This is a list of historical pre-modern weapons 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 or as a projectile ), and the earliest gunpowder weapons which fit within the period are also included.
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 , tiger claws (Indian)
Brass knuckles , knuckle dusters (European)
Cestus , bladed cestus, caestus, myrmex, sfere (Mediterranean)
Deer Horn Knives (Chinese)
Emeici (Chinese)
Finger knife[1] (African)
Gauntlet (European)
Indian parrying weapon[1]
Japanese fan , iron fan
Katar , suwaiya (कटार) (Indian)
Korean fan , mubuchae (무부채), tempered birch fan
Larim fighting bracelet, nyepel[1] (African)
Maduvu , buckhorn parrying stick, maru[1] (Indian)
Pata , sword gauntlet (Indian)
Push dagger , also see Katar (dagger) (Indian)
Tekko , Tekko Kagi (Japanese)
Wind and fire wheels (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.[2] [3]
Swords
Long swords were classified by Gordon as longer than 28 inches/71 cm.[2]
Curved one-handed swords
Ayudha katti [1] (South and Southeast Asian)
Butterfly sword (Chinese)
Cutlass , hanger, hangar (European)
Dao , beidao, zhibei dao (Chinese)
Dao (Northeastern Indian)
Dha (Southeast Asian)
Dussack , disackn, dusack, dusagge, dusegg, dusegge, dysack, tesak, thuseckn, tuseckn[1] (Although some list this weapon only as a wooden practice sword, this was a real weapon)
Falchion (European)
Hunting sword (European)
Hwando (Korean)
Kampilan (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
Karabela (European)
Kastane (Sri Lankan)
Khopesh , sappara, sickle sword (Egyptian, Middle Eastern)
Kilij (North Indian, Middle Eastern)
Klewang (Southeast Asian)
Krabi (Southeast Asian)
Liuyedao (Chinese)
Mameluke (Middle Eastern)
Messer , großmesser, hiebmesser, kriegsmesser, langes messer (German, European)
Nimcha (African)
Parang Nabur (Bornean)
Piandao (Chinese)
Pulwar (Middle Eastern)
Sabre , briquet (European)
Schweizersäbel (European)
Scimitar , saif (Middle Eastern)
Shamshir (Pakistani, North Indian, Middle Eastern)
Shashka (Caucasian, Circassian)
Surik (Indonesian)
Szabla (Polish, Lithuanian)
Talwar (Pakistani, North Indian, Middle Eastern)
Yanmaodao (Chinese)
Straight one-handed swords
Arming sword , war sword (European)
Backsword (European)
Basket-hilted sword , schiavona, broadsword, mortuary sword, heavy cavalry sword (European)
Chokutō (Japanese)
Épée [4] (European, although now a fencing practice weapon, it originally was a stiff, heavy, triangular bladed thrusting sword weighing about 30oz)
Estoc (European)
Firangi , firanghi[1] (Central Asian)
Flamberge (European)
Flyssa (North African)
Hwandudaedo (Korean)
Ida (West African)
Jian (Chinese)
Kampilan (Philippinese)
Kaskara (Central African)
Katzbalger (German)
Khanda (South Asian)
Moplah [1] (Southwestern Indian)
Patag (Bhutanese)
Rapier (European)
Saingeom (Korean)
Seax (European)
Side sword (European)
Sikin Panyang (Sumatran)
Spadroon (European)
Spatha (Mediterranean, Greek)
Takoba (North African)
Tibetan Jian[1] (Middle Asian)
Tsurugi (Japanese)
Ulfberht (Frankish)
Hand-and-a-half and two-handed greatswords
Assamese dao[1] (Indian, Southeast Asian)
Boar sword [1] (European)
Changdao (Chinese)
Claidheamh da laimh , highland sword[1] (European)
Claymore , Scottish Gaelic for "great sword" (Scottish, European)
Dadao (Chinese)
Executioner's sword , heading sword, sword of justice (European)
Flame-bladed sword , flambard, flammard, flammenschwert (European)
Katana (Japanese)
Longsword , bastard sword, espée bastarde, hand and a half sword (European)
Nagamaki [5] (Japanese)
Nodachi , Ōdachi (Japanese)
Parade sword, paratschwerter[1] (European)
Wodao (Chinese)
Zanbatō (Japanese)
Zhanmadao (Chinese)
Zweihänder , great sword, espadon, spadone, tuck, montante, lowland sword, two handed sword, dopplehänder (European)
Shortswords
Delineated as 20-28 inches/51–71 cm total length.[2]
Curved shortswords
Straight shortswords
Bakatwa (Shona tribe of Southern Africa)
Baselard (European)
Bilbo (European)
Billao (Somali)
Bolo , itak (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
Cinquedea , anelace (European)
Colichemarde (European)
Cossack dagger, Ottoman quama, kinjal, quama, kama[1] (Middle Eastern)
Gladius (Roman)
Khanjali (Georgian, Caucasian )
Luwuk (Javanese)
Misericorde (European)
Ninjato , Shinobi gatana (Japanese)
Small sword (European)
Swiss dagger , holbein dagger, schweizerdegen (European)
Xiphos , xifos (Greek)
Axe-like swords
Generally, convex blades used for heavy chopping or slashing.
Fighting knives and daggers
Sickles and sickle like knives
Generally short, concave blades used for heavy cutting.
Arit (Maduresian, Indonesian)
Karambit , kerambit, korambit (Minangkabauian, Indonesian)
Kujang (Sundanese, Indonesian)
Kukri (Indian)
Mandau (Malaysian, Indonesian, Bornean, Bruneian)
Pichangatti [1] (Indian)
Punyal (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
Sickle (Improvised, worldwide)
Sudanese sickle knife[1] (African)
Axes
Adze (Improvised, European)
Bardiche (European)
Battle axe (European)
Bhuj with blade shaped like the dagger on a long shaft[1]
Broadaxe (European)
Congolese axe[1] (African)
Dahomey axe club, also an effective blunt weapon[1] (African)
Danish axe , hafted axe, English long axe, Viking axe, Danish longer axe (European)
Doloire (European)
Fu (Chinese)
Hand axe , ovate handaxe (Paleolithic)
Hatchet (European)
Igorot headhunting axe[6] (Philippinese, Southeast Asian )
Labrys , pelekys (Greek)
Long-bearded axe (European)
Masakari (Japanese)
Nzappa zap also thrown (African)
Ono (Japanese)
Palstave (Bronze Age, improvised, European)
Sagaris (Middle Eastern)
Shepherd's axe , valaška (European)
Sparth Axe (European)
Tabarzin (Middle Eastern)
Tomahawk , Spontoon Tomahawk, also thrown (American)
Tlaximaltepoztli (American)
Vechevoral [1] (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 (Japanese)
Clubbing boomerang (Worldwide)
Returning boomerang (Australian)
Cambuk (Southeast Asian)
Canne de combat (European)
Chúi (Chinese)
Club , baseball bat, stone club, truncheon, cudgel, bludgeon
Crop (Worldwide)
Bastons, Eskrima Sticks , straight sticks (Southeast Asian)
Flail (European)
Gada (Indian)
Gunstock war club also thrown (American)
Gurz , Ottoman gurz[1] (Middle Eastern)
Hammer (Improvised)
Hanbō (Japanese)
Horseman's pick , horseman's hammer, martel de fer, also a pickaxe weapon (European)
Jawbone war club (American)
Jō (Japanese)
Jutte , jitte (Japanese)
Kanabō (Japanese)
Knobkierrie , knopkierie, knobkerry (African)
Kotiate (Māori)
Kurunthadi , churuvadi, kuruvadi, muchan, otta (Indian)
Macana (American)
Mace , spiked mace, flanged mace (European, Middle Asian)
Macuahuitl , maquahuitl (American)
Mallet (American)
Mere used to strike, jab (Māori)
Morning star , goedendag, holy water sprinkler (European)
Mughal [1] (Central Asian)
Ōtsuchi (Japanese)
Patu , patuki (Māori)
Plançon a picot , planson (European)
Quauholōlli (American)
Roundhead (European)
Rungu also thrown (African)
Sai (Okinawan, Japanese)
Shestopyor , Pernach (Russian)
Shillelagh (Irish)
Short scepter , mace scepter (European)
Sledgehammer , maul (Improvised, European)
Stone war club (American)
Suburito (Japanese)
Sword mace 鐧 (Chinese)
Tambo , tanbo (Okinawan)
Tekkan (Japanese)
Tekpi (Malaysia)
Tewhatewha (Māori)
Tonfa (Okinawan)
Waddy , Nulla Nulla (Australian)
War hammer also a pickaxe weapon (European)
Wooden war club, sharp headed version and curve headed version (American)
Wrench (Improvised)
Yawara , 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.
Spears
Throwing spears are listed under ranged weapons .
Ahlspiess , awl pike (European)
Aklys (Osci tribe of Southern Italy)
Atgeir (European)
Boar spear (European)
Brandistock , feather staff, buttafuore (European)
Dangpa chang also thrown (Korean)
Dory (Greek)
Hasta (Roman)
Hoko yari (Japanese)
Iklwa (Zulu tribe of South Africa)
Jukjangchangbo , daijichang, toupjang, nangsun, dongyemochang, chichang, sabarichang, yangjimochang (Korean)
Lance (European)
Menavlion , menavlon (Greek)
Migration Period spear , geirr, gaizaz, gar, ger, framea (European)
Military fork (European)
Pike (English)
Pitchfork (Improvised)
Qiang (Chinese)
Ranseur , rawcon, runka (European)
Saintie [1] (Middle Asian)
Sang [7] (Indian)
Sarissa (Greek)
Sibat , bangkaw, palupad, sumbling (Southeast Asian)
Sovnya (Russian)
Spetum (European)
Swordstaff (European)
Trident
Trishula (Indian, Southeast Asian)
Yari (Japanese)
Polearms with axe-like blades
Arbir (Southeast Asian)
Bardiche (European)
Bec de corbin , bec de faucon (European)
Bill , English bill, bill hook, bill guisarme (European)
Bisento (Japanese)
Chacing staff (European)
Dagger-axe , ko (Chinese)
Danish axe , hafted axe, English long axe, Viking axe, Danish longer axe (European)
Epsilon axe (European, Middle Eastern)
Fauchard (European)
Glaive (European)
Guan (kwan) dao (Chinese)
Guisarme (European)
Halberd (European)
Jedwart stave (European)
Ji (Chinese)
Lochaber axe (European)
Long handled nagamaki (Japanese)
Man catcher (European)
Monk's spade (Chinese)
Naginata (Japanese)
Ngao (Southeast Asian)
Nulbjakchang , galgorichang (Korean)
Ox tongue spear (European)
Partisan , partizan (European)
Pollaxe , poleaxe (European)
Pudao (Chinese)
Romphea , romfea (Greek)
Sasumata (Japanese)
Scythe (Improvised)
Sodegarami (Japanese)
Tepoztopilli (American)
Tongi, four pointed tongi, two pointed[1] (South Asian)
Tsukubō (Japanese)
Two handed Dacian falx (Mediterranean, Greek)
Voulge (European)
War scythe
Polearms with spikes and hammers
Thrown
Throwing blades and darts
Throwing spears
All could be used as spears , but were designed and primarily used for throwing.
Could also be used as axe weapons , but were specifically designed for throwing.
Throwing balls
Bolas , ayllo, liwi, qilumitautit (Central American, South American, Arctic)
Slungshot not to be confused with a slingshot (Improvised, Worldwide)
Stone , rock (Improvised, Worldwide)
Boomerang (Australian, Worldwide)
Knobkierrie , knopkierie, knobkerry, also a blunt weapon (African)
Rungu (East African)
Stick, branch (Improvised, Worldwide)
An illustration of an "eruptor", a proto cannon from the 14th century Ming Dynasty book Huolongjing . The cannon was capable of firing proto shells, cast iron bombs filled with gunpowder.
Abus howitzer (Turkish)
Arquebus , caliver, hackbut, harkbus, harquebus (European)
Bajozutsu pistol (Japanese)
Basilisk cannon (European)
Baton a feu hand cannon (French)
Bedil tumbak hand cannon (Indonesian)
Blunderbuss , donderbus (European)
Bo-hiya rocket arrow (Japanese)
Bombard (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese)
Byzantine bombard (Greek)
Byzantine fire tube (cannon)[9] (Greek)
Byzantine rocket launcher[10] (Greek)
Cannon (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese)
Cetbang cannon (Indonesian, Southeast Asian)
Che Dian Chong musket (Chinese)
Chongtong cannon (Korean)
Culverin cannon (French)
Dardanelles bombard (Turkish)
Dulle Griet bombard (Belgian)
Ekor lotong cannon (Malaysian)
Falconet , falcon cannon (European)
Fauconneau cannon (European)
Faule Grete bombard (Polish)
Faule Mette bombard (German)
Fire arrow , rocket arrow (Chinese)
Fire lance , Huo Qiang lance hand cannon (Chinese)
Grose Bochse bombard (German)
Hand cannon (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese)
Hand mortar (European)
Heilongjiang hand cannon (Chinese)
Hu Dun Pao cannon (Chinese)
Huo Che rocket arrow launcher (Chinese)
Huo Chong hand cannon (Chinese)
Hwacha rocket arrow launcher (Korean)
Istinggar arquebus (Indonesian)
Java arquebus (Indonesian)
Jiaozhi arquebus (Vietnamese)
Korean cannon
Lantaka , rentaka cannon (Philippinese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Southeast Asian)
Lela cannon (Malaysian)
Meriam kecil hand cannon (Indonesian, Malaysian)
Mons Meg bombard (Belgian)
Mortar (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese)
Musket (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese)
Musketoon (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese)
Orban bombard (Turkish)
Organ gun , ribauldequin, ribauiidkin, ribault, rabauld (European)
Petronel hand cannon (European)
Pierrier a boite cannon (French)
Pistol (European)
Pot de fer cannon (French)
Prangi , pranki, pranku, paranki, pranga, parangi, prangu, parangu, piranki, pirangi, farangi, firingi, firingiha cannon (Turkish, Indian)
Pumhart von Steyr bombard (Austrian)
Saker cannon (European)
San Yan Chong three barrel hand cannon (Chinese)
Shou Chong hand cannon (Chinese)
Singijeon , shinkichon rocket arrow (Korean)
Tanegashima arquebus (Japanese)
Tarasnice cannon (European)
Toradar , torador arquebus (Indian)
Tu Huo Qiang hand cannon (Chinese)
Veuglaire cannon (French)
Wall gun , janjal, jingal, gingal (European, Middle Eastern, Chinese)
Wankou Chong cannon (Chinese)
Xanadu cannon (Chinese)
Xi Xia cannon (Chinese)
Xun Lei Chong spear five barrel revolver musket (Chinese)
Composite projectile weapons
Having a built-in gun or other ranged weapon combined with some other type of melee weapon.
Ax match and wheellock[1] (European axe with five barrels under a removable blade)
Carbine axe[1] (European axe)
Halberd double barreled wheellock[1] (European halberd)
Mace wheellock[1] (European mace)
Matchlock axe dagger[1] (European axe, dagger, matchlock combination)
Pistol sword (European sword)
War hammer wheellock[1] (European pick hammer)
Flexible weapons
Used for whipping.
Bullwhip (Worldwide)
Buntot Pagi (Philippinese)
Cat o' nine tails (European)
Chain whip , jiujiebian, samjitbin, qijiebian (Chinese)
Knout (Eastern European)
Nagyka , nagaika, nogaika (Eastern European)
Sjambok , fimbo, imvubu, kiboko, kurbash, litupa, mnigolo, chicotte (African)
Small whips , crops (Worldwide)
Stockwhip (Australian)
Urumi , chuttuval (Indian)
Sectional and composite
Having multiple handles or holdable sections.
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 (Japanese)
Cumberjung , double ended flail, flail with quoits[1] (Indian)
Flail , fleau d'armes, kriegsflegel (European)
Flying claws (Chinese)
Flying guillotine (Chinese)
Kusari-fundo , manrikigusari, manriki (Japanese)
Kusari-gama (Japanese)
Kyoketsu-shoge (Japanese)
Lasso , uurga, lariat (American, Chinese)
Meteor hammer , dragon's fist, dai chui, flying hammer, sheng bao, liu xing chui (Chinese)
Rope dart , jouhyou, rope javelin, sheng biao (Japanese, Chinese)
Monkey's fist (Improvised, European, Japanese, Chinese)
Surujin , suruchin (Okinawan)
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 (European)
Clipeus (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 , parmula (Roman)
Peltarion (Greek)
Rattan shield (Korean, Chinese)
Round shield
Scuta , rectangular, tower and oval scutum (Roman)
Targe (European)
Nguni shield (African)
Chīmalli (American)
Regan, Paula, ed. (2006). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor . New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7566-2210-7 . Cope, Anne, ed. (1989). Swords and Hilt Weapons . New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. p. 8. ISBN 1-55584-290-9 . Levine, Bernard; Weland, Gerald. Knives, swords, & daggers . New York: Barnes & Noble. p. 66.
Levine, Bernard; Weland, Gerald. Knives, swords, & daggers . New York: Barnes & Noble. p. 200.
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.
Γεώργιος 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.