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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
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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
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Viking/Dark Ages (circa 5-10th centuries)
� Petersen(1919)
Source: http://lh3.ggpht.com/-88bLNYRnylE/TB0UeGRRoJI/AAAAAAAAADw/YrTbeUjXCaU/PetersenTypology.Web...jpg
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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
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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
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� 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
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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
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However …�Prussian 1886 trial pattern …
Source: http://blankwaffenforum.de/index.php?page=Thread&postID=17480&highlight=1886#post17480
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1908 forerunners …
Source: http://blankwaffenforum.de/index.php?page=Thread&postID=38169&highlight=1886#post38169
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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
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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)
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Source: http://images.defence.gov.au/20071213ran8109938_181.jpg
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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