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List of premodern combat weapons
List article

This is a list of notable types of weapons that were used in warfare, and more broadly in combat, prior to the advent of the early modern period, i.e., approximately prior to the start of the 16th century. It therefore excludes objects that may be broadly understood as weapons but are not combat weapons, such as ceremonial weapons and ritual tools shaped or conceptualized as weapons, hunting weapons, and other items that may be perceived as weapons but for which there is no historical evidence of their use in combat during the relevant period.

The entries are grouped according to their uses, with similar weapons categorized together. Some weapons may fit more than one category (e.g. the spear may be used either as a polearm or as a projectile), and the earliest gunpowder weapons that fill within this period are also included.

Hand-to-hand combat

Hand or fist weapons and fans

Single-handed weapons not resembling a straight dagger blade, usually wielded without wrist action; often protects the forearm.

Edged and bladed weapons

Main article: Edged and bladed weapons

Thrusting and cutting weapons for melee combat. Col. D.H. Gordon's classification has been used where applicable.56

Swords

For broader coverage of this topic, see Lists of swords.

See also: Types of swords and Classification of swords

Curved one-handed
Straight one-handed
Curved two-handed
Hand-and-a-half and two-handed greatswords
  • Assamese dao10 (Indian, Southeast Asian)
  • Boar sword11 (European)
  • Changdao (Chinese)
  • Claidheamh da laimh, highland sword12 (European)
  • Claymore, Scottish Gaelic for "great sword" (Scottish, European)
  • Dadao (Chinese)
  • Executioner's sword, heading sword, sword of justice (European)
  • Flame-bladed sword, flambard, flammard, flammenschwert (European)
  • Katana (Japanese)
  • Longsword, bastard sword, espée bastarde, hand and a half sword (European)
  • Nagamaki13 (Japanese)
  • Nodachi, Ōdachi (Japanese)
  • Parade sword, paratschwerter14 (European)
  • Wodao (Chinese)
  • Zanbatō (Japanese)
  • Zhanmadao (Chinese)
  • Zweihänder, great sword, espadon, spadone, tuck, montante, lowland sword, two handed sword, dopplehänder (European)
Shortswords

Delineated as 20-28 inches/51–71 cm total length.15

Curved shortswords include the following:

Straight shortswords include the following:

Axe-like

Generally, convex blades used for heavy chopping or slashing.

Other

Fighting knives and daggers

Main articles: Fighting knife and Knife

Further information: List of daggers

Sickles and sickle like knives

Generally short, concave blades used for heavy cutting.

  • Arit (Maduresian, Indonesian)
  • Karambit, kerambit, korambit (Minangkabauian, Indonesian)
  • Kujang (Sundanese, Indonesian)
  • Kukri (Indian)
  • Mandau (Malaysian, Indonesian, Bornean, Bruneian)
  • Pichangatti18 (Indian)
  • Punyal (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
  • Sickle (Improvised, worldwide)
  • Sudanese sickle knife19 (African)

Picks and pickaxes

Axes

Main article: Axe

Truncheons and blunt weapons

Usually wielded with one or two hands at close quarters with striking motions, although some sharp-pointed truncheons like the sai were more often used for stabbing.

Polearms and spears

Main articles: Polearm and Spear

Wielded mainly with two hands. Primarily for hand-to-hand combat with sweeping, thrusting, and or hooking motions.

Blunt staves

See also: Stick-fighting

Spears

Main article: List of types of spears

Polearms with axe-like blades

Polearms with spikes and hammers

Flexible weapons

Whips

Main article: Whip § Weapons

Used for whipping.

Sectional and composite

Having multiple handles or holdable sections.

Chains and ropes

Main article: Chain weapon

Having a heavy object attached to a flexible chain or rope. Wielded by swinging, throwing, or projecting the end, as well as wrapping, striking, and blocking with the chain or rope, sometimes attached to another type of weapon.

Shields

Main article: Shield

Used not only to block strikes and missiles but also swung outwardly (or in quick upward motions) to strike an opponent. Also used to rush an opponent (known as shield bashing). Some shields had spikes, sharp edges, or other offensive designs.

Thrown

Throwing blades and darts

Throwing spears

Further information: List of types of spears § Normally thrown

All could be used as spears, but were designed and primarily used for throwing.

Throwing axes

Main article: Throwing axe

Could also be used as axe weapons, but were specifically designed for throwing.

Throwing balls

  • Bolas, ayllo, liwi, qilumitautit (Central American, South American, Arctic)
  • Slungshot not to be confused with a slingshot (Improvised, Worldwide)
  • Stone, rock (Improvised, Worldwide)

Throwing sticks

Main article: Throwing stick

  • Boomerang (Australian, Worldwide)
  • Knobkierrie, knopkierie, knobkerry, also a blunt weapon (African)
  • Rungu (East African)
  • Stick, branch (Improvised, Worldwide)

Gunpowder-based

See also: History of the firearm and Gunpowder § History

Slings

Bows

Main article: Bow and arrow

Longbows

Main article: Longbows

Recurve bows

Main article: Recurve bow

Short bows and reflex bows

Main articles: Short bow and Reflex bow

Crossbows

Main article: Crossbow

Blowguns

Stationary, mounted, or wheeled ballistic devices

Further information: List of siege engines

This section includes ballistic (missile-launching) siege engines and similar larger ballistic devices which were either stationary, mounted on moving objects such as carts or elephants, or wheeled.

Flamethrowers

Main articles: Flamethrower § History, and Early thermal weapons

See also

Swords

References

  1. Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7. 0-7566-2210-7 ↩

  2. Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7. 0-7566-2210-7 ↩

  3. Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7. 0-7566-2210-7 ↩

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  5. Cope, Anne, ed. (1989). Swords and Hilt Weapons. New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 8. ISBN 1-55584-290-9. 1-55584-290-9 ↩

  6. Gordon, Col. D.H. (1953). "Swords, Rapiers and Horse riders". Antiquity. 27 (106). Antiquity Publications Ltd: 67–76. doi:10.1017/S0003598X00024595. S2CID 163326613.[permanent dead link‍] http://antiquity.ac.uk/ant/027/Ant0270067.htm ↩

  7. Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7. 0-7566-2210-7 ↩

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  13. Levine, Bernard; Weland, Gerald. Knives, swords, & daggers. New York: Barnes & Noble. p. 200. ↩

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  15. Cope, Anne, ed. (1989). Swords and Hilt Weapons. New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 8. ISBN 1-55584-290-9. 1-55584-290-9 ↩

  16. Wilbraham Egerton, 1st Earl Egerton (2002) [reporoduced in facsimile from A Description of Indian and Oriental Armour, published in 1896, which was the second and expanded edition of An Illustrated Handbook of Indian Arms published in 1880]. Indian and Oriental armour. Dover Publications. p. 100. ISBN 978-0486422299. 978-0486422299 ↩

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  27. Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7. 0-7566-2210-7 ↩

  28. "Spear (Sang) Indian". The Met. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/30762 ↩

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  31. "Northern spear". http://traditionalfilipinoweapons.com/Spear.html ↩

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  33. Γεώργιος Ηλιόπουλος (Georgios Iliopoulos), "Η χαμένη πυραυλική τεχνολογία των αρχαίων Ελλήνων" (The lost missile technology of the ancient Greeks), Ιχώρ (Ihor), 27, page 13, Greece, 2002. ↩

  34. Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7. 0-7566-2210-7 ↩

  35. Γεώργιος Ηλιόπουλος (Georgios Iliopoulos), "Η χαμένη πυραυλική τεχνολογία των αρχαίων Ελλήνων" (The lost missile technology of the ancient Greeks), Ιχώρ (Ihor), 27, page 12-13, Greece, 2002. ↩