What are all the different kinds of swords, and how are they used?

Who Asked: Sabrina
NaNo-novel: Undecided

Answer: Oh, wow. This is a very broad question. After all, the Encyclopedia of the Sword has 720 pages. I recommend that you consult that volume if you need more information than I am able to give here.

Below, you will find a sampling of swords:

The Highland Claymore (Origin: Scotland)—This sword reached up to six feet in length, and came in two handed and hand and a half varieties. The “Celtic Weapons and Armory” article (which also includes a picture) states, “Used in the constant clan warfare and border fights with the English from 1500 to 1650 and still in use as late as the Rebellion of 1745, the two-handed Claymore seems to be an offshoot of earlier broadswords as they were developed into great-swords. Widely feared because its lightness made it faster in combat than its European counterparts, this sword developed a distinctive style of cross guard with down-sloping arms that ended in spatulate swellings. The Claymore, from about 1520, shows the true Scottish form which was finally developed. It was said that the bearer of a Claymore needed no shield (how could he carry one, anyway?) because the reach of the sword provided its own protection. It is noted that most Scottish-edged weapons featured cross guards, baskets, and pommels made of brass, rather than steel—probably because of the damp weather of the area, which would cause steel to rust and deteriorate much more rapidly than brass.”

The Scimitar (Origin: Persia)—There were both one handed and two handed designs of this particular sword. The “History of the Scimitar” article says, “The original scimitar was called a ‘shamshir,’ meaning ‘lions tail,’ and had a deeply curved blade that was almost a half circle. Originally developed in Persia, this type of blade saw immense popularity in many Muslim and Indian regions across Europe and Eurasia. The oversized design of the blade caused the weapon to be fairly heavy—much more so than the equivalent European short sword. This weight added impressive power to a strike made with the weapon, but that same weight made the blades more difficult to control and awkward in the close quarters of combat at sea. Due to these problems, the design of the Scimitar saw many changes as its dimensions were modified over the centuries to better match its owner's intended application, but the signature curve has always remained a signature mainstay of the weapon.”

The Rapier (Origin: Spain)—The rapier article says, “Although the term rapier has become synonymous with any narrow-bladed sword (particularly those with fancy hilts), the term rapier actually applied to only a select few types of swords. Rapiers were narrow (usually one and a quarter inches wide), quite long, fairly heavy, and usually had only a slight edge on them. The extremely long length of the rapiers made them a bit heavy and cumbersome, not at all the Errol Flynn or Zorro type small-swords that most people think of. Although early rapiers did have sharp edges, the sword was meant almost exclusively as a thrusting weapon. It is theorized that the sharp edges on early rapiers were used to discourage opponents from grabbing the weapon with their off hand, although there is some evidence that the edges also allowed the sword to slide into a body more easily. That said, there is also evidence that early rapier wielders did use the edges to slash, but the type of rapiers they used were probably closer to their side-sword cousins than to the rapier in its prime. A rapier was used almost entirely for offense when it was first introduced (in the 15th century). If a rapierist was going to parry, he or she would use a parrying dagger in the left hand, or perhaps a small buckler shield. As the weapons became smaller and more agile, parrying with the blade was introduced. This meant much more contact with opponents’ blades, and no doubt quite a few hand wounds. Because of this, elaborate crosses (metal guards perpendicular to the blade) and rings were developed to help protect the hand.”

The Samurai Sword (Origin: Japan)—Samurais were ranked at the top of the social order in feudal Japan. The “Samurai Sword History” article says, “The Samurai wore two swords (daisho). One was long; the other short. The long sword (daito or katana) was more than 24 inches. The short sword (shoto or wakizashi) was between 12 and 24 inches. The Samurai often gave names to their swords and believed it was the ‘soul’ of their warriorship. The oldest swords were straight and had their early design in Korea and China. The Samurai's desire for tougher, sharper swords for battle gave rise to the curved blade we still have today.”

Hope one of these types of swords will work out for your character.

Thanks for playing Stump the Librarian!

Amber

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