Celtic longsword - The ancient celts were reknowned for their iron working and this was the weapon of the celtic nobility/champions.Probably the first design to feature a fuller.80-90 cm.The gauls used this for slashing.Romans encountered these weapons.However the celtic wooden shields and longswords were unable to match the legionaries with mail armor,shields and gladius as they often couldn't employ their cumbersome weapon in packed formations.Legionaries would take the blow on the shield,then stab quickly with galdius from beneath.
Pros- Good reach.Great hacking power.Balanced.
Cons - Requires space to use.Overhead swing needed for maximum power.Thrust is weak.
Dacian Falx &
Thracian Rhomphaia - Both of these 2 -handed curved sickle like weapons have a common origin in the bastarnae tribes of the danube region.The dacians(modern romania) use the falx,the thracians employed the rhomphaia.The weapon can be classified as a polearm than a sword.The 1-handed small falx was 50 cm,2 -handed falx was around 90 cms.The rhomphaia was less curved but longer.Both weapons were sharpened on the inside edge and generated brutal downward cutting power.The length of the two-handed falx allowed it to be wielded with great force, the point piercing helmets and the blade splitting shields - it was said to be capable of splitting a shield in two at a single blow. Alternatively, it might be used as a hook, pulling away shields and cutting at vulnerable limbs, or striking the edge of a strong shield. The inward curving point was still able to pierce the armor or flesh of the target behind the shield, rendering even the most reinforced shields much less effective defensively against a falx wielder.The romans encountered this weapon in their conquest of dacia,where it proved to be able to cut through roman shields,pierce helmets and even the most advanced roman segemented body armor .It was theonly time the romans changed their armor after encountering a particular weapon by issuing metal handguards,iron reinforced helmets and shields.The rhomphaia was first used by thracian auxillaries fighting for greek city states and in macedonian armies.Early byzantine varangian guards are also described using this weapon.
Pros - Great reach,Devastating cutting power,great anti-armor capability,
Cons - Purely offensive weapon(poor for parrying an opponents blow),Combined with 2-handed design making use with shield impossible left user highly vulnerable,required space to use.
Roman Spatha - Originally a cavalry sword,it was introduced by gallic cavalry auxillaries in roman service.Length 80-95 cms.Shows definite celtic longsword influence.It replaced the gladius as the weapon of the infantry in the late imperial era due to its better reach.The spatha and similar blades became the most common sword type of the barbarian tribes of the dark ages(franks,alans,germanic tribes etc)The spatha was also employed by eastern roman-byzantine empire and sassanids with local modifications.The arming sword and viking sword are derivatives of this.
Turkish Kilij - The forefather of scimitar/sabre designs originating in central asia around 300 bc among avars and turks it was popularized in the middle east by the turks.The turko-mongol saber,the arabic saif,the later sabre designs in europe and middle east,indian tulwar and persian shamshir are all later derivatives of this.Continued in use until the 18th century in the ottoman armies.Generally around 80 cms in length.It has a broadened flaring tip which adds to the weight of the cut.A lethal cutting weapon and lightweight with a small handguard.Especially suited for use from horseback.Was very popular with british cavalrymen of napoleonic era.
Pros - Deadly cutting power,suited for cavalry use,light and manuverable blade,moderately effective handguard,weighted tip gives much more power(concentrating mass forward on the blade, orients the cutting edge
with the natural swing of the arm allowing for a "draw cut" action from a normal blow and creating a tremendous amount of "artificial" sectional density due to blade/target alignment.
Cons - Awkward on the thrust due to curvature,moderate reach.
Many others like chinese dao,japanese katana & wakizashi,Javan Kris,European longsword & bastard sword,scottish
claymore,german zweihander greatsword,french estoc & polish koncerz,indian tulwar and pata,persian shamshir,Spanish/european Rapier,Pirate cutlass,turkish yatagan etc.
