The History of the Sword
By Captain Starcastle

From the hands of Paleolithic man with a rock in hand to the twenty-first century soldier with an assault rifle, weapons have played an important role in the history of humanity. As early humans evolved, so did their technology. Small rocks became specialized tools and weapons, innovative tools for hunting, and eventually protection. This early weapons technology of stone gave way to metallurgy as humans passed through specific Ages in history—copper, bronze and iron—their use evolving into tools for agriculture, hunting, defense from wild animals and other humans. Early weapons were very effective in close hand-to-hand combat but with the development of long-range weapons, such as spears, bows and arrows and eventually, gunpowder, the use of weaponry in warfare as well as home defense and hunting, changed radically.


French/Nepolean, Medieval/500-1500AD, Italian 1500AD, Viking-Middle Ages

Gunpowder was first used in 919 C.E., and by the 11th century explosive bombs filled with gunpowder were fired from catapults in China. Europe’s initial use of gunpowder in the 13th century, and cannons were made in Florence, Italy, around 1326. By the late 14th century, hand-held firearms made an appearance. Chain mail became necessary when metal projectiles could pierce armor, yet were often a poor defense against gunpowder and lead. Soon hand-to-hand combat was considered a last means of defense.

Looking at the big picture, the history of weapons technology and the history of humans are very much connected. If one looks at the development of metal blade weaponry, such as the sword, from century to century, a clear study of how humans have evolved, both technically and socially, can reveal much about a people in any given era.

Here at Pan Historia, there are many Novels within the History Genre. Novels that span many centuries; Ancient Egypt and early Rome, to 17th Century France and the Crusades of Jerusalem in the 12th century where the use of weapons might determine the outcome of a hostile aggression, or defensive maneuver, a religious ritual or ceremonial sacrifice.

The Sword, can be found in these various Novels, wherever conflicts and historical events of a people mold and shape history; across Ancient Scotland and Briton during the 5th and 6th centuries, from Europe during to the 11th and into the early part of the 20th centuries, aboard Naval and Pirate ships that sailed the high seas; Novels set among the backdrops of Russian Royalty and WWI Germany. The development of the sword alone can represent the history and technological advancements of the eras and the characters populating those history based Novels.







A Brief History of the Sword:

The Sword, as well as its use, has evolved and changed over time as the abilities of man to forge and work metals advanced and techniques in manufacturing weapons for mass production changed. The first swords are generally considered to have appeared around 2,000 BC during the Bronze Age. These weapons were mainly used for hunting, self protection, and tools.

The Bronze Age
As the ability to work metals drawn from the ground improved longer blades were possible, and eventually the dagger evolved into the sword, or long blade. This advancement in metallurgy took place in various parts of the world during the bronze age (2,000 BC to ca. 1400 BC) and various levels of the metals that would have been available in a particular place, as well as the expertise of the forger or metal worker to create the weapons. The Bronze Age sword would have predominantly been a stabbing weapon or tool, or hunting and defense with a very small leaf shaped hilt and no very little handle to grip. It would have been about the blade and not the handle or hilt.




The Iron Age
Around the 13th century BC Iron working skills brought forth the Iron sword. Although in many cases it was inferior to the well-made bronze sword, which was strong and durable, iron was easier to deal with when creating a sword and could be produced in mass quantities. This meant that armies could be supplied with many swords, cheaply and quickly. The Iron sword made a tremendous advance when it was discovered that by adding a small amount of carbon during the smelting process steel could be made. This created a sword far stronger and durable than the iron sword.

The Middle Ages
Around the 11th to 13th century ad the sword had its first major change. The Quillion or Cross Guard, the part of the hilt of a sword which runs perpendicular to the blade, which the tang of the sword passes through into the hilt, was added. The swords of this period were both single edged and double edged and were predominantly used as cutting weapons.

The Late Middle Ages After the 13th century
As Armor technology made advances, metal working moving to the human form, its ability to protect the body from the sword and thwart offensive maneuvers from an opponent, so did the advancement of sword forging, adjusting to the inventions and use of armor. Some of the advances during this time was the use of the longer handled weapon which allowed for two handed use, giving one more power to overcome the protective abilities of an armor-clad opponent. In addition, a variety of specialized swords, thinner yet tempered and folded many times to create a durable, strong blade that could cut and thrust some armor with the ability to seek out weaknesses in armor, and given the length of the blade and hilt, at a more advantageous distance.

The Modern Era


(From my personal collection)
Nazi Germany - WWII (Reicharbeitsdienst)
Labour Corps dagger and sheath.
Intended for use as a tool
rather than a weapon.



One of the greatest advances in the modern era of the sword, aside from the advancements in metallurgy and its refining process, as well as moving into the Age of the forged steel blade, was the development of the basket hilt that protected the wielder’s hand. This first appeared in the development of modern Rapiers. Advances in steel metal working, created swords that were lighter and quicker, yet stronger and more deadly. As weapons technology advanced the sword eventually made the transition into a gentlemanly accouterment (a piece of military equipment carried by soldiers in addition to their standard uniform and weapons) or used only for personal satisfaction and/or defense, and eventually, with the development and refinement of gun powder and as projectile weapons including rifles and side arms became more available, increasing the distance one might defend or attack from, the sword soon fell from common use for combat and home protection.

The Sword Today
Sword technology today allows collectors and every income level to obtain various types of weaponry from man’s history, including swords from all ages. Authentic swords, antique weapons in particular are for the wealthy and serious collector, like art or fine wine. However there are forgers of weapons and armor who adhere to the old ways of sword making. They forge their swords, in many cases, from ancient weapons from molds created from swords that existed long ago. But be prepared to fork over a hunk of cash for these swords. For instance at antique weapons store.com, this German Landsknecht, a two handed sword of the Mid-16th century, goes for a healthy $10,000.00.


(Click on sword graphic at bottom for details of the 16th Century sword graphic)



Glossary of Sword Terms

* Back Edge: Unsharpened edge on a single-edged sword
* Basket Hilt: Sword hilt with basket-shaped guard to cover and protect the hand (see "Knuckleguard")
* Bell guard: The bell-shaped portion of the weapon between the blade and the handle which protects a fencer's hand
* Burr: Snag or sharp nick in a sword blade which needs to be filed and sanded before blade can be safely swallowed
* Camellia: Non-toxic, non-allergenic edible Japanese oil used for oiling sword blades after use
* Crossguard: Part of the hilt of a sword which runs perpendicular to the blade, which the tang of the sword passes through into the hilt (see "Quillion" and "Tang")
* False Edge: A few inches which was sharpened on the usually unsharpened Back Edge at the tip of some longer single-edged swords
* Foible: The weaker and more flexible portion of a fencing blade nearest the tip
* Forte: The stronger and more rigid portion of a fencing blade nearest the bell guard
* Frog: Looped fastener for attaching a scabbard to the belt
* Grip: Covering on a sword handle made of leather or wire that usually, but not always, covers the hilt
* Hilt: Handle of a sword including quillion crossguard, grip and pommel
* Knuckleguard: Portion of the hilt that protected the knuckles, sometimes as developed as a basket hilt
* Kurobara: Non-toxic, non-allergenic edible Japanese oil used for oiling sword blades after use
* Pommel: The disc or metal knob on the end of a sword hilt which fastens to the tongue of the blade. It has two purposes: holding all of the parts of the foil in place, and serving as a counterweight to the blade, thus making the foil a balanced weapon
* Quillion: Term for each of the projecting sections of the crossguard on a sword (see also "Crossguard")
* Ricasso: Unsharpened area of a sword blade between the qullion crossguard and the sharpened part of the blade. Sometimes the flat or concave plate containing a slot through which the blade passes is also called a Ricasso.
* Scabbard: Sheath for sword, knife, dagger or bayonet
* Shoulder: Unsharpened area of a sword blade up to six inches between the qullion and the sharpened part of the blade
* Swept Hilt: Ornate knuckleguard on a sword hilt that sweeps over the hand but which does not cover or protect the hand quite as fully as a Basket Hilt
* Tang: Part of the sword blade that protrudes into the hilt that the grip is secured to
* Tip: Point of the sword blade used for thrusting and stabbing


Resources and Links:


Gladiators and Greeks
Real Armor of God
Gunfu.com Swords
CFSwords.com
Ancient Weapons and Armory
Arms & Armor
Amazon.com/Gladiator Swords
Gladiator Swords
Egyptian Edged Weapons
Sword Buyer's Guide/Egyptian Swords
Kult of Athena
Fagan Arms & Armory
Arms and Armor Auctions.com
Arms and Armor Catalog

Captain StarCastle