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The weapon of the cavalry is a broadsword, a blade of the past century. Piercing, chopping, cutting edged weapons: broadsword, saber, saber - which is better? Melee weapon broadsword

In those ancient times, when edged weapons reigned supreme on the battlefields, human thought, in search of new ways to destroy its own kind, created a broadsword - something between a sword and a saber. His straight, sometimes double-edged blade struck the enemy so effectively that for many centuries it was in the arsenals of most European and Asian states.

Artifacts from ancient graves

The earliest examples of broadswords were found in the burials of the Proto-Bulgarians, a people of Turkic origin who inhabited the steppes of South-Eastern Europe in the 4th and 5th centuries. Despite such a distant era, it had all the same characteristic features that it has retained up to the present day.

It was with a straight double-edged blade that reached a meter in length, a hilt designed to protect the hand, and a slightly curved handle. It is known that the Khazars, Avars, Alans and a number of other representatives of ancient peoples used the same or very similar broadswords at that time.

Broadswords in the hands of Asian warriors

Bladed weapons similar in design and appearance were widely used in the countries of East and Central Asia. In the XIII-XIV century, they were armed with the Tatar-Mongolian hordes, who made their bloody raids and held in obedience a significant part of ancient Russia. Their broadswords had a one-sided sharpening, which created a certain advantage for the warrior in equestrian combat due to the lower weight of the weapon. In addition, they were easier to manufacture, and, accordingly, cheaper.

Weapons of the peoples of the Caucasus

They were also widely used in the Caucasus and in the countries of the Middle East. A common feature of broadswords made by oriental gunsmiths was weak hand protection. The hilt did not yet have a complex design, which would be typical for Western European samples of a later period, and consisted, as a rule, only of a cross with an arc.

Among the broadswords with which the peoples of the Caucasus armed themselves, the so-called franguli are known. They were common among the Khevsurs, an ethnic group that inhabited the Khevsur Aragvi river basin and the upper reaches of the Argun. Their hilts and scabbards were bound with brass or iron plates and richly decorated with patterns in the national style. Broadswords were also widely used in Georgia. Their peculiarity was the handles, similar in appearance to those that at a later time could be seen with cavalry checkers.

Broadswords made by Indian craftsmen

A very popular weapon was the broadsword in India. Here, its design had its own characteristic features, the main of which was the shape of the blade. With a length of about eighty centimeters and one-sided sharpening, it was forged with some expansion towards the end, which had an oval shape. In addition, its peculiar difference was a powerful and reliably protecting hand hilt, which consisted of two bowls connected by a steel strip. This design was called kunda.

In the period related to the late Middle Ages, another type of broadswords called firangi appeared in India. Its originality consisted in the blade, which had a one-and-a-half sharpening, that is, sharpened to half on the back side, and a basket hilt, which had a sharp spike, which also served to defeat the enemy.

The first samples of Western European broadswords

In Western Europe, this type of weapon appeared relatively late - in the 16th century, but was immediately appreciated and widely used. In the forties, the Hungarian hussars began to use a broadsword as an addition to the traditional saber in those days.

The weapon was attached near the saddle and was used mainly for stabbing, which was very convenient due to the long blade. At the same time, the design of the handle, somewhat curved and resembling a saber, made it possible to deliver powerful chopping blows.

At the end of the 16th century, a tangible impetus for the further spread of broadswords was the appearance in Western Europe of regular units of heavy cavalry - cuirassiers. An indispensable element of their protective weapons was a metal breastplate - a cuirass, which reliably protected against saber strikes, but was vulnerable to a heavy and long blade, which was equipped with a specially designed type of weapon that went down in history as a cuirassier broadsword.

New Scottish gunsmiths

Around the same period, Scotland made its contribution to the creation of edged weapons. It was created, and subsequently became popular throughout the UK, the so-called Scottish broadsword. If his wide double-edged blade as a whole looked like those that were equipped with swords, then the guard - the part of the hilt that protects the warrior's hand, was something new.

It was quite large and outwardly resembled a basket with a significant number of branches. Its inner surface was trimmed with leather or red velvet. In addition, the hilt was decorated with horsehair tassels. The Scottish broadsword was usually used in conjunction with a small round shield. This combination made it possible to conduct both defensive and offensive battles.

Walloon swords

Researchers believe that the Western European broadsword is a weapon resulting from the transformation of a previously existing heavy cavalry sword, which was called a saddle sword, since it was usually attached to the saddle. In this regard, broadswords were first called Walloon swords, after the name of the region of Belgium where this type of weapon was produced. Their characteristic feature was somewhat asymmetric hilts, which reliably protected the warrior's hand thanks to a bowl equipped with numerous arches and a transverse cross.

New times - new trends

In the XVII century, in the armies of most European states, a process of unification of weapons took place. At first, single regiments and squadrons were brought to a single standard, and then entire types of cavalry. Since that time, the broadsword, a weapon that was previously used by all cavalry without exception, became part of the arsenal of only dragoon and cuirassier units.

By the middle of the 18th century, the design of the blade had changed. The double-edged blade was replaced by a blade, sharpened only on one side and having a blunt butt. Only its shape and dimensions remained the same, at which it remained a fairly powerful and heavy weapon.

Weapons of boarding parties

For three centuries, from the 16th to the 19th century, the broadsword was used not only on land, but also at sea. It was an integral part of the armament of the boarding teams - those dashing cutthroats who, having dragged the side of the enemy ship with steel hooks, rushed into hand-to-hand combat. The boarding broadsword differed from its land counterpart, first of all, in that its guard was made in the form of a shell.

There were other differences as well. His one-sided blade, which had a length of up to eighty centimeters and a width of about four centimeters, was devoid of valleys - longitudinal channels designed to reduce weight and give additional strength. In this regard, the marine broadsword was akin to the infantry, which had the same blade design feature.

Broadswords in the Russian army

In Russia, the broadsword appeared at the end of the 17th century. This was due to the large influx of foreign officers into military service, who, as a rule, brought firearms and edged weapons with them. The photo that concludes the article presents several broadswords of that period, made in Moscow, but made according to foreign models. As you can see, they are characterized by a beveled handle, convenient for delivering chopping blows from a horse, as well as a cross, straight or having ends lowered to the blade.

In the first quarter of the 18th century, under Peter I, the Russian army was created everywhere as one of the most effective types of heavy cavalry. The main component of their armament was a broadsword - a weapon most suitable for this type of troops. The demand for it increased sharply, since, in addition to the dragoon units, horse-grenadier and carabinieri regiments were armed with it.

Production and import of broadswords

Since that time, they began to produce it by the factory method, while introducing a certain unification, but, in addition, a significant number of broadswords were delivered from abroad. In Western Europe, the main center of their production was the German city of Solingen, where by that time there were a number of enterprises specializing in the production of edged weapons.

Broadswords produced in Russia had a number of distinctive features. For example, items produced during the reign of Empress Catherine II were decorated with an engraving depicting a crown and its monogram - “E II”. The scabbard was leather or made of wood and covered with leather. This tradition continued until 1810, when, by order of Alexander I, they began to be made of metal. The only exception was the boarding broadsword, whose scabbard was still made of leather.

The broadsword as an independent type of blade weapon was most widely used in the first half of the 19th century. At that time, several of its varieties were in service with the Russian and most European armies. Among them, researchers stand out: guards cuirassier broadsword, army cuirassier, dragoon and, finally, infantry broadsword. Each of these species has its own characteristic features. Their common feature was the design of the blade, which became single-edged from the beginning of the 19th century.

A weapon that has become a museum piece

Today, broadswords can only be seen in the hands of soldiers carrying a guard of honor under the banner of the Russian Navy. Scientific and technological progress has forced them out of modern arsenals. The same fate befell almost all edged weapons. The photos presented in this article are a kind of retrospective to a long-gone world, where cavalry lava attacked, raising dust, and formidable blades shot up to the sky glittered in the sun.

And I fenced not badly, especially with a Scottish broadsword

Poet Lord Byron

Among the great variety of European bladed weapons, the broadsword occupies a special place. It can be called a real long-liver. Having appeared at the beginning of the 16th century, the broadsword continued to be used until the First World War, while the 19th century is traditionally considered the period of the greatest popularity of this weapon - the era of dashing hussars and brave cuirassiers. Broadswords are still used as ceremonial weapons, for example, they are armed with officers of the Scottish regiments of the British army. In the Soviet Union, until 1975, the so-called cadet broadsword existed as an official item of equipment, which cadets of the Navy were required to wear outside the walls of their educational institutions.

The most famous type of this weapon is the Highland or Scottish broadsword - he is also a Scottish basket sword - glorified in his works by Byron and Walter Scott.

It is likely that the last time a Scottish broadsword was used in a real battle was in December 1941. During Operation Archery, British Army Lieutenant Colonel John Churchill (nicknamed Mad Jack) went on the attack with this weapon. This officer liked to repeat that "an officer who goes into battle without a sword is armed incorrectly." Churchill was generally a big fan of historical weapons. Judging by the facts of his biography, he always carried his officer's broadsword with him, and during the fighting in northern France in 1940, he managed to shoot a German sergeant major from a large English bow ...

Now we should define the subject of our story. A broadsword is a kind of blade cold weapon, a chopping-piercing type, with a straight and long blade, the dimensions of which reached 100 cm. The broadsword could have a double-sided sharpening, but usually it was one-sided or one-and-a-half. The cross section of the blade of the broadsword is rhombic or lenticular, as a rule, it has no valleys. Another feature of this weapon is a massive and developed guard, which could include a shield, protective arms, a cup or a basket. The broadsword differed from the sword in a heavier and more massive blade.

The handle of cavalry broadswords often had a bend towards the blade. This made it possible to inflict more powerful chopping (almost saber) blows.

Throughout its history, the broadsword was primarily a horseman's weapon, although it could, of course, also be used in infantry combat. The wide distribution of the broadsword is associated with the appearance of numerous regular cavalry, as well as the gradual abandonment of massive heavy armor. This weapon also found its use in the navy - as early as the 16th century, the so-called boarding broadsword appeared, which was in service almost until the end of the 19th century.

The Early History of the Broadsword: Mongolia, the Caucasus, and India

The era of the birth of the broadsword is traditionally considered the end of the 16th - the beginning of the 17th century. However, weapons resembling it in all respects existed among the nomadic Turkic peoples as early as the middle of the 6th century, except that it could not “boast” of a complex and elaborate guard.

Specialized swords for chopping with a long straight single-edged blade were generally popular in the East. In equestrian combat, they had an advantage over ordinary swords, as they weighed less. Yes, and this weapon cost less, because it was easier to manufacture. Eastern broadswords often had a hilt with a characteristic bend. Such weapons were very popular in the Mongol-Tatar army in the XIII and XIV centuries.

If we talk about later periods, then blades, in all respects resembling broadswords, were most common in the Caucasus and the Middle East. Unlike Western European broadswords, these weapons, as a rule, had a weak protection of the fighter's hand, which most often consisted of an ordinary cross.

Unique Ottoman broadsword with a flaming blade

In northeastern India, a broadsword called Kunda or Khanda was made. He had a straight single-edged blade up to 80 cm long with some expansion towards the end, often without a pronounced point. At the same time, like the classic European broadsword, Kunda had a hilt with a developed hand protection, which consisted of a bowl and a wide arc. Such blades were often made of damask steel, and precious woods and precious metals were used for their decoration. Therefore, they were not very cheap.

In the late Middle Ages in India, another type of broadsword, the Firangi, became widespread. This Indian broadsword had a one-and-a-half sharpening and a complex basket hilt.

Broadsword of Western Europe: the heir of knightly traditions

The European broadsword - however, like the sword - is a descendant of the long knightly sword of the Middle Ages, a heavy and versatile weapon, suitable for both equestrian and foot combat. The broadsword is the brainchild of the European Modern Age, the era of the beginning of the formation of mass professional armies on the continent. Knights, of course, were very formidable and combat-ready guys, but there were few of them. Therefore, already in the middle of the 16th century, their place began to be taken by reiters - heavily armed cavalry mercenaries. Elitism once again yielded to mass character ...

The creation of mass regular armies, as well as the further improvement of firearms, leads to some simplification of the protective equipment of a warrior. A similar trend was observed in relation to the weapons of an ordinary warrior.

The original weapon of the Russian cavalry of the war of 1812 - broadsword and sabers

It is believed that the first broadswords began to be used by the Hungarian hussars in the second half of the 16th century. They had this weapon in addition to the saber. Very quickly, the broadsword practically replaced the sword in Western Europe.

Here we should pay attention to one important feature. Throughout its history, the broadsword has been an exclusively military weapon, designed for the terrible whirlwind of a real fight, and not for "noble" fencing. In this regard, the broadsword can be called the antipode of the Breter sword or the parade saber. For its time, the broadsword on the belt was a kind of sign not of a court dude, but of an experienced "front-line soldier" who managed to sniff gunpowder. It could be seen in the Scottish highlanders, the "iron-sided" Lord Protector Cromwell, and later in the cuirassiers of the Napoleonic wars.

The broadsword was not very suitable for virtuoso swordsmanship, which, as a rule, has no place in a real battle. Therefore, it is absolutely no coincidence that defenses when using this weapon were often taken with the left hand - with the help of a bracer or a small shield (highlanders used such until the 18th century). In an individual duel against a skilled swordsman, a fighter with a broadsword did not shine much.

Venetian schiavona in all its glory

Further evolution of the European broadsword

The evolution of the broadsword can be traced by changes in the hilt of this weapon. Broadsword guards of the 16th century already had arches and rings that securely closed the hand, but despite this, they still look very much like the hilts of ordinary swords that existed during this period.

Reiter broadsword with Walloon hilt

In the 17th century, the further development of the broadsword went in several directions, forming three groups, one of which can be conditionally called general, and the other two - regional:

  • the Walloon broadsword and the Haudegen;
  • Scottish broadsword;
  • group of the Venetian schiavona.

Haudegen or Sword of the Dead. Such a strange name is associated with the human head, the image of which was often applied to the hilt of this weapon. And since a significant part of these swords dates back to the period of the English Civil War, collectors of the 19th century believed that the royalists depicted the executed King Charles I on their weapons. Later studies refuted this assumption, but the gloomy name took root ...

The Walloon broadsword is most widely used in the countries of central and northern Europe. This weapon has a characteristic shield, consisting of two parts, which is connected to the pommel with shackles. The rear killon of the cross is bent towards the tip and ends with a spherical pommel. The front killon passes into a protective bow connected to the pommel.

Modern replica of Oliver Cromwell's Haudegen

The haudegen's hilt did not have a cross at all, but it had a well-defined basket and a protective shield. Most of these broadswords have a single-edged sharpening, although there are one-and-a-half and two-edged samples.

The Venetian schiavona had a very small distribution area, initially only the Doge's guard was armed with this broadsword. The main features of this weapon were a pommel shaped like a cat's head, as well as a guard with S-shaped arms. The fencer's hand was protected by a basket formed by oblique arcs.

Schiavona with scabbard. The "cat's head" of the pommel and the characteristic shape of the arcs are clearly visible.

Scottish broadsword, or what was the weapon of Rob Roy

The Scottish broadsword is, without a doubt, the most famous representative of this group of weapons. It began to be used at the beginning of the 17th century and very soon spread throughout England and Ireland. The Scottish broadsword is often referred to as a claymore, which is a mistake, because this is the name of the famous highlanders' heavy two-handed sword. True, it should be noted that in the 17th century, claymores that were outdated at that time were often reforged into broadswords.

Scottish broadsword in scabbard

The Scottish broadsword usually had a double-edged blade, the length of the blade was 70-80 cm, and its width was about 4 cm. The guard of the Scottish broadsword is lined with thick fabric or leather, which is also a feature of this weapon.

Statutory broadsword of the European armies

In the 17th century, the development and improvement of mass professional armies continued on the European continent. One of the components of this process is the unification of weapons, which is generally completed by the beginning of the 18th century. As a result, each branch of the military receives its “own” bladed weapon. So, for example, light cavalry received sabers, and broadswords were adopted for heavy cavalry.

Dragoon broadsword, late 18th century

Statutory broadswords were heavy, as a rule, single-edged weapons with a pronounced point, well adapted for a powerful thrusting blow. They were made in huge quantities, so a lot of copies of these weapons have survived to this day. The characteristics of authorized broadswords, as a rule, were strictly regulated.

In the second half of the 19th century, the broadsword in the cavalry was gradually replaced by the saber.

Broadsword in the Russian Empire

The oldest surviving example of this weapon in our country is considered to be a broadsword that belonged to Prince Skopin-Shuisky at the beginning of the 17th century. Today it is kept in the Moscow Historical Museum. This broadsword has a straight double-edged blade 86 cm long and a hilt with a simple cross, the arms of which deviate towards the tip. The handle of the weapon is curved, it forms a kind of stop for the brush. The broadsword is richly decorated with gold and silver chasing and precious stones. The sheath of the weapon is made in a similar style.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the broadsword of Skopin-Shuisky was rather a curious curiosity for Russia - today historians believe that he never went into a real battle. Broadswords became really mass weapons for the Russian army only during the reign of Peter I - only formed dragoon regiments received them. And in the 30s of the XVIII century, broadswords become the main melee weapons of Russian cuirassiers. By the middle of the same century, Russian broadswords become single-edged. By the end of the 18th century, the Russian army was already armed with army, dragoon, soldier, guard and officer broadswords.

Broadsword, Russia, Zlatoust, mid-19th century

At the beginning of the 19th century, the broadswords of the Russian army were unified and somewhat simplified. They remained in service with cuirassiers until 1881, after which they were used only as parade weapons.

Cadet naval broadsword model 1940

Throughout its history, the broadsword was not exclusively a land weapon; very quickly, its powerful potential was also seen in the navy. Already in the 16th century, the so-called boarding broadsword appeared, which was used during fights on ship decks. This weapon had a powerful blade up to 80 cm long, which could not only hit the enemy, but also cut a rope or cut through a wooden door. A distinctive feature of the boarding broadsword was a massive guard in the form of a shell, which, if necessary, could move the enemy in the jaw.

For centuries, the boarding broadsword was so popular that it is still part of the parade uniform of naval sailors in several countries.

In 1856, broadswords replaced cleavers and became the official weapon of Russian sailors. Two years later, midshipmen were also armed with them. As an accessory to the ceremonial uniform, midshipmen and officers of the Russian fleet wore a broadsword until 1917.

In the Soviet Union, they decided to revive such a tradition, and in 1940 the broadsword was introduced as equipment for cadets of naval schools. The naval cadet's broadsword was prescribed to be worn in all cases when the cadet was outside the educational institution or the ship. In 1958, broadswords were left only for assistants at the banner, as well as those on duty and orderlies. They say this happened because cadet broadswords were increasingly used in street fights. In 1975, the broadsword as an element of equipment in the Soviet fleet was completely abolished.

I love bloody combat!
I was born for the royal service!
Saber, vodka, hussar horse,
With you, my age is golden!

Denis Vasilyevich Davydov, 1815



There is a truly gigantic number of types and types of sabers, since the saber, in its usual form, has existed for at least thirteen centuries and has undergone changes no less than a sword. The saber evolved from another iconic weapon - the broadsword, a straight blade with one-sided sharpening, a descendant of the horse sword. Their great-great-grandson, the saber was used by my grandfather at all, since no one knows about the Kushchev attack of 1942, where the Kuban division showed who a real Cossack is. John Churchill or “Mad Jack” was no less worthy in 1941, when landing on the Norwegian island of Vogsoy, he played the “March of the Cameronians” on his bagpipe and was the first to rush forward with a broadsword in his hand, and in May 1940 he shot a German sergeant major with a bow! The Shingunto of the Japanese covered itself with indelible shame during the executions of prisoners and the Nanjing massacre, where a quarter of a million Chinese died, and Chinese dao swords were often the only weapons of the partisans there after 1945. It was both the swan song of blades and the sunset of their combat use, after the War, broadswords, sabers, sabers, and even more so swords, become an attribute of the dress uniform, shells for historical fencing, status souvenirs and collectibles, as well as toys of mummers "Cossacks".

Speaking of this weapon, it must be emphasized that although there were infantry and naval broadswords and sabers, these were mainly weapons that came from horsemen. And all the efforts to improve and modernize them were directed, first of all, to equestrian use, the fact that the cavalry, dismounting, often used sabers and broadswords in the infantry formation, is the exception rather than the rule. The infantry had bayonets, cleavers, half-sabers, daggers, in general, they had enough arsenal to kill more neighbors, the infantry had sabers and broadswords, but, as practice showed, they were non-functional on foot. And in more ancient times, the infantry bristled with spears, axes, swords, and even having shields, it makes no sense to climb such an army with a saber. Therefore, sabers and broadswords were circulated on a par with swords, but only because the army was professional equestrian, there the saber is suitable as an auxiliary weapon. The main weapon of the rider was a heavy spear - it did all the work, as well as clubs and other weapons of shock-crushing action. Once again I am convinced how intelligent and practical people the ancestors were, and if something cannot be explained, then you need to look for a logical reason. For example, under the Mongols in Russia, sabers almost disappear - which means that the Russians fight mainly with knights, against the Romanesque type of a straight sword, where the saber will not help, but as the Turks climbed, the saber is again the most popular bladed weapon before Peter.

According to the technology, making a saber is more difficult than a sword, such a welded blade is more difficult to manufacture, which is why it appears by the time of more or less high-quality steel. There must have been an iron saber, but there were definitely no bronze ones, there must have been some prototype of a bronze broadsword, although this is more of a one-sided sharpening sword. The first sabers were expensive and decorated with the attributes of a rich warrior, because until the 12th-13th centuries they were made welded, in general, like swords, but even more work had to be done. The best and most expensive were considered damask sabers, as well as expensive ones made of Damascus steel.

The oldest broadsword of Kubrat found in the Proto-Bulgarian necropolis dates back to the beginning of the 5th century, most of the oldest broadswords were found in the Northern Black Sea region, they were used by the early Avars, Khazars, Alans, Bulgars.

Broadsword (Hungarian pallos - “sword”, “dagger”) is a contact blade cutting and stabbing weapon with a long straight single-edged blade up to 100 cm long, double-sided (early samples), most often one-sided or one and a half sharpening, with a complex hilt.

Broadswords are characteristic of the East, Asia, India and the Caucasus, they originate from chopping swords, gradually acquiring a traditional Asian curved hilt. They have an advantage over the sword in less weight and ease of manufacture, they were popular with the Mongols, since the 16th century they have been used as an auxiliary weapon by the Hungarian hussars, then they are armed with cuirassiers - lightweight knights. The Western European broadsword came from a heavy saddle sword, or rather, in Russia it is customary to separate the broadsword from the sword, many do not do this, since the first broadswords were called the “Walloon sword”, the width and weight of the broadsword blade are considered greater than that of the classic sword, although early swords could be heavier and wider broadsword. By the 19th century, double-sided sharpening was replaced exclusively by one-sided. At the same time, there was a boarding sea broadsword Scallop (Duzeggi) with a blade length of up to 80 cm, a width of about 4 cm, the meaning of such a large guard in blows to the jaw, a powerful blade in cutting ropes and cutting through doors in the cramped space of the ship.

A broadsword with a rather interesting basket guard spread in Scotland and England, although the schiavon and haudegen (respectively, the Italian and German versions of the basket sword) did not have much success outside these countries. The mountain broadsword was not the most successful option, although it replaced the Scottish claymore sword, was used as a status weapon for officers and an object of Scottish national pride, and went out of use in the First World War.

Last but not least, because of the Scottish mercenaries, the broadsword again ends up in Russia, the earliest surviving Russian broadswords include the broadsword of Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky, total length 99 cm, blade length 86 cm, blade width at the heel 4.3 cm. The broadsword was in service with the dragoon regiments in the first quarter of the 18th century, from the 1730s of the cuirassier regiments, horse grenadiers, carabinieri, hussars and dragoons. The dragoons were armed with broadswords until 1817, for some time they were armed with horse artillery, they were produced both in Russia and bought in the famous Solingen.

Under Catherine the Great, the monogram "E II" (Catherine II) under the crown is engraved on broadswords. In the 18th century, army and guards, soldier and officer, cuirassier, dragoon and carabinieri broadswords were distinguished in the Russian army; common to them was a wide, long and heavy blade, and they differed in the shape of the hilt and scabbard. In the first third of the 19th century, various types of broadswords were unified: the dragoon model of 1806, the cuirassier model of 1810, and the cuirassier model of 1826 that replaced it. Broadswords were in service with the cavalry guards as parade weapons before the revolution.

The broadsword was repeatedly recognized as a monstrously cruel weapon, it inflicted extremely dangerous wounds, and after the war with Napoleon there was a lot of talk about almost banning broadswords. Currently, broadswords are used as ceremonial weapons in various countries.

The saber in its usual sense appeared in the 7th century among the Turkic peoples as a result of the modification of the broadsword, the first sabers were found in the kuruk near the village. Voznesenki (now Zaporozhye). The prototypes of sabers can be traced in Asia and the Far East from the 2nd century BC. BC e.-II c. AD, but no one will undertake to say exactly what is depicted on the relief or fresco. Some version of the saber or experimental weapons close to it can be traced in China, Japan and Korea, but given their passion for versatile weapons, even in the 5th century. it is not possible to accurately establish the saber from the images. Saber (Hungarian szablya from Hungarian szabni - “cut”) chopping-cutting-stabbing edged bladed weapons with an average length of a curved one-sided blade sharpening of 80-110 cm, with a mass of 0.8-2.6 kg. The saber appeared as an idea to reduce the weight of the blade with the same cutting abilities, by reducing the contact area and, in general, copes with the task. As a bonus, with a slight bend, it became possible to inflict a cut wound, which significantly increases the chances of quickly incapacitating the enemy due to large blood loss. The saber of Charlemagne (Magyar saber) has been preserved.

Since the middle of the 7th century, sabers have been known in Altai, in the middle of the 8th century in the Khazar Khaganate and distributed among the nomads of Eastern Europe, they were short, about 60-80 cm, with a beveled handle. At the end of the 9th - 10th centuries, sabers from nomadic Magyars come to Russia, since the 11th century in southern Russia sabers have been used on a par with swords, but in Novgorod and Suzdal they are not widely used due to constant contact with heavy knights, they are opposed only with swords . In the 10th-11th century, sabers occasionally appear in the Arab world, from the 12th century they become more widespread in Iran, Anatolia, Egypt and the Caucasus. Their sabers of that time were similar to the Eastern European ones of the 10th century; in the 13th century, sabers in Islamic countries begin to displace swords and broadswords. The Mongols import sabers popular with them throughout the east, to India, in the 15th-16th centuries two main types of Islamic sabers stood out: narrow and long shamshirs of significant curvature, characteristic of Iran, and shorter and wider kiliches of lesser curvature, characteristic of Turkey. Both options had a straight handle, a cross with a cross on the hilt, the average length of the blade was about 75-110 cm. At the same time, Shamshir was so curved that it could only be stabbed, a blow with a pull or an injection from the saddle was made. Kilich or kilij, klych experienced many changes in the Ottoman Empire, changing decoration, bend and disappeared in the 19th century.

The design of the saber handle is lighter than that of a sword, black, usually wooden, with a metal pommel (knob) equipped with a ring for attaching a lanyard. In the 14th century, the elman became widespread on the saber, after which the saber acquired the properties of a predominantly chopping weapon. At the same time, sabers became the completely predominant long-bladed weapon in Russia, they were both locally produced and imported. In the Novgorod lands, sabers, however, have not yet supplanted swords, but still became widespread. The sabers characteristic of the XIV-XV centuries, which were in circulation in Eastern Europe, including Russia, the Caucasus, have not changed much compared to the XIII century: the length of the blade remains within 110-120 cm, the curvature increases to 6.5-9 cm, the mass is from 0, 8 to 1.5 kg. From the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries, saber production in the Arab world reached such a level that it began to influence Eastern Europe, where imported "eastern" sabers became widespread. Kilichi of the Turkish type were distinguished by massive blades 88-93 cm long, with yelman, with a total length of the saber 96-106 cm, weight up to 2.6 kg.

Hungary and Poland had a great influence on sabers; from the second half of the 16th century, the development of the hilt took place there. The difference between these sabers was an open (sometimes half-closed) handle with a beveled forward pommel in the form of an almond-shaped flat fitting. In the 17th century, a hussar saber with a closed hilt appeared from the Hungarian-Polish ones: from the side of the blade, from the end of the crosshair to the knob, there was a finger bow that protected the hand; this shackle was sometimes not connected to the pommel of the hilt. A ring (paluh) for the thumb was added to the crosshairs, which made it possible to quickly change the direction of blows. The Poles experienced simply a mystical passion for sabers, they had many types and types of sabers, such as hussar, karabela, kostyushovka.

In the countries of Central and Western Europe, sabers were not common until the second half of the 16th century, they received recognition in the 18th-19th centuries, and swords and swords were mainly used. Landsknechts used the two-handed saber gross-messer, which appeared in the 15th century in Hungary. For the poor and fencing schools, a dusak and a lot of different cleavers were used. In the XVI-XVII centuries, a shortened "half-saber" - a hanger (English hanger) was in circulation.

In the 17th-18th centuries, under Eastern European influence, sabers spread throughout Europe and were used as cavalry weapons; they were used by hussars, dragoons, and mounted grenadiers. They came from the sabers of the Polish-Hungarian type.

The Arabs did not stop using sabers, like India and the entire Middle East, as well as Turkey, from where they brought sabers to Europe as trophies. They had half-swords, half-sabers of the seif, as well as something like checkers of fleece. The scimitar, which appeared in the 16th century, is very famous, but it is constantly confused with the kilich (fang, kilij), due to the fact that filmmakers for some reason show the Turks and Arabs with an incredible width and bulge of the blade, stubbornly calling this goalkeeper stick a scimitar. In fact, the scimitar is just a long back-curved falcata-type knife, the maximum can be assigned the status of a cleaver. According to legend, the Sultan forbade the Janissaries to carry sabers in peacetime, and they invented arm-length combat knives (the length of the scimitar is up to 80 cm, the blade is 65 cm, the weight is 800 g). There are a huge number of legends about scimitars, but it did not receive distribution, except for Turkey and neighboring countries, the Cossacks rarely used trophies, preferring sabers, swords and broadswords, the Russian soldier of the Turk with a scimitar beat successfully and often. There is information about throwing scimitars, but single-handed swords were also thrown, but a good soldier does not let go of a weapon, even unloaded, for which the sergeant hits painfully even in training, so the history of developed throwing of scimitars is doubtful. Scimitar from the Persian shamshir is an obsolete generalized European term for various oriental sabers (Middle Eastern, North African, Central Asian), refers to such sabers as: shamshir (Persia), kilij (Turkey and Egypt), nimcha (Morocco), pulwar (Afghanistan) and talwar (India).

kilij

Pulvar

Talwar

During the Egyptian campaign, the French introduced the fashion for Mamluk-type sabers, and the Cossacks, who flaunted such popular weapons in Paris, only strengthened it. Sabers began to be used everywhere in European armies, regardless of the military branches, up to aviation. As a ceremonial weapon, sabers are still used in many countries.

The most expensive saber in the world belonged to Napoleon - it was sold for 5 million dollars and declared a national treasure of France. In addition, another saber of Napoleon is kept in the collection of the State Historical Museum in Moscow; it was presented by Napoleon to Count Shuvalov for saving him from a crowd of angry French in Orgon. Surprisingly, this saber even took part in the Civil War, being stolen from the Shuvalov estate in 1918 and only years later ended up in the Museum of the Red Army and Navy.

Shashka (Circassian \ Adyghe "sa

The first samples of checkers as an auxiliary weapon were used in the XII-XIII centuries, before the disappearance of armor and the need for such weapons, checkers only complement swords and sabers. But even cuirasses disappear, and in the 19th century the saber replaced the saber, first in the Caucasus, and then in Russia, being borrowed from the Adygs (Circassians) by the Terek and Kuban Cossacks. In the 19th century, the saber was adopted by the Russian army as a statutory type of edged weapon for almost all cavalry units.

I. - Blade.

III. - Sheath.

a) - Combat unit.

b) - Protective part.

1. Blade, 2. Point, 3. Butt (blunt), 4. Fuller, 5. False blade, 6. Center of impact, 7. Heel, 8. Back, handles, 9. Belly of the handle, 10. "Goose" (top hilt), 11. Hole for a lanyard, 12. Mouth of the scabbard, 13. Slit of the first belt belt, 14. Clip, 15. Ring for the second belt belt, 16. Tip of the scabbard.

A saber is an offensive slashing weapon that does not imply defensive techniques and long fencing, with a saber they inflict fast powerful chopping blows that are difficult to close or dodge, a saber thrust is possible, but due to balance it is difficult. For the convenience of snatching the scabbard, the checkers were attached on one or two rings to the belt or shoulder harness with the blade up, since it is easier to quickly remove the checker from the scabbard from this position to perform a chopping blow from top to bottom. The advantage of drafts is cheapness and mass character, as well as the ability to quickly train a pair of simple and effective strikes for an unprepared recruit. The Red Army cavalry drill charter (248 pages) lists only three blows (to the right, down to the right and down to the left) and four injections (half-turn to the right, half-turn to the left, down to the right and down to the left).

In Russia, the saber was adopted by all cavalry units, artillery servants and officer corps. In 1881, under the leadership of Lieutenant General A.P. Gorlov, an armaments reform was carried out in order to establish a single model of edged weapons for all military branches. After the October Revolution of 1917, checkers were adopted by the Red Army, except for the Caucasian national units, which still had national-style checkers. For the command staff, a dragoon-style saber was adopted; since 1919, the saber was a premium melee weapon. The production of checkers was discontinued in the 1950s due to the disbandment of the cavalry units of the Soviet Army; in the spring of 1998, large-scale production of checkers was resumed for collectors and sales.

Such is the long history of broadswords, sabers and checkers, stated very briefly. In the era when the hairpin cartridge appeared, cold long-bladed weapons lost their dominance for many thousands of years, fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t know. From now on, in hand-to-hand combat, the one with the most ammo wins, but that's a completely different story.

Broadswords, rapiers are a logical continuation of the development of medieval swords. In general, individual swords of the XV-XVI centuries, according to some characteristic features, can be considered as broadswords. This is especially true for the presence of developed guards, which include interlaced rings and temples. In the future, this will develop into a basket guard, which has an English or Scottish broadsword, an Italian schiavona, an atyl - an Indian broadsword.

The term broadsword itself comes from the Turkish word pala, which can be translated as a sword or dagger. In European states, broadswords received a wide variety of names. So, the British had broadsword - basket swords, the Italians had spada schiavona - Slavic swords, and the Germans in different periods of the 16th-19th centuries had several names at the same time:

  • In the XVI-XVII centuries - reiterschwert - these were the swords of horsemen;
  • In the XVIII-XIX centuries, based on the purpose of the military units in which they were used - kurassierdegen, dragonerdegen, kavalleriedegen - cuirassier swords, dragoon swords, as well as cavalry swords.

So, broadswords are a kind of chopping-piercing long-bladed weapons. They have wide double-edged or single-edged blades and developed guards, usually in the form of wicker baskets. Broadsword blades are much wider and heavier than those of rapiers or later swords.

Broadsword design

Like all swords, broadswords have two main parts - the blade and the hilt. The most curious and structurally complex are broadsword hilts, equipped with basket guards. All hilts of these types stand out from the universal details inherent in all of them.

They consist of:

  • pommel;
  • Rear killon crosspieces;
  • Crosspieces;
  • Guard rings protruding below the crosses (they have only early weapons, such as the Scottish broadsword and schiavona);
  • Front killon crosspieces.

Blades were conditionally divided into three parts:

  • Strong parts of the blades;
  • The middle parts of the blades;
  • Weak parts of blades and points.

Broadswords with basket guards

Early broadsword configurations with basket guards arose in the 16th century. Unlike other guards of that time, the arcs with rings turned into lattice baskets that completely covered the hands. There are changes in the forms of guards from typical, round, rapier ones to more flattened ones. Old Swedish inventories defined these weapons as "basket hilts in the form of horse muzzles."

Despite the basket guards, these varieties of early broadswords are very similar to other forms of swords. In those days, they all had rather long parrying arches of the crosses. Some hilts had characteristic divisions into two parts, similar to bastard swords.

Since the 17th century, broadswords with basket guards have been divided into three different categories. One category can be called general, and the other two are regional, which includes: the Venetian schiavon and the Scottish broadsword. The most famous representatives of the general category are Walloon broadswords (Walloon swords) and mortuary swords (from the English mortuary swords), known on the mainland as haudegen - haudegens (according to some sources they were defined as combat swords).

Walloon broadsword

Walloon broadswords gained great popularity in the central and northern European states. Apparently, they became the main prototypes for the subsequent formation of combat statutory cavalry blades. They are easily distinguished from broadswords with basket hilts, and have characteristic features:

  • The guards have wide two-piece front shields connected to the pommel with the help of side protective arms;
  • The rear killons of the crosses are bent down to the points, at the ends they have extensions of spherical shapes;
  • The front killons pass into the front protective arms connected to the pommel, which in almost all Walloon broadswords have spherical shapes.

Deceased Sword

Most Haudegen blades have only one blade. There are no crosses on the hilts, and the baskets are pronounced and equipped with protective shields. This weapon was mainly distributed in England in the 17th century when the civil war was going on. Many basket guards were decorated with pictures of the beheading of King Charles I. That is why the English Howdegens later became known as "deceased swords".

Scottish broadsword

Apparently the most famous regional representative is the Scottish broadsword. It is often mistakenly referred to as a claymore. The most diverse versions of it quickly spread throughout Britain.

The spread of the Scottish broadsword is associated with military clashes that often took place in Scotland in the 18th century. Regular English troops and Scottish highland clans fought.

It is striking that most Scottish broadswords have red linings inside the guards, and the blade, as a rule, is very wide, long with a double-edged blade.

Schiavona

Schiavons were less regionally distributed than Scottish broadswords. They met only in Venice. At first, the term gli schiavoni was used to refer to the swords of the Doge's guards. Later, Venetian-style basket-hilted swords were called that.

There are significant differences in quality and finish between different examples of schiavon. So, some are extremely simple and functional, while the rest had excellent chasing and brass inlay.

Broadswords of statutory forms

By the end of the 17th century, all European armies began to arm themselves with authorized weapons, characteristic of different types of troops. The broadsword becomes the signature weapon of heavy cavalrymen such as cuirassiers and dragoons. By the 19th century, the armies of some states were armed with several models of broadswords. In addition to guards cuirassier broadswords, army cuirassier broadswords, dragoon and other broadswords, an officer's broadsword also appeared. All of them basically had heavy single-edged blades with well-defined points, designed for powerful thrusting.

Cuirassier broadsword

The manufacture of such broadswords was mass-produced by all major European centers. All parameters were strictly regulated by the charters, so a considerable number of these weapons have come down to us. As a result, with the word "broadsword" many imagine the actual cuirassier weapon of the 19th century.

By the end of the 19th century, broadswords were replaced by sabers in the cavalry of most states. The only exception was the Life Guards, in which these weapons have survived to this day.

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Compared to the sword, the broadsword has a developed guard, usually including a cup and protective bows. The difference between a broadsword and a sword is a heavier blade, which has a greater width and thickness.

Broadsword in the East and Asia

Derived from less specialized slashing swords and bearing all the hallmarks of a broadsword—a long, straight, single-edged blade and often a curved hilt—weapons are traditional in East and Central Asia; in particular, in the XIII-XIV centuries it was widespread among the Tatar-Mongols. Single-edged broadswords in equestrian combat had an advantage over double-edged swords due to their lower weight, and were also easier and cheaper to manufacture.

Caucasus

Broadswords were distributed primarily in the Caucasus and the Middle Eastern countries. All eastern broadswords usually have a hilt symmetrical with a weak protection of the hand, often it is only a cross with an arc. The most famous are the Khevsur broadswords (franguli), with scabbards and hilts bound with iron or brass plates, decorated in the traditional Caucasian style. Sometimes the broadswords of the Khevsur masters are equipped with ordinary dagger handles. In Georgia, broadswords with hilts resembling checkers were used, surviving specimens date back to the 18th-19th centuries.

India

middle Asia

In Asia, there was a Kazakh broadsword (half-saber) called celebrity .

Broadsword in Western Europe

Appearance

In the second half of the 16th century, the Hungarian hussars began to use weapons with a straight blade attached to the saddle, which (like the konchar) served as an addition to the saber. The handle of this weapon resembled a saber and was slightly curved.

Spreading

The Western European broadsword developed from the heavy cavalry saddle sword. The first samples of the broadsword were called the Walloon sword. The broadsword, which spread in the continental countries of Western Europe, was distinguished by an asymmetrical hilt with a highly developed hand protection in the form of a cross or a bowl with a whole system of arches.

In the XVII century there was a gradual unification of broadswords in the cavalry of European armies. Uniform weapons were adopted, first for individual regiments, and then for each type of cavalry. First of all, cuirassier and dragoon regiments were armed with broadswords.

The double-edged form of the blade was preserved in almost all armies until the middle of the 18th century, then it began to be replaced by a blade with one blade and a blunt butt. At the beginning of the 19th century, broadsword blades everywhere become single-edged, still remaining quite powerful and wide.

Broadsword in Eastern Europe

Samples of broadswords of the Proto-Bulgarians of the 5th century AD. e. from the Proto-Bulgarian necropolises in the Black Sea region.

Appearance

The oldest examples of broadswords were found in Proto-Bulgarian necropolises from the beginning of the 5th century in the Northern Black Sea region, including the famous golden broadsword of Kubrat, the ruler of Great Bulgaria. Broadswords were also used by the early Avars, Khazars and Alans. In the Volga Bulgaria, they continued the tradition of using broadswords that came from the Black Sea, along with sabers.

Broadsword in the Russian Empire

Broadswords of the Moscow case. Around the 17th century.

First information

The broadsword appeared in Russia around the end of the 16th century, apparently, along with foreign officers accepted into the Russian service.

In Russia, the handles of early broadswords are inclined, most convenient for cutting from a horse, crosses or straight, or with ends lowered to the blades.

The earliest surviving Russian broadswords include the broadsword of Prince M.V. Skopin-Shuisky, first kept in the Solovetsky Monastery since 1647, and now located in the State Historical Museum in Moscow. His blade is straight, double-edged, smooth. The handle is inclined, the cross with the ends lowered to the blades has a crosshair. The frame of the handle is silver, gilded, chased, decorated with large turquoise, a dark garnet is inserted into the knob. The scabbard is covered with scarlet velvet, the mouth of the tip and four clips are chased silver, decorated with turquoise as well as the rim of the handle. The scabbard has two silver belt rings located on one side. Frame in oriental style. Total length 99 cm, blade length 86 cm, blade width at the heel 4.3 cm.

Mass distribution

As a mass model of weapons manufactured in a factory way, the broadsword established itself in Russia under Peter I, when creating dragoon regiments in the first quarter of the 18th century. Broadswords were made not only in Russia, but also imported from abroad, mainly from the German city of Solingen. Since the 1730s, broadswords have become the weapons of cuirassier regiments. Heavy cavalry in the 18th century was also made up of horse grenadiers and carabinieri. Dragoons were armed with broadswords until 1817, for some time horse artillery was armed with them.

A broadsword with a straight double-edged blade, about 1 arshin 3 inches (85 cm) long, with a hilt that had a cup or grate to cover the hand, was the weapon of the dragoons, cuirassier and part of the hussars, also the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment and the Life Campaign, and in 1763 it was also given to the Carabinieri regiments.

By the middle of the 18th century, the Russian broadsword gradually became single-edged with a butt. Under Catherine the Great, the monogram "E II" (Catherine II) under the crown is engraved on broadswords. The scabbards of Russian broadswords of that time were leather or wooden, covered with leather. The metal device was simple (the mouth, nuts with rings for the harness, the tip) or, being slotted, covered almost the entire surface of the scabbard. Since 1810, the broadsword scabbard has become only metal, with the exception of the leather sheaths of the 1856 model naval broadsword.

In the 18th century, army and guards, soldier and officer, cuirassier, dragoon and carabinier broadswords were distinguished in the Russian army; common to them was a wide, long and heavy blade, and they differed in the shape of the hilt and scabbard. The hilt was covered with various combinations of curved arms, lattices, guard guards, at its base there was a cup, flat or curved, sometimes from two oval plates. The heads on the handle were round, flattened or in the form of an eagle or lion's head. The scabbard was covered with leather, set into wide metal clips or bound with metal with figured slots and a comb at the end. In the 19th century, hilts were simplified and unified, and metal scabbards also became simpler.

Rise and fall into disuse

By the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian army was armed with several models of broadswords: guards cuirassier broadswords, army cuirassier broadswords, dragoon broadswords (with the exception of dragoons in the Caucasus, which were armed with sabers). Horse artillery also had special horse artillery broadswords. Broadswords were also the weapons of the cavalry guards. The gendarmes also wore them (until 1826).

The blades of Russian broadswords from the first decade of the 19th century were only single-edged. In the first third of the 19th century, various types of broadswords were unified: the dragoon pattern of 1806, the cuirassier pattern of 1810, and the cuirassier pattern of 1826 that replaced it. Broadswords were in service with cuirassiers until they were reorganized into dragoons in 1881, after which broadswords remained only in some military units as parade weapons.

Marine (boarding) broadsword

Broadsword Russian boarding sailor model 1856

The naval broadsword has been used since the 16th century as a boarding weapon. A boarding broadsword is a long-bladed chopping and stabbing weapon with a straight wide blade without fullers, having one-sided or one-and-a-half sharpening. The handle is wooden or metal with a guard such as a shackle, cross, shield. Unlike combat broadswords, which had metal or wooden scabbards, boarding broadsword scabbards were usually leather. The length of the blade was up to 80 cm, width - about 4 cm.

Nowadays

Currently, the broadsword is the ceremonial weapon for banner assistants in the Russian Navy.

Notes

  1. "Sword". Military Encyclopedic Dictionary. Moscow, 1984
  2. GOST R 51215-98. Melee weapons: terms and definitions.
  3. "History of Russian material culture", L. V. Belovinsky. University book, 2003
  4. "Sabers, broadswords, checkers and weapons with a curved blade", comp. Y. Kolobaev
  5. "Sword" (unavailable link), Megaencyclopedia of Cyril and Methodius
  6. Gorelik M. V. The armies of the Mongol-Tatars of the X-XIV centuries. Military art, equipment, weapons. - M., 2002 (Series "Uniform of armies of the world")
  7. A. V. Komar, O. V. Sukhobokov "Armament and military affairs of the Khazar Khaganate" (Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine)
  8. "Steel arms. Encyclopedic Dictionary”, V. N. Popenko. AST, Astrel, 2007 ISBN 978-5-17-027396-6
  9. Kulinsky A. N. European edged weapons. - St. Petersburg: Atlant, 2003. - S. 81. - 552 p. - ISBN 5-901555-13-9.
  10. , Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron. St. Petersburg, 1890-1907
  11. Dorian Alexandrov Makar and explain, find from the treasure of Voznesenka they say: “Nay-old broadswords and sabis open exactly in the Bulgarian necropolises from the 5th-7th centuries in the North Black Sea region and to other places, and open Voznasenka’s samples exactly like that. Tova se potvarzhdava somehow from the format to the wedge on the point, and from the beginning to the development.