This is a list of types of swords found through history all around the world.
Swords by their places of origin.
Africa
• Flyssa
• Ida
• Kaskara
• Khopesh
• Nimcha
• Shotel
• Takoba
Americas
• Macana
• Macuahuitl
• Machete
Asia
• Aikuchi (合口, 匕首)
• Aruval
• Barong
• Bolo / Itak
• Dao (刀 pinyin dāo)
o Baguadao (八卦刀)
o Changdao (长刀)
o Dadao (大刀)
o Errenduo (二人夺)
o Hudieshuangdao (蝴蝶双刀)
o Kaishandao (开山刀)
o Liuyedao (柳叶刀)
o Mazhadao (麻扎刀)
o Piandao (片刀)
o Taijidao (太极刀)
o Miao dao (苗刀)
o Nandao (南刀)
o Wodao (倭刀)
o Xuehuadao (雪花刀)
o Yanmaodao (雁翎刀)
o Yutoudao (鱼头刀)
o Zhanmadao (斩马刀)
• Dha
• Dōtanuki
• Golok (a catch-all for several types of sword and knife) • Hook sword (钩)
• Hwandudaedo (환두대도; 环首大刀)
• Jian (剑 pinyin jiàn)
o Baguajian (八卦剑)
• Kalis
• Kampilan
• Kastane
• Klewang
• Nihonto (日本刀)
o Bokken (木剣)
o Chisakatana
o Chokutō (直刀)
o Hachiwara（鉢割）
o Iaitō (居合刀)
o Jintachi
o Katana (刀; かたな)
o Kodachi (小太刀)
o Nagamaki (長巻)
o Nodachi (野太刀)
o Ōdachi (大太刀)
o Ōkatana
o Shinai (竹刀)
o Shinken (真剣)
o Shikomizue
o Tachi (太刀; たち)
o Tsurugi
o Wakizashi (脇差; わきざし)
• Katara (कटार)
• Ken
• Khanda
• Kirpan (arguably a dagger)
• Klewang
• Krabi
• Kris
• Panabas
• Parang pandit
• Pata
• Pinuti
• Saingeom (사인검)
• Talibon
• Talwar
• Uchigatana
• Urumi
Europe
• Anelace
• Arming sword
o Katzbalger
o Sidesword
• Backsword
o Briquet
o Cutlass
o Falchion
o Großmesser
o Hanger
o Mortuary sword
• Bilbo
• Broadsword
o Claymore
o Schiavona
• Cinquedea
• Colichemarde
• Curtana
• Dirk
• Espada ropera
o Rapier
o Flamberge variant
Small sword
Épée
Foil (fencing)
• Falcata
• Falx
• Hunting sword
• Karabela
• Kılıç/Kilij
• Kriegsmesser
• Longsword/Bastard sword
o Estoc
• Mameluke
• Pistol sword
• Sabre
• Schiavona
• Schweizersäbel
• sgian
• Seax
• Shashka
• Shortsword
• Spadroon
• Sword bayonet
• Szabla
• Two-handed swords
o Claymore
o Executioner's sword
o Greatsword
Zweihänder (and Flame-bladed sword variant)
• Waster
• Yatagan
Mediterranean
• Falcata
• Gladius
• Harpe
• Kopis
• Khopesh
• Makhaira (μάχαιρα)
• Spatha (σπάθα)
• Xiphos (ξίφος)
Swords of War
While a sword by design is a weapon and not a dual-functioning tool as are some polearms, not all swords are/were built for the purposes of war. The rapier, for instance, was used almost entirely for civilian combat and saw only minute and unsuccessful use on the battlefield. Thus while some swords could be used both on the battle field and in a civilian setting, the reverse was usually not true.
The following is a list of some war swords:
Asian
MALAY
- KERIS
-PEDANG JENAWI
Chinese
• jian
• zhanmadao
• liuyedao
• wodao
• yanmaodao
• yulinjundao
Japanese
• tachi
• nodachi
• katana
• wakazashi
• gunto
Indian
• Khanda
• Kripana
• Pata
• Urumi
• Tulwar
Other
• Burmese dha
• Filipino kampilan
European
Ancient
The Greek xiphos was a single-handed double-edged sword. Commonly used by Greek infantry alongside the spear and javelin, the xiphos's length (~60cm) made it an excellent close combat weapon. The Makhaira acted as the Greek cavalry's main sidearm. Unlike the xiphos, the makhaira was slightly curved and had only a single edge. The kopis is a similar weapon, shown in use by the Persian Empire along with the straight-bladed acinaces. The Roman legionaries carried the gladius, a single-handed double-edged thrusting weapon similar to both the Greek xiphos and the Persian acinaces. The later Roman cavalry used a longer double-edged but still single-handed sword, the spatha. This sword spread into northern Europe and became the choice sword of the Vikings.
Pre-industrial
The spatha changed over time, growing into the arming sword during the 10th and 11th centuries. The arming sword was a single-handed double-edged sword about a meter in length, with a revolutionary cruciform crossguard. Over time, the length of the blade and the hilt grew until it was capable of being handled with both of a swordsman's hands. This change brought about the longsword, a much longer two-handed double-edged weapon. As plate armour developed as a defense against both arrows and swords, the longsword became decidedly more tapered to a more pronounced tip. During the 16th Century, this tapering progression continued on some swords until the blade nearly entirely lost its flattened profile and, consequentially ability to cut. The estoc, a lengthy, slender two-handed weapon exemplifies this development.
The arming sword had not fallen into disuse, however, and produced another sword, the side-sword. This weapon, also known as a "cut and thrust sword" was a single-handed double-edged sword with a compound hilt popular during the 16th and 17th centuries. The blade was generally thinner than that of the arming sword, making swordplay quicker and point control more precise. Like the arming sword, the weapon was commonly used with a buckler for additional defence. The broadsword, a general class of swords that are single-handed, double-edged, and feature basket hilts. The schiavona and mortuary sword are excellent examples of broadswords.
During the entire evolution of double-edged swords, backswords, or single-edged swords, continued to exist. The falchion and Großes Messer are examples of this weapon type.
Colonial
• Naval cutlass
• Cavalry sabre
Middle-Eastern
• saif
• shamshir
• kilij
• pulwar
Named swords
See also List of mythological objects#Swords
Many swords in mythology, literature, and history are named by their wielders or by the person who made them. Named swords generally indicate importance.
History and mythology
• Bhavani Talwar - the sword given by the goddess Bhavani to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, king of Maratha Empire.
• Caladbolg - The sword used by the hero Fergus mac Róich in the Irish epic Táin Bó Cúailnge.
• Chandrahas ("Moon-blade") - in Hindu mythology, the sword given by the god Shiva to the ten-headed Ravana, king of Sri Lanka.
• Colada - the secondary sword of El Cid.
• Crocea Mors- used by Julius Caesar in a story told by Geoffrey of Monmouth.
• Curtana - the sword of Holger Danske, vassal of Charlemagne; this sword is reputed to be made of the same steel as Durendal and Joyeuse.
• Durendal - (or Durindana) the sword that belonged to Roland, nephew of Charlemagne and hero of the French epic The Song of Roland; it once belonged to Hector of Troy.
• Excalibur (Caledfwlch,Caliburn, etc. see also Caladbolg above) - King Arthur's sword, given to him by the Lady of the Lake; the sword itself as well as the scabbard were magical.
• Galatine - The sword of Sir Gawain in the Arthurian legends.
• Gram (in the Volsung Saga) or Balmung (sometimes in later traditions) - Sigurd.
• Grus- the historical sword of Bolesław III Wrymouth, medieval prince of Poland.
• Hauteclere - this sword that belonged to Olivier, another hero of The Song of Roland.
• Heaven's Will (The Will of Heaven,Thuan Thien,Thuận Thiên)The Sword Gods gave to Lê Lợi to help him fight the Chinese.
• Honjo Masamune - The best weapon made by Japan's master swordsmith, Masamune.
• Hrunting - Unferð, associate of Beowulf.
• Joyeuse - the sword of Charlemagne (Charles the Great), the famed Medieval king of the Franks and first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
• Kusanagi (Grasscutter) - A sword of equivalent importance to Japan as the Excalibur is to United Kingdom
• Legbiter - Viking King Magnus Barelegs's sword.
• Morgelai - Bevis of Hampton's sword in the Anglo-Norman/Middle English romance Bevis of Hampton.
• Lobera, the sword of the king Saint Ferdinand III of Castile
• The Sword in the Stone - King Arthur's sword, placed by Merlin into a stone in a churchyard, which only the rightful king could remove. This sword is often identified with Excalibur (see above), but in some versions the Sword in the Stone is broken in a fight with King Pellinore.
• The Sword of Damocles - mythical sword of decision.
• The Sword of Goujian - The sword used by King Goujian of Yue.
• The Sword of Attila, discovered by Attila the Hun through mysterious means.
• Szczerbiec - The sword of Polish kings.
• Tizona or Tizón - one of the two swords of El Cid.
• Tyrfing - a cursed sword from the Tyrfing Cycle, which includes the Hervarar saga and parts of the Poetic Edda.
• Zulfiqar (Thul fiqar) - The two-tipped sword of legendary companion of Muhammad, Ali.
Monday, December 7, 2009
TYPE OF SWORD
GALLERY
SWORD
RAPIER SWORD
CHINESE SWORD
SCOTTISH BROARD SWORD
SWISH SWORD
KATANA
SWORD OF MYTH AND LEGEND
KERIS TAMING SARI
MORDERN SCI-FICTION SWORD
BUSTER SWORD FROM FINAL FANTASY 7
RED QUEEN FROM DEVIL MAY CRY 4
LIGHT SABER FROM EPIK MOVIE STAR WARS
SPARTA ARMY SWORD FROM MOVIE 300
Friday, December 4, 2009
Swords of Modern Fiction
"This sword is a symbol of my dreams...and my honor. No...it's more than that..."
—Zack Fair
The Buster Sword (バスターソード, Basutāsōdo) is an iconic symbol from Final Fantasy VII, that has since appeared in several other games in the series. It serves as Cloud Strife's main weapon, and was wielded before him by Zack Fair and Angeal Hewley. The Buster Sword is classified as an enormous broadsword (though it has more in common with a zweihander). Despite it's size, Cloud claims that it's not that heavy. From tip to handle, it is approximately 5 to 6 feet long, with a single-edged, enormously wide blade. Its broad blade sports a swirling or winged motif at its base, and there are two holes on the blade near the hilt, used as Materia "slots."
The Buster Sword is famous not only for being Cloud Strife's weapon, but its unique appearance, especially its massive size. It is possibly one of the best known swords in the Final Fantasy series, along with the Gunblade, Masamune, Excalibur, Ultima Weapon, Fusion Swords, Brotherhood, Save the Queen, and others.
Angeal explains why he avoids using his Buster Sword
The Buster Sword was originally the property of Angeal Hewley, Zack Fair's mentor. Angeal used it as little as possible to prevent it from being damaged. It was created for him by his adoptive father when he first entered SOLDIER. Zack inherits the Buster Sword from Angeal after being forced to defeat him in his Angeal Penance form. Angeal spoke of the sword as a symbol of his honor. Zack seems to view it more as idealistic symbol of the honor of a SOLDIER, even though he uses it with significantly greater frequency than Angeal he admits to usually hitting with the blunt side. Zack issues the broadsword to Cloud after Zack willingly fights for his life to save both Cloud and himself. In doing so, he passes on to his friend his dreams of being a hero and his pride as a member of SOLDIER, telling Cloud that he is the proof that Zack lived.
The Buster Sword on the menu screen of Final Fantasy VII
The Buster Sword is Cloud's first sword in the game. Though it quickly becomes outclassed by new equipment, it is a unique weapon in the fact that it is one-of-a-kind and that it cannot be sold. No matter what sword the player is using, the Buster Sword will appear in Cloud's hand during cutscenes and in the Motorcycle minigame. The Buster Sword has a base power of 18 and a base accuracy of 96. It has 1 linked materia slot.
In the load menu for Final Fantasy VII, the Buster Sword appears sticking out of the ground surrounded by a black background. This is similar to Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children where the Buster Sword can be seen in the ground on a cliff above Midgar marking the spot where Zack Fair died.
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Buster Sword's appearance in Advent Children.
In Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Cloud uses his own multi-part broadsword, with Buster Sword being used as a grave marker, stuck into the ground to mark the spot where Zack died, similar to its appearance in the load menu of Final Fantasy VII. Due to the much clearer graphics in AC, details such as swirling patterns on the hilt, geometric etchings on the blade near the hilt, and scratches on the blade from 3 generations of use have become apparent for the first time. Also, it appears to be covered in rust from its time as a grave marker in the elements of the wasteland. Ironically, this peaceful usage of the sword brought about what Angeal feared would happen had he used the sword for battle in the first place. By the end of Advent Children Complete Cloud moves the sword to the Sector 5 Church, polished from its rusting in the wasteland.
The Buster Sword is moved to Sector 5 Church
Cloud fights with the Buster Sword in Advent Children.
In early footage of Advent Children, before the Fusion Swords were designed, Cloud can be seen fighting with the Buster Sword against Kadaj. The fight is identical to a portion of their battle in the completed film, albeit slowed down considerably.
Zidane examining the Buster Sword
A weapon very similar to Buster Sword can be found in a weapon shop in Lindblum. If Zidane inspects it, he will give a reference to "a spikey headed guy" who wielded a sword like it, most likely Cloud.
Tidus holds the Buster Sword
A Buster Sword is part of Tidus' equipment on the game disc. However, it is never actually seen in the game and can only be found by looking at the game's internal data. Behaving in a similar manner to Angeal and Zack, Tidus attacks with the blunt edge of the sword. A video of the sword can be seen on YouTube.
Render of the Buster Sword from Final Fantasy X
Buster Sword used by Gilgamesh in Final Fantasy XII
Gilgamesh uses a fake Buster Sword, along with many other iconic swords from other Final Fantasy games. The Kanji character on the sword means "replica," or "fake." It also has four Materia slots instead of the two.
The Buster Sword is a sword-class weapon that can be wielded by three classes: Soldier, Warrior, and Dragoon. It is a weaker sword and does not compare with the power of Buster Swords in previous games. It teaches the ability Mindbreak.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
The Buster Sword re-appears in the sequel, with similiar attributes, and can still be wielded by the Soldier, Warrior, and Dragoon jobs, as well as the new Spellblade job. It now teaches the Blood Price ability to the new job as well.
The Buster Sword appears both as Cloud's weapon for his normal form, and as an equippable weapon, unique to Cloud as well. It can be found in a treasure chest on the first stage of Destiny Odyssey VII. Despite the high-resolution views of the sword in both FMV sequences and gameplay, it does not show any of the Advent Children/Crisis Core changes that were made in the sword's design, retaining its original, simpler appearance.
Since the Buster Sword is Cloud's default sword, the non-specific appearance of this sword is directly related with the appearance of Cloud in other games, like Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring, the Itadaki Street Series, and Chocobo Racing. The exception is in Final Fantasy Tactics, where Cloud is disarmed until he acquires the Materia Blade at Bervenia Volcano, a sword that looks like the Ultima Weapon.
Kingdom Hearts series
Cloud wields a Buster Sword wrapped in bandages when he fights in the Olympus Coliseum.
The Keyblade Metal Chocobo vaguely resembles the Buster Sword, as it is a long, heavy, metal weapon based upon long reach and powerful attacks with two holes in the blade near the hilt. It is won by defeating Cloud in the Olympus Coliseum, and only appears in Kingdom Hearts and Chain of Memories.
Scale-model Buster Sword
- A full-scale model of the Buster Sword was built to celebrate at the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete press screening party in the Sony Building in Tokyo.
- Tetsuya Nomura has stated in "The Reunion Files" for Advent Children that he used to refer to the Buster Sword as "the Giant Kitchen Knife" due to how he originally envisioned it.
- When Zack has the Buster Sword on his back the sharp end of the blade is facing down possibly for the reason being he mainly uses the blunt side of the sword when facing opponents to maintain Angeals' care for the sword, while Cloud on the other hand has the blade of the Buster Sword facing out possibly for a quicker use of the blade itself.
- When Angeal transformed into Angeal Penance, it is likely the Buster Sword either transformed into the trident used by Angeal Penance, or it disappeared and was replaced by the trident.
Swords of Myth and Legend
Taming Sari
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The Keris Taming Sari is a very famous kris in Malay culture. It is the Malay equivalent of King Arthur's "Excalibur" and was supposedly owned by the legendary Malay warrior Hang Tuah. It is said to possess magical powers. The keris was a prize from the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit to Hang Tuah after he won a fight with a warrior named Taming Sari. The keris derives its name from the original owner.
According to legend, Hang Tuah, in the end, gave this Kris to Tun Mamat to be returned to Sultan Mahmud Shah 1488-1511 when he failed to bring back the Princess from Gunung Ledang. The Sultan had sent him there to bring the mythical Princess back to Malacca to be his queen. Hang Tuah then disappeared and was never seen or heard of again. Another version of the legend has it that Hang Tuah had thrown the keris into the river, saying that he would return when the keris re-appeared. This has led some to believe that the real Taming Sari has disappeared, like the legend of the sword Excalibur.
It is unique in that it is made of twenty-one different types of metal- supposedly metal leftover from the forging of the bolts of the holy Ka'aba. It was said that Taming Sari could do Hang Tuah's fighting for him - if Hang Tuah was menaced or in any danger, the keris would leap out of its sheath, fly through the air and attack the assailant. The whole of the sampir and batang are covered in gold leaf. The keris is classified as a keris gabus or keris terapang.
The kris still exists today and is part of the royal regalia of Sultan Azlan Shah, the Sultan of Perak, Malaysia.
Before the Taming Sari became part of the Perak Royalty's regalia, it is believed to have been a hereditary article of the family of the Laksamana (Navy Admiral) who for generations, through succession, ruled as the territorial chief of Hilir Perak.
It is believed that the last territorial chief who had the famed keris in his possession was Laksamana Mohd Amin Alang Duakap. In 1876, he was arrested alongside many other rich aristocrats of his time for the alleged involvement in the murder of the first British Resident, James W.W. Birch. Together with Datuk Shahbandar Uda Kediti (the territorial chief of Kerian), Sultan Abdullah (the reigning Perak monarch of the time) and Menteri Paduka Ngah Ibrahim (the famous administrator of tin-rich Larut), Laksamana Mohd Amin was banished to the Seychelles.
After that, the British administration in Perak seized the properties of the territorial chiefs involved and these included the Taming Sari. However, the Sultan Yussuf, who succeeded the banished Sultan Abdullah, persuaded the British not to take the keris away to England and managed to gain possession of the keris.
However, some historians believe that the real Taming Sari is still missing, similar to the legend of Excalibur.
