Cutting Edge Weapons: 10 Unusual Knives, Swords and Blades
In this age when we think of weapons, we tend to think of aircraft, electronic guidance systems, bombs and missiles. Sophisticated star wars systems may come to mind or huge warships and aircraft carriers or even chemical or nuclear weapons.
Of course that has not always been the case.
From man’s earliest days the blade has been the basic form of weapon whether for hunting, defence or warfare. For close combat and ceremonial occasions it is still in use today: the dress sword of the mounted officer or the bayonet of the infantry. If you are lucky enough to be Knighted you may even get a tap on the shoulders by the British Queen with a ceremonial sword.
I would like to make it clear at this point, that this article takes no stance on the use of weaponry.
My own beliefs and convictions are not included here. This is a look at some of the non standard, more interesting and curious forms that blades have taken, with historical, geographic and cultural differences. I use the term blade because some of the forms shown cannot be described as knives or swords.
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The Kukri
Some readers may be surprised to find that the image shown is actually modern British army issue. It is issued to one of the most feared units in the British army: the Gurkhas.
It is their weapon of choice in close combat, rather than the bayonet.
The story of the Gurkhas is a long and historically complicated one.
Succinctly: Gurkhas hail from Nepal which was part of India. In its Empire building days, Britain made India one of its colonies. The Gurkhas were seen as brave and heroic fighters who were recruited into the colonial Indian army as a “Martial Race”, a term which meant that they were not classed as mercenaries.
With the independence of India in 1947 four regiments became part of the British army. Prior to this they have fought in both World Wars and latterly were part of the forces that in the 1980’s defeated the Argentine army in the Falklands and also served in the Middle East.
The Kukri shown above is the standard army issue with karda and chakmak.
Traditionally the blade is 12-15 inches (30-38cm) long. The karda is a small accessory blade used for many tasks. The chakmak is unsharpened and is used to burnish the blade. It can also be used to start a fire with flint.
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The Shamshir
The Shamshir is a sabre that is part of the scimitar group of swords.
Originating in Persia in the 16th century, it was the weapon of the Persian cavalry.
Somewhat unwieldy and inaccurate in a thrusting stabbing motion, its strength was in its slashing ability. The curved blade which made it unwieldy for thrusting made it dynamic for a downward slashing movement, normally against un-armoured foot opponents. One writer said that “bright shamshirs which fell on the head cleft men to the waist.”
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The Khanda
The Khanda is a straight, heavy double edged Indian sword
This example clearly shows that the weapon is broader towards the tip than half way down the blade, complete with spike at the base of the handle. Because of its size and weight, this again was a weapon that was more useful for slashing and hacking rather than a stabbing movement.
It is mainly associated with the Sikhs, Marathas and other clans of the Kshatriya warrior class of India. It is also used in Sikh martial arts.
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The Quoit
The quoit, surely this is a ring of rope used by passengers on luxury liners in days gone by in deck games, or perhaps the ring used in Hoopla on the funfair?
These pastimes of idling away time do not have much to do with reality.
The reality was that the quoit was a solid razor sharp ring of thin steel used by the Sikhs of India. (The example above is actually inlaid with gold
Image sourceSikhs with chakrams, 1844The quoit also known as a Chakram measured anything between 5-12 inches (13-30cm)
This weapon was thrown at the enemy. It was released either vertically in an underarm throw to fall under it own weight on the heads of opponents, or would be twirled around the index finger raised above the head and released.
It is said that in the right hands it could kill a man at 80 paces.
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The Kora
A somewhat rare and fierce weapon, the Kora served as part axe and part sword.
This Indo/Nepal weapon was used for fighting and for sacrifice.
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The Tang
A tang on a knife or sword is that part that will be enclosed by the handle.
This is probably how the weapon got its name. At first glance it appears as if the pointed part is like the tang waiting to have the handle fitted with the parts to right and left being hand guards.
The tang shown is actually 58cm long and 65 cm wide (23 and 26 inches)
This is actually a “pole arm”. A shaft fits into the opening in the bottom left.
It derives from China in the 19th century and consists of a 13cm (5 inch) spear type point with two 33cm (13 inch) blades either side.
This type of weapon was used by police forces or others who needed to keep crowds in order.
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The Ayda Katti
The Ayda Katti is the national sword of the Coorg of Malabar, the South West coastal area of India.
It is one of the rarest swords in the Indian arsenal and of a very peculiar shape. It is single edged and is reminiscent of a scythe or other farming agricultural tool. However it is a real weapon and a deadly one in experienced hands.
The blade of this one is 38cm (15 inches) long and 10cm (4 inches) wide at its widest point with a massive steel bolster.
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The Katar
The Katar, shown in the introduction, is a short punching sword from India. The hand fitted into the grip so that the blade was above the knuckles. It was a weapon used by the Rajput, referred to as “the most valiant warriors of the Indian sub continent.”
Used in close combat the blades were said to be able to punch through armour.
The fascinating example above incorporates two small pistols alongside the hand grip. this was used by the Maharatti cavalry. An earlier example of this pistol weapon did not have triggers but was fired by squeezing together the two “swallow tails” at the back, which was attached to the firing mechanism.
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The Badek
The Badek (or Badik) is a knife from Java, Indonesia. It is characterized by its single edge blade with straight back and up-curving edge, and the pistol grip shape handle.
It measures from 20 to 40 cm in length (8-16 inches)
It sometimes features in Silat Melayu – martial arts from the countries around the Malay Archipelago.
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The Kris
The Kris or Keris is a dagger that originates from Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Glenbow museum describes them “Kris knives with decorative scabbards are used throughout Indonesia as weapons and ritual objects, and are part of men’s ceremonial attire. The wavy iron blade of the knife represents a snake in movement and is thought to have power to protect its owner.”
In the past disputes were settled with this double edged dagger. The more people it killed the more valuable it became.
There was a superstition that it should not be drawn in the presence of the person who gave it to the owner.
The kris was also supposed to have a spirit that could be good or bad. The same weapon may be bad for one person but good for another.
Also by C. Jordan:
Amazing Old Bangers: 10 Interesting and Unusual Antique Guns
10 Fabulous Photographs of Birds in Flight with Web Sources
10 Offbeat, Bizarre and Wacky Facts
10 Amazing Music Trivia Facts You Never Knew
The Mystery of the Screaming Man
In the Shadow of Jack the Ripper: The Lambeth Poisoner
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User Comments
lindalulu
On June 4, 2009 at 8:09 am
Very interesting article…
Swayam Siddha
On June 4, 2009 at 8:45 am
very nice article. most of these weapons had their origin form south asia
Fegger
On June 4, 2009 at 9:27 am
Very interesting read, Chris…penetrating text, honed and unsheathed to describe this warring slice of life.
Johanan Rakkav
On June 4, 2009 at 9:33 am
I have a sort of morbid fascination with blades, and this article fed that beast nicely. For better or worse, man’s creativity in designing and using weapons for his own destruction seems endless, again as you’ve demonstrated.
Every so often, I’ve visited museums with arsenals from medieval Europe. They have unusual and wicked-looking blades too. Wait until you see the huge one used against charging armored calvary. I have no idea how a foot solider would counter it. If you do another article on swords, I hope you’ll investigate the Western European weapons (and the fine Damascus and Toledo swords come to mind too).
Patrick Bernauw
On June 4, 2009 at 9:36 am
Sharp stuff here!
Francois Hagnere
On June 4, 2009 at 9:52 am
Remarkable work! beautifully illustrated.
s hayes
On June 4, 2009 at 10:46 am
Very interesting and original article x just looking at some of those bad boys made me feel queasey.
Glynis Smy
On June 4, 2009 at 11:14 am
Interesting, cutting edge stuff ;0
John McDonnell
On June 4, 2009 at 1:19 pm
My father was in India during the war, and said the Ghurkas were fierce fighters who were expert with a knife or sword.
Lauren Axelrod
On June 4, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Can I cook with these. That would be so much more enjoyable. Cool Piece C.
Lostash
On June 4, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Some impressive weapons here! And just look at some of the craftsmanship too! Brilliant article.
George W Whitehead
On June 4, 2009 at 3:50 pm
All of the knives featured here are useless. None of ‘em have got a spike for removing stones from horses hooves! Great article, CJ.
Geri Ohara
On June 4, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Hi Chris a sharp and interesting piece
clay hurtubise
On June 4, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Geri beat me to it: I was going to say your never dull, always a sharp article and to the point!
Thanks,
Clay
Unofre Pili
On June 4, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Those are so artistic and sharp cutters.
Juancav
On June 4, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Picturesque pieces.Well researched.
Majic
On June 4, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Maybe we should start looking for ways to use them in the culinary arts rather than in the arts of murder. Hehehe! The Japanese are using their 6-foot long, battle-weary masamune to cut up the tuna for their fish-loving citizens!
Jo Oliver
On June 4, 2009 at 10:36 pm
thx I enjoyed viewing and learning about these
kate smedley
On June 5, 2009 at 3:33 am
Some scary weapons but very interesting piece, I learned a lot, thanks.
Ravana
On June 5, 2009 at 3:48 am
A different piece and nicely researched too.
DannySlater666
On June 5, 2009 at 6:03 am
I have a weird obsession with all forms of weapons, i find them quite fascinating and also like to know there origin and what they where used for.
David Irvine
On June 5, 2009 at 2:43 pm
cool!!
Betty Carew
On June 6, 2009 at 8:28 am
Very interesting article CJ
Resounding Glass
On June 7, 2009 at 2:41 am
Very interesting article. I have featured this on my blog. Hope that’s ok.
http://developingwriters.blogspot.com/2009/06/10-unusual-knives-swords-and-blades.html
Nicely done,
-Resounding Glass
Annie Hintsala
On June 7, 2009 at 4:49 pm
My husband is a professional knife maker, and does museum pieces and things for the SCA. Really good article, though he says most Indian peices were meant to be scary, rather than practical.
Deep Blue
On June 7, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Nice article, aren’t ninja weapons worth the consideration?
CHAN LEE PENG
On June 8, 2009 at 12:17 am
Interesting piece! Two thumbs for you!!!
hiho
On June 8, 2009 at 9:49 am
Interesting article and good pics illustrating the origin and use of some of the world’s most unusual knives/swords. Good article.
thestickman
On June 8, 2009 at 2:23 pm
very interesting article
valli
On June 8, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Interesting read.
amilia snow
On June 8, 2009 at 10:35 pm
cool…
Saxxan
On June 9, 2009 at 2:35 am
Absolutely fascinating article!
I wonder if the “Tang” you show might have got it’s name from the saltwater Tang fish which has a spine either side of it’s body, just in front of the tail?
nekkoli
On June 10, 2009 at 12:22 am
Never even heard of many of these weapons….so damn interesting!
JJ Patton
On June 10, 2009 at 1:26 am
Wow! Real Chakrams?! Who knew! LoL Fascinating read!
HatedNation
On June 10, 2009 at 10:03 am
I owned a very wild curved knife once, it the same one shown on the cover of the movie “The Chronicles of Riddick” I never saw the knife in the movie, but it was a very unique blade. I wish I knew what happened to that thing….
Andrew Davies
On June 10, 2009 at 11:08 am
I love bladed weapons. Nice article.
games
On June 10, 2009 at 1:53 pm
wow, i thought some of those only existed in games lol
charlie21
On June 10, 2009 at 2:22 pm
dude nice love the keris
R J Evans
On June 10, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Great stuff! Blogged @ Webphemera!
mark streich
On June 10, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Very nice article, I hadn’t even heard of some of these weapons existing outside of video games!
Teresa M Sims
On June 11, 2009 at 12:10 pm
thanks for sharing havent seen or heard about weapons like this since my dad died
Teresa M Sims
On June 11, 2009 at 12:10 pm
thanks for sharing havent seen or heard about weapons like this since my dad died
David
On June 12, 2009 at 6:09 pm
very interesting! the katar is cool lookin lol
David
On June 12, 2009 at 6:09 pm
very interesting! the katar is cool lookin lol
rutherfranc
On June 13, 2009 at 11:32 pm
sharp article…
rutherfranc
On June 13, 2009 at 11:32 pm
sharp article…
Adam Henry Sears
On June 14, 2009 at 4:01 pm
This is an impressive list of weapons. I wouldn’t mind have a collection like this, especially with the beautiful knife. Thanks for sharing.
RS Wing
On June 14, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Awesome piece…historically informative and very cool as well nice work!
ysmar135
On June 15, 2009 at 9:44 am
cool wepons it made me think of mid times were they would run around with swords and fighting agains other ppl………lol
Debra.
On June 15, 2009 at 10:20 am
The craftsmanship is remarkable. All beautiful pieces of art! Wonderful article Chris!
Scott Weisenhauf
On June 15, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I’m a big fan of Katar and “claw” or “wrist” type weapons, it was EXTREMELY fascinating to be enlightened to the existence of a dual pistol/katar hybrid.
Earl Schmegley
On June 15, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Cool article – even a non blade-enthusiast can take away some interesting information from this piece. Great images as well. Good work!
BlackBeer
On June 15, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Wow this article really gets done to the “point” of it :] I enjoyed it a lot.
dakis
On June 17, 2009 at 4:36 am
Nice weapons!
http://hellas-fos.blogspot.com/
Allana Calhoun
On June 17, 2009 at 11:03 am
Very interesting article! I’ve always had a fascination for swords and blades. Would love to own a collection someday. Thanks for this awesome collection of info.
Judy T Lloyd
On June 17, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I collect knives and swords, do not have any like these.
fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa
On June 18, 2009 at 11:45 am
Holy Macaroni, I never saw weapons such as that, the article and the blades are awesome.
Jeffrey B. Merrow
On June 18, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Fantastic work. Well put together. I enjoyed it a whole lot.
Rod Ferrandino
On June 19, 2009 at 8:41 am
I simply join in the admiration for this article. Very, very interesting.
jambo1984
On June 19, 2009 at 9:40 am
Прикольно жаль что написано не по русски!!!!
alfrhnsby
On June 20, 2009 at 12:02 am
ohhh good
Nivu Whatani
On June 20, 2009 at 1:16 am
nice work!
S A JOHNSON
On June 20, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Very cool.
deatstar
On June 21, 2009 at 6:49 am
cool work could do with newer pics dont you think well done though!
Meg Smith
On October 19, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Great article. I really enjoyed the photos of rare blades. Lots of inspiration…
cdm1018
On December 2, 2009 at 8:49 pm
very cool. i own a kukri btw. there are three of us in my family who carry them as a tradition. mine is the longest by several inches at about 17 1/3 inches. less curved than the other it would be the fastest in a fight, though my brothers carry heavier blades both dating to WW1 and would pack more punch. very nice weapons, i enjoy collecting all sorts of blades though. i would very much like to own a chakram, katar and kris.
Jack Slater
On December 12, 2009 at 7:47 pm
This is some sweet stuff for a Medieval Junkie like me!
But you must admit, some of these blades don’t look nice, but I guess that sort of adds on to its ‘deadly’ factor.
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