Bladed edged weapon. Slashing melee weapon

Cold steel of certain types in the Middle Ages was universal, combining the properties of piercing, chopping and cutting categories of weapons. Having spread widely throughout the world back in those distant times, some are still in demand today.

Piercing - cutting bladed weapon

This category can be briefly described as follows: a variety of knives and daggers.

One of the very first types of bladed weapons in the history of mankind was, of course, a knife - a universal tool that was suitable both for obtaining and processing food, and for inflicting serious wounds on the enemy. It was owned by representatives of all ages, genders and classes. Noble nobles and peasant mobs, merchant people and formidable pirates. In the uniform of all military formations, from the times of the Vikings to modern units special purpose, there is a knife. This type of cold piercing and cutting weapon has always been valued for its compactness, noiselessness, variety of modifications and ease of use. It was often used as a last but extremely convincing argument in domestic conflicts and could save the life of its owner on the battlefield in case of damage or loss of the main weapon.

A dagger is a type of knife, characterized by a double-edged or single-edged blade of a straight or curved shape.

As a rule, knives and daggers were used in close combat, but there was also a throwing variety with a weighted blade, which made it possible to accurately hit the intended target.

Piercing and slashing weapons of the Middle Ages

This category can be divided into handle and polearm. The main representatives of hand-held piercing and chopping weapons are various swords, saber, checker, broadsword, cleaver, scimitar, etc.

The sword, consisting of a symmetrical blade of very different lengths and hilts, could be intended to be wielded with one hand or two-handed. This is a universal type of weapon, which, depending on the structural features, can be classified as piercing, slashing, slashing-piercing, and piercing-slashing types.

The saber has a single-edged blade, curved towards the butt, and a straight crosshair. Widely used in cavalry.

The checker, common in Russia, is a cutting and piercing bladed weapon. It also has a curved blade and one blade (closer to the combat end the blade becomes double-edged). But this weapon differs from a saber in its hilt, which does not have protective devices.

The broadsword combines the features of a sword and a saber, has a complex hilt and a straight, one-and-a-half sharpened blade. A cleaver is a particularly large combat knife that has a hilt with a cross or bow. The Middle Eastern scimitar was something between a cleaver and a saber.

Polar piercing - chopping weapons can be well characterized by its brightest representative - the halberd, which is an unimaginable combination of a spear, knife, ax and hook on a long shaft.

There are a huge number of different knife options. In fact, manufacturers go out of their way to make something original and different from other products. It's also functional. But all their creations can be reduced to a few basic profiles, on the basis of which masters are already beginning to create. And today we are talking about these basic blade profiles for knives and let's talk. Just to begin to understand the issue a little better.

1. Blade with a straight spine

One of the most common models. And not only due to the fact that such profiles much easier to manufacture, but also thanks to its versatility. This knife copes not only with specific tasks, but also performs well in everyday practice. It is permissible to increase the rounding - this gives a larger cutting edge and makes further work a little easier. It stabs well and cuts well. Often found on ordinary kitchen knives.

2. Drop-Point

In this case, the tip is slightly shifted relative to the butt line. The top chip is either smooth or slightly convex. Due to this, the effectiveness of the piercing blow increases, since the point of application of force coincides with the tip. The geometry of the blade itself makes it easier to insert into the material and pull it back out. In addition to piercing blows and movements, it cuts well. Often found on knives designed for . The butt is usually not sharpened.

3.Trailing point

In this case, the tip, on the contrary, is raised relative to the butt. This increases the cutting edge, but piercing actions become extremely difficult. Excellent cuts soft tissue. Often found in national knives, intended exclusively for processing hides and cutting carcasses. The butt can be sharpened, which significantly increases the versatility of using a knife with such blade profile.

4. Clip Point

Also called Bowie type, after Colonel Bowie, who is considered the inventor of this profile. The tip is even lower relative to the butt line than in drop-point profile. Due to this, the effectiveness of the piercing blow increases even more, since the point of application of force is located almost on the central axis of the blade. The top bevel is a concave notch that is sharpened. It can be either short or long. This significantly expands the scope of use of the knife, especially in skinning. Such blade profile often observed in combat knives, since it copes equally well with both piercing and cutting blows. In the second option, you can use both the blade and the sharpened notch, causing additional damage when pulled out after a stabbing blow.

5. Scramasax

Quite specific profile. It is also called Wharncliffe Blade. It looks as if they took the standard version, turned it over, and then sharpened the butt and dulled the blade. Ideal for scraping and provides a perfectly straight cut because the cutting edge is even along the entire length of the blade, without any bending. Can be used for slashing attacks. Not suitable for piercing actions. Due to the nature of its application, it is rare.

6. Tanto

More precisely, "American Tanto". Classic Japanese knives with this name were blades with a straight spine. But in order to simplify manufacturing, some craftsmen began to limit themselves to two smooth cutting surfaces, instead of one rounded one. Due to its shape, it perfectly withstands strong piercing blows on hard material, without the risk of breaking the tip. Provides a good cut because the cutting surface is uniform. Copes well with slashing blows. Often found in combat knives.

7. Spear-point

Or spear-shaped profile. Ideal for stabbing, provides deep penetration into the tissue and easy pulling out. Double-edged. Most often found in combat or hunting knives and daggers. Other applications are extremely limited, so this blade profile is relatively rare. However, this profile is very popular among throwing knives.

8. Spay-Point

This profile Most often used for hunting knives used for skinning. The shorter blade provides more control over the cut. The upper bevel is not sharpened to prevent damage to the leather during operation. The large curve of the cutting edge provides a more efficient cut, and the tip located in the center allows you to effectively pierce dense materials.

9.Hawkbill blade

Blade profile, shaped like the key of a bird of prey. The tip is thin, located significantly below the center line of the knife, giving the blade a sickle shape. It is this part that is sharpened. This form is extremely ineffective in everyday life and work, but for inflicting cutting wounds it is just right. Classic karambits- this is exactly a hawkbill.

10. Needle-Point

Classic stiletto. Narrow, long, double-edged. For very specific applications, for household and household needs it is practically useless. Only for piercing your neighbor.

11. Gut-hook

If in drop point profile make a small hook on the upper bevel, sharpen the inside of it - we get gat-hook profile, ideal for cutting game. With its help it is very convenient to cut skins and gut prey. As for the rest, the efficiency is the same as that of drop point profile. It is better not to use it only for hard stabbing blows - the hook noticeably reduces the strength of the blade when impacted in the center.

These are the main and most common blade profiles. In addition, there are more highly specific options, for example: sheepfoot, dagger point, shark tooth, but more on all that next time. Moreover, many simply consider them to be variations of the main options.

Have you asked?

What is a “knife” and what is a “household knife” from the point of view of the law? What do you need to know and what conditions must be observed when purchasing a knife?

We answer!..

According to the law, whether a particular product belongs to a bladed weapon (hereinafter referred to as a weapon) is decided only by the Forensic Expert Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation after conducting appropriate research. However, any knowledgeable person at home, armed with an ordinary ruler, he can predict the result of these tests with a high degree of probability.

To begin with, we will present some terms used in GOSTs, since knowledge of them is necessary for an accurate perception of what is written. Steel arms This is a weapon designed to hit a living target using human muscle power.
Bladed bladed weapon cold steel weapon combat unit in the form of a blade, firmly and motionlessly connected to the handle.
Civilian edged weapons bladed weapons permitted by law for use by citizens.
Combat knife contact blade piercing-cutting weapon with a short single-edged blade.
Dagger contact blade piercing-cutting weapon with a short or medium straight or curved double-edged blade.
Hunting knife (dagger) a combat knife (dagger) designed to kill an animal while hunting.
Household knife a knife designed for performing household work.
Blade an extended metal part of a bladed weapon with a point and one or two blades, which is part of a strip.
Heel the unsharpened part of the blade located between the blade and the handle.
Blade spine unsharpened edge of a single-edged blade.
Butt bevel part of the butt, inclined towards the blade and forming with it the tip of the blade.
butt saw a row of sharpened teeth on the butt of the blade.
Blade sharpened edge of the warhead of a bladed weapon, which is an edge with acute angle surface mating.
tip the end of the warhead of a bladed weapon, contracted into a point, short blade or edge with a maximum diameter of up to 3 mm.
Handle the part of a bladed weapon with which it is held by the hand and controlled when used.
Cheren the main part of the handle that is directly grasped by the hand.
Handle limiter (guard) the front extended part of the handle adjacent to the handle.
Sheath blade case.
Survival knife a knife whose handle contains structural elements that allow it to perform household functions (note: edged weapons include only those survival knives that correspond to the characteristics of a weapon).

The thickness of the butt is measured at the thickest point of the blade (for example, at the heel of the blade). The length of the blade is determined by the size from the tip to the stop, and in case of its absence - to the front end of the sleeve or the handle. Measurement accuracy according to GOST ±1 mm ±1 degree.

For people who are keen on making knives on their own, it is important that “products made in a home-made way are subject to the design and technical requirements established by GOST, as well as the types and methods of control only in terms of establishing and assessing their compliance with household knives during forensic research and examinations." Thus, it does not matter whether the knife was bought in a store, made independently, or found on the street - when examining it, ECC experts must be guided by uniform standards. And recognizing the product as an item of “household use” automatically allows everyone to use and carry it (although, according to statistics, the most common murder weapon with a blade is just a household knife, be it a kitchen knife or a folding pocket knife).

Here we should make a small digression. You need to know the GOST standards for your own peace of mind. The fact is that the carrying of household items is not limited by law. The exception is social events (concerts, football matches, etc.), but there glass bottles They don't let me in. The main condition is the safety of others (all sharp parts must be covered in such a way as not to cause accidental injury). However, not all employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs know the standards of GOSTs or the laws that they are called upon to protect. Usually, at the sight of something piercing and cutting, an unhealthy light lights up in the eyes of law enforcement officers, the phrases “cold steel”, “impossible”, “seizure” are asked on the tongue, and pleasant pictures of possession appear in the mind beautiful knife or, at worst, some amount of compensation from the owner of the “forbidden” toy. If this happens, then you should not “download your rights.” You just need to politely and tactfully make it clear that this is not a weapon at all, and if for some reason it “didn’t come through” (you don’t always have a certificate of conformity for a given knife at hand), give the knife for examination, but only under protocol and in the presence of two witnesses. Keep in mind that the protocol must very accurately describe the sample being seized, otherwise a Chinese “kitchenware” may be returned from testing for 30 rubles. It should also be taken into account that existing methods do not imply destruction of the knife during testing. This is only possible in cases where he external signs fits the definition of a bladed weapon and they decide to test it for penetrating ability (blows are struck at a pine board). However, it is better to keep knives that fit the definition of a bladed weapon in external parameters away from prying eyes, and only carry with you something that is clearly not a weapon.

The Law “On Weapons” classifies as bladed weapons sabers, sabers, knives, daggers, Finnish knives, dirks, brass knuckles, stilettos and other objects specially designed or adapted to hit a living target. They can be piercing, piercing-cutting, chopping, crushing, etc. According to the same law, weapons do not include products certified as household and industrial products (penknives, kitchen knives, shoe knives, garden knives, etc.) that are structurally similar to weapons.

So, what “non-weapon” features should a knife have so that its owner can “sleep peacefully”? home distinguishing feature weapons - the possibility of inflicting deep penetrating wounds. Since this definition is very vague, GOST standards have been developed that make it possible to operate with specific categories - millimeters, degrees and Rockwell hardness. So, the following types of knives are not weapons:

Knives whose blades are not adapted for injection:

Knives without a point. The tip can be replaced with any tool (screwdriver, chisel with a width of more than 3 mm) or rounded. For example, the dagger of the SS medical service fits this definition. On his butt was cut with a saw, and the tip is replaced with a flat screwdriver. IN otherwise this is a normal knife with comfortable handle and developed limiter.
Knives, u which blade and the butts converge at an angle of more than 70 degrees.
Knives with thicker blades 5-6 mm. IN GOST defines this as “inflated thickness of the entire blade, its “combat” end or butt.”
Knives devoid of zatsharp blade (the triggers are drawn out, but there is no cutting edge).
It is assumed that this blade geometry (large angle at points, lack of a point or sharpened blade, excessive blade thickness) not will allow you to deliver an effective piercing blow.
Knives with tip, located above the butt line by more than 5 mm, with blade length up to 180 mm, or with tip located above the butt line by more than 10 mm, with blade length more than 180 mm.
Knives with concave more than 5 mm with a butt, with a blade length of up to 180 mm, or with concave more than 10 mm with a butt, with a blade length of more than 180 mm.
7. Knives which the amount of deflection of the butt and the upper part of the knife handle, shaped like an arc in in the form of a “rocker arm”, up from straight line connecting the tip of the blade and upper limb of the handle, exceeds 15 mm.
The thing is that the geometry of the knives described in points 5, 6, and 7, not contributes to the delivery of a piercing blow, since the tip is removed from the longitudinal axis of the knife, which causes the effect of “falling over” when injecting. IN everyday life is not at all interferes and allows you to have a knife with relatively thick blade, comfortable handle and developed limiter, not being a weapon.
8. Knives with blade shorter than 90 mm. It is difficult to inflict a mortal wound with such a short blade - as a rule, a longer blade length is required to reliably hit a person.
9. Knives, on the butt of which, not then 1/3 point, there is a sharpened hook for ripping skins. Such a knife can inflict a fatal wound, but remove the knife from body is almost impossible, but the weapon must ensure repeatability of results, then There is, immediately after the first strike, the possibility of delivering subsequent ones must remain. If the configuration of the knife interferes with this, it must be recognized as a utility knife.
Knives with handles, not ensuring reliable retention during injection:
Knives with handle shorter than 70 mm.
Knives with handles of which the difference in maximum width is middle part and minimum width in pommel areas are not exceeds 8 mm.
Knives, u which single (one-sided or two-sided in amount) limiter or single finger notch less than 5 mm.
Knives, u which have more than one notch or stop, but their value less than 4 mm.
Everything is more or less clear here: it is assumed that knives with such handles are not will allow you to securely hold the knife when stabbing and the hand may fall off blade, which will cause dire consequences. IN In everyday life, such a risk of injury is somewhat arbitrary and often developed limiters only interfere with work. Most of modern knives Russian production It has “traumatic” handles, which allows you to make a blade of almost any configuration. For example, Finnish-type handles are very common.- V in most cases they allow you to comfortably and hold the knife securely.
Knives, no providing the necessary strength of the blade or the entire structure:
Knives with blades whose hardness is less than 25HRC.
Knives with sawn blades.
Knives with a developed stop or finger groove with a blade length of 150 mm and thickness less than 2.5 mm. There are enough knives with safety handles and blade thickness 2.4 mm (in real life this is quite enough, although prying up sewer hatches and throw at such a knife is not a target recommended).
Knives with blades made of non-woven materials that provide sufficient strength for weapons (silumin, aluminum, plastic).
Knives with weak blade seal, not holding the blade in handle when using a knife in combat (the shank of the blade is loosely inserted into handle and filled with sealing wax).
In all with rays, one-and-a-half sharpening of the knife blade is allowed length no more than 2/3 of the butt and placement on mounting of additional tools (saws wood, metal, bone, sling cutter and etc.).

It is enough to comply with just one of the above points, and the knife is recognized as a household knife. The only exceptions are daggers - with a blade length of less than 50 mm, they are considered a souvenir.

It is difficult to measure such a parameter as the hardness of a blade at home, but this is not necessary. In real life, parameters that can be assessed by eye or measured with a ruler are more applicable. Although we must remember that the final verdict will still be made by experts.

Have you asked?

Which edged weapons are prohibited, and which ones are citizens of the Russian Federation entitled to acquire and possess? What is the liability for the illegal manufacture, storage, carrying and sale of bladed weapons?

We answer!

On the territory of the Russian Federation, the circulation as civilian and service weapons of flails, brass knuckles, shurikens, boomerangs and other items specially adapted for use as weapons, items with shock-crushing and throwing action is prohibited (Article 6 of the Law “On Weapons”).

Citizens who have permission to store and carry hunting firearms, have the right to purchase hunting bladed weapons (Article 13 of the Law “On Weapons”). When selling this weapon, the seller makes a corresponding entry in the citizen’s hunting membership card, and the permit to carry this bladed weapon is a permit to carry a firearm.

Some citizens also have the right to purchase bladed weapons intended to be worn with a Cossack uniform, as well as with the national costumes of the peoples of the Russian Federation - these are sabers, sabers, knives and daggers (Article 3 of the Law “On Weapons”). The attributes of national costumes are determined by the Government of the Russian Federation. A license is required to store and carry such weapons (Article 13 of the Law “On Weapons”). Thus, if you are not a hunter, not a Cossack, and your national costume does not include a saber or dagger, you have no right to have or carry any bladed weapons.

For violating the rules for storing or carrying bladed weapons, it is possible to be held administratively liable, in accordance with Part 2 of Article 20.8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation in the form of a fine in the amount of 500 to 2000 rubles with or without the confiscation of weapons for a fee. Paid seizure means that the weapon will be seized and sold in the prescribed manner by the internal affairs bodies, and the proceeds minus the costs of sale will be returned to the former owner of the weapon.

Currently, criminal legislation establishes liability only for illegal sales: “Illegal sale of gas weapons, bladed weapons, including throwing weapons, - is punishable by compulsory labor for a term of one hundred eighty to two hundred and forty hours, or correctional labor for a term of one to two years, or arrest for a term of three to six months, or imprisonment for a term of up to two years with a fine of up to eighty thousand rubles or in the amount of wages or other income of the convicted person for a period of up to six months or without it” (Part 4 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

So, as before, criminal liability is not provided for the illegal carrying of bladed weapons. However, it is provided for its illegal production: “Illegal production of gas weapons, edged weapons, including throwing weapons, is punishable by compulsory labor for a period of one hundred eighty to two hundred and forty hours, or correctional labor for a period of one to two years, or arrest for a term of four to six months, or imprisonment for a term of up to two years” (Part 4 of Article 223 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

An interesting fact is that in some European countries It is prohibited to carry any knives, including penknives and nail scissors.

It must be remembered that when purchasing any knife, you must obtain a copy of the certificate, or, as it is also called, an information sheet for the product. This document must contain the following information: an image of the knife, its characteristics, research results. It is worth noting that in our country there is a rather complicated system for determining whether a knife belongs to a bladed weapon or can be allowed for free circulation. You should refuse to purchase a knife if there is no certificate for it, otherwise the owner of the product may have problems with the law.

The article uses materials from the sites: http://www.aerston.ru, http://www.nvkz.net, http:// www.apox.ru, http://www.bladeist.ru, http:// www .wikipedia.org, as well as materials from Sergei Chikov’s article “What’s in my name for you” (NOZH magazine, No. 1, November 2003))

Some modern Cossacks claim that the “Cossack” saber 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 glory of the Russian army's victories 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 twenty thousand strong 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, the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, which was the convoy of Emperor Alexander I, was one of the first to enter the city. deadly weapon in the hands of the Cossacks there was a pike and a saber.

The saber was used, like the pike, in motion; struck and left. An example can be found in the memoirs of General Marbot, when he described the battle near Polotsk: “Mr. Fontaine’s legs became entangled in the stirrups. He tried to free himself with the help of several huntsmen who came to his aid, when suddenly the damned Cossack officer, galloping past this group, deftly leaned in the saddle and dealt Fontaine a terrible blow with a saber, knocked out his eye, touched his other eye and cut his nose!

A.K. Denisov describes a clash between a Tatar warrior, a mullah, “as can be seen from his attire,” armed with a pike (dart), and a Cossack officer F.P. Denisov, the narrator’s uncle: “Without leaving Denisov in sight, the mullah galloped a little forward and set off towards him. Then Denisov, having parried the dart with his saber, raised it slightly higher than himself from below and with one swing cut down the Tatar to death.” That is, masterly possession of a saber is described, when a parrying blow turns into a striking one.

BROADLASH, SABER, CHECKER.

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

SWORD

Broadsword (Hungarian - pallos; backsword, broadsword) is a piercing and chopping bladed weapon with a complex hilt, with a handle and a straight or slightly curved blade, wide towards the end, one-and-a-half sharpened (less often double-edged). Often combines the qualities of a sword and a saber. The hilt of a broadsword consists of a handle with a head and a guard (usually including a cup and protective bows). Western European broadswords usually have an asymmetrical hilt with highly developed hand 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 Western Europe regular cavalry units appear. Since the 18th century armed with heavy cavalry. The blade of a broadsword is much wider and heavier than that of a sword.

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

Western European broadswords usually have an asymmetrical hilt with highly developed hand 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 ones: cuirassiers and cavalry guards) always gravitated towards piercing weapons and was mainly armed with broadswords.

The impact energy of two oncoming horse lavas is quite high, so the rider simply 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 an enemy with a blow - a slashing blow delivered a little earlier or later has neither the required accuracy nor strength. In addition, a strike requires two separate movements - a swing and a strike, while a thrust requires one. When struck, the rider opens himself, and holding the broadsword for the 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 have always used chopping weapons). These weapons were produced not only in Russia, but also imported from abroad, mainly from Germany. The opinion that the cuirassiers, these “knights of the 19th century,” had very heavy broadswords is not entirely accurate. The Russian broadsword of the 19th century, as a rule, was even lighter than a cavalry saber.

A special cult of piercing blades existed in France, where they were used as dueling weapon and every self-respecting person was simply obliged 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 familiar form, has existed for at least thirteen centuries and has undergone no less changes than the sword.

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

Saber (Hungarian - czablya, from szabni - to cut; sabre) - chopping, chopping-cutting or piercing-slashing-cutting (depending on the degree of curvature of the blade and the design of its end) edged weapon with a curved blade, which has a blade on the convex side , and the butt is on a concave one. Suspended from the belt with the blade down.

The weight and balance of different sabers varied noticeably and could be approximately similar to checkers parameters, or they could differ. Varieties of sabers differ in size, radius of curvature of the blade, and the design of the hilt (handle). The characteristic difference from another is long bladed weapons with a handle - the center of gravity is located at a considerable distance from the hilt (usually at the level of the border of the first and second third from the tip of the blade), which causes an additional cutting action during chopping blows. The combination of the curvature of the blade with a significant distance from the center of gravity from the hilt increases the force of the blow 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 the nomads of Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the 7th - 8th centuries. Mongol and Arab horsemen successfully fought with their crooked sabers against both light cavalry and heavily armored knights. Moreover, captured Asian sabers were worth their weight in gold, and not at all for their appearance, but just for fighting qualities. Not a single eastern warrior was seen with any two-handed sword, nor with a captured broadsword. “In the entire East, I don’t know a single people who would have anything similar to broadswords,” wrote the famous Russian military theorist of the 19th century, General Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov, “where the enemy did not refuse a dump, but looked for it for use on horseback - cutting weapons have always been preferred to piercing ones.”

In the XIV century. an elman appears on the saber (a thickening of the saber blade in the upper part of the blade, it could have been sharpened). The saber acquired the properties of a predominantly cutting weapon. The most characteristic sabers of this type were Turkish and Persian.

In European armies of the 18th - 19th centuries. sabers had blades of medium curvature (4.5 - 6.5 cm), hilts with bulky guards in the form of 1 - 3 arches or cup-shaped, scabbards from the 19th century. usually metal. The total length reached 1.1 m, blade length 90 cm, weight without sheath up to 1.1 kg, weight with metal sheath up to 2.3 kg. At the end of the 19th century. the curvature decreases to 3.5 - 4 cm and the saber again acquires piercing and chopping properties.

Due to the guard, the balance moved closer to the handle, due to the elmani - vice versa.

In Rus', the saber has been known since the 9th century; in the Novgorod land, the saber came into use later - from about 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. Warriors of the Russian local cavalry, archers, and Cossacks were armed with sabers. Since the 18th century In 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 ceremonial weapon, as well as among some categories of officers for wearing outside the ranks.

But in fact, the era of edged weapons ended much earlier - already in the Crimean War of 1853-1856, wounds with edged weapons accounted for only 1.5% -3% of the total. A little later, during the Russian-Turkish campaign, or more precisely, by 1877, when the battle of Plevna took place, this figure had already dropped to 0.99%. And so all over the world, with the exception of expeditionary colonial corps waging war on the native population: British losses from edged weapons in India reached 20%, and in Egypt - up to 15%. Nevertheless, this percentage was not discounted when 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 essentially a hybrid of a knife and a saber, the result of the desire to achieve maximum benefit from the blade in close combat. Shashka (Kabardian-Circassian - sa "shkho - (lit.) long knife) - a cutting-stabbing bladed weapon with a handle. With a single-edge (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 length of the blades is 77-87 cm. Its peculiarity is the absence of a copper bow, which protects the hand. Initially, the Russian irregular cavalry was armed with a Caucasian type saber, 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 can generally be considered one of the main distinctive features checkers 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 model 1881) differed from the Caucasian type checkers in the design of the hilt and scabbard. The blades of the first army sabers had an average curvature, and their shape was close to that of a saber. In 1881, an armaments reform was carried out, the purpose of which was to establish a single model of edged weapons for all branches of the military. A Caucasian blade known as a “top” was taken as a model for the blade. The hilt was initially supposed to be of a single model, with protection by the front arch, but then it was decided to leave traditional hilts consisting of one handle for Cossack checkers. As a result, dragoon (officer and soldier) and Cossack (officer and soldier) sabers were adopted into service with the Russian army. The artillerymen received a shortened version of the dragoon saber. Characteristic difference saber checkers always had a wooden scabbard covered with leather, with a ring (less often with two rings) for the belt's passing belts on the convex side (that is, it was hung in Caucasian style with the blade backwards), while the saber's rings were always on the concave side scabbard, in the XIX - early XX century, as a rule, steel. In addition, a saber was often worn on a shoulder belt, and a saber on a waist belt.

Historically, the saber was indeed first a knife - among the Russians in the 16th century, such a podsaadashny, “pinned” knife was common, which had a number of features that made it similar to the saber. It is noteworthy that initially the checker was used as an auxiliary weapon (always came after the saber), before the disappearance of armor and the need for such weapons, checkers only complemented swords and sabers. But even cuirasses disappear, and in the 19th century, the saber is the “main belt” bladed weapon, and this puts forward different requirements for it than for a knife. With the spread of firearms and the obsolescence 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, a saber and a checker, the following conclusions follow:

The broadsword is a weapon ideal for piercing blows with the possibility of slashing. This is a weapon with a long straight (or slightly curved) blade. The center of gravity is shifted as far as possible to the hilt, for virtuoso fencing and precise thrusting. Maximum protection for the hand, the hilt of the broadsword consists of a handle with a head and a guard.

A saber is a piercing-cutting weapon. The center of gravity is located at a considerable distance from the hilt. Mandatory protection for 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 towards the tip - the handle is slightly bent in the direction from the butt to the blade.

Checker - The weapon is ideal for slashing blows with the possibility of piercing. The center of gravity is shifted to the tip as much as possible. 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 deliver a good blow, reinforced by the inertia of the rider’s movement, which could “ruin” the adversary “to the saddle.” Moreover, it is extremely difficult to dodge or protect yourself 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 deliver precise piercing blows with a saber due to the peculiarities of balancing, the lack of a rest for the hand and the weakly defined tip, which is often not sharpened at all.

The saber, as a rule, is noticeably lighter and slightly shorter than most sabers. It differs from a saber in that it has a slightly straighter blade. The hilt consists of one handle with a bifurcated head (there have been quite a few versions of the origin of this bifurcating head, including the use of a checker 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 straight), does not have an elmani feather on the blade and is always hung vertically, with the blade up. Always without a guard (with rare exceptions, for example, the “dragoon saber”, which is essentially a saber suspended from the top by the blade).

The ability to strike first is one of the main advantages of a checker. The checker was worn with the blade up, thanks to which this weapon could be instantly removed from its sheath and in one movement, directly from the sheath, deal a full-fledged, disintegrating blow to the enemy. A checker that does not have a cross is quickly and reliably removed. Often the handle was positioned almost at chest level. The checker was pushed out with a straightened palm, then a confident grip of the handle with a full hand was used. When removed, the checker itself falls into the palm, while the saber is taken out with the hand overlapping. 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. Convenient for unexpected attacks and self-defense.

Before us is a fairly typical example of a saber 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 it, rushed at him, but, missing, instead of Pachabgozhev, he hit the other half of the gate and cut it in two, like fresh, just squeezed cheese. Pachabgozhev, quickly turning around with the saber already snatched, cut the young man in half from the shoulder. Then, calmly wiping off the saber and putting it in its sheath, he put the horse in the stable...”

The saber, a traditional weapon of 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 battle pattern for its owner - a strike, a strike and a rebound in case of resistance. The skill of the attack, the accuracy and speed of the strike are extremely highly developed, but if it is still not crowned with success, then that’s the end of the attacker. It is unlikely to be possible to effectively defend yourself with a checker or carry out complex fencing feints, voltes and floss. Sometimes in the military manuals of Russia and the USSR until 1941, a description of combat techniques was given, based on saber fencing; but in relation to a checker, these possibilities are very limited.

The cavalry attack in those decades was scattered and fleeting. One hit. With a swing, with a quickdraw, at full gallop. And then - at full speed. And you still won’t have to fencing with the enemy, even if this blow did not reach the target (missing in those conditions with a saber or broadsword is certainly no more difficult than with a saber): he is already far away, you have already been separated by the flow of the battle...

Built on constant contact with enemy weapons, the European school (more precisely, schools, for there are many of them) in checker fencing has very limited applicability (due to the center of gravity shifted to the tip), although a fighter with a checker can compensate for this with active movements and deceptive techniques . For war and most battles, the damaging properties and protection of the hand holding the weapon are important, at least from accidental and aimless blows to the protected area. best case scenario gloved hand. In terms of fencing, a fighter with a saber requires greater mobility than a saber fencer, who can afford to “knock” with the enemy without risking being left without fingers.

Some modern Cossacks claim that the “Cossack” saber has incomparably better fighting qualities than a saber, and even more so a broadsword. But the checker and the saber often had similar, and often identical, blades. Many checkers were made directly on imported European saber blades; sometimes the old handle and guard were removed from an old saber and a Caucasian checker blade was installed. 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 armament reform was carried out with the aim of establishing a uniform model of edged weapons for all branches of the military. A Caucasian blade was taken as a model for the blade, “which in the East, in Asia Minor, between the Caucasian peoples and our local Cossacks there 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 by single dragoon and Cossack checkers model 1881. This was the first attempt to scientifically substantiate the choice of edged weapons. This checker had one problem - it was developed for two mutually exclusive purposes: for chopping and thrusting.

The new weapon almost immediately came under a barrage of criticism. As a result of the reform in 1881 Russian army received a strange hybrid of a broadsword and a saber. Essentially, it was an attempt to create a weapon that would allow both thrust and slashing to be used in combat. However, according to contemporaries, nothing good came of this. Our compatriot and great gunsmith of the last century, Vladimir Grigorievich Fedorov, writes: “It must be admitted that our saber of the 1881 model both stabs and cuts poorly.

Our checker cuts poorly:

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 saber piercing properties, the middle line of the handle is directed towards the tip - to do 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 pierces unsatisfactorily:

To give it chopping 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 of the book “Edged Weapons” in 1905, Fedorov wrote a report to the artillery committee - “On changes to the 1881 sample checker.” In it, he put forward specific proposals for its improvement.

Based on these proposals, several versions of experimental checkers were made with different positions of the center of gravity and modified curvature of the handle. Soon prototypes 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 example through practical testing on vines and stuffed animals of its cutting and piercing qualities.

Blades with a changed center of gravity were presented (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, some with a corrected slope.

All cavalrymen unanimously approved sample No. 6, with a center of gravity 15 cm from the hilt and a modified handle.

Another advantage of the checker was its relative cheapness, in contrast to the saber, which made it possible to make this weapon widespread. This was also facilitated by the ease of using checkers in battle. The usual technique of wielding a saber consisted of a good knowledge of a couple of simple but effective blows, which was very convenient for quickly training new recruits.

IN drill regulations of the Red Army cavalry, out of 248 pages, only four are devoted to cutting and thrusting techniques, half as many as to the techniques of saluting with a saber. Budennovites were given only three blows (to the right, down to the right and down to the left) and four injections (half a turn to the right, half a turn to the left, down to the right and down to the left).

Drill regulations Soviet army 1951 prescribed only a few strokes. From left to right: cutting down to the right, cutting to the right and thrusting with a saber half-turn to the right

To deliver blows, thrusts and repulses (defense), the rider had to stand on the stirrups and place the emphasis on his knees. It was possible to chop down an equestrian enemy with only one move using the command “Right - CUT!” 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 while turning the body in the direction of the blow, a blow should be struck at shoulder height from left to right. To introduce army order so that the strike was performed uniformly, all left-handers were retrained to right hand, and not only in the Russian and Red armies.

The other two strikes (down to the right and down to the left) were intended to defeat an 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 at the same time raise the hand with the saber up above the head, and then deliver a strong blow, describing a circle with the saber.

To apply a thrust, it was necessary to extend the right hand with the saber in the direction of the enemy, turning the hand slightly to the left; the blade of the blade should be facing up to the right, and the tip should be at the point of injection. After applying the injection, moving the hand downward required releasing the blade.

All of the above is relevant only to conscript soldiers, 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 blows. Cheap steel checkers were intended for them, designed for several successful blows, with hilts that allowed them to protect the hand, but did not allow them not only to throw the blade from hand to hand, but also to perform basic fencing techniques. It was not these cavalrymen that all of Europe feared like fire.

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

There is one thing in the novel “Quiet Don” wonderful place, which describes the usual use of a saber with both hands for Cossacks: “He led his horse towards the chosen enemy, as usual, going in from the left to chop with his right; The one who was supposed to collide with Gregory also strove in the same way. And so, when about a dozen fathoms remained before the enemy and he was already hanging to his side, raising his saber, Grigory made a sharp but gentle turn from the right, threw the saber at left hand. The discouraged enemy changes position, it is uncomfortable for him to cut from right to left, over the horse’s head, he loses confidence, death breathes in his face... Grigory destroys him with 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 swordsman who wielded a saber perfectly with both hands. The horse was controlled by his legs alone, crashing into the ranks of enemies with two checkers in each hand, wielding them right and left.

Unknown Rus'

Bladed weapons are everything, weapons that have a blade. That is, a sufficiently long strip, which is intended both to prick and to chop and to cut. It does not fit into the category of a blade, since it has only one purpose - to chop. , can also hardly be classified as a bladed weapon, since its purpose is to deliver only piercing blows. Although, of course, in the Japanese weapons tradition, there were spears whose tips could be called a blade, because they essentially represented a short sword on a long handle. , which is intended both to prick and to chop and to cut. it was possible not only to stab, but also to chop and cut. Well, with brief definition We have decided on blade weapons, now, let's look at what the main types of blade weapons are in this world.

Sword

The sword is directly related to bladed weapons. Without going into the various nuances associated with the national, for example, a slightly curved Japanese sword, which is more like a saber, then a “normal” sword, in our understanding, is a straight strip of steel, coaxial with the handle, and sharpened on both sides. The length, width, thickness and weight of the blade can be different, and the handle is a classic cross.

In turn, swords are divided into the following types:

Two-handed swords are swords that have a long blade, about one and a half meters, and a long hilt. , holding it with both hands, hitting the enemy at a long distance. mainly against horsemen and spearmen. In front of the main large cross (on the blade side), part of the blade is not sharpened and has a small guard that separates it from the blade. This was done so that when performing combat techniques with a two-handed sword, the warrior could make a wide grip with his hands if the situation in battle required it.

Hand and a half swords are swords that were considered the most versatile representatives of their type. That is, with a fairly decent length of the blade (700 - 1000 mm) and a handle the size of which was two or three palm widths, this sword could be fought with one hand or with two. One-and-a-half-handed swords were the golden mean between long “field monsters” and too short swords, which will be discussed further.

One-handed swords are swords that have a small hilt. The warrior's palm fit tightly between the crosspiece and the pommel. The length of such a sword usually did not exceed 700 millimeters. One-handed swords were quite maneuverable and were intended mainly for narrow city streets.

And finally, which most often served as an auxiliary weapon, when striking with a long sword could only become a hindrance in battle. Indoors, . Their total length with the handle did not exceed 600 millimeters. In the Bronze Age, swords were made exactly like this, since forging a larger length from bronze, for obvious reasons, did not make sense.

Sword

As time passed, traditional swords began to slowly become a thing of the past, gradually transforming into blades that had much less weight and shape. This is how broadswords and swords appeared. The broadsword had more than a sword and was usually sharpened on one side (accordingly, the sword had a narrow blade and a double-edged sharpening). The end of the broadsword handle was slightly bent towards the bottom. The guard formed a kind of bowl that protected the hand from all sides. The broadsword was mainly a weapon of horsemen and had a rather long blade (800-1000mm) to make it more convenient to cut down infantrymen from the height of a horse. The infantry also used broadswords, but they were somewhat shorter.

Saber

The saber has a curved blade with a one-sided sharpening. The width of the saber blade varied from 25 to 40 millimeters. The saber is intended primarily for slashing attacks. You can also stab with a saber, but the curvature of the saber plays a big role here. Too curved saber blades, such as, for example, Persian sabers, could not deliver a good piercing blow. They were convenient for cutting from a horse, but they were clearly not intended for poking movements. In the Caucasus, sabers underwent some changes, turning into checkers. , in principle, the same saber, only without a guard, like a Japanese katana. Unlike a saber, a saber was carried with its tip upward, and by snatching it from its sheath, the warrior could immediately deliver an oblique blow to the enemy. The saber, after it left, required an additional swing.

Scimitar

The scimitar is a classic representative of the blade with a reverse bend. That is, the scimitar has the same curvature as the saber, only it was sharpened inner part blade parabolas. The scimitar was the favorite weapon of the Janissaries and was used mainly as a cutting weapon in close combat. For some reason, the scimitar did not spread further than Turkey.

Swords and rapiers

When humanity was tired of carrying weights with itself, in the form of heavy armor (the invention of firearms negated their effectiveness) and powerful swords, which required remarkable strength and endurance to “work”, it invented lightweight versions of them, one of the representatives of which , and the sword appeared. The sword had a rather narrow diamond-shaped blade, and was intended purely for piercing blows, although it was capable of delivering cutting blows, since, despite its diamond shape, they were also sharpened. Thanks to its lightness and maneuverability, the sword quickly won the love of the aforementioned humanity, finally consigning noble swords to oblivion. the sword was entangled in a whole system of various rings and arcs, which, together with the cup-shaped guard, well protected the fencer’s hand, and to some extent, were used as a small sword.

Rapiers are essentially . They have a needle-shaped blade with three or four edges that do not have cutting edges. A rapier could deliver a lightning-fast stabbing blow. The brute strength of swords turned into the grace and speed of fencing with swords and rapiers.

Knives, cutlasses and daggers

Regardless of the purpose and shape, it is always sharpened on only one side. The blade, sharpened on both sides, is narrower. A dagger, unlike a knife, also has a small stop, like a saber guard, only smaller. and daggers served as auxiliary weapons. These short blades were used to finish off defeated enemies, destroy sentries, cut food; in general, knives and daggers had a fairly wide functionality. They were also often used in conjunction with a sword in battle and duels. The shape of the dagger blade could be straight, curved, or wavy.

It has a fairly wide blade, up to 500 millimeters long, and looks like a small sword. A good cleaver had, among other things, a purely practical purpose. Not only could they fight and kill, but they were also excellent at cutting down branches and small trees, trimming stakes, and even splitting logs.

The stiletto was originally intended for finishing off a warrior in armor, penetrating with a sharp narrow faceted needle between the plates of armor, or piercing. The stiletto usually had a round guard and a round pommel, similar to the head of a nail. This weapon had excellent piercing properties and was very dangerous in the right hands.

That's probably all. We briefly reviewed all the main types of bladed weapons. Of course, there are many more varieties, types and subtypes of bladed weapons in the world, and to describe them all would require not one article, but entire volumes of thick books. There are many of these books. This article is written based on one of these books, which is called: “Reconstruction ancient weapons" If anyone is interested, you can search for it on the Internet.

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