Dacian - Romanian - Falx sword

fearn · 18th July 2005, 08:36 PM

Great to see this!

I've admired the falx and rhompaia for a long time.

One thing to point out: you can buy similar blades for less than $30 at large hardware stores: they're called bank blades (glaive in French), and they're used for clearing brush. The falx as a tool was used for coppicing (i.e. cutting trees and shrubs down), and this is simply a weaponized version of it. A similar story holds for the English Brown Bill.

Glad to see that people are making them again.

F

Aurangzeb · 19th July 2005, 01:50 AM

Hello all!

I have been looking where to buy a repro falx for a while looks like I will make my own out of the modern counter parts blade!

"Home Depot" here I come!!!!

Emanuel · 19th July 2005, 02:49 PM

I find it strange that the scycle/scythe blade design was simply abandonned. The only other examples I've seen of such curvature are african weapons like zairian throwing knives and executioner swords. One question bugs me: From a functional/physics point of view how is the concave edge more or less effective than the convex? The convex focussed all cutting power at the apex of the curve, does that apply to concave as well?

My appreciation for any answers.
Manolo

Ian · 19th July 2005, 05:18 PM

Manolo:

I think the sickle/scythe weapon was fairly widespread. One finds examples of their use as weapons into the early 20th C., and perhaps later, in southern India, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Others can probably contribute more examples. The areas I listed still produce these blades for agricultural and domestic use, but those same blades could be used today, if needed, as weapons.

Ian.

fearn · 19th July 2005, 08:56 PM

Hi Manolo,

That's an excellent question! Here's my take on it: a convex blade is useful for slashing, and if the goal is to cut deeply, a slash (i.e. from a scimitar/shamshir), is a good way to do it. A convex weapon can do a couple of things. As you point out, it can focus a lot of power in a small spot (as with a kukri). However, the bill/scythe design actually works quite well on a pull-cut. I've got a bill-hook (actually, a woodsman's pal) that's quite good for cutting brambles and small brush. It doesn't smash them. Rather, the hook collects the branches at the sharp inner edge, and the pulling part of my stroke severs them. I suspect the same thing goes for the falx, with a different type of limb.

I suspect the reason we don't see more sickle-swords (or whatever) is twofold. One is that they tend to be tip heavy. The other is that they don't lend themselves to parrying as easily as other blade shapes do.

Other thoughts? That's just off the top of my head.

Fearn

ariel · 19th July 2005, 09:38 PM

South Indian choppers (Adya Katti, Moplah sword and, especially, Congavellum, Kongaval) are all constructed similar to the Radu's ancestral implement. The only real difference is that they are all relatively small, like 20-30 inch at the most.
But this is likely a function of the body size. I remember Radu's posting of his granddad's picture: the guy needed a two-hand sword to cut himself a decent slice of Mamalyga!

Emanuel · 20th July 2005, 05:08 PM

Thanks for the explanation fearn.
I'm thoroughly obsessed with this damn thing, although it was crude in its use as a tool and unrefined as a weapon. I like the shape of it, the look of being an extension of the arm via the long hilt, through the smooth curve and into the deadly tip. The Moplah blade, as well as home depot bank blades are too thick and and even more brutish, not as graceful. I'll see what it takes to have one custom-made, around 1m long. Unfortunately I am too much of an amateur to understand the weight such a blade woull imply.
I know of Salamander Armoury. Any ideas on other possible smiths and forges?

19th July 2005, 02:49 PM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	I find it strange that the scycle/scythe blade design was simply abandonned. The only other examples I've seen of such curvature are african weapons like zairian throwing knives and executioner swords. One question bugs me: From a functional/physics point of view how is the concave edge more or less effective than the convex? The convex focussed all cutting power at the apex of the curve, does that apply to concave as well? My appreciation for any answers. Manolo Last edited by Manolo; 19th July 2005 at 03:44 PM.

20th July 2005, 05:08 PM	#7
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Thanks for the explanation fearn. I'm thoroughly obsessed with this damn thing, although it was crude in its use as a tool and unrefined as a weapon. I like the shape of it, the look of being an extension of the arm via the long hilt, through the smooth curve and into the deadly tip. The Moplah blade, as well as home depot bank blades are too thick and and even more brutish, not as graceful. I'll see what it takes to have one custom-made, around 1m long. Unfortunately I am too much of an amateur to understand the weight such a blade woull imply. I know of Salamander Armoury. Any ideas on other possible smiths and forges? Attached Images

18th July 2005, 08:36 PM	#1
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Great to see this! I've admired the falx and rhompaia for a long time. One thing to point out: you can buy similar blades for less than $30 at large hardware stores: they're called bank blades (glaive in French), and they're used for clearing brush. The falx as a tool was used for coppicing (i.e. cutting trees and shrubs down), and this is simply a weaponized version of it. A similar story holds for the English Brown Bill. Glad to see that people are making them again. F

19th July 2005, 01:50 AM	#2
Aurangzeb Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 306	Hello all! I have been looking where to buy a repro falx for a while looks like I will make my own out of the modern counter parts blade! "Home Depot" here I come!!!!

19th July 2005, 05:18 PM	#4
Ian Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Aussie Bush Posts: 4,398	Manolo: I think the sickle/scythe weapon was fairly widespread. One finds examples of their use as weapons into the early 20th C., and perhaps later, in southern India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Others can probably contribute more examples. The areas I listed still produce these blades for agricultural and domestic use, but those same blades could be used today, if needed, as weapons. Ian.

19th July 2005, 08:56 PM	#5
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Manolo, That's an excellent question! Here's my take on it: a convex blade is useful for slashing, and if the goal is to cut deeply, a slash (i.e. from a scimitar/shamshir), is a good way to do it. A convex weapon can do a couple of things. As you point out, it can focus a lot of power in a small spot (as with a kukri). However, the bill/scythe design actually works quite well on a pull-cut. I've got a bill-hook (actually, a woodsman's pal) that's quite good for cutting brambles and small brush. It doesn't smash them. Rather, the hook collects the branches at the sharp inner edge, and the pulling part of my stroke severs them. I suspect the same thing goes for the falx, with a different type of limb. I suspect the reason we don't see more sickle-swords (or whatever) is twofold. One is that they tend to be tip heavy. The other is that they don't lend themselves to parrying as easily as other blade shapes do. Other thoughts? That's just off the top of my head. Fearn

19th July 2005, 09:38 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	South Indian choppers (Adya Katti, Moplah sword and, especially, Congavellum, Kongaval) are all constructed similar to the Radu's ancestral implement. The only real difference is that they are all relatively small, like 20-30 inch at the most. But this is likely a function of the body size. I remember Radu's posting of his granddad's picture: the guy needed a two-hand sword to cut himself a decent slice of Mamalyga!