Let us show ancient swords and discuss their properties.

Cossack25A1 · Sep 22, 2014

kolinsky said:
To evaluate swords, the price is not the most thing. The highest rank of sword in Japan is Tang sword, the sword from China Tang dynasty.
View attachment 74602
The shape and craftwork of Japanese sword was copied from Tang sword.

If we are talking about most valuable sword, in Japan catagory is Tang sword.
If we are talking about most practical sword, the Japanese sword and Tang sword is not suitable for army. The cost of Tang sword is too high and too fragile. Even one of the strongest dynasty Tang could not afford their army. The blade of Tang sword and Japanese sword are very easy to be curved, because it is too thin. In the battlefield, you have to shapen the blade, and the sword becomes fragiler and fragiler. The Japanese sword has the same problem.

So there is another question, we compare the sword for troops or for leaders? There are big difference. A highest rank Japanese sword is almost perfect except duration problem, but the price is too high to equip the whole army. The sword to against Japan shown in #6 is wrong.
View attachment 74603
This is the specially produced sword to against Japanese in Ming dynasty. They are used in small battles, and at that time China has complete steel industry, we can afford those fragile swords. Normally the sword in use is like
View attachment 74604
The high durability is most important thing to warfare far away from the logistic centers. For such warfare there is no difference between the soldiers and leaders. Leaders have to use the same weapon like a soldier, because the special weapon is very easily ruined or lost.

If I am an officer in the capital, i will chose the first sword #6, because this kind of chinese sword is for decoration for officers, beautiful and tasty.

If I am an soldier I will choose the chian mail, the last pic #5 or second sword #6. I need a sword can be used 100000 times. the chian mail should be a sword for cavalry, the second sword #6 is for normal soldier.

Are sword #14 for warfare in jungle? They may need sword to clean the road, also practical.

It was original used for agriculture, most likely cutting off weeds, grass or other foliage, but its slashing capability made it also useful as a weapon.

jkroo · Sep 22, 2014

Just FYI from 360 library.
中国古代的冷兵器(图)

welcomeJason · Sep 22, 2014

kolinsky said:
ost beautiful swor

jkroo said:
Just FYI from 360 library.
中国古代的冷兵器(图)

小哥哥别闹

kolinsky · Sep 22, 2014

Cossack25A1 said:
It was original used for agriculture, most likely cutting off weeds, grass or other foliage, but its slashing capability made it also useful as a weapon.

Those kind of sword is also used in the south china, but they are applied as tools not weapon. Therefore, I think this sword is also practical.

+4vsgorillas-Apebane · Sep 22, 2014

Swords are over rated. Most armies in ancient times used spears for their longer reach. Once you lose your spear, then you might have to use a sword.

Chinese armies during the Qin dynasty used the dagger axe, a polearm weapon that can be used for thrusting and slashing.

This dude has a sword but its a weapon of last resort, not counting his fists and feet.

Aepsilons · Sep 23, 2014

In feudal Japan, what the Samurais were keen to use in dispatching cavalry as well as heavy infantry was the Yari 槍. It was a blade (Nihonto) in the form of a spear. Samurais were trained to wield the Yari through the martial art form called Sojutsu 槍術.

Kompromat · Sep 23, 2014

Klic blade of the Muslim Ottoman Caliphate, forged out of the mysterious Damascus steel.

Blade of the Ottoman Caliph, Sultan Mohammed Fatih, the Conqueror of Istanbul. Forged out of Damascus Steel.

140113-the-sword-of-conqueror-fatih-sultan-mehmed-in-topkapi-palace-istanbul-turkey.jpg

Sword of the Sultan Fatih Ali Tipu.

Blade of Sultan Fatih Ali Tipu, the defender of Kingdom of Mysore. This blade was found in his hand after he was Killed in Action in 1857.

syedali73 · Sep 23, 2014

JonAsad said:
Arab Swords

The ones that defeated the mighty Romans and Persians-

View attachment 74583

View attachment 74584

View attachment 74585

View attachment 74586

Earlier and traditional Arabian swords were all straight. The curved blade is Persian style if I am not wrong.

Swords of Hazrat Abu Bakar andd Hazrat Usman

Aepsilons · Sep 23, 2014

The Sword of General Tomoyuki Yamashita,
"The Tiger of Malaya"
"The Beast of Bataan"

Tomoyuki Yamashita was a general in Japan’s Imperial Army during World War 2 who had a samurai sword from the 17th century, made by the famous Fujiwara Kanenaga. When Tomoyuki was trialed for war crimes and executed, General Douglas MacArthur took the sword and gave it to the West Point Military Museum, where it has stayed to this day.