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 (African) •
Gauntlet (European) • Indian parrying weapon
Swords Curved one-handed •
Dao, beidao, zhibei dao (Chinese) •
Dao (Northeast Indian) •
Dha (Southeast Asian) •
Falchion (European) •
Hwando (Korean) •
Kampilan (Philippinese, Southeast Asian) •
Khopesh, sappara, sickle sword (Egyptian, Middle Eastern) •
Kilij (North Indian, Middle Eastern) •
Klewang (Southeast Asian) •
Krabi (Southeast Asian) •
Liuyedao (Chinese) •
Mameluke (Middle Eastern) •
Nimcha (African) •
Parang Nabur (Bornean) •
Piandao (Chinese) •
Pulwar (Middle Eastern) •
Scimitar, saif (Middle Eastern) •
Shamshir (Pakistani, North Indian, Middle Eastern) •
Shashka (Caucasian, Circassian) •
Surik (Indonesian) •
Talwar (Pakistani, North Indian, Middle Eastern) •
Yanmaodao (Chinese)
Straight one-handed •
Arming sword, war sword (European) •
Backsword (European) •
Chokutō (Japanese) •
Estoc (European) •
Firangi, firanghi (Japanese) •
Nodachi,
Ōdachi (Japanese) • Parade sword, paratschwerter Curved shortswords include the following: •
Aikuchi, haikuchi (Japanese) •
Akrafena (West African) •
Barong (Southeast Asian) •
Janbiya, jambiya, jambya, jambia, janbia (Middle Eastern) •
Khanjar (Middle Eastern) •
Kodachi (Japanese) •
Pinuti (Southeast Asian) •
Shikomizue (Japanese) •
Talibon (Southeast Asian) •
Wakizashi (Japanese) 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) • (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 (
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 (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 (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 (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==