History of the Sword

The evolution of the blade parallels humankind’s development of metallurgic technology. About 5000 years ago the Minoans developed metal-working technology, using primarily copper, gold and silver. The addition of tin to copper yielded a bronze alloy which was strong enough to make blades of reliable use.

By 4000 years ago, raiders of the Mediterranean, presumably from Russia, had developed double-edged weapons that could be used for cutting as well as stabbing. Because of the new stresses placed on blades used in this fashion, gradual advances were made in the shapes of the blade and tang to prevent the swords from essentially falling of their hilts during combat.

By about 2600 years ago the Assyrians controlled much of the middle-east, and their empire was founded on the ability to make blades of iron. European tribes at this time were also developing long iron swords, probably based on the Assyrian technology. By 2500 years ago, iron was used almost exclusively for edged weapons. The iron long sword ultimately proved to be too much even for the Roman Empire, and changed little from that time until the Middle Ages.

During the Middle Ages, swords became heavier and more ornamental. Because of the added weight of the sword, the quillon, or hand guard, was developed. This essentially prevented the hand from slipping off the handle and onto the blade itself. Through the Middle Ages, the quillon became more elaborate, sometimes forming a basket to protect the entire hand and making the sword nearly impossible to drop.

In the early Middle Ages, swords were the weapons of knights and nobility, to be used both from horseback and on foot. By the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, military tactics dictated the formation of large armies. Swords began to be issued to foot soldiers of all ranks to be used as their primary weapons. At this time, the traditional role of the knight began to evolve into the horsed cavalry, and their swords were used almost exclusively from horseback. Broadswords began to evolve into the modern saber.

The saber continued to be a weapon of use in warfare until World War I. Since that period, the new technologies developed in the American Civil War have advanced considerably, and the sword is now used primarily for decorative and formal purposes rather than combat.

Somewhat less is knows about the evolution of edged weapons in Asia prior to the Renaissance era, but beautifully ornamental swords and daggers from Asian regions have been dated back to the 1300’s. These include the Indian talwar, bhuj and bagh nakh; the more modern Indian Khanda; the Indonesian kris and mandau; and of course the daisho, haikuchi, hamidashi, kwaiken and nagamaki of Japan. The most historic of the swords of Japan is the tachi, the first samurai sword.

Sword Making

The making of the sword All steel swords face a basic dilemma: the steel has to be hard so it can be sharpened, but hard steel is brittle and...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

Sword Forum Magazine - The Making of Medieval Swords

Sword Forum Magazine - The Making of Medieval Swords. Article by John Clements, Director of the HACA - Historical Armed Combat Association ... The making of a fine sword would typically ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

JAPANESE SWORD MAKING COMPETITION

NBTHK SHINSAKUTO COMPETITIONS Each year the Nihon Bijutsu Token Hozon Kai (NBTHK) holds a sword making competition in Tokyo. Below are the results of the 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

Howstuffworks "How Sword Making Works"

... com > Big List of Articles > Get the Newsletter > Shop for Top Products > Search HSW and the Web Search Google Main > People > Culture How Sword Making Works by Jeff ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

NetSword: The Internet Sword and Medieval Weapons Discussion Group --

NetSword is an Internet discussion group for medieval and renaissance swords, daggers and associated weapons of war. In this series of forums we discuss modern replicas of historical swords ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

Brycetech: Modeling a Sword

...decoration can add to the appeal of your sword. Now that you have a handle made, you.....a blade shape in your image editor by making a white shape on a black background.....it so that ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

making a Basket-Hilt sword

Links to footnotes look like this: (1) Part Two. aking a Basket-Hilt Sword. This article gives instructions for making a rattan "sword" for use in SCA heavy combat. ... three feet ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

FilmSwords.com - The Vic Anselmo Sword

Authenticated and exacting re-creations of swords and armor made famous in film, television, literature and fantasy art. The Vic Anselmo Sword 20th Anniversary Editions Photo of the ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

The Making of a Sword

...Ricardo Vilar..   Articles..The Making of a Sword.. The Making of an Integral Bolster.....The Making of A Sword.. A Visual Article by.....of pictures that illustrates the process of ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

making of medieval sword scabbards

...making of medieval sword scabbards.. Archived thread.....14: I'm looking for information about the making of medieval sword scabbards. Is there.....book about it? Thanks .. Follow Ups: ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]