List of premodern combat weapons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of notable types of weapons that were used in warfare, and more broadly in combat, prior to the advent of the early modern period, i.e., approximately prior to the start of the 16th century. It therefore excludes objects that may be broadly understood as weapons but are not combat weapons, such as ceremonial weapons and ritual tools shaped or conceptualized as weapons, hunting weapons, and other items that may be perceived as weapons but for which there is no historical evidence of their use in combat during the relevant period.
 | This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: The melee/ranged dichotomy used here is only relevant in gaming and needs to be removed. (January 2025) |
The entries are grouped according to their uses, with similar weapons categorized together. 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 that fill within this period are also included.
Hand-to-hand combat
Summarize
Perspective
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 nakh, 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
Curved one-handed
- Cutlass, hanger, hangar (European)
- Dao, beidao, zhibei dao (Chinese)
- Dao (Northeast Indian)
- Dha (Southeast Asian)
- Falchion (European)
- Hwando (Korean)
- Kampilan (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
- Karabela (European)
- 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
- Arming sword, war sword (European)
- Backsword (European)
- Chokutō (Japanese)
- Estoc (European)
- Firangi, firanghi[1] (Central Asian)
- Flamberge (European)
- Flyssa (North African)
- Hwandudaedo (Korean)
- Ida (West African)
- Jian (Chinese)
- Kampilan (Philippinese)
- Kaskara (Central African)
- Khanda (South Asian)
- Moplah[1] (Southwestern Indian)
- Patag (Bhutanese)
- Rapier (European)
- Saingeom (Korean)
- Seax (European)
- Side sword (European)
- Sikin Panyang (Sumatran)
- Spatha (Mediterranean, Greek)
- Takoba (North African)
- Tibetan Jian[1] (Middle Asian)
- Tsurugi (Japanese)
- Ulfberht (Frankish)
Curved two-handed
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[4] (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 include the following:
Straight shortswords include the following:
- Baselard (European)
- Bilbo (European)
- Billao (Somali)
- Bolo, itak (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
- Cinquedea, anelace (European)
- Colichemarde (European)
- Gladius (Roman)
- Luwuk (Javanese)
- Misericorde (European)
- Ninjatō, Shinobi gatana (Japanese)
- Small sword (European)
- Swiss dagger, holbein dagger, schweizerdegen (European)
- Xiphos (Greek)
Axe-like
Generally, convex blades used for heavy chopping or slashing.
- Aruval (South Indian)
- Bolo, itak (Philippinese, Asian)
- Falcata (Mediterranean)
- Golok (Southeast Asian)
- Harpe, harpi (Greek)
- Kopis (Greek)
- Kora[5] (Nepali)
- Kudi (Southeast Asian)
- Kukri, khukri (Nepali)
- Machete (Spain, Latin America)
- Vettukathi (South Indian)
- Mahera (Greek)
- One handed Dacian falx, sica (Mediterranean, Greek)
- Parang Pandit (Southeast Asian)
- Sosun pattah[1] (South Asian)
- Yatagan, yataghan (Middle Eastern)
Other
- Hook sword (Chinese)
- Kris, keris sundang, keris bahari (Indonesian)
- Nandaka, Nair, nayar (Indian)
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)
Picks and pickaxes
- Chicken sickles (Chinese)
- Crowbill (European, Central Asian)
- Elephant goad, ankus, ankusha, bullhook, elephant hook (South and Southeast Asian)
- Hakapik (European)
- Horseman's pick, martel de fer, also a blunt weapon (European)
- Kama (Japanese)
- Mattock (Improvised, European)
- Pickaxe (Improvised, European)
- War hammer also a blunt weapon (European)
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)
- 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)
- Yawara, pasak, yawara bo, dulodulo (Japanese, Southeast Asian)
- Yubi-bo (Japanese)
Polearms and spears
Wielded mainly with two hands. Primarily for hand-to-hand combat with sweeping, thrusting, and or hooking motions.
Blunt staves
- Bâton français (European)
- Bō (Japanese)
- Eku (Okinawan)
- Gun (Chinese)
- Jō (Japanese)
- Lathi (Indian)
- Naboot, shoum, nabboot, asa, asaya (Middle Eastern)
- Quarterstaff (European)
- Shareeravadi (Middle Asian)
- Taiaha (Māori)
Spears
- 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
- Bec de corbin (European)
- Lucerne hammer (European)
- Zhua (Chinese)
Flexible weapons
Whips
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)
- Small whips, crops (Worldwide)
- Stockwhip (Australian)
- Urumi, chuttuval (Indian)
Sectional and composite
Having multiple handles or holdable sections.
- Nunchaku (Okinawan)
- Tabak-Toyok, chako (Southeast Asian)
- Three-section staff (Okinawan, Chinese))
- Two-section staff, xhang xiao ban, could also be considered a polearm (Chinese)
Chains and ropes
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)
Shields
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)
- Heater shield, heraldic shield (European)
- Hide, wickerwork, leather and ceremonial shields (Tribal, Worldwide)
- Hungarian shield (European)
- 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)
Thrown
Summarize
Perspective
Throwing blades and darts
- Chakram (Indian, Southeast Asian)
- Kunai (Improvised, Japanese)
- Mambele (African)
- Plumbata (European)
- Shuriken (Japanese)
- Swiss arrow (European)
- Throwing dart (Worldwide)
- Throwing knife (Worldwide)
Throwing spears
All could be used as spears, but were designed and primarily used for throwing.
- Angon (European)
- Assegai, assagai (African)
- Atlatl and darts (American, Paleolithic tribes)
- Falarica, phalarica (Mediterranean)
- Harpoon (Worldwide)
- Jangchang (Korean)
- Javelin (Mediterranean)
- Lancea (Mediterranean)
- Mesangylon (Greek)
- Metal bar, metal pipe (Improvised, Worldwide)
- Northern spear[8] (Philippinese, Southeast Asian)
- Pilum (Roman)
- Soliferrum, saunion, soliferreum (Mediterranean)
- Spiculum (Roman)
- Vel (Indian)
- Verutum (Roman)
- Woomera, amirre (Australian)
Throwing axes
Could also be used as axe weapons, but were specifically designed for throwing.
- Francisca, francesca (European)
- Hunga munga, danisco, goleyo, njiga (African)
- Hurlbat, whirlbat (European)
- Kapak siam (Asian)
- Nzappa zap (African)
- Tomahawk also an axe weapon (American)
Throwing balls
Throwing sticks
- Boomerang (Australian, Worldwide)
- Knobkierrie, knopkierie, knobkerry, also a blunt weapon (African)
- Rungu (East African)
- Stick, branch (Improvised, Worldwide)
Gunpowder-based
- 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)
- Matchlock
- Meriam kecil hand cannon (Indonesian, Malaysian)
- Mons Meg bombard (Belgian)
- Mortar (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)
Slings
- Kestros, cestrus, cestrosfendoni, kestrosfedoni (Greek)
- Sling (Worldwide)
- Stave sling, fustibale (Mediterranean)
Bows
Longbows
- Daikyu (Japanese)
- Decurve bow
- Deflex bow
- English longbow, warbow
- Flatbow
- Self bow
- Welsh longbow, warbow
Recurve bows
Short bows and reflex bows
- Gungdo, hwal (Korean)
- Hankyu (Japanese)
- Mongol bow
- Turkish bow
Crossbows
- Arbalest, arblast (European)
- Bullet bow, English bullet bow, pellet crossbow[1] (European)
- Cheiroballistra, hirovallistra hand ballista (Roman, Greek)
- Crossbow (European, Chinese)
- Gastraphetes, gastrafetis (Greek)
- Pistol crossbow
- Repeating crossbow, chu ko nu, zhuge (Chinese)
- Skåne lockbow (European)
- Stone bow (European)
Blowguns
Stationary, mounted, or wheeled ballistic devices
This section includes ballistic (missile-launching) siege engines and similar larger ballistic devices which were either stationary, mounted on moving objects such as carts or elephants, or wheeled.
- Ballista (European, Asian)
- Ballista elephant (Angkor)
- Carroballista (Roman)
- Catapult (European, Asian)
- Catapulta (Roman)
- Efthytonon catapult (Greek)
- Hu Dun Pao trebuchet (Chinese)
- Mangonel (Chinese)
- Onager (Roman)
- Oxybeles, oxyvelis ballista (Greek)
- Palintonon catapult (Greek)
- Polybolos, polyvolos repeating ballista (Greek)
- Trebuchet (European, Asian)
Flamethrowers
- Pen Huo Qi flamethrower (Chinese)
- Greek fire[9]
See also
Swords
References
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