numerous questions about short swords

PitbullShogun

PitbullShogun

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Apr 14, 2011
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i understand in japanese cultures the name of the sword (Katana, tachi, wakizashi, tanto, nodachi) is a size designation. but they also have "Kodachi" which for them is "Too big to be a knife, and too small to be a sword". so i was wondering if any other cultures had this distinction, and if so, where? at what point was it a sword, or a short sword? also, is there a specific word for short swords besides "Short swords"?

lastly, did short swords even exist in america around the time of the revolution? what about england?
 
A hunting sword is a common name for a short sword. A grosse messer is german for big knife; although it can also refer to a longer blade, they were generally shorter in length. Below is a classic messer.

 
Pre-revolutionary, but you might want to check out the coustille and cinquedea.
 
There was the Colichmarde, which is a French design, but it was popular in Colonial America because of its smaller size in comparison to a rapier.
 
If you’re allowing dirks and poignards, I’d suggest the main gauche and the hunting trousse.
 
I would think that in order for any blade to be categorized as a sword, the jumping off point would probably have to include whether or not the blade in question is capable of staving off an assault from a real sword. If I have a real sword and my opponent has an exceptionally large knife with a minimal guard - I'm going for his hands! But if I'm an accomplished swordsman in the days when knights and noblemen reigned supreme, I may actually feel that my poignard was suitable defense, as well as offence, against my adversary's rapier.
I hope I haven't taken the OP's topic off track.
 
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