What is the difference between a broadsword and a sword. The broadsword is a cutting and piercing weapon. Description and photo. Broadsword in the Russian Empire

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.

by the most famous view This weapon is the Highland or Scottish broadsword - also known as the Scottish basket sword - glorified in their works by Byron and Walter Scott.

It is likely that last time in real combat, the Scottish broadsword was used 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 late XIX centuries.

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 for their decoration were used valuable breeds wood and precious metals. 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 ...

Creation of massive regular armies, as well as further improvement firearms leads to some simplification of the warrior's protective equipment. 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 early XVIII 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

IN early XIX For centuries, the broadswords of the Russian army have been 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 the rope or cut through 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 educational institution or 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.

Some modern Cossacks argue that the "Cossack" checker has incomparably better fighting qualities than a saber, and even more so a broadsword. Although the Cossacks owe their glory to the saber.

During the reign of Ivan IV in the Prut campaign of 1711, the Persian campaign of 1722 - 1723, the Russian-Turkish wars, in the seven-year war (1756 - 1763) against the aggressive Prussian kingdom. Then the Cossacks first appeared in the center of Western Europe. The crowning victory of the Russian army in this war was the capture of the capital of Prussia - Berlin. Cossack regiments on the night of September 9-10, 1760 after the destruction of the twenty-thousandth near Potsdam german army were the first to enter Berlin.

In June 1812, the Cossacks were the first to meet the French invaders with gunfire and heroically fought against Napoleon's army until they were completely defeated. After the capture of Paris in 1814, one of the first to enter the city was the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, which was the escort of Emperor Alexander I. deadly weapon in the hands of the Cossacks was a lance and a saber.

The saber acted, like a pike, on the move; hit and left. An example can be found in the memoirs of General Marbo, when he described the battle near Polotsk: “Mr. Fontaine's legs got tangled in stirrups. He tried to free himself with the help of several huntsmen who came to his aid, when suddenly the damned Cossack officer, flying at a gallop past this group, deftly leaned in the saddle and struck Fontaine with a terrible blow with his saber, gouged out his eye, touched the other eye and cut his nose!

A.K. Denisov describes a clash between a Tatar warrior, a mullah, “as seen from the attire”, armed with a pike (dart), and a Cossack officer F.P. Denisov, the narrator's uncle: “Not leaving Denisov in sight, the mullah galloped a little ahead and set off on him. Then Denisov, having parried the dart with a saber, from below raised a little higher than himself and with one swing to death cut down the Tatar. That is, a virtuoso possession of a saber is described, when a parrying blow turns into a smashing one.

Broadsword, Saber, Saber.

Often, at first glance, it is difficult to distinguish a broadsword from a saber, a saber from a saber, and a saber from a broadsword.

SWORD

Broadsword (Hungarian - pallos; backsword, broadsword) - piercing-chopping edged weapons with a complex hilt, with a handle and with a straight or slightly curved blade, wide at the end, one and a half sharpening (less often double-edged). Often combines the qualities of a sword and a saber. The hilt of the broadsword consists of a handle with a head and a guard (usually including a cup and protective arms). In Western European broadswords, the hilt is usually asymmetrical with a highly developed arm protection in the form of a cross or a bowl with a whole system of arches. The length of the blade is from 60 to 85 cm. The appearance of the broadsword as a military weapon dates back to the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries, when regular cavalry units appeared in Western Europe. Since the 18th century armed with heavy cavalry. The blade of the broadsword is much wider and heavier than that of the sword.

In England it is a broadsword - a basket sword, in Italy it is a spada schiavona - a Slavic sword, and in the German countries in the period from the 16th to the 19th century, it had several names at once - reiterschwert - the rider's sword; kurassierdegen, dragonerdegen, kavalleriedegen - cuirassier sword, dragoon sword and just a cavalry sword.

In Western European broadswords, the hilt is usually asymmetrical with a highly developed arm protection in the form of a cross or a bowl with a whole system of arches. The length of the blade is from 60 to 85 cm. The appearance of the broadsword as a military weapon dates back to the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries, when regular cavalry units appeared in Western Europe. Since the 18th century armed with heavy cavalry.

European cavalry (especially heavy: cuirassiers and cavalry guards) have always gravitated towards stabbing weapons and were mainly armed with broadswords.

The impact energy of two oncoming horse lavas is large enough, so the rider just needs to point the tip at the enemy to inflict a terrible wound on him. At the same time, it is much more difficult to hit the enemy with a blow - delivered a little earlier or later, a chopping blow has neither the necessary accuracy nor strength. In addition, a blow requires two separate movements - a swing and a strike, and a thrust - one. When struck, the rider opens himself, and holding the broadsword for an injection, on the contrary, closes himself.

The broadsword has been known in Russia since the 16th century. Since 1711, broadswords have completely replaced sabers in Russia (this is in the regular army, and Russian Cossacks, Caucasian highlanders, Tatars, Bashkirs and Kalmyks always used chopping weapons). These weapons were produced not only in Russia, but also imported from abroad, mainly from Germany. The opinion that cuirassiers - these "knights of the XIX century" had very heavy broadswords is not entirely accurate. The Russian broadsword of the 19th century, as a rule, was even lighter than the cavalry saber.

A special cult of piercing blades existed in France, where they were used as a dueling weapon and every self-respecting person simply had to master the techniques of fencing with a sword.

SABER

A saber is a very diverse weapon, 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 first argument for the advantage of the saber over the broadsword was the area of damage - for the broadsword this is the line described by the tip, for the saber it is the plane cut by the blade. The second argument is the advantage of the saber at a low speed of the rider, when the broadsword becomes practically useless, and the speed of the saber does not decrease much. The third argument is that the curved blade was lighter, but at the same time inflicted deeper wounds due to the curve of the blade.

Saber (Hungarian - czablya, from szabni - cut; sabre) - chopping, chopping-cutting or piercing-cutting-cutting (depending on the degree of curvature of the blade and the device of its end) melee weapons with a curved blade, which has a blade on the convex side , and the butt - on the concave. Hangs on the belt with the blade down.

The weight and balance of different sabers differed markedly and could be approximately similar to checkered parameters, or they could differ. Varieties of sabers differ in size, the radius of curvature of the blade, the device of the hilt (hilt). A characteristic difference from other long-bladed weapons with a handle is that the center of gravity is located at a considerable distance from the hilt (more often at the level of the border of the first and second thirds from the blade tip), which causes additional cutting action during chopping blows. The combination of the curvature of the blade with a significant distance of the center of gravity from the hilt increases the force of impact and the area of the affected space. The hilt has a handle with a lanyard and a cross with a crosshair (oriental sabers) or another guard (European sabers).

The saber appeared in the East and became widespread among nomads of Eastern Europe And Central Asia in the 7th - 8th centuries. Mongolian and Arab horsemen successfully fought with their curved sabers both light cavalry and heavily armored knights. Moreover, captured Asian sabers were worth their weight in gold, and by no means for their appearance, but just for fighting qualities. Not a single eastern warrior was seen with two-handed sword, nor with a trophy broadsword. “In the whole East, I don’t know a single people who would have anything like broadswords,” wrote General Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov, a well-known Russian military theorist of the 19th century, “where the enemy did not refuse the dump, but looked for it for use on horseback - chopping weapons were always preferred to stabbing ones.

In the XIV century. elman appears on the saber (a thickening of the saber blade in the upper part of the blade, could be honed). The saber acquired the properties of a predominantly chopping weapon. The most characteristic sabers of this type were Turkish and Persian.

In the European armies of the XVIII - XIX centuries. sabers had blades of medium curvature (4.5 - 6.5 cm), hilts with bulky guards in the form of 1 - 3 bows or bowl-shaped, scabbards from the 19th century. usually metal. The total length reached 1.1 m, the length of the blade was 90 cm, the weight without a scabbard was up to 1.1 kg, the weight with a metal scabbard was up to 2.3 kg. At the end of the XIX century. the curvature decreases to 3.5 - 4 cm and the saber again acquires piercing-chopping properties.

Due to the guard, the balance moved closer to the hilt, due to the yelmani - vice versa.

In Rus', the saber has been known since the 9th century, in the Novgorod land the saber came into use later - approximately from the 13th century, and from the 14th century. became the dominant type of weapon (in Western Europe - from the end of the 16th century). In the XV - XVII centuries. the soldiers of the Russian local cavalry, archers, Cossacks were armed with sabers. Since the 18th century in the European and Russian armies, the saber was in service with light cavalry personnel and officers in other branches of the military. In 1881, in the Russian army, the saber was replaced by a saber and was preserved only in the guard, as a parade weapon, as well as for some categories of officers to wear out of order.

But in fact, the era of edged weapons ended much earlier - already in the Crimean War of 1853-1856, wounds with cold weapons accounted for only 1.5% -3% of the total. A little later, during the Russian-Turkish campaign, or rather, by 1877, when the battle of Plevna took place, this figure fell to 0.99%. And so it is all over the world, with the exception of the expeditionary colonial corps waging war with the native population: the loss of the British from edged weapons in India reached 20%, and in Egypt - up to 15%. Nevertheless, this percentage was not discounted, planning the rearmament of the cavalry by the beginning of the First World War.

CHECKER

Checkers are more similar to each other. A checker is, in fact, a hybrid of a knife and a saber, the result of the desire to achieve the maximum benefit from the blade in close combat. Checker (Kabardino-Circassian - sa "shho - (literally) a long knife) - a chopping and stabbing cold weapon with a handle. With a single-bladed (rarely one and a half) sharpening. The blade can be curved, slightly curved, or can be straight. The total length is 95-110 cm, the blades are 77-87 cm long. head, without any protective devices.Such a typically Caucasian hilt in general can be considered one of the main distinguishing features of a checker as a type of edged weapon.

Checkers appeared in the regular Russian army in 1834 (in the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment)

Russian army samples of checkers (for example: dragoon sample of 1881) differed from checkers of the Caucasian type in the design of the hilt and scabbard. The blades of the first army checkers had an average curvature, and in shape approached the saber. In 1881, a weapons reform was carried out, the purpose of which was to establish a single model of edged weapons for all branches of the military. The Caucasian blade, known as the "top", was taken as a model for the blade. The hilt was initially supposed to be of a single sample, with protection by the front bow, but then it was decided to leave it for Cossack drafts traditional hilts, consisting of a single handle. As a result, dragoon (officer and soldier) and Cossack (officer and soldier) checkers were adopted by the Russian army. Artillerymen received a shortened version of the dragoon saber. A characteristic difference between a checker and a saber has always been the presence of a wooden scabbard, covered with leather, with a ring (less often with two rings) for the passing belts of the harness on the convex side (that is, it was suspended in a Caucasian way with the blade back), while the saber always has rings on concave side of the scabbard, in the XIX - early. XX century., As a rule, steel. In addition, the checker was worn more often on the shoulder harness, and the saber on the waist.

Historically, a saber was indeed a knife at first - in the 16th century, such a podsaadashny, “knocked up” knife was common among Russians, which had a number of features that make it similar to a saber. It is noteworthy that initially the checker was used as an auxiliary weapon (it always came after the saber), 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 is the “main belt” bladed weapon, and this puts forward other requirements for it than for a knife. With the spread of firearms and the disuse of armor, the saber replaced the saber, first in the Caucasus, and then in Russia, while the saber itself underwent significant changes: it became longer and more massive, and received a bend.

MAIN DIFFERENCES

So, if we take as a basis some average samples of a broadsword, saber and checkers, the conclusions follow:

The broadsword is an ideal weapon for stabbing with the possibility of chopping. This is a weapon with a long straight (or slightly curved) blade. The center of gravity is maximally shifted to the hilt, for virtuoso fencing and accurate injection. The maximum protection of the hand, the hilt of the broadsword consists of a handle with a head and a guard.

The saber is a piercing-cutting-cutting weapon. The center of gravity is located at a considerable distance from the hilt. Mandatory protection of the hand, the hilt has a handle with a lanyard and a cross with a crosshair (oriental sabers) or another guard (European sabers).

Often, in European sabers, to enhance the piercing properties, the middle line of the handle is directed to the point - the handle is somewhat bent in the direction from the butt to the blade.

Shashka - The weapon is ideal for chopping blows with the possibility of stabbing. The center of gravity is maximally shifted to the tip. Hence the difference in techniques: with a saber they do not so much “feint” from the hand, but deliver powerful, strong blows “from the body”, which are extremely problematic to parry. With the help of a checker, it was possible to strike a good blow, reinforced by the inertia of the rider's movement, which could "break up" the adversary "to the saddle." Moreover, it is extremely difficult to dodge or close from such a blow. Therefore, in the 19th century there was a saying: "They cut with sabers, but they cut with checkers."

It is extremely inconvenient to apply precise stabbing blows with a checker due to the peculiarities of balancing, the lack of an emphasis for the brush and a weak point, which was often not sharpened at all.

The checker, as a rule, is noticeably lighter and slightly shorter than most sabers. Differs from a saber in a somewhat straighter blade. The hilt consists of one handle with a bifurcated head (there were quite a few versions of the appearance of this bifurcated head, up to the use of checkers as a stand for a gun when shooting from the knee), without any protective devices.

The main difference from the saber is that the saber has a less curved blade (or even a straight one), does not have a yelmani pen on the blade and is always suspended vertically, with the blade up. Always without a guard (with rare exceptions, for example - "dragoon checker", which is essentially a saber suspended from the top by a blade).

The ability to deliver the first blow is one of the main advantages of checkers. The checker was worn with the blade up, thanks to which this weapon could be instantly removed from the scabbard and in one movement, directly from the scabbard, deliver a full-fledged, breaking blow to the enemy. The checker, which does not have a cross, is quickly and reliably removed. Often the handle was positioned almost at chest level. The checker was advanced with a straightened palm, then a confident grip of the handle with a full brush was used. When extracting, the checker itself lies in the palm, while the saber is removed with an overlap of the hand. Moreover, a checker hanging on one side can be removed with both the left and right hand and immediately struck, which gives the effect of surprise. Useful for unexpected attacks and self-defense.

Before us is a fairly typical example of a checker action (according to ethnographic records of the 19th century):

“... After some time, Pachabgozhev returned. The young man followed his wife and, hiding behind one half of the gate, as soon as Pachabgozhev appeared in them, rushed at him, but, having missed, instead of Pachabgozhev he hit the other half of the gate and cut it in two, like fresh, freshly squeezed cheese. Pachabgozhev, quickly turning around with his saber already drawn, cut the young man in half from the shoulder. Then, calmly wiping his saber and putting it in its sheath, he put the horse in the stable ... "

Checker - traditional weapon light irregular cavalry, was designed for a fleeting battle, practically for the first and only preemptive strike. The very form of the weapon suggested a combat scheme for its owner - a raid, a blow and a rebound in the event of a rebuff. The skill of the attack, the accuracy and speed of the strike are unusually highly developed, but if it is still not crowned with success, this is where the attacker ends. It is unlikely that it will be possible to effectively defend yourself with the help of checkers, to carry out complex fencing feints, volts and floss. Sometimes in the military manuals of Russia and the USSR, up to 1941, a description of the combat technique was given, coming from saber fencing; but in relation to the checker, these possibilities are very limited.

The cavalry attack in those decades was scattered, fleeting. One hit. On a grand scale, with a pull, at full gallop. And then - at full speed. And fencing with the enemy, even if this blow did not reach the goal (in those conditions, it is by no means more difficult to miss with a saber or broadsword than with a saber), you still won’t have to: he is already far away, the course of the battle has already separated you ...

Built on constant contact with enemy weapons, the European school (more precisely, schools, because there are many of them) is very limited in fencing on checkers (due to the center of gravity shifted to the tip), although a fighter who has a checker can compensate for this with active movements and deceptive techniques . For war and most fights, the striking properties and protection of the hand holding the weapon from at least accidental and non-targeted blows to the protected, at best, glove hand are important. In terms of fencing, a saber fighter needs more mobility than a saber fighter, who can afford to "tap" with the enemy without risking being left without fingers.

Some modern Cossacks argue that the "Cossack" checker has incomparably better fighting qualities than a saber, and even more so a broadsword. But a checker and a saber often had similar, and often the same blades. Many checkers were directly made on imported European saber blades, sometimes the old hilt and guard were removed from the old saber and the Caucasian checker was placed. Sometimes they made their own blades. Due to the absence of a guard, the balance moved closer to the tip.

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. The Caucasian blade was taken as a model for the blade, "which in the East, in Asia Minor, among the Caucasian peoples and our local Cossacks, is highly famous as a weapon that has extraordinary advantages when cutting." Cavalry, dragoon and infantry sabers, as well as cuirassier broadswords, were then replaced with single dragoon and Cossack sabers of the 1881 model. This was the first attempt to scientifically substantiate the choice of edged weapons. The problem with this checker was one - it was developed for two mutually exclusive purposes: for cutting and injections.

The new weapon almost immediately came under a flurry of criticism. As a result of the reform in 1881, the Russian army received a strange hybrid of a broadsword and a saber. In fact, it was an attempt to create a weapon that would allow the use of both a thrust and a chopping blow in battle. However, according to contemporaries, nothing good came of it. Our compatriot and great gunsmith of the last century, Vladimir Grigoryevich Fedorov, writes: “It must be admitted that our saber of the 1881 model both pricks and cuts badly.

Our checker cuts badly:

Due to the slight curvature, in which all the advantages of curved sabers are lost;

Due to improper fit of the handle. To give the checker piercing properties, the middle line of the handle is directed to the point - for this, the handle had to be slightly bent in the direction from the butt to the blade. Which led to the loss of some good cutting properties of the weapon.

Our checker pricks unsatisfactorily:

To give it cutting properties, it is made curved, which delays its penetration;

Due to the significant weight and the distance of the center of gravity from the hilt.

Almost simultaneously with the publication in 1905 of the book "Cold Weapons" Fedorov wrote a report to the artillery committee - "On the change of checkers of the 1881 model." In it, he put forward specific proposals for its improvement.

Based on these proposals, several variants of experimental drafts were made with various provisions center of gravity and modified curvature of the handle. Soon, prototypes of these checkers were transferred for testing to military units, in particular, to the Officer Cavalry School.

Knowing nothing about Fedorov's theoretical considerations, the cavalrymen had to choose the best sample by practical testing on the vine and stuffed animals of its cutting and piercing qualities.

Blades with a modified center of gravity were introduced (20 cm, 17 cm and 15 cm instead of the existing 21.5 cm). At the same time, the blades were lightened by 200 g and shortened from 86 cm to 81 cm. Some of the blades were made with standard handles, and some with a corrected slope.

All cavalrymen unanimously approved sample number 6, with a center of gravity of 15 cm from the hilt and a modified handle.

Another advantage of the checkers was its relative cheapness, unlike the saber, which made it possible to make this weapon massive. This was facilitated by the ease of use of checkers in battle. The usual technique for owning a checker consisted of good knowledge a couple of simple but effective strikes, which was very convenient for quick training of recruits.

In the drill charter of the Red Army cavalry, out of 248 pages, only four are assigned to cutting and thrusting techniques, half as many as to saluting with a saber. The Budennovites were supposed to have 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).

The drill charter of the Soviet army in 1951 prescribed only a few blows. From left to right: chopping down to the right, chopping to the right and a half-turn saber thrust to the right

To deliver blows, injections and rebounds (defense), the rider had to stand on the stirrups and transfer the emphasis to his knees. It was possible to chop an equestrian enemy with only one trick on the command “To the right - CUT!”. For 8-10 steps before the enemy, the right hand with the saber was retracted to the left shoulder, after which, with a quick movement of the hand with a simultaneous turn of the body in the direction of the blow, it was necessary to strike at shoulder height from left to right. To introduce army order, so that the strike was carried out uniformly, all left-handers were retrained for right hand, and not only in the Russian and Red armies.

The other two blows (down to the right and down to the left) were intended to defeat the enemy on foot. To do this, it was necessary to move the body to the right (left) forward 8-10 steps before the infantryman and simultaneously move the hand with the saber up above the head, and then deliver a strong blow, describing a circle with the saber.

To inflict an injection, it was necessary to stretch the right hand with the saber in the direction of the enemy, turning the hand in the hand slightly to the left; the blade of the blade should be facing upwards to the right, and the point should be at the point of injection. After inflicting an injection with a downward movement of the hand, it was required to release the blade.

All of the above is relevant only to conscripts, who, over several years of service in the army, could only be taught to stay in the saddle and tolerably perform a couple of statutory strikes. Checkers made of cheap steel, designed for several successful strikes, were intended for them, with hilts that allowed them to protect the hand, but did not allow not only to transfer the blade from hand to hand, but also to perform elementary fencing techniques. Not these cavalrymen were afraid of the whole of Europe like fire.

Signature blows of the Cossacks and Caucasians were applied from the bottom up, for example, to the elbow of an attacking enemy. This was facilitated by the special arrangement of the harness of the Cossack horses: for example, stirrups were tied with a belt under the body of the horse, allowing the rider to hang sideways almost to the ground. When horse lava approached, the infantryman was instructed to raise a rifle above his head with both hands, defending himself from a statutory blow from above. The Cossack feigned the beginning of such a blow, then abruptly hung from his horse and with a strong blow checkers from below literally broke the soldier into two parts. This technique alone is enough to fear the Cossacks like the plague.

There is in the novel Quiet Don"one remarkable place, which describes the usual possession of a sword by the Cossacks with both hands:" He led the horse to the chosen enemy, as usual, coming from the left to chop with the right; the one who was supposed to run into Grigory strove in the same way. And so, when some ten sazhens remained before the enemy, and he was already hanging to one side, carrying a saber, Grigory with a sharp but gentle turn came in from the right, threw the saber into left hand. A discouraged opponent changes position, it is inconvenient for him to cut from right to left, over the horse’s head, he loses confidence, death breathes in his face ... Grigory destroys a terrible blow with a pull. By the way, the real prototype of Grigory Melekhov, the Cossack of the village of Veshenskaya Kharlampy Ermakov, was a desperate grunt who owned a saber perfectly with both hands. The horse controlled one leg, crashing into the ranks of enemies with two checkers in each hand, wielding them on the right and left.

Unknown Rus'

In an ongoing competition? Yes? Than good! By the way, let me remind you that very soon the first issue will take place!
In today's article, we will talk about piercing and cutting melee weapons, entitled - sword, which left a significant and bright mark on the whole.
I’ll start right away with the fact that in some classifications the broadsword is classified as a dagger - this is not entirely correct. In fact, a bladed weapon called a broadsword is a bladed cold weapon of a chopping-piercing type of action, something between a sword and a saber.

How did the broadsword appear and spread?

The appearance of the broadsword dates back to the sixteenth century, when the Hungarian hussars began to use it as additional weapon to the saber. Here we see a similarity in use with, which was also considered an additional melee weapon. The broadsword at that time was attached to the saddle and had a slightly curved handle similar to a saber. In fact, the broadsword is much older. Starting from the eleventh century, similar straight one-sided sharpened swords were found in different corners Europe. And if we consider the cavalry units of the Khazars, then the broadsword was used even earlier. In general, the broadsword used in Western Europe was the result of the development and improvement heavy saddle sword . And his first samples had the name - Walloon sword .

The end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth centuries is the time of the spread in Europe of regular units of heavy cavalry - cuirassiers, which got their name because of the metal breastplates - cuirass. It was these heavy cavalry units that fell in love with the broadsword more than the rest. Cuirassiers used sword up to the nineteenth century. Indeed, this edged weapon fully justified itself in the fight against knightly armor and other protective uniforms.
By the end of the sixteenth century in Scotland, and then throughout Great Britain, a type of broadsword began to spread, called - Scottish broadsword . Often this kind of broadsword is called claymore, But it's not right. This is a topic for a separate article, but I will only say what distinguished this type of broadsword. This is a wide blade, light weight and a very developed guard. In addition, Scottish broadswords were usually used in conjunction with small round shields.
Has spread broadsword and in the navy. True, one of its varieties was also used there, with a guard in the form of a shell and having the name scallop. The naval broadsword was mainly a boarding weapon with a wide and straight blade, with one-sided or one-and-a-half sharpening. The main difference was the use of leather scabbards instead of classic metal or wooden scabbards. As well as the length of the weapon up to eighty centimeters, with a blade width of up to four centimeters. Almost until the eighteenth century, broadsword blades were made double-edged, and only at the beginning of the nineteenth century did the broadsword take its final form, with a single-edged wide blade and a blunt butt.

The broadsword and its varieties are widely used not only in Western Europe, but also in the Caucasus, Central Asia, India and Russia. In each region, broadswords differed slightly, but mainly it concerned the material and shape of the blade. The main design features remained classic.

Features of the design of the broadsword.

So anyway, what is a broadsword? The answer to this question can be found in . True, this definition turns out to be quite broad. Judge for yourself: « — contact blade cutting and stabbing weapon with a long straight single-edged blade". That is, the type of hilt is not taken into account at all. Although this is a very conditional definition, it is this broad definition of a broadsword that is used in the modern world.
If we slightly clarify the definition that the State Standard suggests us to use, then we get, approximately, the following:

— this is a piercing-cutting edged weapon, combining the properties of a sword and a saber, having a wide single-edged blade (less often one and a half or double-edged sharpening), as well as a complex hilt.

Blade broadsword had a length of six hundred to nine hundred millimeters. The width of the blade varied depending on the type of broadsword, but in general it was at least four centimeters. home distinguishing feature broadsword is a "low" balance. This made it very convenient for delivering a powerful stabbing blow. True, in order to achieve a good chopping blow, the broadsword had an increased weight, which reached one and a half kilograms. The broadsword is distinguished from the sword, just by the developed hilt, the guard of which includes both protective bows and a bowl.
And yet, the broadsword was more perfect for stabbing than chopping. This is confirmed by many studies and opinions in this area.
Unfortunately, by the end of the nineteenth century, the broadsword became practically unnecessary. The development of rifled firearms forced the abandonment of plate armor, and with it many varieties of piercing edged weapons. The broadsword remained in use for some time as a ceremonial weapon, and checkers began to be used for close combat.

Broadsword in Russia

The broadsword reached Russia along with hired foreign officers, starting approximately from the end of the seventeenth century. The earliest Russian broadsword available today is broadsword of Prince Shuisky M.V., dating from 1647 and located in the Moscow State Historical Museum. Its hilt has a look characteristic of early Russian broadswords. It is inclined, adapted for cutting from a horse, with a crosspiece lowered to the blades. The blade is double-edged, also characteristic of the early broadsword. The total length is ninety-nine centimeters, and the length and width of the blade are eighty-six and 4.3 centimeters, respectively. This broadsword is trimmed with silver, and its scabbard is covered with velvet.

Mass distribution in Russia, the broadsword received at the time Peter the Great. First, they became the armament of the dragoon regiments, and then the cuirassiers. Dragoons used broadswords until 1817. At one time, horse artillery was even armed with them. Broadswords received the main distribution, of course, in heavy cavalry.
Only by the middle of the eighteenth century did the Russian broadsword acquire a single-edged blade and a butt, and the sheath began to be made only from metal, instead of wood. Under Catherine the Great, broadswords were engraved with her initials.

In the eighteenth century, the division of broadswords by types of troops and status also appeared. So were, for example, army, guards, soldier and officer, dragoon and other broadswords. All of them were different various types handles, bowls and shields of the guard. They also began to make various heads on the handle, for example, different forms or the head of an animal.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, all this great variety of colorful broadswords began to be unified and simplified, thereby reducing the number of their varieties in the troops. This gave its positive results, but, unfortunately, only one fate awaited the broadsword. So by 1881, broadswords remained only in service with the dragoons, and after that, they remained at all, only as ceremonial edged weapons.
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I. Definitions.

1) Saber (Hungarian - czablya, from szabni - cut; sabre) - chopping, chopping-cutting or piercing-cutting-cutting (depending on the degree of curvature of the blade and the device of its end) melee weapons with a curved blade, in which the blade is on convex side, and butt - on the concave. Varieties of sabers differ in size, the radius of curvature of the blade, the device of the hilt (hilt). A characteristic difference from other long-bladed weapons with a handle is that the center of gravity is located at a considerable distance from the hilt (more often at the level of the border of the first and second thirds from the blade tip), which causes additional cutting action during chopping blows. The combination of the curvature of the blade with a significant distance of the center of gravity from the hilt increases the force of impact and the area of the affected space. This feature of the saber was most effective with blades made of hard steels, which had great elasticity and toughness. The hilt has a handle with a lanyard and a cross with a crosshair (oriental sabers) or another guard (European sabers). Scabbards are wooden, covered with leather, morocco and velvet or metal (XIX - XX centuries), blued, chrome-plated and nickel-plated on the outside.

The saber appeared in the East and became widespread among the nomads of Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the 7th - 8th centuries. The saber of this people is chopping and piercing. In the XIV century. Elman appears on the saber. The saber acquired the properties of a predominantly chopping weapon. The most characteristic sabers of this type were Turkish and Persian. In the European armies of the XVIII - XIX centuries. sabers had blades of medium curvature (4.5 - 6.5 cm), hilts with bulky guards in the form of 1 - 3 bows or bowl-shaped, scabbards from the 19th century. usually metal. The total length reached 1.1 m, the length of the blade was 90 cm, the weight without a scabbard was up to 1.1 kg, the weight with a metal scabbard was up to 2.3 kg. At the end of the XIX century. the curvature decreases to 3.5 - 4 cm and the saber again acquires piercing-chopping properties.

2) Broadsword (Hungarian - pallos; backsword, broadsword) - piercing-chopping edged weapons with a complex hilt, with a handle and with a straight or slightly curved blade, wide towards the end, one and a half sharpening (less often double-edged). Combines the qualities of a sword and a saber. The hilt of the broadsword consists of a handle with a head and a guard (usually including a cup and protective arms).

3) Checker (Kabardino-Circassian - sa "shho - (literally) a long knife) - a chopping and stabbing cold weapon with a handle. A blade of slight curvature with a double-edged end. Total length 95-110 cm, blade length 77-87 cm. It differs from the saber in a slightly more straight blade.Its feature is the absence of a copper bow that protects the hand.Initially, the Russian irregular cavalry was armed with a Caucasian-type checker, which had a blade of slight curvature and a hilt, consisting of one handle with a bifurcated head, without any protective devices.

Such a typically Caucasian hilt in general can be considered one of the main distinguishing features of a checker as a type of edged weapon. Russian army samples of checkers (for example: dragoon sample of 1881) differed from checkers of the Caucasian type in the design of the hilt and scabbard. The blades of the first army checkers had an average curvature, and in shape approached the saber. In 1881, a weapons reform was carried out, the purpose of which was to establish a single model of edged weapons for all branches of the military. The Caucasian blade, known as the "top", was taken as a model for the blade. The hilt was initially supposed to be of a single design, with protection by the front bow, but then it was decided to leave the traditional hilts, consisting of one handle, for Cossack sabers. As a result, dragoon (officer and soldier) and Cossack (officer and soldier) checkers were adopted by the Russian army. Artillerymen received a shortened version of the dragoon saber. A characteristic difference between a checker and a saber has always been the presence of a wooden scabbard, covered with leather, with a ring (less often with two rings) for the passing belts of the harness on the convex side (that is, it was suspended in a Caucasian way with the blade back), while the saber always has rings on concave side of the scabbard, in the XIX - early. XX century., As a rule, steel. In addition, the checker was worn more often on the shoulder harness, and the saber on the waist.

4) Scimitar (tur. - Yatagan) - piercing-chopping-cutting edged weapons with a blade of internal sharpening (on the concave side of the blade). Average between a sword and a saber. The handle is made of bone (rarely metal) with a forked head, without a guard or a limiter stop. The head expands in the form of "ears" to support the base of the hand.

Since the scimitar's hilt does not have a guard, the blade enters the sheath along with part of the hilt. Scabbard scabbard wooden, covered with leather, can be lined with metal. Length up to 80 cm, blade length about 65 cm, weight without sheath up to 0.8 kg (with sheath up to 1.2 kg). Used since the 16th century. in Turkey, the countries of the Near and Middle East, the Balkan Peninsula and South Transcaucasia. The scimitar is mostly known as a specific weapon. Turkish Janissaries. A weapon of this configuration was used in ancient Egypt as a large throwing knife. Another name is Scimitar.

5) Saber boarding(cutlass) - a saber of slight curvature with a shortened massive blade and a highly developed guard. It was used in the XVIII-XIX centuries in boarding battles.

6) Boarding broadsword- a long-blade chopping-piercing boarding 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. In Russia, it was adopted by sailors in 1856. Unlike combat broadswords, which had only metal scabbards, the boarding broadsword had a leather scabbard. Used until the end of the 19th century. Blade length up to 80 cm, width - approx. 4 cm

7) Shamsher (shamshir) - an Arab (or Iranian) saber with a narrow blade of strong curvature, smooth bend, without elmani. The handle is thin with a small cross and head. The scabbard is wooden, covered with leather. The sheath device usually consists of two metal clips with rings and often a tip. It was distributed from Morocco to India and Pakistan inclusive.

8) Khopesh (khopesh, khepesh, khepesh scimitar) (Khopesh - the word denoted the front leg of the animal) is a cold bladed weapon in Ancient Egypt, which can be attributed to scimitars (although some refer to it as battle axes). It consisted of a sickle (semicircular blade) and a handle. Could have both internal sharpening and external. There was a double sharpening - the part of the blade closest to the handle - sharpening is external, the far part of the blade is internal. The handle is two-handed, about 50 cm. Khopesh, in ancient Egypt, was the weapon of elite warriors and skilled fighters. The length of the khopesh allowed them to work from the chariot.

9) Dyusak - a kind of saber that appeared in Hungary and existed in Bohemia and Germany in the 16th century. The blade is short, curved, single-edged, tapering towards the tip. The role of the shaft is played by a rod bent in the form of a loop facing the blade. Used by peasants and artisans. When working with a dusak, a thick leather mitten was worn on the hand.

II. Countries and varieties.

1) Europe.

A) Badler (bejeler) - Albanian, wide, heavy saber.
B) Buturovka - Hungarian saber.
C) Hungarian saber - a saber of small curvature with a weakly expressed yelman.
D) Gaddare - a saber with a short wide blade and a thickened blunt.
D) Karabela - Polish saber.
E) Kopis (kopis) - a curved sword that was common in Greece and Spain from the VI to III centuries. BC. Most likely it was copied from the Persian copy. The blade had an internal sharpening. Etruscan and early Greek swords of this type were long cutting weapons with a blade length of about 60-65 cm (although the length could reach 72 cm). Later Macedonian and Spanish samples were short cutting and stabbing weapons, the blade length of which did not exceed 48 cm.
G) Kordelach - a large, often two-handed saber. Specific weapons of the Mark Brothers. One of the first trade unions of "sword masters". It was founded in Nuremberg: "The Common Brotherhood of the Holy and Most Pure Virgin Mary and the Holy and Mighty Prince of Heaven St. Mark", or, in short, "Mark's Brothers". On August 10, 1487, Frederick II granted them the first letter of privilege, according to which, in particular, the “Markov brothers” received the right to be called “sword masters”. Soon the "Markov Brothers" moved to Frankfurt am Main, which for a time became the center of fencing in Europe. For a while, this union took a monopoly position.
H) Cortelas (Italian cortelas - a large knife) - an Italian saber with a heavy wide blade of medium curvature. It was widespread in the XIV - XV centuries. in Genoa and Venice.
I) Krakemart - a short, heavy saber with a double-edged blade. It was common among French and English sailors in the 15th century.
K) Malkus (Malchus) (Italian - malchus) - a curved short sword with a strong bevel of the butt. It was distributed in Europe in the XIV - XV centuries.
L) Mahaira - a crescent-shaped crescent (less than a sickle is bent and more elongated), an ancient Greek sword with a blade on inside blade. Length - 50-65 cm.
M) Scallop (duzeggi) - a kind of broadsword with a guard in the form of a shell. Similar cleavers were used in the 16th-19th centuries. Often used by sailors in boarding teams.
N) Falcata (falcata, falcta) (falcata) - a Spanish (Iberian) piercing-chopping sword with a curved blade, the blade is about 45 cm long. It resembles a mahair in structure.
A) Hirschfanger - hunting broadsword.

2) Rus'.

A) Adamashka is a Ukrainian term for a saber made of Damascus steel.
B) Klych - a saber, of Turkish origin, common among the Cossacks.
C) Cossack checker of the lower ranks of the sample of 1881 - a checker, which was an army weapon from 1881 to 1917. Total length 102 cm, blade length 87 cm, width 3.3 cm, weight with sheath 1.35 kg.

D) Cossack officer's checker sample 1838 - a checker, which was an army weapon from 1838 to 1881. Total length 96 cm, blade length 82 cm, width 3.5 cm, weight with sheath 1.4 kg.

3) Türkiye.

A) Kilich (fang) (kilic, kilij - sword or blade) - a saber that had big influence during the Turkish invasion of the 15th century on the form of European sabers. Characterized by a large curvature of the blade.
B) Mameluk - a saber of strong curvature, which was in service with the Mameluk detachments.
C) Safe - a saber with a blade of small curvature.
D) Turkish saber - a saber in which the curvature of the blade starts from the second third, the upper third of the blade is straight. The saber is worn on a silk baldric running from right to left; suspended freely, so that its tip is directed upwards. Straight handle, cross with a cross on the hilt. Weight without sheath 0.85 - 0.95 kg, with sheath - 1.1 - 1.25 kg. The large curvature of the blade, the length of the blade is 75 - 85 cm, the total length of the saber is 95-97 cm.

4) India.

A) Indian saber - a saber with a blade of small curvature, expanding towards the bottom.
B) Kunda (Khanda) - a kind of broadswords, the length of the blades is about 80 cm. It was widespread in Northeast India. Their steel or damask blades, as a rule, are straight, single-edged, forged with some expansion towards the end, which has an oval shape. Part of the butt at the end is sharply sharpened. The handle is metal, with a strong protection of the hand in the form of a small upper and a large lower bowl, interconnected by a wide bow. Under the lower bowl-cross, a wide figured crosshair is fixed on both sides of the heel of the blade, and a long metal tail rises above the head. The shank of the handle, the lower bowl and the bow are intertwined and covered with fabric from the inside. The wide scabbards of such broadswords are usually made of wood and covered with valuable types of fabrics.
C) Tulvar (talvar) - a saber with a blade of one and a half sharpening of small curvature. The head of the stalk has a characteristic disc-shaped shape. Total length 95-125 cm.
D) Firangi - a broadsword with a blade of one and a half sharpening with a hilt and a spike at the end of the handle. It gained popularity in the late Middle Ages.

5) Nepal.

A) Khora (ind. - bark) - a sword with a curved blade expanding towards the end, the total length is from 60 cm to 65 cm. The handle has a ring guard and a pommel in the form of a cup with a carved head.
B) Pamdao - a sword with a wide double-curved blade.

6) Asia.

A) Bukhara saber - a saber with a strong bend in the lower third of the blade. The upper part of the blade is much wider than its end. There are no valleys. The blades of the Bukhara sabers are very close in shape to the Persian ones. Here, in the manufacture of sabers, imported Persian blades were often used. But the form of Bukhara sabers - with a small yelman on a narrow blade - is of local origin. The blades of the Central Asian drafts are almost straight with a blunt or butt, the handles are massive, thicken towards the head.
B) Zulfak (dzyulfakar) - a saber with a forked blade.
C) Caucasian saber - divided into two main types:
1) Light Caucasian saber - has a very wide short blade of weak curvature with valleys and a very sharp end. A handle with a handle of a flat oval section, gradually tapering towards the head. The crosspiece is small, Iranian type.
2) Heavy Caucasian saber - has a wide heavy long blade, often with fullers and yelman, a massive bone or horn handle with a knob, and a large massive cross.
D) castane
1) A short heavy saber with a complex hilt, which is the national weapon of the peoples of Ceylon. Total length 50 - 60 cm.
2) A curved Filipino sword with one-sided sharpening on the convex side of the blade. The hilt usually has a pommel in the form of a dragon's head.
E) Kyrgyz saber - a saber with a narrow blade of a slight bend, long, with a bayonet-shaped end adapted for piercing through chain mail rings. A simple handle with a very small, straight cross and a large head that is slightly tilted back. The scabbard is wooden. The mouth is missing. These sabers are especially widespread in Kyrgyzstan, which is why they are usually called Kyrgyz.
E) Kopid - the Persian sword outwardly resembled a sickle. Mentioned by Xenophon during the time of the Persian king Cyrus (VI century BC).
G) Persian saber - a saber with a strong but smooth curve in the lower third of a narrow blade. The upper part of the blade is much wider than its end. Doles are often missing. The small thin handle has a small head and a straight long cross. Weight without sheath 0.85 - 0.95 kg, with sheath - 1.1 - 1.25 kg. The length of the blade is 75 - 85 cm, the total length of the saber is 95-97 cm.
H) Saparra (sappara) - Assyrian saber (sword), had a sharpening, both on the outside of the blade, and partially on the inside.
I) Selebe - Kazakh broadsword (half-saber).
K) Khylys - Khakass saber.
L) Shoi - Kazakh saber.

7) Africa.

A) Nimsha - a Moroccan sword with a blade of slight curvature, has a small wooden handle. From the base of the guard, arches extend, directed towards the tip of the blade and having spherical ends, designed to capture the enemy’s weapons.

III. Terms and fixtures.

1) Cheren - handle.
2) Flint - guard.
3) Lanyard - a belt loop on the pommel of a saber.
4) Kryzh - the cross of the saber.
5) Yelman - a thickening of the saber blade in the upper part of the blade, could be honed.

Compiled by Yu.Kolobaev.

The broadsword originated from a chopping sword, which won in equestrian combat due to its lower weight.

The very shape of the sword - a straight, double-edged blade, a cross on the hilt - not only was a Christian symbol, but also made this weapon perfectly adapted for combat.

sword evolution

Sword evolution (continued)

In the course of the development of defensive weapons and combat techniques, the shape of the sword changed, which ultimately led to the emergence of a new type of bladed weapon.

Broadswords appeared in Russia in the middle of the 17th century from Europe.

The broadswords of that time had powerful, wide double-edged blades typical of chopping weapons, as a rule, without fullers, lenticular or rhombic section; later - single-edged, with a butt and fullers.

From top to bottom: broadsword of ordinary heavy cavalry, model 1821 (Austria); cuirassier officer's broadsword of the French type (Prussia, second half of the 19th century); dragoon broadsword model 1815 (Baden, Germany); cuirassier broadsword sample 1819 (Prussia); broadsword of privates of the linear cavalry (France).

The handle of broadswords is most often set slightly at an angle to the blade, which makes them more convenient for cutting from a horse. The hilts were supplied with guards and several protective arches - front and side. The side arms were located on the outer side of the hilt and often were very spectacular, intricate weaves, sometimes decorated with some kind of heraldic figures.

The regular cavalry created in Russia in the 18th century was also armed with broadswords. Already since 1700, along with swords, sabers, etc., they were found among dragoons. In 1711, with the streamlining of dragoon weapons, broadswords became their mandatory attribute. The officer's broadswords differed from the soldiers' only in a gilded hilt.

From top to bottom: cuirassier officer's broadsword, model 1826 (Zlatoust, 1833); cuirassier officer's broadsword model 1826 (Solingen);
cuirassier officer's broadsword model 1810

In the second half of the 18th century, the blades of Russian broadswords were both double-edged and single-edged, and from the first decade of the 19th century only single-edged ones were used.

Broadswords of the 18th century had leather or wooden scabbards covered with leather, as well as a metal device (mouth, nuts with rings for belt belts, tip), simple or slotted, covering almost the entire surface of the scabbard.

In the same period as in Russia, in the 18th - early 19th centuries, there was a gradual unification of broadswords in the cavalry of European armies; single models were introduced both for regiments and for each type of cavalry: dragoon broadswords, cuirassier broadswords, etc.

Lancers, dragoons and cuirassiers of the Russian army

Cuirassiers got their name from the cuirass - a steel shell worn on the chest, and later on the back of the rider.

Heavy cavalry appears in Russian army in 1731, and the cuirassiers immediately receive broadswords.

The dragoons could different time armed with swords, broadswords or sabers, but the heavy cavalry always remained true to the broadswords.

Firearms spread more and more, and in 1862 the cuirassier regiments were turned into dragoon ones. Their weapons have changed. However, four cuirassier regiments were retained in the guard: the Life Guards Cavalry Guards of Her Majesty Maria Feodorovna Regiment, the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, the Life Guards Cuirassier Regiment of His Majesty and the Life Guards Cuirassier Regiment of Her Majesty.

Since the 1700s, the following types of broadswords have been in service with the Russian regular cavalry:

Dragoon broadsword	officer	1700s
Dragoon broadsword	officer	1720s
Dragoon broadsword	soldier	1750s 2 variants
Broadsword cuirassier		1740s
	soldier	1763
Broadsword cuirassier		1760
Broadsword carabinieri	soldier	1763
Broadsword of the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment		second half of 1790s
Dragoon broadsword	soldier and officer	1798
Broadsword army cuirassier	soldier and officer	1798
Broadsword cavalry guard		1799
Broadsword cavalry guard		1799 for wearing with a uniform
Broadsword cavalry guard		1802
Horse artillery broadsword	lower ranks	1803
Dragoon broadsword	soldier and officer	1806
Broadsword cuirassier	soldier and officer	1810
Broadsword cuirassier	soldier and officer	1826
Broadsword boarding sailor		1856

IN field conditions, in view of combat expediency, the cuirassiers-guards acted as dragoons, but in parades and on guard until 1917 they wore cuirasses and broadswords.

In the first of these regiments - the Life Guards Cavalier Guards of Her Majesty Maria Feodorovna - there was even a kind of broadsword cult. Melee weapons in Rus' were called white weapons. For the same reason, the cavalry guards called their broadsword "white lady". Their regimental march was taken from the French opera The White Lady. The regiment even had its own ghost, which appeared on the eve of major troubles, and this ghost, of course, was also the White Lady.

Cuirassier officer's broadswords of the 1810 model
Chrysostom, masters V. and L. Shafa (?). 1820s

At the beginning of the 19th century, broadsword blades, still quite powerful and wide, became more elegant. If at first the broadsword was mainly a chopping weapon, now its main purpose is a sharp injection, knocking the rider out of the saddle, or inflicting stab wound. In this regard, in the 19th century, broadsword blades acquire a tapering point instead of a rounded one.

The last two samples lasted until 1917. If we talk about the naval boarding broadsword, then in the naval schools of the USSR, senior students flaunted with him until 1956 (thus, he served 100 years).

After the division of the Russian cavalry into light (hussars, lancers), medium (dragoons) and heavy (cuirassiers) broadswords became the privilege of the latter.

Today, broadswords are worn in the honor guards of a number European countries having historical uniforms. In Sweden, these are the royal drabants, in the UK, the regiments of Her Majesty's Horse Guards. There is a similar tradition in France, which, being a republic, has retained its historical roots, and in many other states.