Swords of the World: 181 Types of Swords from Every Corner of the Globe (2024)

Welcome to the world of swords! Attempting to compile an extensive list of the world’s various sword types would be an enormous undertaking simply because there might be one too many of them. But fear not, for we here at SwordEncyclopedia have made it our mission to assist your exploration of the fascinating world of swords. Each sword type will be sorted into a category according to the continent on which it was made.

Although one of the most comprehensive collections of swords you’ll find online, please note that it is continually a work in progress. Some swords may be missing or unresearched at the moment, but that will change as time goes on and we gain access to more resources.

European Swords

European swords refer to the different swords used in Europe from ancient times to the modern era. These swords were used for combat, self-defense, and ceremonial purposes. Throughout the years, the swords were made from different materials like bronze, iron, and steel. They also had different blade shapes and hilts, with the cruciform guard straight sword being the most popular and recognizable European Sword today.

Ancient

Bronze was the first material utilized to create swords that were suitable for use in battle. The Celtics’ mastery of sword making along with their discovery of iron, resulted in a wide range of sword styles that would go on to impact generations of bladed combatants across Europe.

In much of European antiquity, the spear was the primary weapon in battles. As iron was replaced by steel, real and war effective battle swords were invented. Gradually, the use of swords spread throughout the whole of Europe.

Medieval

When it came to weapons, the sword held the highest regard throughout medieval Europe. Not only was it a great weapon of combat, typically passed down from generation to generation, but it had also become a symbol of status as a person is knighted using a sword.

The Spatha, along with other ancient swords, likely influenced the design of the earliest swords used during this time period. Blacksmiths from the Carolingian era were mostly responsible for spreading it over Europe. The first cruciform hilt crossguards appeared and these swords were mostly used for slashing.

Cutting through chain mail required a big sword, and that’s exactly what early medieval warriors developed and used with time. Longer, more pointed thrusting swords were developed as a response to the rise of effective plate armor in the late middle ages.

Early Modern & Modern Period

In the Renaissance military revolution, firearms grew essential but swords, embodying aesthetics and lethal functionality, were still crucial, especially for cavalry. Early 16th-century infantry utilized thrusting swords, while cavalry wielded larger, double-edged variants for combat against mounted and dismounted adversaries, swinging downwards at infantry.

Over time, swords, particularly the eastern-influenced curved sabre spread via Hungary and the Ottoman Empire, became more prevalent among cavalry, creating a new standard for European swords. Despite their elegance, their lethality was undoubted.

Asian Swords

While the main weapon used by Asians during ancient times was the bow and crossbow, the sword played a great part, particularly during close quarters combat. Swordsmiths first made Asian swords from bronze which then evolved to iron and finally steel. In East Asia, there are multiple different steels such as wootz and tamahagane which are used in the creation of some of the most popular swords today.

Chinese Swords

Before Japan, archaeological evidence suggests China was the initial sword manufacturer, using materials like copper, bronze, and eventually iron, leading to steel creation. China emerged as the principal sword production hub, influencing Asian metallurgy and design, despite spears and bows being the common weapons.

These swords, both straight and curved, were essential in combat, rites, and self-defense, serving as a status symbol. They also mark one of the first traces of Martial Arts with swords, serving as both a defense method and a philosophical guide.

Japanese Swords

Initially importing swords from China, by 1000 AD, Japan had crafted their own style of single-edged, curved blades, detachable from their hilts, becoming valuable, meaningful heirlooms. Japanese swords and swordsmanship, emblematic of the legendary samurais, continue to hold renown.

A samurai’s sword, often kept under the pillow, would be gifted at birth and buried with him, symbolizing more than just a physical defense. These swords have influenced culture, values, and diverse Martial Arts.

Indian Swords

India extensively used bronze and copper swords as early as the 20th century BC, including antenna swords and other double-edged weapons. Crucible steel, or wootz, developed in the 1st millennium BC, is integral to Indian swordsmanship. Indian swords, used in early forms of Martial Arts, are prestigious weapons that, despite being overtaken by modern tools, retain cultural significance.

Other Asian Swords

Throughout Asia, not only in known sword-making nations like China, Japan, and India, indigenous peoples developed unique blades for rituals and combat, like the curved sword used by steppe units. Central Asian nomads, successful medieval mounted soldiers, achieved victories over established civilizations using composite bows and powerful curved swords.

Swords, deeply rooted in the history and culture of many Asian countries, inspired Martial Arts and mythology, and are still in use for military and civilian purposes today.

Middle Eastern Swords

The transition from stone to iron blades originated in the Middle East, with these blades becoming key symbols of combat in many cultures. This region, a crossroads of Eastern and Western influences, developed a wide array of weapons including sickle-shaped, straight, and curved blades that influenced western history.

Following the founding of the Islamic religion, the Middle East adopted the curved sword as its primary weapon and became known for unique sword variants and the famed Damascus Steel artistry, renowned globally even in medieval times.

African Swords

Ancient Egyptian ritual daggers evolved into diverse African swords, reflecting Arabian and Ottoman influences in the North and unique Southern Sahara traditions. These ceremonial yet lethal weapons, ranging from sticks to metal paddles, persisted beyond 19th-century European decolonization.

American Swords

Combat traditions among the peoples of the Americas had been evolving for millennia prior to the introduction of Europeans at the end of the 15th century. Since artillery or hardened metals were not available in pre-Columbian times, all military forces were composed of infantry. Wood, stone, copper, gold, and obsidian predominated as the primary materials for weapons. Since none of these would make for a good sword, they have yet to exist in battle.

The closest thing to a sword at the time were thorny wooden instruments. Once the Europeans arrived, they brought with them a new way of life that included the use of muskets and the art of making swords.

Post-Columbian American (Continental) Swords

Given Europe’s prime, North and South America adopted European sword styles, particularly sabres. Despite the rifle’s rise to prominence, American Swords were still being manufactured and saw service in both battle and military ceremonies. Even today, they still play a vital role.

Most of these swords were based on European swords with little to no deviation as there was simply no need for it because of the use of long-range firing weapons. The early swords were simply labeled as Spanish, German, English, or European swords.

Despite this, American swords are all fashioned after the European sword which was often a curved saber mostly used by cavalry troops or for ceremonial purposes. Some examples of American Swords include:

• Hanger – Secondary swords that “hung” from the belts of soldiers. They could be straight or curved and most were used as one-handed weapons. They were made pretty simple and cheap, but very effective if used in battles

• Artillery – These are the types of weaponry used by the artillery divisions. Such blades could be curved like a traditional saber or straight and short like a Roman Gladius. As a means of protecting artillery and stationary troops, they were developed for close-quarters battle and used one-handed.

• Cavalry – The American cavalry swords were the most frequent blades used in battle, and they were typically curved and employed for slashing by mounted soldiers. The longest of the American Swords, these blades served as weapons as well as ceremonial instruments.

• Naval – The swords carried by seafarers in the New World. They were the shortest of the American Swords and featured broad blades that were either curved or straight. It was used for thrusting and slashing in close quarters as this was the only form of sword fight that could occur between modern ships.

• Officer – The American public favors officer swords above all other types of bladed weapons. They weren’t always employed in combat, but the higher-ranking officers almost always had one on them. Mostly ornamental, these curved or straight blades could also be used for stabbing and thrusting in combat.

• Presentation – Nowadays, the most common type of American Sword is the Presentation Sword which was originally given as a sign of appreciation to officers or soldiers for their service and heroic deeds.