practically did not taper to the tip, which had a flat or rounded shape. A wide and shallow fuller stretched along the entire length of the blade, lightening the weapon. If the legendary King Arthur really existed - which historians still argue about - then his famous Excalibur must have looked like that.

At the beginning of the 9th century, the Merovingians began to be replaced by the Carolingian type sword, which is often called the Viking sword. Although, these swords were produced mainly on the continent, and they came to the Scandinavian lands as a commodity or military booty. The Viking sword is similar to the Merovingian, but it is more elegant and thin, which gives it better balance. The Carolingian sword has a better pointed point, it is convenient for them to inflict stabbing blows. It can also be added that at the turn of the first and second millennium, metallurgy and metalworking took a step forward. Steel became better, its quantity increased significantly, although swords were still expensive and relatively rare weapons.

Starting from the second half of the 11th century, the Carolingian sword gradually turns into a Romanesque or knightly sword. Such a metamorphosis is associated with changes in the protective equipment of the warriors of the era - the increasing spread of chain mail and plate armor. It was rather problematic to break through such protection with a chopping blow, so a weapon capable of effectively stabbing was needed.

In fact, the Romanesque sword is a huge group of bladed weapons that were in use during the high and late Middle Ages. Compared to the Merovingian sword, the Romanesque sword had a longer and narrower blade with a narrow and deep fuller, tapering noticeably towards the point. The handle of the weapon also becomes longer, and the size of the pommel decreases. Romanesque swords have a developed hilt, which provided reliable protection the hands of a fighter are an indisputable sign of the development of the art of fencing of that era. In fact, the variety of swords of the Romanesque group is huge: weapons different periods differed in the shape and size of the blade, handle, pommel.

The era of giants: from the bastard to the flaming flamberg

From about the middle of the 13th century, plate armor became a widespread form of protective equipment for a warrior. This led to a further change in the Romanesque sword: it became narrower, the blade received additional stiffeners and an even more pronounced point. By the 14th century, the development of metallurgy and blacksmithing made it possible to turn the sword into a weapon accessible even to ordinary foot soldiers. So, for example, during the Hundred Years War, a sword of not very high quality cost only a few pence, which was equal to the daily wages of an archer.

At the same time, the development of armor made it possible to significantly reduce the shield, or even completely abandon it. Accordingly, now the sword could be taken with both hands and deliver a stronger and more accentuated blow. This is how the half sword was born. Contemporaries called it a “long or combat sword” (war sword), implying that weapons of this length and mass are not carried with them just like that, but are taken exclusively for war. The bastard sword also had another name - "bastard". The length of this weapon could reach 1.1 meters, and the mass - 2.5 kg, although, for the most part, a one and a half sword weighed about 1.5 kg.

In the XIII century, a two-handed sword appears on the European battlefields, which can be called real giants among bladed weapons. Its length reached two meters, and the weight could exceed five kilograms. This greatsword was used exclusively by infantry, their main purpose being a devastating slashing blow. Scabbards were not made for such weapons, and they were worn on the shoulder, like a spear or pike.

The most famous two-handed swords are the claymore, zweihander, espadon and flamberg, which is also called the flaming or curved two-handed sword.

Claymore. In Gaelic, the name means "big sword". Although, of all two-handed swords, it is considered the smallest. The length of the claymore is from 135 to 150 cm, and the weight is 2.5-3 kg. The peculiarity of the sword is the characteristic shape of the cross with arches directed towards the edge of the blade. Claymore, along with the kilt and broadsword, is considered one of the most recognizable symbols of Scotland.

Espadon. This is another great two-handed sword that is considered the "classic" of this type of weapon. Its length could reach 1.8 m, and its weight ranged from 3 to 5 kg. Espadon was most popular in Switzerland and Germany. A feature of this sword was a pronounced ricasso, which was often covered with leather or cloth. In combat, this part was used for an additional grip on the blade.

Zweihender. The famous sword of German mercenaries - landsknechts. They were armed with the most experienced and strong warriors, who received double salaries - doppelsoldners. The length of this sword could reach two meters, and weight - 5 kg. He had a wide blade, almost a third of which fell on an unsharpened ricasso. It was separated from the sharpened part by a small guard (“boar fangs”). Historians are still arguing about exactly how the zweihender was used. According to some authors, the peak shafts were cut with it, others believe that the sword was used against enemy riders. In any case, this great two-handed sword can be called a real symbol of the famous medieval mercenaries - landsknechts.

Flamberg. A wavy, flaming or curved two-handed sword, so named for the blade's characteristic "wave" shape. Flamberg was especially popular in Germany and Switzerland in the 15th-17th centuries.

This sword was about 1.5 m long and weighed 3-3.5 kg. Like the zweihander, it had a wide ricasso and an additional guard, but its main feature was the curves that covered up to two-thirds of the blade. A curved two-handed sword is a very successful and ingenious attempt by European gunsmiths to combine the main advantages of a sword and a saber in one weapon. The curved edges of the blade significantly enhanced the effect of a chopping blow, and a large number of them created the effect of a saw, inflicting terrible non-healing wounds on the enemy. At the same time, the end of the blade remained straight, and it was possible to inflict stabbing blows with a flamberg.

The curved two-handed sword was considered an "inhumane" weapon and was banned by the church. However, the German and Swiss mercenaries did not care much. True, warriors with such a sword should not have been captured, at best they were killed immediately.

This great two-handed sword is still in service with the Vatican Guard.

The decline of the sword in Europe

In the 16th century, a gradual abandonment of heavy metal armor begins. The reason for this was the widespread and significant improvement firearms. “Nomen certe novum” (“I see a new name”), this is what Francesco da Carpi, an eyewitness to the defeat of the French army at Pavia, said about the arquebus. It can be added that in this battle, the Spanish arrows “carried out” the color of the French heavy cavalry ...

At the same time, bladed weapons become popular with the townspeople and soon become an integral part of the costume. The sword becomes lighter and gradually turns into a sword. However, this is another story worthy of a separate story ...

So, the series of articles "The sword with the name" is coming to an end. In the final material, we would like to dwell in more detail on the modern manifestation of the tradition of naming personal weapons, and help the reader decide on a possible name for his own blade.

Naming traditions of modern weapons

Nowadays, the traditions of giving names to personal weapons have practically disappeared, becoming another halo of mysterious romance over the glorious past of distant ancestors.

Since the Middle Ages, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge, and rapidly developing technologies have changed the attitude of people towards weapons. The knight's sword was a purely personal, individual subject. It was made by the hands of a blacksmith, and to some extent it has always been unique, because even the same swords self made inevitably have their own characteristics. Modern weapons, mass-produced in factories, are completely impersonal. What is the point of giving a name to an automaton if you hand it over to the arsenal in the evening, and take another one tomorrow?

The second reason for the extinction of the tradition is the conscription system for the formation of troops. The basis of the large armies of the world is made up of people who are called up for service or who voluntarily accept it for a certain, usually short, period. For the medieval knight, the sword was not just a weapon, but a tool with which he built his life. For a modern young conscript, this is only part of his duty, which he will part with soon enough.

The third reason is the ban on possession of weapons. So, if earlier no one could forbid a warrior to hang over a fireplace true blade, which served him in many battles, now very few can have their own weapons. Basically, these are employees of law enforcement agencies, acting military.

However, the echoes of the ancient tradition still reach our times. So, in Russia there is a nominal award weapon issued on the basis of a presidential decree. Basically, pistols belong to premium weapons, but in some cases it can also be melee weapons: checkers, daggers. Of course, named weapon implies only an indication of the name of the owner and a special dedicatory inscription on it, as well as decoration and decoration. Therefore, despite the honor of owning such a weapon (and it is awarded extremely rarely and only for outstanding services), it still does not have the history that each of the named swords of antiquity absorbed into itself. After all, they were not just an ornament awarded for glorious deeds - they were weapons that committed these deeds.

However, at least modern weapons already rarely honored with its own name, tradition, like the chivalrous spirit itself, still lives in the hearts of those for whom the honor and romance of antiquity is not an empty word. After all, in our time you can buy a real sword, as in the old days, forged by the hands of blacksmiths. And having good favorite weapon, you quickly realize that the proper name for the sword is The best way feel the affinity and spiritual connection.

How to name your sword

Of course, there are no official instructions, recommendations or rules for naming swords. This is a very personal matter. To some extent, this can be compared with choosing a name for a child, because it is given once, but it should please all life. Therefore, when choosing a name for the blade, you can follow a few tips:

1. Do not take other people's names.

The name is given to the sword in order to emphasize its individuality, thereby strengthening its spiritual connection with it. Calling Excalibur the most ordinary Carolingian of the Early Middle Ages, the warrior replaces with his fantasy about the legendary sword the real one that he holds in his hand, which means that he treats his weapon without sincere respect. It's like calling your beloved the name of a famous supermodel: the comparison may be flattering, but ... In addition, naming a simple sword with the name legendary weapons- a bad tone in the eyes of other warriors.

2. Empty pathos does not paint the sword.

Most of the heroic swords received their name only for certain features inherent in them, or feats accomplished with their help. Therefore, it is worth calling the blade "Dragon Slayer" only in two cases: if it is technically suitable for this (it has an outstanding size, strength and striking ability), or a dragon or two has already been slain by it. And since there is usually no such possibility, such a name is hardly useful to anyone. Name it carefully mirror shine a polished sword by "Shining" is a perfectly reasonable idea, besides, such a name obliges not to succumb to laziness and take care of the blade properly.

3. The name of the sword can be taken from its history.

The author of these lines received his first sword as a gift from his bride. A simple blade, it was primarily a symbol of love and respect for the passion for the history of chivalry and the Middle Ages. He had never been in combat, and was not intended for it. Therefore, the sword received the name Ljubodar (gift of love), which it bears to this day. Another sword, already fighting, bears the name Veritas ("truth" in Latin), since it brought victory in a duel to remove a false accusation.

4. If the name does not come to mind - do not rush.

This paragraph can be considered a general conclusion from all that has been said above. Sometimes the honor of owning an excellent sword makes you dizzy, and you want to give it a name as soon as possible. And the options are either all kind of stupid and inappropriate, or seem far-fetched. In this case, do not rush: get comfortable with the weapon, use it in business, and over time it will itself suggest an idea for its true name.

This concludes the publication of the "Sword with a Name" cycle, dedicated to the most famous named swords of the past and present, real and fictional. In the future, you will find other publications and articles on a wide variety of topics related to medieval weapons and chivalry. And you can influence the topic of future articles! Write us your feedback on what has already been written and wishes on the subject of future articles to our mail, as well as in special topics on the forum and VKontakte:

The sword is not just a weapon, it is a true amulet, the strength and glory of which is forged in battles. History has known many swords, among them a special place is occupied by legendary swords that raise the morale of entire nations.

Excalibur

Probably everyone has heard about the legendary Excalibur of King Arthur. It was impossible to break it, and the sheath gave the owner invulnerability.

Excalibur's name probably comes from the Welsh Caledwolch, which can be translated as "heavy smasher". It is first mentioned in the Welsh epic Mabinogion (XI century). According to one version, the name comes from the Latin "chalybs" - steel, and the prefix "exc" meant enhanced properties.

According to one legend, Arthur took out Excalibur from a stone, which proved his right to be king, but in most texts, he received it from the fairy of the lake, after he broke his first sword. Before his death, he ordered to return it to its rightful owner, throwing it into the water.

Behind the myth of Excalibur there is definitely a historical prototype, as well as behind the figure of King Arthur. Only this is not a specific weapon, but a tradition. For example, the custom of flooding weapons in Northern and Western Europe. Strabo describes such a ritual among the Celts in the vicinity of Toulouse, archaeological excavations at Torsbjerg testify to the presence of such a tradition in Jutland (weapons date from 60-200 AD).

Durandal

The sword of the nephew of Charlemagne, who terrified enemies, repeated the fate of Excalibur. According to the saga of Charlemagne, he was thrown into the lake after the death of his master Roland during the Battle of Ronceval (778). A later chivalric poem Roland Furious says that a part of it is still kept in the wall of the French sanctuary of Rocamadour.

Its legendary properties were practically the same as those of Excalibur - it was unusually durable, and did not break even when Roland tried to smash it against a rock before his death. Its very name comes from the adjective "dur" - solid. Judging by the frequent references in the sources to the breakdown of swords, the quality of steel was generally weak point medieval warriors.

If Excalibur had a scabbard with special properties, then Durandal had a hilt, where, according to the saga of Charlemagne, holy relics were kept.

Shcherbets

The coronation sword of the Polish monarchs - Shcherbets, according to legend, was given to Prince Borislav the Brave (995-1025) by an angel. And Borislav almost immediately managed to put a notch on it, hitting the Golden Gate of Kyiv. Hence the name "Shcherbets". True, this event is unlikely, since Borislav's campaign against Russia took place before the actual construction of the Golden Gate in 1037. If only he managed to put a notch, encroaching on the wooden gates of the tsar-grad.

In general, Shcherbets, which has come down to our times, according to experts, was made in the XII-XIII centuries. Perhaps the original sword disappeared along with the rest of the treasures of Poland - the spear of St. Mauritius and the golden diadem of the German emperor Otto III.

Historical sources claim that the sword was used at coronations from 1320 to 1764, when the last Polish king, Stanisław August Poniatowski, was crowned with it. After long wanderings from one collector to another, Szczerbiec returned to Poland in 1959. Today it can be seen in the Krakow Museum.

Sword of Saint Peter

The weapon of the Apostle Peter, with which he cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest, Malchus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, today is another ancient relic of Poland. In 968, Pope John XIII presented it to the Polish Bishop Jordan. Today, the legendary blade, or a later version of it, is kept in the Archdiocese Museum in Poznań.

Naturally, among historians there is no single time on the dating of the sword. Researchers at the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw claim that the sword could have been made in the 1st century AD, but most scholars consider the blade in Poznań to be a late forgery. Experts Martin Glosek and Leszek Kaiser identify it as a copy from the first quarter of the 14th century. This hypothesis coincides with the fact that swords of a similar shape - falchions (a blade expanding towards the bottom with one-sided sharpening) were common in the 14th century as an additional weapon of English archers.

Sword of Dovmont

The relic of Pskov is the sword of the holy Pskov prince Dovmont (? -1299) - "a man of valor and impeccable honor." It was under him that the city gained de facto independence from its older "brother" Novgorod. The prince fought successfully with his original homeland Lithuania and the Livonian Order, more than once saving Pskov from crusader raids.

The sword of Dovmont, with which he allegedly hit the master of the Livonian Order in the face, for a long time hung in the Pskov Cathedral over the shrine of the prince. It was engraved with the inscription "I will not give up my honor to anyone." For the inhabitants of the city, it became a real shrine, with which they blessed all the new princes who entered the service of Pskov; Dovmont's sword was minted on Pskov coins.

Before today The sword arrived in good condition. Even the wooden scabbard, covered with green velvet and bound by a third with silver, has survived. The length of the sword itself is about 0.9 m, the width of the crosshair is 25 cm. In shape, this is a piercing-cutting triangular blade with a rib protruding in the middle. At the top of it, a stamp has been preserved, which indicates that it was made in the German city of Passau. Obviously, it belonged to Dovmont during his life in Lithuania.

Dovmont's sword dates back to the 13th century. To date, this is the only medieval sword in Russia, the "biography" of which is well known and confirmed by chronicle reports.

Kusanagi no tsurugi

The Japanese katana "Kusanagi no tsurugi" or "grass-cutting sword", according to legend, helped the first Japanese emperor Jimmu to conquer Japan. Not surprising, because it originally belonged to the wind god Susanno, brother of the sun goddess Amateratsu. He discovered it in the body of the monstrous dragon Yamata no Orochi he had killed, and gave it to his sister. She, in turn, presented it to people as a sacred symbol.

Kusanagi was a shrine of the Isonokami-jingu temple for a long time, where he was transferred by Emperor Shujin. Currently, an iron sword is fixed in the temple. In 1878, during excavations, a large sword blade with a total length of 120 cm was found. It is assumed that this is the legendary Kusanagi no tsurugi.

seven pronged sword

Another national treasure of Japan is the seven-pronged sword Nanatsusaya-no-tachi. It differs from the weapons of the land of the rising sun familiar to us, first of all, in its shape - it has six branches, and the tip of the blade was obviously considered the seventh.

It is not known for certain when it was made, but the main version dates it to the 4th century AD. According to the analysis, the sword was forged in the kingdom of Baekje or Silla (the territory of modern Korea). Judging by the inscriptions on the blade, he came to Japan through China - he was presented as a gift to one of the Chinese emperors. The Japanese epic says that it belonged to the semi-mythical Empress Jingu, who lived approximately in 201-269.

There are many legends about Japanese swords, often not justified. Probably, a lot of people will answer the question of what the Japanese sword is called - Katana. This is true in part, but only in part. The classification of Japanese swords is not an easy task. The most simple classification, in my opinion, is by length.

It is known that the samurai wore two swords - long and short.. This couple was called Daisho(lit. "larger and smaller") and consisted of Daito ("greater sword"), we will call it Katana, which was the main weapon of the samurai, and Seto ("smaller sword"), in the future Wakazashi, which served as a spare or additional weapon, used in close combat, for chopping off heads or hara-kiri, if the samurai did not have a Kusungobu or Tanto dagger specially designed for this. If the wearing of a large Katana sword was allowed only for samurai wars and aristocrats, then Wakazashi had the right to wear both artisans and merchants.

Kusungobu - melee dagger

So the long sword was called Daito (Katana)- 95-120 cm, short - Seto (Wakazashi)- 50-70 cm. The Katana handle is usually designed for 3.5 fists, Wakazashi - for 1.5. The width of the blade of both swords is about 3 cm, the thickness of the back is 5 mm, while the blade has a razor sharpness. The hilt is usually covered with sharkskin or wrapped in such a way that the hilt does not slip in the hands. Katana weight about 4 kg. The guard of both swords was small, only slightly covering the hand, had a round, petal or multifaceted shape. It was called "tsuba".

Katana and other Japanese swords were kept on a special stand - Katanakake.

Katana, has several varieties, one of them is Ko-katana (kokatana) - a variant of a short katana, which, along with a katana, is included in a regular samurai set of edged weapons. The handle of the kokatana is straight without a bow, the blade is slightly curved. The specimen described in the domestic literature has a length of 690 mm, a blade length of 520 mm.

Kokatana a type of katana

The katana was attached to the belt or behind the back. Tied with a special Sageo cord, this cord could also be used to bind an opponent. To carry a katana behind the back, special scabbards were used (Watarimaki is the part of the scabbard of Japanese bladed weapons that touches the back when worn).

Katana is the most modern and perfect view Japanese edged weapons, its production has been perfected for centuries, the predecessors of the katana were:

Tati - a sword common in Japan from the 10th to the 17th centuries, equal in length to the Katana. Although Katana swords also have a decent blade curvature, overall it is less than that of the Tachi. Their exterior finish is also different. It is much simpler and stricter than Tati's. Has a round tsuba. The tachi was usually worn with the blade down, paired with the koshigatana.

Tanto - small samurai sword

Kozuka - Japanese combat knife used as a melee or throwing weapon. AT Everyday life served as a household knife.

Ta-chi - a single-edged sword of small curvature, worn on the back. Total length 710 mm.

In addition to Daise, a samurai could also wear Nodachi - "field sword" with a blade longer than a meter and a total length of about 1.5 m, sometimes its length reached three meters! Several samurai wielded such a sword at once, and its only use was the defeat of cavalry troops.

Nodachi

Katana - the strongest sword in the world

Katana production technology is very complex - special steel processing, multilayer (repeated) forging, hardening, etc. Katanas are the strongest swords in the world, they are able to cut materials of almost any hardness, be it meat, bones, iron. Masters who know the art of katana fighting in a battle with a warrior armed with an ordinary European sword could cut this sword into two parts, the samurai's strike force and katana steel made it possible to do this (Monuchi is the part of the blade of the blade in Japanese bladed weapons, which accounts for the main force hit).

A katana could be equally easily stabbed and cut. The long handle allows you to actively maneuver the sword. In this case, the main grip is the position when the end of the handle rests in the middle of the palm, and right hand keeps it near the guard. The simultaneous movement of both hands allows the sword to describe a wide amplitude without much effort. Both the Katana and the straight European sword of a knight weigh a lot, but the principles for performing chopping blows are completely different. Most of the blows are applied in a vertical plane. There is almost no division into “block strike” accepted in Europe. There are knockback blows to the hands or weapons of the enemy, throwing his weapon out of the line of attack and making it possible to deliver a striking blow to the enemy in the next step.

Weaknesses of the katana

Speaking about the features of the manufacturing technology of the samurai sword, it is worth noting weak sides of this process, namely, by gaining more hardness and power along the axis of the blade, this type of sword is more vulnerable if hit on its flat side. With such a blow, you can break the Katana even with a short mace (or Okinawan nunchucks, which were specially used to break samurai swords). And if the European sword usually breaks at a distance of the palm or two fingers from the guard, then the Japanese one breaks at a distance of 1/3 or 1/2 of the length of the blade from the guard.

Yes, those stories are also true when metal was cut with a katana. It's possible! It is documented that when a master strikes with such a blade, the speed of the tip of the sword (Kisaki) exceeded the speed of sound. And if we take into account the fact that Katana swords are among the most durable in the world, then the conclusion suggests itself.

Tachi - a sword as long as a katana

Japanese long sword tachi. The wavy hamon pattern on the blade is clearly visible.

The most ancient handmade katana (sheaths for katana were also decorated with ornaments) are most valued and passed down from generation to generation as a family heirloom. Such katana are very expensive, especially if you can see Mei on it - a brand with the name of the master and the year of manufacture on the shank of a Japanese bladed weapon - of any famous master.

Many master gunsmiths from different countries they tried to copy the katana, as a result of which such famous swords were obtained as: Three - a Tibetan sword copying a samurai; Taijinjian (Chinese sword of the great limit) a kind of jian; Korean sword, the Japanese name for katana in the 7th-13th centuries; etc. But, real katana can only be found in Japan, and if a katana is not made in Japan, it is no longer a katana!

Components of a katana:

• Decoration adjacent to the tsuba, a ring that strengthens the handle (clutch) - Fuchi,
• Cord - Ito (Ito),
• Blade - Kami,
• The upper ring (head) of the handle is Kashira,
• Entrance to the scabbard - Koiguchi,
• The tip of the scabbard - Kojiri (Kojiri),
• Tie loop - Kurikata,
• Bamboo wedge for fixing the blade in the handle - Mekugi (Mekugi),
• Decoration on the handle under (or above) braid - Menuki (Menuki),
• Shank - Nakago,
• Ties - Sageo (Sageo),
• Stingray leather on the handle - Same (Same),
• Scabbard - Saya,
• Laying between the guard and the ring (washer) - Seppa,
• Hammer for dismantling the sword - Tetsu,
• Blade - Tosin,
• Garda - Tsuba (Tsuba),
• Handle - Tsuka (Tsuka),
• Braid - Tsukamaki,
• Clutch for fixing the sword in the scabbard - Habaki.

Japanese short sword wakizashi. Blade and sword in scabbard.

Wakizashi is a short traditional Japanese sword.

Mostly used by samurai and worn on the belt. The length of the blade is from 30 cm to 61 cm. The total length is 50-80 cm. Wakizashi is similar in shape to a katana. It was worn in tandem with a katana, also plugged into the belt with the blade up.

In a pair of daisho (the two main swords of the samurai: long and short), the wakizashi was used as a short sword (shoto).

The samurai used the wakizashi as a weapon when the katana was unavailable or unusable. In the early periods of Japanese history, a small tanto sword was worn in place of the wakizashi. And also when a samurai put on armor, instead of katana and wakizashi, tachi and tanto were usually used. Entering the room, the warrior left the katana with the servant or on the katanakake. The wakizashi was always worn with him and was only removed if the samurai stayed for a long period of time. The bushi often referred to this sword as the "guardian of one's honor". Some schools of swordsmanship taught to use both the katana and the wakizashi at the same time.

Unlike the katana, which could only be worn by samurai, the wakizashi was reserved for merchants and artisans. They used this sword as a full-fledged weapon, because by status they did not have the right to wear a katana.

A more correct classification: Somewhat conventionally, it is possible to classify weapons according to the length of the blade. "Tanto" should have a blade no shorter than 30 cm and no longer than 40 cm, "wakizashi" - from 41 to 60 cm, "katana" - from 61 to 75 cm, "tachi" - from 75 to 90 cm. "Odachi" from 3 shaku 90.9 cm. The largest odachi that has survived to this day has a length of 3 m 77 cm.