This is a list of historical pre-

modern Modern may refer to: History * Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Phil ...

weapon A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, s ...

s grouped according to their uses, with rough classes set aside for very similar weapons. Some weapons may fit more than one category (e.g. the spear may be used either as a

polearm A polearm or pole weapon is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range and striking power. Polearms are predominantl ...

or as a

projectile A projectile is an object that is propelled by the application of an external force and then moves freely under the influence of gravity and air resistance. Although any objects in motion through space are projectiles, they are commonly found in ...

), and the earliest gunpowder weapons which fit within the period are also included.

Offensive weapons

Melee weapons

Hand or fist weapons and fans

Single-handed weapons not resembling a straight dagger blade, usually wielded without wrist action; often protects the forearm. *

Bagh nakha Bagh ( fa, باغ, link=no, meaning "garden") may refer to: Places India * Bagh Caves in Madhya Pradesh, India * Bagh, Dhar, a town in Madhya Pradesh, India Iran * Bagh, Ardabil, a village in Ardabil Province * Bagh, Larestan, a village ...

, tiger claws (Indian) *

Brass knuckles Brass knuckles (variously referred to as knuckles, knucks, brass knucks, knucklebusters, knuckledusters, knuckle daggers, English punch, iron fist, paperweight, or a classic) are "fist-load weapons" used in hand-to-hand combat. Brass knuckle ...

, knuckle dusters (European) *

Cestus Cestus ( grc, Kεστός), in a general sense meant, for ancient Greeks and Romans, any band or tie. However, it was more frequently used to refer to: * The Girdle of Aphrodite * Boxing gloves used by ancient Greeks and Romans, also written ''C ...

, bladed cestus, caestus, myrmex, sfere (Mediterranean) * Deer Horn Knives (Chinese) *

Emeici ''Emeici'' (峨嵋刺; variously translated as " Emei Daggers", "Emei Piercers") are a traditional Chinese martial arts weapon. They are a pair of metal rods with sharp ends used for stabbing; they are typically mounted on a detachable ring worn ...

(Chinese) * Finger knife (African) * Gauntlet (European) * Indian parrying weapon *

Japanese fan The Japanese war fan, or ''tessen'' ( ja, 鉄扇,てっせん, tessen, translation="iron fan"), is a weaponized Japanese hand fan designed for use in warfare. Several types of war fans were used by the samurai class of feudal Japan and each had ...

, iron fan * Katar, suwaiya (कटार) (Indian) * Korean fan, mubuchae (무부채), tempered birch fan * Larim fighting bracelet, nyepel (African) *

Maduvu The Maduvu, also known as a ''maru'' or ''madu'', is a weapon from India. It is one of the many weapons used in the Tamil martial art Silambam. More commonly known as a madu, it is also referred to as a ''maan kombu'' after the deer horns from ...

, buckhorn parrying stick, maru (Indian) *

Pata Pata or PATA may refer to: Places * Pata, Sulu, a Philippine municipality * Pata, Galanta District, a village in Slovakia * Pata, Central African Republic, a village * Pata village (Samoa), a village in Samoa * Pontrilas Army Training Area, a ...

, sword gauntlet (Indian) *

Push dagger A push dagger (alternately known as: punch dagger, punch knife, or push knife) is a short-bladed dagger with a "T" handle designed to be grasped and held in closed-fist hand, so that the blade protrudes from the front of the fist, either between ...

, also see

Katar (dagger) The katar is a type of push dagger from the Indian subcontinent. The weapon is characterized by its H-shaped horizontal hand grip which results in the blade sitting above the user's knuckles. Unique to the Indian subcontinent, it is the most fam ...

(Indian) *

Tekko The , are weaponized stirrups and horseshoes which originated in Okinawa, Japan, and they fall into the category of "fist-load weapons". By definition, a fist-load weapon increases the mass of the hand so that, given the physical proportional ...

(Japanese) *

Wind and fire wheels Wind-and-fire wheels () are Melee weapon, melee weapons, wielded as a pair, associated with Chinese martial arts such as baguazhang and taijiquan. Visually, they are similar to chakrams, although unlike chakrams they are not throwing weapons. Each ...

(Chinese) * Moche Tiger claw (Peru)

Edged and bladed weapons

Thrusting and cutting weapons for melee combat. Col. D.H. Gordon's classification has been used where applicable.

=Swords

= Long swords were classified by Gordon as longer than 28 inches/71 cm.

Curved one-handed swords

* Ayudha katti (South and Southeast Asian) *

Butterfly sword The butterfly sword is a short dao, or single-edged sword, originally from southern China, though it has also seen use in the north. It is thought that butterfly swords date from the early 19th century. Several English language accounts from t ...

(Chinese) *

Cutlass A cutlass is a short, broad sabre or slashing sword, with a straight or slightly curved blade sharpened on the cutting edge, and a hilt often featuring a solid cupped or basket-shaped guard. It was a common naval weapon during the early Age of S ...

, hanger, hangar (European) *

Dao Dao, Dão or DAO may refer to: * Tao (Chinese: "The Way" 道), a philosophical concept * Dao (Chinese sword) (刀), a type of Chinese sword * Dao (Naga sword), a weapon and a tool of Naga people People and language * Yao people, a minority ethni ...

, beidao, zhibei dao (Chinese) *

(Northeastern Indian) *

Dha DHA, Dha and dha may refer to: Chemicals * Docosahexaenoic acid, a 22:6 omega-3 fatty acid * Dehydroandrosterone, an endogenous androgenic steroid * Dehydroascorbic acid, an oxidized form of ascorbic acid * Dehydroacetic acid, a pyrone derivati ...

(Southeast Asian) *

Dussack A dusack (also ''dusägge'' and variants, from Czech ''tesák'' "cleaver; hunting sword", lit. "fang") is a single-edged sword of the cutlass or sabre type, in use as a side arm in Germany and the Habsburg monarchy during the 16th to 17th centu ...

, disackn, dusack, dusagge, dusegg, dusegge, dysack, tesak, thuseckn, tuseckn (Although some list this weapon only as a wooden practice sword, this was a real weapon) *

Falchion A falchion (; Old French: ''fauchon''; Latin: ''falx'', "sickle") is a one-handed, single-edged sword of European origin. Falchions are found in different forms from around the 13th century up to and including the 16th century. In some version ...

(European) *

Hunting sword A hunting sword is a type of single-handed short sword that dates to the 12th Century but was used during hunting parties among Europeans from the 17th to the 19th centuries. A hunting sword usually has a straight, single-edged, pointed blade typi ...

(European) *

Hwando Hwando () is a mountain fortress of the ancient Korean kingdom of Goguryeo, built to protect Goguryeo's second capital, Gungnae. It is located in present-day Ji'an city of the province of Jilin, China. The fortress is located 2.5 km west of Ji'an ...

(Korean) *

Kampilan The kampilan (Baybayin: ) also known as talong is a type of single-edged sword, traditionally used by various ethnic groups in the Philippine archipelago. It has a distinct profile, with the tapered blade being much broader and thinner at the po ...

(Philippinese, Southeast Asian) *

Karabela A karabela was a type of Polish sabre () popular in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Polish fencer Wojciech Zabłocki defines a karabela as a decorated sabre with the handle stylized as the head of a bird and an open crossguard. Etymol ...

(European) *

Kastane Kasthane is a short traditional ceremonial/decorative single-edged Sri Lankan sword. The sword is featured in the Flag of Sri Lanka Design Kastanes often have elaborate hilts, especially shaped and described as a rich mythical style inherited fr ...

(Sri Lankan) *

Khopesh The ''khopesh'' ('; also vocalized khepesh) is an Egyptian sickle-shaped sword that evolved from battle axes. Description A typical ''khopesh'' is 50–60 cm (20–24 inches) in length, though smaller examples also exist. The inside c ...

, sappara, sickle sword (Egyptian, Middle Eastern) *

Kilij A kilij (from Turkish ''kılıç'', literally "sword") or a pusat is a type of one-handed, single-edged and moderately curved scimitar used by the Seljuk Empire, Timurid Empire, Mamluk Empire, Ottoman Empire, and other Turkic khanates of Eu ...

(North Indian, Middle Eastern) *

Klewang The klewang or kelewang is a class of bladed weapon between the sword and machete found in Indonesia and Malaysia. History During the Aceh War the Acehnese klewang proved very effective in close quarters combat against the sabre-wielding Dutch ...

(Southeast Asian) *

Krabi Krabi ( th, กระบี่, ) is the main town in the province of Krabi (''thesaban mueang'') on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phang Nga Bay. As of 2020, the town had a population of ...

(Southeast Asian) *

Liuyedao The ''liuyedao'' or ''willow-leaf saber'' is a type of dao that was commonly used as a military sidearm for both cavalry and infantry during the Ming and Qing dynasties. A descendant of the earlier Mongol saber the liuyedao remained the most po ...

(Chinese) *

Mameluke Mamluk ( ar, مملوك, mamlūk (singular), , ''mamālīk'' (plural), translated as "one who is owned", meaning "slave", also transliterated as ''Mameluke'', ''mamluq'', ''mamluke'', ''mameluk'', ''mameluke'', ''mamaluke'', or ''marmeluke'') i ...

(Middle Eastern) * Messer, großmesser, hiebmesser, kriegsmesser, langes messer (German, European) *

Nimcha A Nimcha is a single-handed sword from north Africa, especially used in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. It is classified as a type of scimitar or ''saif''. Becoming popular in north Africa during the 16th century, surviving nimcha are usually from ...

(African) * Parang Nabur (Bornean) *

Piandao The ''Piandao'' (片刀) is a type of Chinese sabre (dao) used during the late Ming Dynasty. A deeply curved dao meant for slashing and draw-cutting, it bore a strong resemblance to the shamshir and scimitar A scimitar ( or ) is a single-edged ...

(Chinese) *

Pulwar The pulwar or pulouar is a single-handed curved sword originating in Afghanistan. Origin The pulwar originated alongside other scimitar-type weapons such as the Arab saif, the Persian shamshir, the Turkish kilij, and the Indian talwar, all of th ...

(Middle Eastern) *

Sabre A sabre ( French: �sabʁ or saber in American English) is a type of backsword with a curved blade associated with the light cavalry of the early modern and Napoleonic periods. Originally associated with Central European cavalry such as th ...

, briquet (European) * Schweizersäbel (European) *

Scimitar A scimitar ( or ) is a single-edged sword with a convex curved blade associated with Middle Eastern, South Asian, or North African cultures. A European term, ''scimitar'' does not refer to one specific sword type, but an assortment of different ...

, saif (Middle Eastern) *

Shamshir A shamshir ( fa, شمشیر) is a type of Persian/Iranian sword with a radical curve. The name is derived from the Persian word ''shamshīr'', which means "sword". The curved "scimitar" sword family includes the shamshir, kilij, talwar, pulw ...

(Pakistani, North Indian, Middle Eastern) *

Shashka The shashka ( ady, сэшхуэ, – ''long-knife'') (russian: шашка) or shasqua, is a kind of sabre; a single-edged, single-handed, and guardless backsword. In appearance, the ''shashka'' is midway between a typically curved sabre and a ...

(Caucasian, Circassian) * Surik (Indonesian) *

Szabla (; plural: ) is the Polish word for sabre. The sabre was in widespread use in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Early Modern period, especially by light cavalry in the 17th century. The sabre became widespread in Europe foll ...

(Polish, Lithuanian) *

Talwar The talwar (), also spelled ''talwaar'' and ''tulwar'', is a type of curved sword or sabre from the Indian subcontinent. Etymology and classification The word ''talwar'' originated from the Sanskrit word ''taravāri'' ( sa, तरवारि) ...

(Pakistanian, North Indian, Middle Eastern) *

Yanmaodao The ''Yanmaodao'' () is a type of dao used as a standard military weapon during the Ming Dynasty and middle Qing Dynasty (1368–1800). The blade is straight until the curve begins around the center of percussion along the last 1/4 or so of the bla ...

(Chinese)

Straight one-handed swords

Arming sword In the European High Middle Ages, the typical sword (sometimes academically categorized as the knightly sword, arming sword, or in full, knightly arming sword) was a straight, double-edged weapon with a single-handed, cruciform (i.e., cross-shape ...

, war sword (European) *

Backsword A backsword is a type of sword characterised by having a single-edged blade and a hilt with a single-handed grip. It is so called because the triangular cross section gives a flat back edge opposite the cutting edge. Later examples often have a ...

(European) *

Basket-hilted sword The basket-hilted sword is a sword type of the early modern era characterised by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. In mo ...

, schiavona, broadsword, mortuary sword, heavy cavalry sword (European) * Chokutō (Japanese) *

Épée The ( or , ), sometimes spelled epee in English, is the largest and heaviest of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing. The modern derives from the 19th-century , a weapon which itself derives from the French small sword. This contains ...

(European, although now a fencing practice weapon, it originally was a stiff, heavy, triangular bladed thrusting sword weighing about 30oz) *

Espada ropera A rapier () or is a type of sword with a slender and sharply-pointed two-edged blade that was popular in Western Europe, both for civilian use (dueling and self-defense) and as a military Sidearm (weapon), side arm, throughout the 16th and 17th ...

Rapier A rapier () or is a type of sword with a slender and sharply-pointed two-edged blade that was popular in Western Europe, both for civilian use (dueling and self-defense) and as a military side arm, throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Impo ...

(European) *

Estoc The French estoc is a type of sword, also called a tuck in English, in use from the 14th to the 17th century. It is characterized by a cruciform hilt with a grip for two-handed use and a straight, edgeless, but sharply pointed blade of around to ...

(European) *

Firangi ''Firangi'' () is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language historical drama film written and directed by Rajiev Dhingra. It stars Kapil Sharma, who is also the producer, along with Ishita Dutta and Monica Gill. The film was shot primarily in Punjab and ...

, firanghi (Central Asian) *

Flamberge Flamberge (also Floberge, Froberge, and other variations) is a medieval sword. Swung by a number of heroes of '' chansons de geste'' and romances, the name became a generic name for a large sword. In earlier texts the name is usually given as ...

(European) *

Flyssa The flyssa is a traditional edged weapon of Algeria produced and used during the 19th century and earlier. It originates from the Kabyle Iflissen Lebhar tribal confederacy. Characteristics These weapons have blades of various sizes from , and ...

(North African) *

Hwandudaedo ''Hwandudaedo'' ("ring-pommel sword") is the modern Korean term for one of earliest original types of Korean sword, appearing in the Proto–Three Kingdoms of Korea. These swords were at first symbols of a ruler's power, but their availability ...

(Korean) *

Ida Ida or IDA may refer to: Astronomy * Ida Facula, a mountain on Amalthea, a moon of Jupiter *243 Ida, an asteroid *International Docking Adapter, a docking adapter for the International Space Station Computing *Intel Dynamic Acceleration, a techn ...

(West African) *

Jian The ''jian'' (pronunciation （劍）, English approximation: ) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the ''jian'' date to the 7th century BCE, during the Spring and ...

(Chinese) *

(Philippinese) *

Kaskara The ''kaskara'' is a type of traditional sword, which is characteristic of Sudan, Chad, and Eritrea. The blade of the kaskara was usually about a yard long, double edged and with a spatulate tip. While most surviving examples are from the 19th ce ...

(Central African) *

Katzbalger A is a short Renaissance arming sword, notable for its sturdy build and a distinctive s-shaped or figure-8 shaped guard. Measuring 70–80 cm long and weighing 0.8-1.5 kg, it was the signature blade of the ''Landsknecht''. Overview The ...

(German) *

Khanda Khanda may refer to: Places * Khanda, Sonipat, a very big and historical village in Sonipat district of Haryana, India * Khanda, Jind, a village in Jind district of Haryana, India * Khanda Kheri, a village in Hansi Tehsil of Hisar district of ...

(South Asian) *

Moplah Mappila Muslim, often shortened to Mappila, formerly anglicized as Moplah/Mopla and historically known as Jonaka/Chonaka Mappila or Moors Mopulars/Mouros da Terra and Mouros Malabares, in general, is a member of the Muslim community of same ...

(Southwestern Indian) * Patag (Bhutanese) *

(European) * Saingeom (Korean) *

Seax ''Seax'' (; also sax, sæx, sex; invariant in plural, latinized ''sachsum'') is an Old English word for "knife". In modern archaeology, the term ''seax'' is used specifically for a type of small sword, knife or dagger typical of the Germanic p ...

(European) * Side sword (European) *

Sikin Panyang Sikin Panjang (also known as Sikin Panyang, Gloepak Sikin, Glupak Sikin, Jekinpandjang, Loedjoe Aceh, Loedjoe Atjeh, Loedjoe Naru, Ludju Naru, Narumo, Sekin Pandjang, Sekin Panjang, Sekin Pandjang, Sekin Panjang Meutatah, Thikin Panjang) is a swor ...

(Sumatran) *

Spadroon A spadroonP. G. W. Annis (1970). ''Naval Swords, British and American Naval Edged Weapons, 1660-1815'', Harrisburg, PA: Stackpole Books, p. 38. is a light sword with a straight-edged blade, enabling both cut and thrust attacks. This English term ...

(European) *

Spatha The spatha was a type of straight and long sword, measuring between 0.5 and 1 m (19.7 and 39.4 in), with a handle length of between 18 and 20 cm (7.1 and 7.9 in), in use in the territory of the Roman Empire during the 1st to 6th centuries A ...

(Mediterranean, Greek) *

Takoba Takoba (also ''takuba'' or ''takouba'') is the sword that is used across the western Sahel and among ethnic groups such as the Tuareg, the Hausa, and the Fulani The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, ...

(North African) * Tibetan Jian (Middle Asian) * Tsurugi (Japanese) *

Ulfberht The Ulfberht swords are a group of about 170 medieval swords found primarily in Northern Europe, dated to the 9th to 11th centuries, with blades inlaid with the inscription ''+VLFBERH+T or +VLFBERHT+''. The word "Ulfberht" is a Frankish pers ...

(Frankish)

Curved two-handed swords

* Dōtanuki (Japanese) *

Falx The ''falx'' was a weapon with a curved blade that was sharp on the inside edge used by the Thracians and Dacians. The name was later applied to a siege hook used by the Romans. Etymology ''Falx'' is a Latin word originally meaning 'sickle' b ...

(European, Thraco-Dacian) *

Katana A is a Japanese sword characterized by a curved, single-edged blade with a circular or squared guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. Developed later than the '' tachi'', it was used by samurai in feudal Japan and worn with the edge f ...

(Japanese) *

Miao dao The ''miaodao'' (苗刀) is a Chinese two-handed dao or saber of the Republican Era, with a narrow blade, long hilt, and an overall length of or more. The name means "sprout saber", presumably referring to a likeness between the weapon and a n ...

(Chinese) *

Nandao Nandao is a kind of sword that is used mostly in contemporary Chinese wushu exercises and forms. It is the southern variation of the "northern broadsword", or Beidao. Its blade bears some resemblance to the butterfly sword The butterfly s ...

(Chinese) *

Nihontō A is one of several types of traditionally made swords from Japan. Bronze swords were made as early as the Yayoi period (1000 BC – 300 AD), though most people generally refer to the curved blades made from the Heian period (794 – 1185) to t ...

(Japanese) *

Panabas The panabas, also known as nawi, is a large, forward-curved sword or battle axe used by certain ethnic groups in the southern Philippines. It can range in size from 2 to 4 feet and can be held with one or both hands, delivering a deep, meat cleaver ...

(Philippinese) *

Ssangsudo Korean swords have served a central place in the defense of the nation for thousands of years. Although typical Korean land battles have taken place in wide valleys and narrow mountain passes, which favor use of the spear and bow, the sword found ...

(Korean) *

Tachi A is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihonto'') worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. ''Tachi'' and ''katana'' generally differ in length, degree of curvature, and how they were worn when sheathed, the latter depending on t ...

(Japanese) *

Uchigatana An is a type of Japanese sword worn by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The ''uchigatana'' was the descendant of the tachi. The official term for ''katana'' in Japan is ''uchigatana'' and the term ''katana'' often refers to single-edged swords ...

(Japanese)

Hand-and-a-half and two-handed greatswords

* Assamese dao (Indian, Southeast Asian) *

Boar sword The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...

(European) *

Changdao The ''changdao'' () was a two-handed, single-edged Chinese sword. The term has been translated as "long saber," "saber-staff," or "long-handled saber." During the Ming dynasty, was often used as a general term for two handed swords. After Repub ...

(Chinese) * Claidheamh da laimh, highland sword (European) * Claymore, Scottish Gaelic for "great sword" (Scottish, European) *

Dadao Dadao, formerly romanized ta-tao, may refer to: * ''dadao'' (, p ''dàdāo'', ), a machete-like variety of the dao (sword) ** "The Sword March "The Sword March" is a Chinese music, Chinese patriotic song first sung in the Republic of Chi ...

(Chinese) *

Executioner's sword An executioner's sword is a sword designed specifically for decapitation of condemned criminals (as opposed to combat). These swords were intended for two-handed use, but were lacking a point, so that their overall blade length was typically that ...

, heading sword, sword of justice (European) *

Flame-bladed sword A flame-bladed sword or wave-bladed sword has a characteristically undulating style of blade. The wave in the blade is often considered to contribute a flame-like quality to the appearance of a sword. The dents on the blade can appear parallel o ...

, flambard, flammard, flammenschwert (European) *

(Japanese) *

Longsword A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for primarily two-handed use (around ), a straight double-edged blade of around , and weighing approximate ...

, bastard sword, espée bastarde, hand and a half sword (European) *

Nagamaki The is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (''nihontō'') with an extra long handle, used by the samurai class of feudal Japan.Friday 2004, p. 88. History It is possible that nagamaki were first produced during the Heian period (794 to ...

(Japanese) * Nodachi,

Ōdachi The (large/great sword) or ''nodachi'' (野太刀, field sword) is a type of traditionally made Japanese sword (日本刀, nihontō) used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The Chinese equivalent of this type of sword in terms of weight ...

(Japanese) * Parade sword, paratschwerter (European) *

Wodao The ''wodao'' () is a Chinese sword from the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty. It is typically long and slender, but heavy, with a curved back and sharp blade. It bears a strong resemblance to the Tang sword, zhanmadao, Tachi or Odachi in form. Ext ...

(Chinese) *

Zanbatō The ''zhanmadao'' () was a single-bladed anti-cavalry Chinese sword. It originated during the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and was especially common in Song China (960–1279). General characteristics The zhanmadao is a single-edged sab ...

(Japanese) *

Zhanmadao The ''zhanmadao'' () was a single-bladed anti-cavalry Chinese sword. It originated during the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) and was especially common in Song China (960–1279). General characteristics The zhanmadao is a single-edged sabre ...

(Chinese) *

Zweihänder The ''Zweihänder'' () (German 'two-hander'), also ''Doppelhänder'' ('double-hander'), ''Beidhänder'' ('both-hander'), ''Bihänder'' or ''Bidenhänder'', is a large two-handed sword primarily in use during the 16th century. ''Zweihänder'' s ...

, great sword, espadon, spadone, tuck, montante, lowland sword, two handed sword, dopplehänder (European)

Shortswords

Delineated as 20-28 inches/51–71 cm total length. Curved shortswords *

Aikuchi Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings ('' tosogu'') that hold the blade of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored. refers to the ornate mountings of a Japanese sword (e.g. ''katana'') used when the ...

, haikuchi (Japanese) *

Akrafena An Akrafena (''Ashanti sword'') is an Ashanti sword, originally meant for warfare but also forming part of Ashanti heraldry. The foremost example of an ''akrafena'' is the ''Mponponsuo'' (meaning "responsibility"), which belonged to Opoku Ware ...

(West African) * Barong (Southeast Asian) *

Janbiya A jambiya, also spelled janbiya, jambya, jambia and janbia ( ar, جنۢبية ''janbīyah''), is a specific type of dagger with a short curved blade with a medial ridge that originated from the Hadhramaut region of Yemen. They have spread all ov ...

, jambiya, jambya, jambia, janbia (Middle Eastern) * Kaduthala,

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

(Indian) *

Khanjar A ''khanjar'' ( ar, خنجر, ku, Xencer, bn, খঞ্জর, khôñjôr tr, Hançer, fa, خنجر, ur, خنجر, sh, Handžar) is a traditional dagger originating from Oman, although it has since spread to the rest of the Middle Eas ...

(Middle Eastern) *

Kodachi A , literally translating into "small or short ''tachi'' (sword)", is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (''nihontō'') used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. Kodachi are from the early Kamakura period (1185–1333) and are in the ...

(Japanese) * Pinuti (Southeast Asian) *

Shikomizue Japanese sword mountings are the various housings and associated fittings ('' tosogu'') that hold the blade of a Japanese sword when it is being worn or stored. refers to the ornate mountings of a Japanese sword (e.g. ''katana'') used when the ...

(Japanese) *

Talibon Talibon, officially the Municipality of Talibon ( ceb, Lungsod sa Talibon; tgl, Bayan ng Talibon), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bohol, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 71,272 people. It is lo ...

(Southeast Asian) *

Wakizashi The is one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (''nihontō'') worn by the samurai in feudal Japan. History and use The production of swords in Japan is divided into specific time periods:

(Japanese) Straight shortswords * Bakatwa (

Shona Shona often refers to: * Shona people, a Southern African people * Shona language, a Bantu language spoken by Shona people today Shona may also refer to: * ''Shona'' (album), 1994 album by New Zealand singer Shona Laing * Shona (given name) * S ...

tribe of Southern Africa) *

Baselard The baselard, ''Schwiizerdolch'' in Swiss-German (also ''basilard, baslard'', in Middle French also and variants, Latinized etc., in Middle High German ) is a historical type of dagger or short sword of the Late Middle Ages. Etymology In mod ...

(European) * Bilbo (European) * Bolo, itak (Philippinese, Southeast Asian) *

Cinquedea The cinquedea or cinqueda is a civilian short sword (or long dagger). It was developed in northern Italy and enjoyed a period of popularity during the Italian renaissance of the 15th and early 16th centuries. The name ''cinquedea'' means "five f ...

, anelace (European) *

Colichemarde Colichemarde is a type of small sword (often written "smallsword") blade that was popular from the late 17th century to the middle 18th century. Overview The small sword is considered to be a descendant of the "transitional rapier", which itself ...

(European) * Cossack dagger, Ottoman quama, kinjal, quama, kama (Middle Eastern) *

Gladius ''Gladius'' () is a Latin word meaning "sword" (of any type), but in its narrow sense it refers to the sword of ancient Roman foot soldiers. Early ancient Roman swords were similar to those of the Greeks, called '' xiphe'' (plural; singular ''xi ...

(Roman) *

Khanjali A khanjali ( ady, Къамэ or , ka, ხანჯალი () or (), Armenian: Խանչալ (''khanchal''); or kinzhal when transliterating ru , кинжал) is a dagger, often with a single off-set groove on each face of the blade. T ...

(Georgian,

Caucasian Caucasian may refer to: Anthropology *Anything from the Caucasus region ** ** ** ''Caucasian Exarchate'' (1917–1920), an ecclesiastical exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Caucasus region * * * Languages * Northwest Caucasian l ...

) *

Luwuk Luwuk is the capital of Banggai Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its area is 72.82 km2 following boundary changes in 2012 and 2015. There used to be an oil industry in the region. At the 2020 census it had a total population of 34,849 in ...

(Javanese) * Misericorde (European) * Ninjato, Shinobi gatana (Japanese) * Small sword (European) * Swiss dagger, holbein dagger, schweizerdegen (European) *

Xiphos The ''xiphos'' ( grc, ξίφος ; plural ''xiphe'', grc, ξίφη ) is a double-edged, one-handed Iron Age straight shortsword used by the ancient Greeks. It was a secondary battlefield weapon for the Greek armies after the dory or javelin. ...

, xifos (Greek)

Axe-like swords

Generally, convex blades used for heavy chopping or slashing. * Aruval (South Indian) * Bolo, itak (Philippinese, Asian) *

Falcata The falcata is a type of sword typical of pre-Roman Iberia. The falcata was used to great effect for warfare in the ancient Iberian peninsula, and is firmly associated with the southern Iberian tribes, among other ancient peoples of Hispania. ...

(Mediterranean) *

Golok A golok is a cutting tool, similar to a machete, that comes in many variations and is found throughout the Malay archipelago. It is used as an agricultural tool as well as a weapon. The word ''golok'' (sometimes misspelled in English as "gollock" ...

(Southeast Asian) *

Harpe The ''harpē'' () was a type of sword or sickle; a sword with a sickle protrusion along one edge near the tip of the blade. The harpe is mentioned in Greek and Roman sources, and almost always in mythological contexts. Harpe in mythology T ...

, harpi (Greek) *

Kopis The term kopis ( grc, Κόπις) in Ancient Greece could describe a heavy knife with a forward-curving blade, primarily used as a tool for cutting meat, for ritual slaughter and animal sacrifice, or refer to a single edged cutting or "cut and ...

(Greek) * Kora (Southeast Asian) * Kudi (Southeast Asian) *

Kukri The kukri () or khukuri ( ne, खुकुरी, ) is a type of machete with a distinct recurve in its blade. It serves multiple purposes as a melee weapon and also as a regular cutting tool throughout most of South Asia. The ''kukri'', ''khuk ...

, khukri (Nepalian) *

Machete Older machete from Latin America Gerber machete/saw combo Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San Agustín de las Juntas, Oaxaca">San_Agustín_de_las_Juntas.html" ;"title="Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San Agustín de las Juntas">Agustín Cruz Tinoco of San ...

(Spain, Latin America) * Vettukathi (South Indian) * Mahera (Greek) * One handed Dacian falx, sica (Mediterranean, Greek) * Parang Pandit (Southeast Asian) * Sosun pattah (South Asian) *

Yatagan The yatagan, yataghan or ataghan (from Turkish language, Turkish ''yatağan''), also called varsak, is a type of Ottoman Empire, Ottoman knife or short sabre used from the mid-16th to late 19th centuries. The yatagan was extensively used in Otto ...

, yataghan (Middle Eastern)

Other swords

Hook sword The hook sword, twin hooks, ''fu tao'', ''hu tou gou'' (tiger head hook) or ''shuang gou'' () is a Chinese weapon traditionally associated with northern styles of Chinese martial arts and Wushu weapons routines, but now often practiced by sout ...

(Chinese) * Kris, keris sundang, keris bahari (Indonesian) *

Nandaka Nandaka () or Nandaki, is the sword of the Hindu god Vishnu. Nandaka is generally depicted in images where Vishnu is represented with more than his usual four arms. The sword is compared to knowledge in Hindu scriptures. In Sri Vaishnavism (a maj ...

Nair The Nair , also known as Nayar, are a group of Indian Hindu castes, described by anthropologist Kathleen Gough as "not a unitary group but a named category of castes". The Nair include several castes and many subdivisions, not all of whom histo ...

, nayar (Indian)

=Fighting knives and daggers

Sickles and sickle like knives

Generally short, concave blades used for heavy cutting. * Arit (Maduresian, Indonesian) *

Karambit The karambit or kerambit (as used in Indonesian), kurambik or karambiak (both from the Minangkabau language) is a small Indonesian curved knife resembling a claw from Minangkabau people of West Sumatra. The karambit is one of the weapons commonl ...

, kerambit, korambit (Minangkabauian, Indonesian) *

Kujang Kujang may refer to: Places * Kujang County, North Pyongan province, North Korea ** Kujang (town) * Kujang, Odisha, India Other uses * Kujang (weapon), a blade weapon native to the Sundanese people of West Java, Indonesia * , a ''Clurit''-class ...

(Sundanese, Indonesian) *

(Indian) *

Mandau The Mandau ( cs, Mandava) is a river in Bohemia (Czech Republic) and Saxony (Germany). It is a left tributary of the Lusatian Neisse, which it joins near Zittau. It originates from multiple springs north of the 580.6m (1902 feet AMSL) Wolf Mou ...

(Malaysian, Indonesian, Bornean, Bruneian) * Pichangatti (Indian) *

Punyal 350px, An antique gunong from Mindanao. The gunong is a knife from Mindanao and the Visayas islands of the Philippines. In ancient past, it was called bunong by the Tagalog people. It is essentially a diminutive form of the larger kalis or kris. T ...

(Philippinese, Southeast Asian) *

Sickle A sickle, bagging hook, reaping-hook or grasshook is a single-handed agricultural tool designed with variously curved blades and typically used for harvesting, or reaping, grain crops or cutting Succulent plant, succulent forage chiefly for feed ...

(Improvised, worldwide) * Sudanese sickle knife (African)

Picks and pickaxes

Chicken sickles Chicken sickles () are a number of Chinese bladed weapons similar to the Hook sword and the Okinawan Kama. They can be used as a single or double weapon. It is considered the special weapon of the Xinyi Liuhe style. Chicken-claw '' Jī Zhuǎ Li ...

(Chinese) * Crowbill (European, Central Asian) *

Elephant goad The elephant goad, bullhook, or ankus (from Sanskrit ' or ''ankusha'') is a tool employed by mahout in the handling and training of elephants. It consists of a hook (usually bronze or steel) which is attached to a handle, ending in a tapered ...

, ankus, ankusha, bullhook, elephant hook (South and Southeast Asian) *

Hakapik A hakapik ( no, gaff) is a club, of Norwegian design, used for killing seals. The hakapik is a multipurpose hunting tool—a heavy wooden club, with a hammer head (used to crush a seal's skull), and a hook (used to drag away the carcass) on th ...

(European) *

Horseman's pick The horseman's pick was a weapon of Middle Eastern origin used by cavalry during the Middle Ages in Europe and the Middle East. This was a type of war hammer that had a very long spike on the reverse of the hammer head. Usually, this spike was sl ...

, martel de fer, also a blunt weapon (European) *

Kama ''Kama'' (Sanskrit ) means "desire, wish, longing" in Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh literature.Monier Williamsकाम, kāmaMonier-Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary, pp 271, see 3rd column Kama often connotes sensual pleasure, sexual ...

(Japanese) *

Mattock A mattock is a hand tool used for digging, prying, and chopping. Similar to the pickaxe, it has a long handle and a stout head which combines either a vertical axe blade with a horizontal adze (cutter mattock), or a pick and an adze (pick matt ...

(Improvised, European) *

Pickaxe A pickaxe, pick-axe, or pick is a generally T-shaped hand tool used for prying. Its head is typically metal, attached perpendicularly to a longer handle, traditionally made of wood, occasionally metal, and increasingly fiberglass. A stand ...

(Improvised, European) *

War hammer A war hammer (French: ''martel-de-fer'', "iron hammer") is a weapon that was used by both foot soldiers and cavalry. It is a very old weapon and gave its name, owing to its constant use, to Judah Maccabee, a 2nd-century BC Jewish rebel, and to Ch ...

also a blunt weapon (European)

Axes

Adze An adze (; alternative spelling: adz) is an ancient and versatile cutting tool similar to an axe but with the cutting edge perpendicular to the handle rather than parallel. Adzes have been used since the Stone Age. They are used for smoothing ...

(Improvised, European) *

Bardiche A bardiche , berdiche, bardische, bardeche, or berdish is a type of polearm used from the 14th to 17th centuries in Europe. Ultimately a descendant of the medieval sparth or Danish axe, the bardiche proper appears around 1400, but there are nu ...

(European) *

Battle axe A battle axe (also battle-axe, battle ax, or battle-ax) is an axe specifically designed for combat. Battle axes were specialized versions of utility axes. Many were suitable for use in one hand, while others were larger and were deployed two-ha ...

(European) *

Bhuj Bhuj () is a Municipality and District Headquarters of Kutch District in the state of Gujarat, India. Etymology According to legend, Kutch was ruled by the Nāga chieftains in the past. Sagai, a queen of Sheshapattana, who was married to Kin ...

with blade shaped like the dagger on a long shaft *

Broadaxe A broadaxe is a large (broad)-headed axe. There are two categories of cutting edge on broadaxes, both are used for shaping logs by hewing. On one type, one side is flat, and the other side beveled, a basilled edge, also called a side axe, sing ...

(European) * Congolese axe (African) * Dahomey axe club, also an effective blunt weapon (African) *

Danish axe The Dane axe is an early type of battle axe, primarily used during the transition between the European Viking Age and early Middle Ages. Other names for the weapon include English long axe, Danish axe, and hafted axe. Construction Most axes, b ...

, hafted axe, English long axe, Viking axe, Danish longer axe (European) * Doloire (European) * Fu (Chinese) *

Hand axe A hand axe (or handaxe or Acheulean hand axe) is a prehistoric stone tool with two faces that is the longest-used tool in human history, yet there is no academic consensus on what they were used for. It is made from stone, usually flint or che ...

, ovate handaxe (Paleolithic) *

Hatchet A hatchet (from the Old French , a diminutive form of ''hache'', ' axe' of Germanic origin) is a single-handed striking tool with a sharp blade on one side used to cut and split wood, and a hammerhead on the other side. Hatchets may also be us ...

(European) * Igorot headhunting axe ( Philippinese, Southeast Asian) *

Labrys ''Labrys'' ( gr, , lábrus) is, according to Plutarch (''Quaestiones Graecae'' 2.302a), the Lydian word for the double-bitted axe. In Greek it was called (''pélekus''). The Ancient Greek plural of ''labrys'' is ''labryes'' (). Etymology P ...

, pelekys (Greek) *

Long-bearded axe A bearded axe, or Skeggøx (from Old Norse ''Skegg'', "beard", and ''øx'', "axe"), is any of various axes, used as a tool and weapon, as early as the 6th century AD. It is most commonly associated with Viking Age Scandinavians. The hook or "bea ...

(European) * Masakari (Japanese) * Nzappa zap also thrown (African) * Ono (Japanese) *

Palstave {{Short description, European Bronze Age axe A palstave is a type of early bronze axe. It was common in the middle Bronze Age in northern, western and south-western Europe. In the technical sense, although precise definitions differ, an axe is gener ...

(Bronze Age, improvised, European) *

Sagaris The sagaris ( grc, Σάγαρις and Σάγαρι) is an ancient shafted weapon used by the horse-riding ancient Saka and Scythian peoples of the great Eurasian steppe. It was used also by Western and Central Asian peoples: the Medes, Persia ...

(Middle Eastern) *

Shepherd's axe The shepherd's axe is a long thin light axe of Eurasian origin used in past centuries by shepherds in the Carpathian Mountains and in other territories which comprise today Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Romania and Hungary. The fe ...

, valaška (European) *

Sparth Axe A polearm or pole weapon is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range and striking power. Polearms are predominantly ...

(European) *

Tabarzin The tabar (also called ''tabarzin'', which means "saddle axe" n persian Modern Turkish: ''teber'') is a type of battle axe. The term ''tabar'' is used for axes originating from the Ottoman Empire, Persia, India and surrounding countries and cultur ...

(Middle Eastern) *

Tomahawk A tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe used by the many Indigenous peoples and nations of North America. It traditionally resembles a hatchet with a straight shaft. In pre-colonial times the head was made of stone, bone, or antler, and Eur ...

, Spontoon Tomahawk, also thrown (American) *

Tlaximaltepoztli The tlaximaltepoztli (''tlāximaltepoztli''; in Nahuatl, ''tlaximal''=carpentry and ''tepoztli''=metal axe) or simply tepoztli was a common weapon used by civilizations from Mesoamerica which was formed by a wooden haft in which the poll of the br ...

(American) * Vechevoral (Middle Asian)

Truncheons and blunt weapons

Usually wielded with one or two hands at close quarters with striking motions, although some sharp-pointed truncheons like the sai were more often used for stabbing. * Aklys (Osci tribe of Southern Italy) * Bō (Japanese) *

Bokken A ''bokken'' (, , "wood", and ''ken'', "sword") (or a ''bokutō'' ) is a Japanese wooden sword used for training in kenjutsu. It is usually the size and shape of a ''katana'', but is sometimes shaped like other swords, such as the ''wakizashi'' ...

(Japanese) * Clubbing boomerang (Worldwide) * Returning boomerang (Australian) * Cambuk (Southeast Asian) *

Canne de combat Canne de combat is a French combat sport. As weapon, it uses a ''canne'' or cane (a kind of walking-stick) designed for fighting. ''Canne de combat'' was standardized in the 1970s for sporting competition by Maurice Sarry. The ''canne'' is very ...

(European) * Chúi (Chinese) *

Club Club may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Club'' (magazine) * Club, a '' Yie Ar Kung-Fu'' character * Clubs (suit), a suit of playing cards * Club music * "Club", by Kelsea Ballerini from the album ''kelsea'' Brands and enterprises ...

, baseball bat, stone club, truncheon, cudgel, bludgeon *

Crop A crop is a plant that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponic ...

(Worldwide) * Eskrima Sticks, straight sticks (Southeast Asian) *

Flail A flail is an agriculture, agricultural tool used for threshing, the process of separating cereal, grains from their husks. It is usually made from two or more large sticks attached by a short chain; one stick is held and swung, causing the othe ...

(European) * Gada (Indian) *

Gunstock war club The gunstock club or gun stock war club is an indigenous weapon used by many Native American groupings, named for its similar appearance to the wooden stocks of muskets and rifles of the time.Gurz, Ottoman gurz (Middle Eastern) * Hammer (Improvised) *

Hanbō The ''hanbō'' (半棒, "half-staff") is a staff used in martial arts. Traditionally, the ''hanbō'' was approximately three ''shaku'' or about long, half the length of the usual staff, the '' rokushakubō'' ("six ''shaku'' staff"). Diameter was ...

(Japanese) *

, horseman's hammer, martel de fer, also a pickaxe weapon (European) * Jawbone war club (American) * Jō (Japanese) *

Jutte A is a specialized weapon that was used by police in Edo period Japan (1603 – 1868). History In feudal Japan, it was a crime punishable by death to bring a sword into the ''shōgun''s palace. This law applied to almost everyone, including the ...

, jitte (Japanese) *

Kanabō The (literally "metal stick" or "metal club") is a spiked or studded two-handed war club used in feudal Japan by samurai. Other related weapons of this type are the ''nyoibo'', ''konsaibo'', , and ''ararebo''.Mol, Serge (2003). ''Classical we ...

(Japanese) *

Knobkierrie A knobkerrie, also spelled knobkerry, knobkierie, and knopkierie (Afrikaans), is a form of wooden club, used mainly in Southern and Eastern Africa. Typically they have a large knob at one end and can be used for throwing at animals in hunting or ...

, knopkierie, knobkerry (African) *

Kotiate Kotiate is a type of traditional hand weapon of the Māori, the indigenous people of New Zealand. A kotiate is a short club normally made of wood or whalebone. Kotiate means to cut or divide the liver (koti = cut in two or divide; ate = liver), ...

(New Zealandian) * Kurunthadi, churuvadi, kuruvadi, muchan, otta (Indian) *

Macana The term macana, of Taíno origin, refers to various wooden weapons used by the various native cultures of Central and South America. The earliest meaning attributed to ''macana'' is a sword-like weapon made out of wood, but still sharp enough t ...

(American) * Mace, spiked mace, flanged mace (European, Middle Asian) *

Macuahuitl A macuahuitl () is a weapon, a wooden club with several embedded obsidian blades. The name is derived from the Nahuatl language and means "hand-wood". Its sides are embedded with prismatic blades traditionally made from obsidian. Obsidian is ...

, maquahuitl (American) * Mallet (American) * Mere used to strike, jab (New Zealandian) * Morning star, goedendag, holy water sprinkler (European) * Mughal (Central Asian) *

Ōtsuchi An is a large wooden war mallet used by the samurai class of feudal Japan. The ōtsuchi had a shaft of about much like the ono (war axe). It was mainly used for door breaching Door breaching is a process used by military, police, or emerg ...

(Japanese) *

Patu A patu is a club or pounder used by the Māori. The word ''patu'' in the Māori language means to strike, hit, beat, kill or subdue. Weapons These types of short-handled clubs were mainly used as a striking weapon. The blow administered w ...

, patuki (New Zealandian) * Plançon a picot, planson (European) * Quauholōlli (American) *

Roundhead Roundheads were the supporters of the Parliament of England during the English Civil War (1642–1651). Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I of England and his supporters, known as the Cavaliers or Royalists, who ...

(European) * Rungu also thrown (African) * Sai (Okinawan) * Shestopyor, Pernach (Russian) *

Shillelagh A shillelagh ( ; ga, sail éille or , "thonged willow") is a wooden walking stick and club or cudgel, typically made from a stout knotty blackthorn stick with a large knob at the top. It is associated with Ireland and Irish folklore. Other ...

(Irish) * Short scepter, mace scepter (European) * Sledgehammer, maul (Improvised, European) * Stone war club (American) * Suburito (Japanese) * Sword mace 鐧 (Chinese) * Tambo, tanbo (Okinawan) *

Tekkan The , also known as ''tetsu-ken'' or , is a Japanese weapon that was used during the Edo period until the beginning of the 20th century. It was an iron truncheon; it could closely resemble a wakizashi-sized sword with a blunt iron blade, or it c ...

(Japanese) *

Tekpi The ''tekpi'' is a short-handled trident from Southeast Asia. Known as ''tekpi'' in Malay, it is called ''chabang'' or ''cabang'' (Dutch spelling: ''tjabang'' meaning "branch") in Indonesian, ''siang tépi'' (雙短鞭 ) in Hokkien, and ''trisul ...

(Malaysia) *

Tewhatewha A tewhatewha is a long-handled Māori club weapon shaped like an axe. Designed to be held in two hands, the weapon comes to a mata (point) at one end and a rapa (broad, quarter-round head) at the other. Use Like pouwhenua and taiaha, this long ...

(New Zealandian) *

Tonfa The ''tonfa'' ( Okinawan: , lit. ''old man's staff'' / ''"crutch"''), also spelled as ''tongfa'' or ''tuifa'', also known as T-baton is a melee weapon with its origins in the armed component of Okinawan martial arts. It consists of a stick ...

(Okinawan) *

Waddy A waddy, nulla-nulla or boondi is an Aboriginal Australian hardwood club or hunting stick for use as a weapon or as a throwing stick for hunting animals. ''Waddy'' comes from the Darug people of Port Jackson, Sydney.Peters, Pam, ''The Cambrid ...

, Nulla Nulla (Australian) *

also a pickaxe weapon (European) * Wooden war club, sharp headed version and curve headed version (American) *

Wrench A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning. In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealan ...

(Improvised) *

Yawara The ''yawara'' is a Japanese weapon used in various martial arts. Numerous types of jujutsu make use of a small rod, made of wood, that extends somewhat from both ends of a person's fist which is known as a ''yawara''. The ''yawara'' likely orig ...

, pasak, yawara bo, dulodulo (Japanese, Southeast Asian) * Yubi-bo (Japanese)

Polearms and spears

Wielded mainly with two hands. Primarily for melee with sweeping, thrusting, and or hooking motions.

=Blunt staves

= *

Bâton français Canne de combat is a French combat sport. As weapon, it uses a ''canne'' or cane (a kind of walking-stick) designed for fighting. ''Canne de combat'' was standardized in the 1970s for sporting competition by Maurice Sarry. The ''canne'' is very ...

(European) * Bō (Japanese) *

Eku An eku (sometimes spelled eiku or ieku) is an ancient weapon of Okinawan kobudō. Its first intended purpose is as an oar. See also * Taiaha References External links Article, images & video on Eku(Okinawa Prefectural Government websi ...

(Okinawan) *

Gun A gun is a ranged weapon designed to use a shooting tube (gun barrel) to launch projectiles. The projectiles are typically solid, but can also be pressurized liquid (e.g. in water guns/cannons, spray guns for painting or pressure washing, p ...

(Chinese) * Jō (Japanese) * Lathi (Indian) *

Naboot A naboot (nabboot, asaya, asa, shoum) is a quarterstaff constructed of Palm tree, palm wood or rattan. It originated in Egypt and is used in the martial art of Tahtib. ReferencesArticle about Tahtib, denoting the specifications for a naboot.

, shoum, nabboot, asa, asaya (Middle Eastern) *

Quarterstaff A quarterstaff (plural quarterstaffs or quarterstaves), also short staff or simply staff is a traditional European pole weapon, which was especially prominent in England during the Early Modern period. The term is generally accepted to refer t ...

(European) * Shareeravadi (Middle Asian) *

Taiaha A taiaha () is a traditional weapon of the Māori of New Zealand; a close-quarters staff weapon made from either wood or whalebone, and used for short, sharp strikes or stabbing thrusts with efficient footwork on the part of the wielder. Taiaha a ...

(New Zealandian)

=Spears

= Thrown spears and javelins are listed under ranged weapons. *

Ahlspiess The ahlspiess (or awl pike) was a thrusting spear developed and used primarily in Germany and Austria from the 15th to 16th centuries. The ahlspiess consisted of a long thin spike of square cross section measuring up to about a metre (39 inches) ...

, awl pike (European) * Aklys (Osci tribe of Southern Italy) *

Atgeir An atgeir, sometimes called a "mail-piercer" or "hewing-spear", was a type of polearm in use in Viking Age Scandinavia and Norse colonies in the British Isles and Iceland. The word is related to the old norse ''geirr'', meaning spear. It is usua ...

(European) *

Boar spear A boar spear is a spear used for boar hunting. It is relatively short and heavy and has two " lugs" or "wings" on the spearsocket behind the blade, which act as a barrier to prevent the spear from penetrating too deeply into the quarry where it ...

(European) * Brandistock, feather staff, buttafuore (European) * Dangpa chang also thrown (Korean) *

Dory A dory is a small, shallow-draft boat, about long. It is usually a lightweight boat with high sides, a flat bottom and sharp bows. It is easy to build because of its simple lines. For centuries, the dory has been used as a traditional fishin ...

(Greek) * Hasta (Roman) *

Hoko yari ''Hoko yari'' is an ancient form of Japanese spear or ''yari'' said to be based on a Chinese spear. The hoko yari came into use sometime between the Yayoi period and the Heian period, possibly during the Nara period The of the history of ...

(Japanese) *

Iklwa An assegai or assagai (Arabic ''az-zaġāyah'', Berber ''zaġāya'' "spear", Old French ''azagaie'', Spanish ''azagaya'', Italian ''zagaglia'', Middle English ''lancegay'') is a pole weapon used for throwing, usually a light spear or javelin m ...

(Zulu tribe of South Africa) * Jukjangchangbo, daijichang, toupjang, nangsun, dongyemochang, chichang, sabarichang, yangjimochang (Korean) *

Lance A lance is a spear designed to be used by a mounted warrior or cavalry soldier ( lancer). In ancient and medieval warfare, it evolved into the leading weapon in cavalry charges, and was unsuited for throwing or for repeated thrusting, unlike si ...

(European) *

Menavlion The ''menaulion'' or ''menavlion'' ( el, μεναύλιον), also ''menaulon'' or ''menavlon'' (μέναυλον) was a heavy spear with a length of 2.7 to 3.6 metres with a thick shaft, used by the Byzantine infantry as early as the 10th century ...

, menavlon (Greek) *

Migration Period spear The spear or lance, together with the bow, the sword, the seax and the shield, was the main equipment of the Germanic warriors during the Migration Period and the Early Middle Ages. Terminology The pre-migration term reported by Tacitus is ...

, geirr, gaizaz, gar, ger, framea (European) *

Military fork A military fork is a pole weapon which was used in Europe between the 15th and 19th centuries. Like many polearms, the military fork traces its lineage to an agricultural tool, in this case the pitchfork. Unlike a trident used for fishing, the ...

(European) *

Pike Pike, Pikes or The Pike may refer to: Fish * Blue pike or blue walleye, an extinct color morph of the yellow walleye ''Sander vitreus'' * Ctenoluciidae, the "pike characins", some species of which are commonly known as pikes * ''Esox'', genus of ...

(English) *

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...

(Improvised) * Qiang (Chinese) *

Ranseur A ranseur, also called roncone, was a pole weapon similar to the partisan used in Europe up to the 15th century. It was still seen in court as a ceremonial weapon through the 17th century. Often thought to be a derivation of the earlier spetum ...

, rawcon, runka (European) * Saintie (Middle Asian) * Sang (Indian) *

Sarissa The sarisa or sarissa ( el, σάρισα) was a long spear or pike about in length. It was introduced by Philip II of Macedon and was used in his Macedonian phalanxes as a replacement for the earlier dory, which was considerably shorter. Thes ...

(Greek) *

Sibat Sibat is the Filipino word for spear, used as a weapon or tool by natives of the Philippines. The term is used in Tagalog language, Tagalog and Kinaray-a. It also called bangkaw, sumbling or palupad in the islands of Visayas and Mindanao; and bud ...

, bangkaw, palupad, sumbling (Southeast Asian) *

Sovnya A sovnya (russian: link=no, совня) is a traditional polearm used in Russia. Similar to the glaive, the sovnya had a curved, single-edged blade mounted on the end of a long pole. This was a weapon used by late-medieval Muscovite cavalry a ...

(Russian) *

Spetum A spetum is a pole weapon A polearm or pole weapon is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range and striking p ...

(European) * Swordstaff (European) *

Trident A trident is a three- pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and historically as a polearm. The trident is the weapon of Poseidon, or Neptune, the God of the Sea in classical mythology. The trident may occasionally be held by other marine ...

Trishula The ''trishula'' () is a trident, a divine symbol, commonly used as one of the principal symbols in Hinduism. In Nepal and Thailand, the term also often refers to a short-handled weapon which may be mounted on a ''daṇḍa'' " staff". Unli ...

(Indian, Southeast Asian) *

Yari is the term for a traditionally-made Japanese blade (日本刀; nihontō) in the form of a spear, or more specifically, the straight-headed spear. The martial art of wielding the is called . History The forerunner of the is thought to be a ...

(Japanese)

=Polearms with axe-like blades

= * Arbir (Southeast Asian) *

(European) * Bec de corbin, bec de faucon (European) *

Bill Bill(s) may refer to: Common meanings * Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States) * Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature * Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer * Bill, a bird or animal's beak Plac ...

, English bill, bill hook, bill guisarme (European) *

Bisento A was a pole weapon used in feudal Japan. The bisentō has various descriptions, "a double-edged long sword with a thick truncated blade", "a spear-like weapon with a blade at the end that resembles a scimitar", "a polearm resembling a glaive, ...

(Japanese) * Chacing staff (European) *

Dagger-axe The dagger-axe () is a type of pole weapon that was in use from the Erlitou culture until the Han dynasty in China. It consists of a dagger-shaped blade, mounted by its tang to a perpendicular wooden shaft. The earliest dagger-axe blades were ...

, ko (Chinese) *

, hafted axe, English long axe, Viking axe, Danish longer axe (European) *

Epsilon axe The epsilon axe is a type of battle axe named for its similarity to the Greek letter epsilon (ϵ). The epsilon axe was widely used throughout the Middle East, its usage spread from there and grew in popularity to be used in eastern Europe and Russ ...

(European, Middle Eastern) *

Fauchard A fauchard is a type of polearm weapon which was used in Europe from the 11th through the 17th centuries. In later use fauchards became ornamental and ceremonial (''fauchard de parade''), growing in size until some examples were almost too h ...

(European) *

Glaive A glaive (or glave) is a European polearm, consisting of a single-edged blade on the end of a pole. It is similar to the Japanese naginata, the Chinese guandao, the Korean woldo, and the Russian sovnya. Overview Typically, the blade is arou ...

(European) * Guan (kwan) dao (Chinese) *

Guisarme A guisarme (sometimes gisarme, giserne or bisarme) is a pole weapon used in Europe primarily between 1000 and 1400. Its origin is likely Germanic, from the Old High German , literally "weeding iron". Like many medieval polearms, the exact early f ...

(European) *

Halberd A halberd (also called halbard, halbert or Swiss voulge) is a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. The word ''halberd'' is cognate with the German word ''Hellebarde'', deriving from ...

(European) *

Jedwart stave The Jedwart stave (called the ''Jeddart'' or ''Jedburgh'' stave) was a polearm weapon commonly found in the Scottish Borders in the 16th century. It consisted of a large, thin, double-edged axe-like blade attached to a roughly four-foot long stud ...

(European) * Ji (Chinese) *

Lochaber axe The Lochaber axe ( Gaëlic: tuagh-chatha) is a type of poleaxe that was used almost exclusively in Scotland. It was usually mounted on a staff about five feet long. Specifics of the weapon The Lochaber axe is first recorded in 1501, as an "ol ...

(European) * Long handled nagamaki (Japanese) *

Man catcher A man catcher, also known as catchpole, is an esoteric type of pole weapon which was used in Europe as late as the 18th century. It consisted of a pole mounted with a two pronged head. Each prong was semi-circular in shape with a spring-loaded "do ...

(European) *

Monk's spade A monk's spade (; also, ), also called a Shaolin Spade, is a Chinese pole weapon consisting of a long pole with a flat spade-like blade on one end and a smaller crescent shaped blade on the other. Neither blade was designed to be sharpened. In ol ...

(Chinese) *

Naginata The ''naginata'' (, ) is a pole weapon and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (''nihontō''). ''Naginata'' were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei ( ...

(Japanese) * Ngao (Southeast Asian) * Nulbjakchang, galgorichang (Korean) *

Ox tongue spear thumb The ox tongue spear (''langue de boeuf'' or ''langdebeve'') was a type of broad-headed double-edged spear that was used in Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its gre ...

(European) * Partisan, partizan (European) *

Pollaxe The poleaxe (also pollaxe, pole-axe, pole axe, poleax, polax) is a European polearm that was widely used by medieval infantry. Etymology Most etymological authorities consider the ''poll''- prefix historically unrelated to "pole", instead mea ...

, poleaxe (European) *

Pudao Podao or pudao () is a Chinese single-edged infantry weapon that is still used primarily for training in various Chinese martial arts. The blade of the weapon is shaped like a Chinese broadsword, but the weapon has a longer handle, usually aroun ...

(Chinese) * Romphea, romfea (Greek) *

Sasumata The is a pole weapon used by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan. Description and use Although some sources place the origin of the sasumata in the Muromachi period, most sources discuss its use in the Edo period. In Edo peri ...

(Japanese) *

Scythe A scythe ( ) is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or harvesting crops. It is historically used to cut down or reap edible grains, before the process of threshing. The scythe has been largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor mac ...

(Improvised) * Sodegarami (Japanese) *

Tepoztopilli The ''tepoztopilli'' was a common front-line weapon of the Aztec military. The tepoztopilli was a pole-arm, and to judge from depictions in various Aztec codices it was roughly the height of a man, although historian John Pohl indicates that the ...

(American) * Tongi, four pointed tongi, two pointed (South Asian) *

Tsukubō The (push pole) was a pole weapon used by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan. History and description In Edo period Japan the samurai were in charge of police operations, various levels of samurai police with help from non-sa ...

(Japanese) * Two handed Dacian falx (Mediterranean, Greek) *

Voulge A voulge (occasionally called a pole cleaver; also spelled vouge) is a type of polearm that existed alongside the similar glaive in medieval Europe. Superficially, a voulge might strongly resemble a glaive, but there are some notable differences i ...

(European) * War scythe

=Polearms with spikes and hammers

= * Bec de corbin (European) * Lucerne hammer (European) * Zhua (Chinese)

Ranged weapons

Thrown

=Throwing blades and darts

= *

Chakram Chakram ( sa, , script=latn; pa, , script=latn) is a throwing weapon from the Indian subcontinent. One of its major purposes is to protect the turban and the head from sword/melee attacks. It is circular with a sharpened outer edge and a diamet ...

(Indian, Southeast Asian) *

Kunai A is a Japanese tool thought to be originally derived from the masonry trowel. The two widely recognized variations of the kunai are short kunai (小苦無 shō-''kunai'') and the big ''kunai'' (大苦無 ''dai-kunai''). Although a basic tool ...

(Improvised, Japanese) *

Mambele A mambele is a form of hybrid knife/axe in central and southern Africa, originating from a curved throwing dagger used by the Mangbetu. Description The mambele consists of an iron blade with a curved back section and rearward spike. It can b ...

(African) * Plumbata (European) *

Shuriken A ''shuriken'' ( ja, 手裏剣; literally: "hidden hand blade") is a Japanese concealed weapon that was used as a hidden dagger or metsubushi to distract or misdirect. They are also known as throwing stars, or ninja stars, although they were ...

(Japanese) * Swiss arrow (European) * Throwing dart (Worldwide) *

Throwing knife A throwing knife is a knife that is specially designed and weighted so that it can be thrown effectively. They are a distinct category from ordinary knives. Throwing knives are used by many cultures around the world, and as such different tact ...

(Worldwide)

=Throwing spears and javelins

= All could be used as spears, but were designed and primarily used for throwing. * Angon (European) * Assegai, assagai (African) *

Atlatl A spear-thrower, spear-throwing lever or ''atlatl'' (pronounced or ; Nahuatl ''ahtlatl'' ) is a tool that uses leverage to achieve greater velocity in dart or javelin-throwing, and includes a bearing surface which allows the user to store ene ...

and darts (American, Paleolithic tribes) *

Falarica Falarica, also Phalarica, was an ancient Iberian ranged pole weapon that was sometimes used as an incendiary weapon. Design The Falarica was a heavy javelin with a long, thin iron head of about 90 centimeters in length attached to a wooden s ...

, phalarica (Mediterranean) *

Harpoon A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument and tool used in fishing, whaling, seal hunting, sealing, and other marine hunting to catch and injure large fish or marine mammals such as seals and whales. It accomplishes this task by impaling the t ...

(Worldwide) *

Jangchang The Jangchang, literally ''long spear'', is a Korean weapon first described in the 16th century martial arts manual, Muyejebo. The weapon was preferably made from the wood of the yew tree, but other types of wood could be used as well, such as o ...

(Korean) * Javelin (Mediterranean) * Lancea (Mediterranean) * Mesangylon (Greek) * Metal bar, metal pipe (Improvised, Worldwide) * Northern spear (Philippinese, Southeast Asian) *

Pilum The ''pilum'' (; plural ''pila'') was a javelin commonly used by the Roman army in ancient times. It was generally about long overall, consisting of an iron shank about in diameter and long with a pyramidal head, attached to a wooden shaft ...

(Roman) *

Soliferrum Soliferrum or Soliferreum (Latin: ''solus'', "only" + ''ferrum'', "Iron") was the Roman name for an ancient Iberian ranged pole weapon made entirely of iron. The soliferrum was a heavy hand-thrown javelin, designed to be thrown to a distance of u ...

, saunion, soliferreum (Mediterranean) *

Spiculum A spiculum is a late Roman spear that replaced the pilum as the infantryman's main throwing javelin around 250 AD. Scholars suppose that it could have resulted from the gradual combination of the pilum and two German spears, the angon and the beb ...

(Roman) *

Vel Vel ( ta, வேல், lit=Vēl) is a divine javelin or spear associated with Murugan, the Hindu god of war. Significance According to Shaiva tradition, the goddess Parvati presented the Vel to her son Murugan, as an embodiment of her shakti, ...

(Indian) *

Verutum The ''verutum'', plural ''veruta'' ( la, spit), was a short javelin used in the Roman army. This javelin was used by the ''velites'' for skirmishing purposes, unlike the heavier ''pilum'', which was used by the ''hastati'' and ''principes'' for ...

(Roman) * Woomera, amirre (Australian)

=
Throwing axe A throwing axe is a weapon used from Ancient history, Antiquity to the Middle Ages by foot soldiers and occasionally by mounted soldiers. Usually, they are thrown in an overhand motion in a manner that causes the axe to rotate as it travels thro ...
s

= Could also be used as axe weapons, but were specifically designed for throwing. *

Francisca The francisca (or francesca) is a throwing axe used as a weapon during the Early Middle Ages by the Franks, among whom it was a characteristic national weapon at the time of the Merovingians from about 500 to 750 and is known to have been used d ...

, francesca (European) *

Hunga munga A mambele is a form of hybrid knife/axe in central and southern Africa, originating from a curved throwing dagger used by the Mangbetu. Description The mambele consists of an iron blade with a curved back section and rearward spike. It can ...

, danisco, goleyo, njiga (African) *

Hurlbat A hurlbat (or whirlbat, whorlbat) is a weapon of unclear original definition. Older reference works refer to it largely as a type of club, either held in the hand or thrown. Modern usage appears to refer to a type of throwing-axe. Historical refer ...

, whirlbat (European) * Kapak siam (Asian) * Nzappa zap (African) *

also an axe weapon (American)

=Throwing balls

= *

Bolas Bolas or bolases (singular bola; from Spanish and Portuguese ''bola'', "ball", also known as a ''boleadora'' or ''boleadeira'') is a type of throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords, used to capture animals by entan ...

, ayllo, liwi, qilumitautit (Central American, South American, Arctic) *

Slungshot A slungshot is a maritime tool consisting of a weight, or "shot", affixed to the end of a long cord often by being wound into the center of a knot called a "monkey's fist". It is used to cast line from one location to another, often mooring line. ...

not to be confused with a

slingshot A slingshot is a small hand-powered projectile weapon. The classic form consists of a Y-shaped frame, with two natural rubber strips or tubes attached to the upper two ends. The other ends of the strips lead back to a pocket that holds the pro ...

(Improvised, Worldwide) *

Stone In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

lithos Lithos is a glyphic sans-serif typeface designed by Carol Twombly in 1989 for Adobe Systems. Lithos is inspired by the unadorned, geometric letterforms of the engravings found on Ancient Greek public buildings. The typeface consists of only cap ...

(Improvised, Worldwide)

=
Throwing stick The throwing stick or throwing club is a wooden rod with either a pointed tip or a spearhead attached to one end, intended for use as a weapon. A throwing stick can be either straight or roughly boomerang-shaped, and is much shorter than the ja ...
s

= *

Boomerang A boomerang () is a thrown tool, typically constructed with aerofoil sections and designed to spin about an axis perpendicular to the direction of its flight. A returning boomerang is designed to return to the thrower, while a non-returning b ...

(Australian, Worldwide) *

, knopkierie, knobkerry, also a blunt weapon (African) * Rungu (East African) * Stick,

branch A branch, sometimes called a ramus in botany, is a woody structural member connected to the central trunk (botany), trunk of a tree (or sometimes a shrub). Large branches are known as boughs and small branches are known as twigs. The term '' ...

(Improvised, Worldwide)

Gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). ...
weapons

Abus ABUS August Bremicker Söhne KG, commonly known as ABUS, is a German manufacturer of preventative security technology based in Wetter, North Rhine-Westphalia. Its name is an acronym of its original name, August Bremicker und Söhne ("August Bre ...

howitzer (Turkish) *

Arquebus An arquebus ( ) is a form of long gun that appeared in Europe and the Ottoman Empire during the 15th century. An infantryman armed with an arquebus is called an arquebusier. Although the term ''arquebus'', derived from the Dutch word ''Haakbus ...

, caliver, hackbut, harkbus, harquebus (European) * Bajozutsu pistol (Japanese) *

Basilisk In European bestiaries and legends, a basilisk ( or ) is a legendary reptile reputed to be a serpent king, who causes death to those who look into its eyes. According to the ''Naturalis Historia'' of Pliny the Elder, the basilisk of Cyrene i ...

cannon (European) *

Baton a feu Baton may refer to: Stick-like objects *Baton, a type of club *Baton (law enforcement) * Baston (weapon), a type of baton used in Arnis and Filipino Martial Arts * Baton charge, a coordinated tactic for dispersing crowds of people *Baton (conduc ...

hand cannon (French) * Bedil tumbak hand cannon (Indonesian) * Blunderbuss, donderbus (European) *

Bo-hiya is the Japanese version of the fire arrow. Bo-hiya were used in ancient Japan and by the samurai class of feudal Japan. History and description Fire arrows of some type have been used in Japan as far back as the 6th century where they are said t ...

rocket arrow (Japanese) *

Bombard __NOTOC__ Bombard may refer to the act of carrying out a bombardment. It may also refer to: Individuals *Alain Bombard (1924–2005), French biologist, physician and politician; known for crossing the Atlantic on a small boat with no water or food ...

(European, Middle Eastern, Chinese) * Byzantine bombard (Greek) * Byzantine fire tube (cannon)Γεώργιος Ηλιόπουλος (Georgios Iliopoulos), "Η χαμένη πυραυλική τεχνολογία των αρχαίων Ελλήνων" (The lost missile technology of the ancient Greeks), Ιχώρ (Ihor), 27, page 12-13, Greece, 2002. (Greek) * Byzantine rocket launcherΓεώργιος Ηλιόπουλος (Georgios Iliopoulos), "Η χαμένη πυραυλική τεχνολογία των αρχαίων Ελλήνων" (The lost missile technology of the ancient Greeks), Ιχώρ (Ihor), 27, page 13, Greece, 2002. (Greek) *

Cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

(European, Middle Eastern, Chinese) *

Cetbang Cetbang (also known as bedil, warastra, or meriam coak) were cannons produced and used by the Majapahit Empire (1293–1527) and other kingdoms in the Indonesian archipelago. There are 2 main types of cetbang: the eastern-style cetbang which lo ...

cannon (Indonesian, Southeast Asian) * Che Dian Chong musket (Chinese) *

Chongtong The Chongtong ( Hangul: 총통, Hanja: 銃筒) was a term for military firearms of Goryeo and Joseon dynasty. The size of chongtong varies from small firearm to large cannon, and underwent upgrades, which can be separated in three generation ty ...

cannon (Chinese) *

Culverin A culverin was initially an ancestor of the hand-held arquebus, but later was used to describe a type of medieval and Renaissance cannon. The term is derived from the French "''couleuvrine''" (from ''couleuvre'' "grass snake", following the ...

cannon (French) * Dardanelles bombard (Turkish) *

Dulle Griet The Dulle Griet ("Mad Meg", named after the Flemish folklore figure Dull Gret) is a medieval large-calibre gun founded in Gent (Ghent). History Three cannons were founded: one resides now in Edinburgh and is called "Mons Meg", and the last ...

bombard (Belgian) *

Ekor lotong Ekor lotong, ekor lutong, or ekor lutung refers to a kind of traditional Malay blackpowder weapon. It is also known as monkey tail cannon. The ekor lotong is a kind of relatively small swivel cannon. Typically, ekor lotongs are made of iron ...

cannon (Malaysian) * Falconet, falcon cannon (European) *

Fauconneau A Fauconneau was a small type of cannon used during the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance. A typical ''fauconneau'' weighed about 25 kg and had a length of about 1 meter. It was a semi-portable weapon. It was mainly an anti-personnel weapon ...

cannon (European) *

Faule Grete The Faule Grete ( German for ''Lazy Grete'', alluding to the lack of mobility and slow rate of fire of such super-sized cannon) was a medieval large-calibre cannon of the Teutonic Order. The bronze bombard was cast in 1409 in the cannon foundry ...

bombard (Polish) *

Faule Mette The Faule Mette (German for ''Lazy Mette'', alluding to the gun's rare deployment, difficult mobility, and limited loading and fire rate) or Faule Metze was a medieval large-calibre cannon of the city of Brunswick, Germany. Cast by the gunfound ...

bombard (German) *

Fire arrow Fire arrows were one of the earliest forms of weaponized gunpowder, being used from the 9th century onward. Not to be confused with earlier incendiary arrow projectiles, the fire arrow was a gunpowder weapon which receives its name from the tra ...

, rocket arrow (Chinese) *

Fire lance The fire lance () was a gunpowder weapon and the ancestor of modern firearms. It first appeared in 10th–12th century China and was used to great effect during the Jin-Song Wars. It began as a small pyrotechnic device attached to a polearm weap ...

, Huo Qiang lance hand cannon (Chinese) *

Grose Bochse The Grose Bochse (old German for ''Große Büchse'', "Big Gun") was a medieval large-calibre cannon of the Teutonic Order. It was cast from June to September 1408 in several pieces and was presumably assembled by a screw or plug connection. The can ...

bombard (German) *

Hand cannon The hand cannon (Chinese: 手銃 ''shŏuchòng'', or 火銃 ''huŏchòng''), also known as the gonne or handgonne, is the first true firearm and the successor of the fire lance. It is the oldest type of small arms as well as the most mecha ...

(European, Middle Eastern, Chinese) *

Hand mortar The hand mortar is a firearm and early predecessor of modern grenade launchers that was used in the late 17th century and 18th century to throw fused grenades. The action was similar to a flintlock, matchlock, or wheellock firearm (depending on ...

(European) *

Heilongjiang hand cannon The Heilongjiang hand cannon or hand-gun is a bronze hand cannon manufactured no later than 1288 and is the world's oldest confirmed surviving firearm. It weighs 3.55 kg (7.83 pounds) and is 34 centimeters (13.4 inches) long. The Heilongjian ...

(Chinese) * Hu Dun Pao cannon (Chinese) * Huo Che rocket arrow launcher (Chinese) *

Huo Chong ''Huochong'' () was the Chinese name for hand cannons. The oldest confirmed metal ''huochong'', also the first cannon, is a bronze hand cannon bearing an inscription dating it to 1298 (see Xanadu Gun, Xanadu gun). By the time of the Ming Dynast ...

hand cannon (Chinese) *

Hwacha The ''hwacha'' or ''hwach'a'' ( ko, 화차; Hanja: ; literally "fire cart") was a multiple rocket launcher and an organ gun of similar design which were developed in fifteenth century Korea. The former variant fired one or two hundred rocket-p ...

rocket arrow launcher (Korean) * Istinggar arquebus (Indonesian) *

Java arquebus Java arquebus refers to long-barreled early firearm from Indonesian archipelago, dating back to the early 16th century. The weapon was used by local armies, albeit in low number compared to total fighting men, before the arrival of Iberian explore ...

(Indonesian) *

Jiaozhi arquebus Jiaozhi arquebus (''Giao Chỉ'' arquebus or Vietnamese arquebus) refer to several type of gunpowder firearms produced historically in Vietnam. This page also include Vietnamese muskets — since the early definition of musket is "heavy arquebus". ...

(Vietnamese) *

Korean cannon Cannons appeared in Korea by the mid 14th century during the Goryeo dynasty and quickly proliferated as naval and fortress-defense weapons. Major developments occurred throughout the 15th century, including the introduction of large siege mortars a ...

Lantaka The ''Lantaka'' (Baybayin: pre virama: ''ᜎᜆᜃ'': post virama: ''ᜎᜈ᜔ᜆᜃ'') also known as ''rentaka'' (In Malay) was a type of bronze portable cannon or swivel gun, sometimes mounted on merchant vessels and warships in Maritime So ...

, rentaka cannon (Philippinese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Southeast Asian) * Lela cannon (Malaysian) * Meriam kecil hand cannon (Indonesian, Malaysian) *

Mons Meg Mons Meg is a medieval bombard in the collection of the Royal Armouries, on loan to Historic Scotland and located at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland. It has a barrel diameter of making it one of the largest cannons in the world by calibre. ...

bombard (Belgian) * Mortar (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese) *

Musket A musket is a muzzle-loaded long gun that appeared as a smoothbore weapon in the early 16th century, at first as a heavier variant of the arquebus, capable of penetrating plate armour. By the mid-16th century, this type of musket gradually d ...

(European, Middle Eastern, Chinese) *

Musketoon The musketoon is a shorter-barrelled version of the musket and served in the roles of a shotgun or carbine. Musketoons could be of the same caliber as the issue musket or of a much larger caliber, 1.0–2.5 inches (25–63 mm). The musketoon ...

(European, Middle Eastern, Chinese) * Orban bombard (Turkish) *

Organ gun A ribauldequin, also known as a rabauld, ribault, ribaudkin, infernal machine or organ gun, was a late medieval volley gun with many small-caliber iron barrels set up parallel on a platform, in use from the 14th through 17th centuries. When the ...

, ribauldequin, ribauiidkin, ribault, rabauld (European) *

Petronel A petronel is a 16th and 17th century black powder muzzle-loading firearm, defined by Robert Barret (''Theorike and Practike of Modern Warres'', 1598) as a '' horsemans peece''. It was the muzzle-loading firearm which developed on the one hand in ...

hand cannon (European) * Pierrier a boite cannon (French) *

Pistol A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, an ...

(European) *

Pot de fer The ''pot-de-fer'' was a primitive cannon made of iron. It was used by France in the Middle Ages, the French in the Hundred Years' War. The name means "iron pot" in French language, French. In Italy, ''pots-de-fer'' were known as ''vasi'' or ''v ...

cannon (French) *

Prangi The prangi, paranki, piranki, pirangi, farangi, firingi, or firingiha was a type of cannon produced by Ottoman Empire. It was subsequently copied and produced in other place such as by Mughal empire under Babur. Prangi was a breech-loading swivel g ...

, pranki, pranku, paranki, pranga, parangi, prangu, parangu, piranki, pirangi, farangi, firingi, firingiha cannon (Turkish, Indian) *

Pumhart von Steyr The Pumhart von Steyr is a medieval large-calibre cannon from Styria, Austria, and the largest known wrought-iron bombard by caliber. It weighs around 8 tons and has a length of more than 2.5 meters. It was produced in the early 15th century an ...

bombard (Austrian) *

Saker Saker may refer to: * Saker falcon (''Falco cherrug''), a species of falcon * Saker (cannon), a type of cannon * Saker Baptist College, an all-girls secondary school in Limbe, Cameroon * Grupo Saker-Ti, a Guatemalan writers group formed in 1947 * ...

cannon (European) * San Yan Chong three barrel hand cannon (Chinese) * Shou Chong hand cannon (Chinese) *

Singijeon ''Singijeon'' or ''shinkichon'' ( ko, 신기전; Hanja: ; literally "Divine machine arrows") was a type of Korean fire arrow rocket, used during the era of the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897). Multiple ''singijeon'' could be launched by ''hwacha ...

, shinkichon rocket arrow (Korean) * Tanegashima arquebus (Japanese) * Tarasnice cannon (European) *

Toradar A toradar is a South Asian matchlock primarily found in the Mughal Empire, dating from the 16th century. It was a preferred firearm in India well until the mid-19th century because of its simple and cheap design. History When the Portuguese Empir ...

, torador arquebus (Indian) *

Tu Huo Qiang ''Tu Huo Qiang'' (Chinese: 突火枪; Pinyin: ''tūhuǒqiāng'') was one of the earliest true guns. It consisted of a moso bamboo tube which had been partially hollowed out and loaded with gunpowder and a single projectile, called the ''zi kē' ...

hand cannon (Chinese) *

Veuglaire The Veuglaire (derived from the German ''Vogler'' and ''Vogelfänger'', and the Flemish ''Vogheler'', after a gun manufacturer named Vögler. English: Fowler) was a wrought iron cannon, and part of the artillery of France in the Middle Ages. There ...

cannon (French) *

Wall gun The wall gun or wall piece was a type of smoothbore firearm used in the 16th through 18th centuries by defending forces to break the advance of enemy troops. Essentially, it was a scaled-up version of the army's standard infantry musket, operating ...

, janjal, jingal, gingal (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese) * Wankou Chong cannon (Chinese) * Xanadu cannon (Chinese) *

Xi Xia The Western Xia or the Xi Xia (), officially the Great Xia (), also known as the Tangut Empire, and known as ''Mi-nyak''Stein (1972), pp. 70–71. to the Tanguts and Tibetans, was a Tangut-led Buddhist imperial dynasty of China tha ...

cannon (Chinese) * Xun Lei Chong spear five barrel revolver musket (Chinese)

Composite projectile weapons

Having a built-in gun or ranged weapon combined with some other type of weapon. * Ax match and wheellock (European axe with five barrels under a removable blade) * Carbine axe (European axe) * Halberd double barreled wheellock (European halberd) * Mace wheellock (European mace) * Matchlock axe dagger (European axe, dagger, matchlock combination) *

Pistol sword A pistol sword is a sword with a pistol or revolver attached, usually alongside the blade. It differs from a rifle with a bayonet in that the weapon is designed primarily for use as a sword, and the firearm component is typically considered a s ...

(European sword) * War hammer wheellock (European pick hammer)

Firing mechanism A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a trap, ...
s

Doglock A doglock is a type of lock for firearms that preceded the 'true' flintlock in rifles, muskets, and pistols in the 17th century. Commonly used throughout Europe in the late seventeenth century, it gained popular favor in the British and Dutc ...

Flintlock Flintlock is a general term for any firearm that uses a flint-striking lock (firearm), ignition mechanism, the first of which appeared in Western Europe in the early 16th century. The term may also apply to a particular form of the mechanism its ...

Matchlock A matchlock or firelock is a historical type of firearm wherein the gunpowder is ignited by a burning piece of rope that is touched to the gunpowder by a mechanism that the musketeer activates by pulling a lever or trigger with his finger. Before ...

Snaphance Swedish snaphance guns from the mid 17th century A snaphance or snaphaunce is a type of firearm lock in which a flint struck against a striker plate above a steel pan ignites the priming powder which fires the gun. It is the mechanical progressio ...

Snaplock A snaplock is a type of lock for firing a gun or is a gun fired by such a lock. A snaplock ignites the (usually muzzle-loading) weapon's propellant by means of sparks produced when a spring-powered cock strikes a flint down on to a piece of harde ...

Snap matchlock The snap matchlock is a type of matchlock mechanism used to ignite early firearms. It was used in Europe from about 1475 to 1640, and in Japan from 1543 until about 1880, and was also largely used by Korea (Joseon) during the Imjin war to the e ...

Wheellock A wheellock, wheel-lock or wheel lock is a friction-wheel mechanism which creates a spark that causes a firearm to fire. It was the next major development in firearms technology after the matchlock and the first self-igniting firearm. Its name is ...

Slings

* Kestros, cestrus, cestrosfendoni, kestrosfedoni (Greek) * Sling (Worldwide) * Stave sling, fustibale (Mediterranean)

Bows

=
Longbows A longbow (known as warbow in its time, in contrast to a hunting bow) is a type of tall bow that makes a fairly long draw possible. A longbow is not significantly recurved. Its limbs are relatively narrow and are circular or D-shaped in cross ...

= * Daikyu (Japanese) *

Decurve bow In archery, the shape of the bow is usually taken to be the view from the side. It is the product of the complex relationship of material stresses, designed by a bowyer. This shape, viewing the limbs, is designed to take into account the cons ...

* Deflex bow *

English longbow The English longbow was a powerful medieval type of bow, about long. While it is debated whether it originated in England or in Wales from the Welsh bow, by the 14th century the longbow was being used by both the English and the Welsh as a ...

, warbow *

Flatbow A flatbow is a bow with non- recurved, flat, relatively wide limbs that are approximately rectangular in cross-section. Because the limbs are relatively wide, flatbows will usually narrow and become deeper at the handle, with a rounded, non-bend ...

Self bow A self bow or simple bow is a bow made from a single piece of wood. Extra material such as horn nocks on the ends, or built-up handles, would normally be accepted as part of a self bow. Some modern authorities would also accept a bow spliced toge ...

Welsh longbow The Welsh bow or Welsh longbow was a medieval weapon used by Welsh soldiers. They were first documented by Gerald of Wales about 1188, who writes of the bows used by the Welsh men of Gwent: "They are made neither of horn, ash nor yew, but of elm. ...

, warbow

= Recurved bows

= *

Cable-backed bow A cable-backed bow is a bow reinforced with a cable on the back. The cable is made from either animal, vegetable or synthetic fibers and is tightened to increase the strength of the bow. A cable will relieve tension stress from the back of the ...

Composite bow A composite bow is a traditional bow made from horn, wood, and sinew laminated together, a form of laminated bow. The horn is on the belly, facing the archer, and sinew on the outer side of a wooden core. When the bow is drawn, the sinew (stre ...

* Hungarian bow *

Perso-Parthian bow A composite bow is a traditional bow made from horn, wood, and sinew laminated together, a form of laminated bow. The horn is on the belly, facing the archer, and sinew on the outer side of a wooden core. When the bow is drawn, the sinew (stre ...

= Short bows and
reflex bow In archery, the shape of the bow is usually taken to be the view from the side. It is the product of the complex relationship of material stresses, designed by a bowyer. This shape, viewing the limbs, is designed to take into account the cons ...
s

= *

Gungdo The Korean Bow ( ko, 각궁, Gak-gung hanja: , or ''horn bow'') is a water buffalo horn-based composite reflex bow, standardized centuries ago from a variety of similar weapons in earlier use. Due to its long use by Koreans, it is also known as Gu ...

, hwal (Korean) *

Hankyu , trading as , is a Japanese private railway company that provides commuter and interurban service to the northern Kansai region and is one of the flagship properties of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., in turn part of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group ...

(Japanese) *

Mongol bow The Mongol bow is a type of Recurve bow, recurved composite bow used in Mongolia. "Mongol bow" can refer to two types of bow. From the 17th century onward, most of the traditional bows in Mongolia were replaced with the similar Manchu bow which is ...

Turkish bow Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and ...

=
Crossbows A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long fire ...

= *

Arbalest The arbalest (also arblast) was a late variation of the crossbow coming into use in Europe during the 12th century. A large weapon, the arbalest had a steel prod (the "bow" portion of the weapon). Since the arbalest was much larger than earlier ...

, arblast (European) * Bullet bow, English bullet bow, pellet crossbow (European) *

Cheiroballistra The ''cheiroballistra'' ( el, χειροβαλλίστρα) or ''manuballista'' (Latin), which translates in all its forms to "hand ballista", was an imperial-era Roman siege engine. Designed by Hero of Alexandria and mostly composed of metal (t ...

, hirovallistra hand ballista (Roman, Greek) *

Crossbow A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long fi ...

(European, Chinese) *

Gastraphetes The gastraphetes ( grc, γαστραφέτης, , belly-releaser), also called belly bow or belly shooter, was a hand-held crossbow used by the Ancient Greeks. It was described in the 1st century AD by the Greek author Heron of Alexandria in his ...

, gastrafetis (Greek) * Pistol crossbow *

Repeating crossbow The repeating crossbow (), also known as the repeater crossbow, and the Zhuge crossbow (, also romanized Chu-ko-nu) due to its association with the Three Kingdoms-era strategist Zhuge Liang (181–234 AD), is a crossbow invented during the W ...

, chu ko nu, zhuge (Chinese) * Skane lockbow (European) * Stone bow (European)

Blowguns

Blowgun A blowgun (also called a blowpipe or blow tube) is a simple ranged weapon consisting of a long narrow tube for shooting light projectiles such as darts. It operates by having the projectile placed inside the pipe and using the force created by ...

, blowpipe, blow tube (Worldwide) *

Fukiya The ''fukiya'' (吹き矢) is the Japanese blowgun, as well as the term for the associated sport. It consists of a tube, with darts approximately in length. Unlike modern Western blowguns, the fukiya has no mouthpiece: instead, a shooter must m ...

(Japanese)

Projectile weapons A ranged weapon is any weapon that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance, i.e. at distances greater than the physical reach of the user holding the weapon itself. The act of using such a weapon is also known as shooting. It is someti ...

Ballista The ballista (Latin, from Greek βαλλίστρα ''ballistra'' and that from βάλλω ''ballō'', "throw"), plural ballistae, sometimes called bolt thrower, was an ancient missile weapon that launched either bolts or stones at a distant ...

(European, Asian) * Ballista elephant (Angkor) *

Carroballista Carroballista was an ancient, cart-mounted ballista, a type of mobile field artillery. According to the Roman author Vegetius (''Epitoma rei militaris'' II.25), each legion had 55 ''carroballistae'' (one per ''centuria'') which were arrow/bolt-sho ...

(Roman) * Catapult (European, Asian) *

Catapulta A catapulta was a Ancient Rome, Roman machine for throwing arrows and javelins, or long, at the enemy. The name comes from the Greek ''katapeltes'' (καταπέλτης), because it could pierce or 'go through' (''kata'') shields (''peltas''). ...

(Roman) * Efthytonon catapult (Greek) * Hu Dun Pao trebuchet (Chinese) *

Mangonel The mangonel, also called the traction trebuchet, was a type of trebuchet used in Ancient China starting from the Warring States period, and later across Eurasia by the 6th century AD. Unlike the later counterweight trebuchet, the mangonel o ...

(Chinese) *

Onager The onager (; ''Equus hemionus'' ), A new species called the kiang (''E. kiang''), a Tibetan relative, was previously considered to be a subspecies of the onager as ''E. hemionus kiang'', but recent molecular studies indicate it to be a distinct ...

(Roman) *

Oxybeles The oxybeles ( el, οξυβελής) was a weapon used by the Ancient Greeks starting in 375 BC. The word is derived from Ancient Greek: οξύς (''oxys'' = sharp, pointed) and βέλος (''belos'' = arrow). The weapon was basically an oversize ...

, oxyvelis ballista (Greek) * Palintonon catapult (Greek) *

Polybolos The polybolos (the name means "multi-thrower" in Greek) was an ancient Greek repeating ballista, reputedly invented by Dionysius of Alexandria (a 3rd-century BC Greek engineer at the Rhodes arsenal,) and used in antiquity. The polybolos w ...

, polyvolos repeating ballista (Greek) *

Trebuchet A trebuchet (french: trébuchet) is a type of catapult that uses a long arm to throw a projectile. It was a common powerful siege engine until the advent of gunpowder. The design of a trebuchet allows it to launch projectiles of greater weight ...

(European, Asian)

Flamethrowers A flamethrower is a ranged incendiary device designed to project a controllable jet of fire. First deployed by the Byzantine Empire in the 7th century AD, flamethrowers saw use in modern times during World War I, and more widely in World W ...

* Pen Huo Qi flamethrower (Chinese) * Greek flamethrower

Flexible weapons

Whip A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
s

Used for whipping. *

Bullwhip A bullwhip is a single-tailed whip, usually made of braided leather or nylon, designed as a tool for working with livestock or competition. Bullwhips are pastoral tools, traditionally used to control livestock in open country. A bullwhip's leng ...

(Worldwide) * Buntot Pagi (Philippinese) * Cat o' nine tails (European) *

Chain whip The chain whip, also known as the soft whip, is a weapon used in some Chinese martial arts, particularly traditional Chinese disciplines, in addition to modern and traditional wushu. It consists of several metal rods, which are joined end-to-e ...

, jiujiebian, samjitbin, qijiebian (Chinese) *

Knout A knout is a heavy scourge-like multiple whip, usually made of a series of rawhide thongs attached to a long handle, sometimes with metal wire or hooks incorporated. The English word stems from a spelling-pronunciation of a French translitera ...

(Eastern European) * Nagyka, nagaika, nogaika (Eastern European) *

Sjambok The sjambok () or litupa is a heavy leather whip. It is traditionally made from an adult hippopotamus or rhinoceros hide, but is also commonly made out of plastic. A strip of the animal's hide is cut and carved into a strip long, tapering fro ...

, fimbo, imvubu, kiboko, kurbash, litupa, mnigolo, chicotte (African) * Small whips, crops (Worldwide) * Stockwhip (Australian) *

Urumi Urumi (Malayalam: ''uṟumi''; Sinhalese: ''ethunu kaduwa''; Hindi: ''āra'') is a sword with a flexible, whip-like blade, originating in modern-day Kerala in the Indian subcontinent. It is thought to have existed from as early as the Sangam per ...

, chuttuval (Indian)

Sectional and composite

Having multiple handles or holdable sections. *

Nunchaku is a traditional Okinawan martial arts weapon consisting of two sticks (traditionally made of wood), connected to each other at their ends by a short metal chain or a rope. It is approximately 30 cm (sticks) and 1 inch (rope). A person w ...

(Okinawan) *

Tabak-Toyok The tabak-toyok (sometimes colloquially referred to as ''chako'') is a Filipino flail weapon consisting of a pair of sticks connected by a chain. It is closely related to the Okinawan nunchaku, the primary difference being that the Filipino version ...

, chako (Southeast Asian) *

Three-section staff The three-section staff, triple staff, three-part staff, originally sanjiegun (, or ) or sansetsukon in Japanese, is a Chinese flail weapon that consists of three wooden or metal staffs connected by metal rings or rope. The weapon is also known as ...

(Okinawan, Chinese)) *

Two-section staff The two-section staff or Changxiaobang () is a versatile weapon which originated in China from the ancient Shaolin temple and Shaolin martial arts. It is a flail-type weapon which consists of a long staff with a shorter rod attached by a chain, t ...

, xhang xiao ban, could also be considered a polearm (Chinese)

Chains and
rope A rope is a group of yarns, plies, fibres, or strands that are twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have tensile strength and so can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly ...
s

Having a heavy object attached to a flexible chain or rope. Wielded by swinging, throwing, or projecting the end, as well as wrapping, striking, and blocking with the chain or rope, sometimes attached to another type of weapon. *

Chigiriki The ''chigiriki'' (契木) is a Japanese flail weapon. It consists of a solid or hollow wood (sometimes bamboo) or iron staff with an iron weight and chain on the end, sometimes retractable. The chigiriki is a more aggressive variation of the parr ...

(Japanese) * Cumberjung, double ended flail, flail with quoits (Indian) *

, fleau d'armes, kriegsflegel (European) * Flying claws (Chinese) * Flying guillotine (Chinese) *

Kusari-fundo ''Kusari-fundo'' ( 鎖分銅) is a handheld weapon used in feudal Japan consisting of a length of chain (''kusari'') with a weight (''fundo'') attached to each end of the chain. Various sizes and shapes of chain and weight were used as there was ...

, manrikigusari, manriki (Japanese) * Kusari-gama (Japanese) *

Kyoketsu-shoge The , which could be roughly translated as "long-distance lithe weapon", is a double-edged blade, with another curved blade attached near the hilt at a 45–60 degree angle. This is attached to approximately of rope, chain, or hair which then en ...

(Japanese) *

Lasso A lasso ( or ), also called lariat, riata, or reata (all from Castilian, la reata 're-tied rope'), is a loop of rope designed as a restraint to be thrown around a target and tightened when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the Spanish an ...

, uurga, lariat (American, Chinese) *

Meteor hammer The meteor hammer (), often referred to simply as meteor (), is an ancient Chinese weapon, consisting at its most basic level of two weights connected by a rope or chain. One of the flexible or "soft" weapons, it is referred to by many differen ...

, dragon's fist, dai chui, flying hammer, sheng bao, liu xing chui (Chinese) *

Rope dart The rope dart or rope javelin (), is one of the flexible weapons in Chinese martial arts. Other weapons in this family include the meteor hammer, flying claws, Fei Tou flying weight, and chain whip. Although the flexible weapons share similar m ...

, jouhyou, rope javelin, sheng biao (Japanese, Chinese) *

Monkey's fist A monkey's fist or monkey paw is a type of knot, so named because it looks somewhat like a small bunched fist or paw. It is tied at the end of a rope to serve as a weight, making it easier to throw, and also as an ornamental knot. This type of ...

(Improvised, European, Japanese, Chinese) * Surujin, suruchin (Okinawan)

Defensive weapons

Shields and
body armour Body armor, also known as body armour, personal armor or armour, or a suit or coat of armor, is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. Historically used to protect military personnel, today it is also used by variou ...

Shield A shield is a piece of personal armour held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry or projectiles such as arrows, by means of a ...
s

Used not only to block strikes and missiles but also swung outwardly (or in quick upward motions) to strike an opponent. Also used to rush an opponent (known as shield bashing). Some shields had spikes, sharp edges, or other offensive designs. * Aspis, oplon (Greek) *

Buckler A buckler (French ''bouclier'' 'shield', from Old French ''bocle, boucle'' 'boss') is a small shield, up to 45 cm (up to 18 in) in diameter, gripped in the fist with a central handle behind the boss. While being used in Europe since an ...

(European) *

Clipeus In the military of classical antiquity, a ''clipeus'' (, Ancient Greek: ἀσπίς) was a large shield worn by the Greek hoplites and Romans as a piece of defensive armor, which they carried upon the arm, to protect them from the blows of the ...

(Roman, Greek) * Dhal (Indian) * Gun shield (Roman, Egyptian, Greek) * Heater shield, heraldic shield (European) * Hide, wickerwork, leather and ceremonial shields (Tribal, Worldwide) * Hungarian shield (European) * Ishlangu (African) * Kite shield (European) * Lantern shield (Italian) * Parma (shield), Parma, parmula (Roman) * Peltarion (shield), Peltarion (Greek) * Rattan shield (Korean, Chinese) * Round shield * Scutum (shield), Scuta, rectangular, tower and oval scutum (Roman) * Targe (European) * Nguni shield (African) * Chīmalli (American)

Armour parts

* Enarmes * Guige

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Premodern combat weapons Weapons by period Lists of weapons

Offensive weapons

Melee weapons

Hand or fist weapons and fans

Edged and bladed weapons

=Swords

=Fighting knives and daggers

Picks and pickaxes

Axes

Truncheons and blunt weapons

Polearms and spears

=Blunt staves

=Spears

=Polearms with axe-like blades

=Polearms with spikes and hammers

Ranged weapons

Thrown

=Throwing blades and darts

=Throwing spears and javelins

=Throwing axe A throwing axe is a weapon used from Ancient history, Antiquity to the Middle Ages by foot soldiers and occasionally by mounted soldiers. Usually, they are thrown in an overhand motion in a manner that causes the axe to rotate as it travels thro ...s

=Throwing balls

=Throwing stick The throwing stick or throwing club is a wooden rod with either a pointed tip or a spearhead attached to one end, intended for use as a weapon. A throwing stick can be either straight or roughly boomerang-shaped, and is much shorter than the ja ...s

Gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). ... weapons

Composite projectile weapons

Firing mechanism A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a trap, ...s

Slings

Bows

=Longbows A longbow (known as warbow in its time, in contrast to a hunting bow) is a type of tall bow that makes a fairly long draw possible. A longbow is not significantly recurved. Its limbs are relatively narrow and are circular or D-shaped in cross ...

= Recurved bows

= Short bows and reflex bow In archery, the shape of the bow is usually taken to be the view from the side. It is the product of the complex relationship of material stresses, designed by a bowyer. This shape, viewing the limbs, is designed to take into account the cons ...s

=Crossbows A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long fire ...

Blowguns

Projectile weapons A ranged weapon is any weapon that can engage targets beyond hand-to-hand distance, i.e. at distances greater than the physical reach of the user holding the weapon itself. The act of using such a weapon is also known as shooting. It is someti ...

Flamethrowers A flamethrower is a ranged incendiary device designed to project a controllable jet of fire. First deployed by the Byzantine Empire in the 7th century AD, flamethrowers saw use in modern times during World War I, and more widely in World W ...

Flexible weapons

Whip A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...s

Sectional and composite

Chains and rope A rope is a group of yarns, plies, fibres, or strands that are twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have tensile strength and so can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly ...s

Defensive weapons

Shields and body armour Body armor, also known as body armour, personal armor or armour, or a suit or coat of armor, is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. Historically used to protect military personnel, today it is also used by variou ...

Shield A shield is a piece of personal armour held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry or projectiles such as arrows, by means of a ...s

Armour parts

See also

References

=
Throwing axe A throwing axe is a weapon used from Ancient history, Antiquity to the Middle Ages by foot soldiers and occasionally by mounted soldiers. Usually, they are thrown in an overhand motion in a manner that causes the axe to rotate as it travels thro ...
s

=
Throwing stick The throwing stick or throwing club is a wooden rod with either a pointed tip or a spearhead attached to one end, intended for use as a weapon. A throwing stick can be either straight or roughly boomerang-shaped, and is much shorter than the ja ...
s

Gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). ...
weapons

Firing mechanism A trigger is a mechanism that actuates the function of a ranged weapon such as a firearm, airgun, crossbow, or speargun. The word may also be used to describe a switch that initiates the operation of other non-shooting devices such as a trap, ...
s

=
Longbows A longbow (known as warbow in its time, in contrast to a hunting bow) is a type of tall bow that makes a fairly long draw possible. A longbow is not significantly recurved. Its limbs are relatively narrow and are circular or D-shaped in cross ...

= Short bows and
reflex bow In archery, the shape of the bow is usually taken to be the view from the side. It is the product of the complex relationship of material stresses, designed by a bowyer. This shape, viewing the limbs, is designed to take into account the cons ...
s

=
Crossbows A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an elastic launching device consisting of a bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar fashion to the stock of a long fire ...

Whip A whip is a tool or weapon designed to strike humans or other animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain. They can also be used without inflicting pain, for audiovisual cues, such as in equestrianism. They are generally e ...
s

Chains and
rope A rope is a group of yarns, plies, fibres, or strands that are twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have tensile strength and so can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly ...
s

Shields and
body armour Body armor, also known as body armour, personal armor or armour, or a suit or coat of armor, is protective clothing designed to absorb or deflect physical attacks. Historically used to protect military personnel, today it is also used by variou ...

Shield A shield is a piece of personal armour held in the hand, which may or may not be strapped to the wrist or forearm. Shields are used to intercept specific attacks, whether from close-ranged weaponry or projectiles such as arrows, by means of a ...
s