Swords

[Admiral]

Just wondering if anyone was interested in them. If so I can post some information on them.

[Death_Penalty]

Swords are one of my passions.

I'm starting a collection. So far I have a short sword modelled after Napoleon's own, which I bought while visiting Paris. I also have a Flail from Germany....but that's not a sword....

I know I know a collection of one. But that is how they start. My next purchase will be a katana.

Go wild Admiral, you've got an audience with an unsatiable hunger for swords.

[Admiral]

I already have a nice collection going:

 

Let's see:

 

2 Rapiers (Soon to add another one)

1 Viking Sword

1 Short Sword

3 Medieval Swords

1 Claymore

2 Katanas

1 Hand and Half

1 Mace

1 War Hammer

1 Flail

1 War Club

1 War Axe

1 Pilium (Roman Spear)

1 Dagger

[Admiral]

I'm added another post since this one will be very long.

 

Sword Types

 

1.Medieval Sword: Length range is 35-43 inches. Hilt will be around 5 to 8 inches long. These swords were made for one handed use. Weight is between 2 to 3 ½ pounds. These swords are used for hacking, shearing cuts and limited thrusting. The blade is usually straight, can be wide or narrow. The handle is short allowing for only one hand. Designs vary greatly.

 

2.Arming Sword: These are smaller swords, used for dealing with plate armor, they usually don’t have a scabbard and are worn by placing them through a metal ring. These swords generally have a center ridge to make the blade rigid, and able to pierce armor.

 

3.Long Sword: This refers to swords that have a handle that will fit both hands, and has a long blade. The name was recorded in 1450, but most likely was used before then. A long sword length is usually 40-48 inches. Weight around 2 ½ to 3 ½. It is believed these swords were used as early as 1150.

 

4.War Sword: These are long swords, in everything except they were usually carried on the saddle. The term started in the 1300s and refers to the larger long sword, carried into battle.

 

5.Great Sword: These are even larger war swords, the term started also in the 1300s, evidence suggest that these swords were in use as early as 1180. These are not true two handed swords (those will be covered later). They weigh enough to require the use of both hands. Where a long sword could be used with a shield, and on a horse. These swords cannot be used with a shield and are a pure infantry weapon. Length is 44 to 53 inches. They weigh 3 to 4 pounds. Usually these swords have a fuller running down half the blade length and a rounded point. Great swords are most famous for the early Scottish claymore (The one William Wallace used in Braveheart).

 

6.male without a father Sword: These swords came into use in the early 1400s, a form of the long sword that has special grips that are used for one or two hands. It is not a true one handed or two handed sword. These swords have a recognizable “half grips, waist and bottle grips.” Length is 40-48 inches at 3 to 3 ½ pounds. These swords generally may have a longer blade but only a one handed grip or a shorter blade with a two handed grip.

 

7.Estoc: These are a special long sword, that are very rigid and pointed, edgeless triangular or square blade. These swords are used only against plate armor. Used to pierce it. This sword can’t cut but can be used as a club. These are often confused with boar-swords. The blade is long but can be used one handed at time, with an armored hand gripping the blade. These blades are also known as tucks.

 

8.Boar-Sword: Similar to the Estoc, except the blade has a flat spear like tip.

 

9.Two Handed Swords: These developed from the Great Sword, true two handed swords are Renaissance swords and separate from the medieval counterparts. They were used in the 1500s, to the 1600s. The typical blade is generally 6 feet long (72 inches). They were used against pikes. These weigh 3 ½ to 5 pounds, sometimes more. These are the only really heavy swords. True Two handed swords have a compound hilt with side rings. Handles are usually 14 to 18 inches long. Usually these have small pointed lugs or flanges. These parrying hooks act as a second guard to protect the hand when gripping the ricasso, from another sword.

 

10.Falchion: A less common variety of sword, these made their appearance in 1200. These swords are wide, heavy, single edged, and slightly curved. Their main purpose is to deliver a devastating blow. (Falchion is pronounced fal-shun). This sword was never greatly prized so few have survived. It weighs 3 to 4 pounds. This is little more then a meat cleaver. The sword was definitely used at least by 1063.

 

11.Rapier: These are one of the most misunderstood swords out their. This is caused by the movies. It is not a hack and slash sword. This is a thrusting sword, and solely that. These swords feature the swept hilts, shell hilts ect. And are probably the most famous of all European swords.

 

12.Small Sword or Short Sword: Often confused with a rapier, these swords are for self defense only. They were nicknamed walking sword or town-sword. These are very small swords, with barely an edge. These were light swords capable of devastating thrust, and quick movement.

 

13.Cut and Thrust: Similar to the rapier, this is often confused with them as well. Cut and thrust swords, are used for cutting. The name says it all. They are not very agile, and can’t be used like a Rapier.

 

14.Hand and a half: These swords are similar to the male without a father sword. Except were the grip is concerned. They feature a grip that allows an entire hand, plus part of the other hand. Hence the name. This gripping technique is called gripping the pommel. That is the only way the other hand can fit.

 

15.Back Sword: This is a defensive sword, it was used against rapiers and small swords. They generally feature an s gross guard. These swords have a single edge and perform devastation slices. Around 39 inches, with a weight around 2 pounds.

 

16.Scimitar: The Scimitar is a Middle East sword. It is often confused with the falchion. It has a single edge and a curved blade. Weighs around 2 pounds and is around 42inches long.

 

17.Claymore: These swords are Scottish in origin. These have the same characteristic of a Great sword, with length. However generally a Claymore is lighter then a Great sword allowing for quicker movement. The most recognizable feature of a claymore is the downward swept cross guard. Claymore also refers to the Scottish basket hilt sword.

 

18.Norman/Viking Sword: These swords feature a straight or curved cross guard, a central fuller. These are a sub class of the medieval sword. The most notable feature is a Viking or Lobed pommel.

 

19.Gladius: The sword of the Roman legions. It is an excellent blade in close combat situations, ideally suited for the Roman style of warfare. These blades are great for stabbing, and also were good for cutting. Average length is 28 inches, weigh around 2 pounds.

 

20.Kung Fu Sword: Frequently used in pairs this was a light and fast sword. This sword usually features a scarf tied to the pommel. The scarf was used to confuse opponents, and for decoration. Length is around 31 inches, weight 2 pounds. Has only a single edge.

 

21.Tai Chi Sword: These are light, supple swords, used in Tai Chi. It has a double edge and is very light. Length around 37 inches, weight 1 pound.

 

22.Katana: This is perhaps the most popular sword out their and the most expensive. A proper Katana will sell for at least $1000, most likely more. The feature a single edged curved blade and a circular tsuba. Length is around 40 inches, weight is about 2 pounds.

 

23.Wakizahi: This is the Katana’s little brother. It is almost identical to a katana but smaller in size, and lighter. Cost also would be 1000, and up. Length is around 27 inches, weighing about 1 pound.

 

24.Broad Sword: I haven’t mentioned this class, since it doesn’t exist. It is a modern term describing a sword with a broad blade. Those swords fit into one of the above classes.

 

There is still more to come.

[SothThe69th]

I currently posess Sting (Yes, a duplicate of the LotR sword itself. Very nice, about 150 bucks.), and two 'crap swords' as I like to put it. 20 bucks for a sword, what would you expect? Laser sharpened masterpieces?!

[Pious Augustus]

you forget the costom class

[Death_Penalty]

Ahhhhhhh sword knowledge absorbed.....

thank you for that....

^_^

[Admiral]

Something else about my collection, all the swords I own are battle ready. (I avoid wall hangers at all cost).

 

That is it for sword classes. Now I’ll describe other types of weapon classes. Then armor.

 

1.Dagger: A dagger is a very small sword to describe their appearance at least. This is a versatile tool. Can be used for self defense, eating, or cutting ect. The average length of a dagger is usually 10 inches to 16 inches. Weighing mere oz, usually around 10 or so.

 

2.Dirk: This is a Scottish dagger basically. A dirk is single edged, where a dagger is doubled edged. Also dirks lack a cross guard.

 

3.Tanto: This is the Oriental version of a dagger.

 

4.Mace: A mace is a weapon used to give crushing blows. A mace is has flanges that angle from the shaft. The shaft can be wooden or metal. These were used with great effectiveness against plate armor.

 

5.Flail: A flail is a ball and chain weapon. It began it’s life as a farming implement. Poor farmers who had no money to buy a sword would bring this to the battle. It proved to be very effective, and deadly. Soon pure military flails were produced. Sometimes the ball will have spikes on it. This is another crushing weapon. It can wrap around shields.

 

6.War Hammer: These at first were simple hammers used by poor serfs, then as plate armor took hold they became more prevalent. War hammers usually have a flat head, or a pronged head. And a nice sharp spike on the other end.

 

7.Axe: You all should know what an axe is used for. Chopping blows. But it has military subclasses (see below)

 

8.War Axe: These are not meant to chop off limbs but to crush them. The blade is reinforced to allow it to crush armor. These like war hammers feature a spike on the other side of the axe. The spike served to balance the weapon and give another way to kill.

 

9.Battle Axe: These are the two headed axes.

 

10.War Club: Think of a baseball bat with large brass stubs, or sometimes metal spikes. They are light and deadly.

 

11.Pike: Pikes were the answer to heavy cavalry. And footmen Pikes are long weapons. To keep a sword wielding opponent from closing. They are light fast and very devastating. Pikes usually have a wooden shaft tipped with a spear head. They are usually 69 inches, weigh in at 4 pounds. Pikes can have an axe head, a spear head, and usually have spikes. Pikes are also called Pole-arms, and Halberds. There is a slight difference between them but not a very big one.

 

12.Main Gauche: This is a left handed Dagger. These came with the rapier and often used together. A main gauche can be as long as 22 inches. Remember some swords begin in the twenty inch range.

 

13.Spear: A spear is a long wooden shafted weapon. The head, is usually in a diamond shape with a sharp point. Spears are not always thrown, so some times they do have an edge to them.

[Death_Penalty]

Wow thanks

Absorbing more priceless knowledge...

And I learned a new weapon class! I had never heard of a Main Gauche! I love this post! :lol:

Oooh armor's next I can't wait...

I wonder what I'll find out next.... :P

[Admiral]

And that is a Brief Description of the other types of weapons. Now on to armor, then finally shields. Armor is not as simple as you may think. There are many parts to a suit of armor. I will give each part the proper name, and a description of were it protects. You will shortly see how dumb down armor is in Morrowind.

 

1.Coat of Mail: Often mail, is called chained mail, this is a modern invention and wrong when describing mail. Mail is a series of interlink rings of metal. It is light and flexible. Mail was worn basically in all time periods. Better mail will feature smaller rings. Mail primary use was to protect against arrows. (although useless without padding.) The draw back is that if cut with a sword mail could kill you. If you survived the encounter, mail can give you disease. It also rust easily. To clean mail put it in a bad with sand and shake it. This will remove rust. Then oil it heavily.

 

2.Mail Coif: A mail coif is just like a coat of mail, but for the head. Since Mail is not as strong, the coif also flows onto the shoulders. This creates a double layer of mail providing much need protection to there area.

 

3.Solleret: Plate armor (all names from this point on will be referring to plate armor if other wise stated). Solleret protects the foot.

 

4.Greave or Jamb: Greaves protect the shine

 

5.Knee-Cop: Protects the knee, often it has a shell or fan plate to protect in joint from behind.

 

6.Cuishe: Protects the thigh

 

7.Fald: A ring of mail that protects the waist.

 

8.Tasset: Protects the thigh when bending over these are movable

 

9.Loin-Guard: Protects the back of your midriff.

 

10.Vembrace: Protects the forearm.

 

11.Backplate: Protects the back. Symbolizes prudence.

 

12.Breastplate: Protects you upper chest. Symbolizes virtue.

 

13.Elbow-Cop: Protects the elbow

 

14.Taces: Protects the frontal midriff

 

15.Gauntlet: Protect the hand. Usually metal on top and leather on the bottom. Symbolizes Friendship

 

16.Rerebrace: Protects the upper arm.

 

17.Lance Rest: This is where the lance rest, so the knight doesn’t have to carry the entire weapon in one hand.

 

18.Pauldron: Protects the shoulders.

 

19.Neck Guard: Protects the neck It is on the Pauldron, so a lance won’t hit your neck.

 

20.Bevor: Protects the throat

 

21.Gorget: The lower part of the bevor

 

22.Ventail: Protects the face,

 

23.Jugular: Protects the sides of your head.

 

24.Bowl or Skull: Protects the skull.

 

25.Rondel: The back of the helmet.

 

26.Helmet: Protects the head, and face. The designs vary greatly. Symbolizes wisdom.

 

27.Great Helm: Worn over helmets, they have various designs, and when worn over a helmet become almost impervious.

 

28.Spurs: Well these are the spiked wheels that get a horse to move.

 

Shields: They are not only a defensive weapon, but can be used as an offensive weapon, you can push people, hit them with it. A shield is the symbol of mercy. Now shield info and types.

 

1.Round Shield: A shield in a circular shape. The most common shield. Circa 500-1200

 

2.Oval: An oval shield. Circa 500-1000

 

3.Tear Drop: A shield in the shape of a tear Circa 500-1200

 

4.Kite: A shield shaped like a kite. Circa 1000-1300

 

5.Heater: A classical shield (made famous by movies). Circa 1200-1500

 

Pommel styles: Viking Lobed, Wheel or Flat disc, Oval, Tea cozy, Apple, Wedge, Cocked Hat, Irish ring, Boat, Octagon, Key, Round, Scent Stopper, Fish tail, Faceted plum, Plum, fig.

 

Handle styles: Tapered, Barrel, Swollen, Belted, Bottle, Waist, Inverted waist.