is the man holding in the news photo?
http://a799.g.akamai.net/3/799/388/2c04c13dad2016/www.msnbc.com/news/2044010.jpg
(from Iraq)
http://a799.g.akamai.net/3/799/388/2c04c13dad2016/www.msnbc.com/news/2044010.jpg
(from Iraq)
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
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What kind of sword
- Thread starter superc
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2003
- Messages
- 30
I'm not really up on Middle Eastern edged weapons, but that looks more like a utility blade, like a machete. Many cultures use big bush knives as weapons; they're cheap, effective, and multi-purpose.
Good call. T'was my impression also, but I wanted a second opinion. The armor chopping ability of the Falchion would probably be the attraction. Still I don't think it would be my first choice for a gun fight.
from http://www.wholesalers-direct.com/swords---knives-swords.html
Falchion - a single-edged, heavy-bladed sword, usually widening noticably towards the tip. A form of sword that was little more than a meat cleaver, possibly even a simple kitchen and barnyard tool adopted for war. Indeed, it may come from a French word for a sickle, "fauchon". It can be seen in Medieval art being used by warriors of all stations, especially in close quarters fighting. The weapon is entirely European in origin, and is similar to the German "dusack," and has been linked to the Dark Age long knife or "seax." The falchion was used throughout the Middle Ages, predominantly by foot soldiers, but occassionally as a side-arm for mounted knights. More common in the Renaissance, it was considered a weapon to be proficient with in addition to the sword. The falchion appeared in several forms, but mostly all forms have a single edge and rounded point or "clipped" point. This wide, heavy blade was weighted more towards the point, and could deliver tremendous blows, making it ideal for combating heavy armours.
Or from http://www.liebaart.org/zwaard_e.htm
With normal swords it is possible to cut and to thrust. The falchion however was only able to cut. This weapon was designed specifically to have the biggest possible cleaving power to cut trough armour. The blade widened towards the point and had only one cutting edge. It was cheaper to produce than a normal sword and therefore fairly widespread inside the town militias.
from http://www.wholesalers-direct.com/swords---knives-swords.html
Falchion - a single-edged, heavy-bladed sword, usually widening noticably towards the tip. A form of sword that was little more than a meat cleaver, possibly even a simple kitchen and barnyard tool adopted for war. Indeed, it may come from a French word for a sickle, "fauchon". It can be seen in Medieval art being used by warriors of all stations, especially in close quarters fighting. The weapon is entirely European in origin, and is similar to the German "dusack," and has been linked to the Dark Age long knife or "seax." The falchion was used throughout the Middle Ages, predominantly by foot soldiers, but occassionally as a side-arm for mounted knights. More common in the Renaissance, it was considered a weapon to be proficient with in addition to the sword. The falchion appeared in several forms, but mostly all forms have a single edge and rounded point or "clipped" point. This wide, heavy blade was weighted more towards the point, and could deliver tremendous blows, making it ideal for combating heavy armours.
Or from http://www.liebaart.org/zwaard_e.htm
With normal swords it is possible to cut and to thrust. The falchion however was only able to cut. This weapon was designed specifically to have the biggest possible cleaving power to cut trough armour. The blade widened towards the point and had only one cutting edge. It was cheaper to produce than a normal sword and therefore fairly widespread inside the town militias.