I’m normally a fairly peaceful guy, but one thing that I’ve really had an interest
in since about the age of 10 are swords. I remember sitting in the school library with
my friends during the lunch break poring over history books reading about all the different
types of weapons, armour, and equipment used throughout the ancient era. But swords really
stood out as one of my favourite weapons.
So in this video, I will be running you through five notable swords of the ancient and pre-modern
era.
Number 1 — Gladius
The Gladius was the primary weapon of Ancient Roman foot soldiers, in service between the
3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE. It was a pointed, double-edged shortsword used
in a single hand, with the off-hand usually carrying a shield. It weighed between 700
and 1000 grams, with a length of between 60 and 85 cm. Similar swords were used throughout
Europe including the Northern European Seax, and the Greek Xiphos.
Using the Gladius, the primary infantry attack involved leading with the soldier’s shield
and thrusting with their sword at abdominal height (a stomach wound was almost always
fatal). However, soldiers were trained to take any advantage, such as slashing at kneecaps
beneath the shield wall. Towards the 3rd century CE, the Gladius was gradually replaced with
the longer and more effective Spatha. However, together with other weapons and armour, the
Roman Gladius played an integral part in Ancient Rome and contributed to many Roman victories.
Number 2 — European Longsword
The European Longsword was a massive sword in service from about the Late Middle Ages
through to the Renaissance (that is, from about 1200 to 1700 CE). It was a two-handed,
double-edged sword, weighing in at around 1.1 to 1.8 kilograms. It was over a metre
in length, usually measuring in at between 100 and 130 cm. It came in various shapes
and sizes depending on its country of origin, for example, the Scottish Claymore, or the
German Zweihänder.
It was typically used as a weapon of war intended for wielders wearing full plate armour either
on foot or on horseback. From around the late 15th century onwards, it was also worn and
used by unarmoured soldiers and mercenaries. It lost its war status in about the second
half of the 16th century persisting mainly as a weapon for sportive competition — possibly
also being used in knightly duels.
Number 3 — Katana
The Katana was the primary weapon of the Japanese Samurai used throughout the Muromachi period
(approximately 1392 to 1573). It was a curved, single-edged blade often used with both hands,
but could also be used single-handed if need be. A typical sword weighed between 1.1 and
1.3 kilograms, coming in at a length of between 90 and 110 cm. The Chinese Dao was a similar
weapon, but used mainly is one hand, and the Samurai’s companion sword, the Wakizashi,
was a smaller variant of the Katana. Together, the Katana and the Wakizashi were referred
to as daishō, and were only allowed to be worn by the Samurai as a symbol of their social
power and personal honour.
Katana were designed to be drawn quickly. Samurai would wear their sword on a belt-like
sash (an obi) with the sharpened edge facing upwards. They were trained to draw their sword
and strike the enemy in a single motion. Historians have said that Katana were among the finest
cutting weapons in world military history, so certainly deserve their place on this list.
Number 4 — Rapier
The Rapier has its origins in Spain, but is a rather loose term for any straight, thinly-bladed
European duelling sword that has a protective hilt. They were always used in a single hand,
but were often designed using a single or double-edged blade. They typically weighed
about 1 kilogram coming in at around 104 cm in length. Later variants include the French
Smallsword (also known as a court sword, or dress sword), and the épée — which is
still used in sport fencing today.
The Rapier is a purposely designed thrusting weapon, but certainly, cutting or slashing
attacks have also been documented in historical documents. They were not really used as a
weapon of war, as they were too fragile, but were considered more of a gentleman’s weapon
used for duels and self-defence. They were often employed with an off-hand buckler (a
type of small shield), another weapon (such as a dagger), or even a cloak to assist with
defence. The rapier became extremely fashionable throughout Europe within the wealthier classes,
however, it did face a certain amount of criticism as not providing enough protection to its
wielder. George Silver, an English gentlemen known for his writings on swordplay, recommended
the shorter, but stronger, backsword as being a good alternative to the rapier.
And finally, Number 5 – Cutlass
The Cutlass is the most modern of the swords on this list. It is a short, broad, slashing
sword used commonly as a naval weapon during the Age of Sail (1571 to 1862), although it
remained an official weapon in the United States Navy until 1949. It typically weighs
between 1 and 1.2 kilograms, and comes in at between 70 and 80 cm. It is derived from
a similar weapon, the medieval Falchion, and is closed related to the Sabre, a European
backsword often used by light cavalry.
The cutlass was popular as a naval weapon as it was robust enough to hack through heavy
ropes, canvas, and wood, and was short enough to use during boarding actions, or below decks.
Its other advantage was its simplicity of use. It required less training than a Rapier
or Smallsword, and was more effective in a cramped environment. Cutlasses are famous
for being used by pirates who often used them more for intimidation than they did for combat.
Documents have noted that the very action of gripping the hilt of a cutlass was often
enough to induce a crew to surrender.
And that’s my list of five notable swords throughout history. Although the sword has
pretty much been replaced with firearms in the modern era, it certainly continues to
hold a place in weapons collections and military ceremony around the world due to its thousands
of years of reliable and effective use in combat spanning over multiple continents.
The sword is a versatile, portable sidearm, and worthy of a place in any modern weapons
collection.