29/08/2013

1

27th August 2013

Swords and edged weapons:The evolution of European swords

by Dr. Peter Busch

27th August 2013

Swords and edged weapons

� Swords are generally either eastern or western

� This talk is western/european-biased

� Japanese swords, eastern swords, and other ethnographies

�are another area altogether …

Source: http://www.nihonto.com.au/assets/images/NIHONTO-AUSTRALIA-LOGO-website-.gif

29/08/2013

2

27th August 2013

Ancient times …

� Egyptian (1500BC)

� Khopesh

� Greek (400-300BC)

� Hoplite/Xiphos

� Roman (100BC – 400AD)

� Gladius

� Spatha

Source: http://www.bronze-age-swords.com/forsale/khopesh_finished.jpg

Source: http://www.manningimperial.com/catalogue/arms/greek-and-roman-arms/xiphos/626

Source: http://www.sword-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=227&start=0

27th August 2013

Viking/Dark Ages (circa 5-10th centuries)

� Petersen(1919)

Source: http://lh3.ggpht.com/-88bLNYRnylE/TB0UeGRRoJI/AAAAAAAAADw/YrTbeUjXCaU/PetersenTypology.Web...jpg

29/08/2013

3

27th August 2013

Mediaeval (circa 1000-1500AD)

� Oakeshott (1916-2002)

� Mediaeval sword typology

� Leading on from Petersen (1919)

Source: http://www.oakeshott.org/Typo.html

Source: http://www.myarmoury.com/images/reviews/alb_knight4.jpg

27th August 2013

Renaissance (circa 1500-1700)

� Complex/Compound hilts (1460-1820)

� A.V.B. Norman (1930-1998)

� Rapiers, Smallswords and other complex hilts …

Source: www.armor.com

Source: www.armor.comSource: http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/images/Taza-1.jpg

Source: http://www.coldsteel.com/Product/88SMS/SMALL_SWORD.aspx

29/08/2013

4

27th August 2013

Mid 18th – 20th centuries, swords were then largely military only …

� Swords declined in civilian circles in the 18th century

�with the smallsword and then courtsword

� 18c swords were basically for

�Heavy cavalry

� Light cavalry/artillery

� Infantry

�Navy

Source: http://militaryheritage.com/

27th August 2013

In the 19th century …

� Swords were either

� straight bladed ..

�heavy cavalry

� curved bladed

� light cavalry

� infantry

�artillery weapons

29/08/2013

5

27th August 2013

� With the advent of the multiple shot firearm (in the mid 19th C)

�… meaning the revolver ….� swords started to loose their relevance as front-line

weapons ….

� more thought in to

� efficiency of manufacture and

� design of standardised swords

�Swords either became dress/status weapons� e.g. 1889 I.O.D.

�Or efficient combat weapons� e.g. 1897 infantry or 1908 cavalry

In the 19th century …

Source: www.uberti.com

27th August 2013

1892/95/97 pattern Infantry …?

� Col. Fox (same chap as 1908 pattern cavalry)

� 1892 dumb-bell cross-section blade

� 1895 sheet steel hilt

� 1897 inner hilt folded down

� strong dumb-bell forte

� sharpened foible

29/08/2013

6

27th August 2013

And what about the 1908 pattern cavalry? (Also 1912 pattern for officers)

� Background …

� French� Heavy cavalry

� Prussian/German � Kavallerie Degen 89

Source: http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7000/mvc6165skp6.jpg

27th August 2013

However …�Prussian 1886 trial pattern …

Source: http://blankwaffenforum.de/index.php?page=Thread&postID=17480&highlight=1886#post17480

29/08/2013

7

27th August 2013

1908 forerunners …

Source: http://blankwaffenforum.de/index.php?page=Thread&postID=38169&highlight=1886#post38169

27th August 2013

Forerunners, contemporaries and successors

� France� 1882 pattern� 1896 pattern

� Italy� 1900 pattern cavalry sword

� Spain� 1907 pattern Puerto Seguro

� USA� 1913 pattern Patton sabre

� Lt. Patton after StockholmOlympics 1912 …

Source: http://perso.wanadoo.es/jjperez222/tropacab3_e.htm

Source: http://www.cowansauctions.com/itemImages/taa2167.jpg

Source: Armi Bianchi Militari Italiane 1814-1950

Source: http://imageshack.us/a/img593/8462/p1050537p.jpg

Source: http://users.skynet.be/euro-swords/M1896OC_fichiers/image002.jpg

29/08/2013

8

27th August 2013

Today …

� Swords are minimal in most militaries� British @17 patterns

� Australia – 5 patterns (4 official + highland) + RAAF + RAN

� Canada - like Australia

� India, South Africa similar

� Austria – 2 patterns, 1861 infantry + 1904 cavalry

� France – 1837 naval, 1845 + 1882 infantry, 1822 cavalry, 1923 pattern

� Germany – none officially post 1945

� Italy – about 10 patterns virtually all dress

� Russia – 1 to 3 patterns for officers colonel and above

� Spain – 3 to 4 patterns virtually all dress

� USA – marines (1825/75 officers, NCOs), army (1902), navy (1852), air force (1 dress sword)

27th August 2013

Source: http://images.defence.gov.au/20071213ran8109938_181.jpg

29/08/2013

9

27th August 2013

References

� Calamandrei, C., (1987) Armi Bianchi Militari Italiane 1814-1950Editoriale Olimpia Firenze

� Hartmann, P., Herrmann, R., (2008) Infanterie-offizierdegen 1889 und Varianten Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart

� Norman, A., (1980) The Rapier and the Small-Sword 1460-1820Arms and Armour Press London

� Oakeshott, E., (1997) The Sword in the Age of Chivalry BoydellPress Woodbridge

� Petersen, J., (1919) De Norsk Vikingesverd English translation by Kristin Noer (1998)

� Robson, B., (1996) Swords of the British Army: The Regulation Patterns 1788 to 1914 The revised edition National Army Museum London