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.

World War II : Japanese war crimes and attrocities -- masacres of...

World War II: Japanese War Crimes and Attrocities--Massacres of Chinese Civilians Figure 1 ... Officers used their swords to cut off heads.

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

JAPANESE SWORD - Zodiacal Dating System

Japanese sword information including dating swords of the world war II era by the zodiacal dating method.

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

World War II swords, Japanese Samurai, German officers Swords

... Army Officer Sword $125.00 Japanese Samurai Sword $89.00 WW2 ... Medieval Swords Swords Replica Swords Replica Guns Soft Air Guns Assault Rifles World War II Store "BB" Guns Civil War ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

Chinese Japanese World War II WWII Military Swords

Chinese Japanese World War II WWII Military Swords, katanas for sale. ... a batch of old Chinese made World War II Japanese military swords and am offering all of them for sale. These ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

Japanese Swords After the Samurai

...Japanese military swords carried through World War II with captured items erroneously.....fact but it is hard to think of the World War II Japanese army officer without the much.....the ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

Japanese World War II Swords

Japanese Type 94 (1934) pattern Army Officers sword "shin-guntô"

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

Sword Forum Magazine - Nihon-To - Cleaning World War II Gunto

Sword Forum Magazine - Nihon-To - Cleaning World War II Gunto. ... tremendous influx of Japanese swords other than at the end of World War II. Many G.I.s brought Japanese ... As pre-World ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

World Wide Web Consortium

Leading the Web to Its Full Potential... Skip to Technologies | Activities | Technical Reports | Site Index | New Visitors | About W3C | Join W3C | Contact W3C The World Wide Web Consortium ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

world war ii, japanese sword - collectible-swords.com - swords and arm

...Civil War and World War II ... World War II Japanese Swords, Samurai Swords Replica.....Pirate Flag,BB Gun,Civil War ... World War II swords, Japanese Samurai, German ...

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]

All Military Historian

Buying German, Japanese and Italian war souvenirs from World War I and II. Items include daggers, swords, flags, helmets, visor hats, medals, patches, insignia, uniforms and flight jackets.

[ Click To Open In A New Window ]