The etymology and origins of sword and dagger nomenclature and terms

Timo Nieminen · 2nd October 2017, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibrahiim al Balooshi

In noting the above pictorial on Quillons I deliberately placed Tulvar in the mix. The rainguard extension is in itself a type of quillon which can trap an opponents sliding blade and either snap it or disarm him...with a twist of the wrist. Comments please.

Langet, rather than quillon. While it can, in principle, trap blades, the main use is more everyday-functional, to fit the sword securely in the scabbard without ratting, and without making it difficult to draw. A similar function is performed by the Chinese tunkou and Japanese habaki (though on the inside of the scabbard rather than the outside).

Langets like this look like a fairly late development - the earliest that come to mind are some 13th century examples from Central Asia.

Langets which sit flush against the blade can have different functions: reinforcement of the attachment of the blade to hilt, reinforcement of the base of the blade, secure attachment of the guard to the blade.

Then there are langets which extend along the grip, which help secure the guard to the grip.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 2nd October 2017, 02:45 PM

Langet.

Thank You Sir, I stand corrected . Here are a few illustrations...

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 2nd October 2017, 03:13 PM

Langets.

I include a look at daggers regarding Langets... One that stands out is the Bitchwa shown..From http://www.mandarinmansion.com/bichw...ed-iron-handle

Quote"The langets that hold the blade have the profile of the stylized palmate motifs found on the langets of many arms attributed to the Tanjore armory.''Unquote.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 7th October 2017, 01:02 AM

Here is an interesting discovery; now a key museum exhibit and with description at http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-...ology/art42519

As its Museum write up confirms...Quote “These rare sword fittings provide valuable clues about medieval trade and travel in Anglo-Saxon England,” Unquote.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 13th October 2017, 09:06 AM

Ecusson . I didnt know what this was until I looked it up... It is an ancient and important part of the hilt... Better known as the Quillon Block.

My Armoury.com sees it as ...Quote"Part of the guard of edged weapons consisting of a small block of metal with the tang passing through it, acting as a support for the shoulder of the blade and the base of the cross guard. This feature was absent throughout most of the Bronze Age, appearing in antiquity as an intermediate element between the grip and the blade, being slightly broader than the latter. With the appearance of quillons and other elements of the guard, its form and function became more defined; in fact, the quillons extended from it, as did the knuckleguard and the arms of the hilt. The quillon block was also called the ecusson."Unquote.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 14th October 2017, 03:18 PM

A note on Fullers... See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuller_(weapon) for what I thought was a very good explanation...showing the fullering tools and technology.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi · 19th October 2017, 04:56 PM

The Blade. Depending on which sword school we are looking at the blade could be divided into many more parts than the usual three:

1. The Foible. The part near the blade.
2. The Terzo. The mid section between Foible and Forte.
3. The Forte. The part nearest the hilt.

The Foible (Feeble) is considered the weakest section whilst the strongest is the Forte (Fortified or Strongest).

Some schools especially Rapier divide into as many as 12 parts for refined skewering techniques! whilst 6 or 9 sections is not unusual.

2nd October 2017, 02:45 PM	#2
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Langet. Thank You Sir, I stand corrected . Here are a few illustrations... Attached Images

2nd October 2017, 03:13 PM	#3
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Langets Langets. I include a look at daggers regarding Langets... One that stands out is the Bitchwa shown..From http://www.mandarinmansion.com/bichw...ed-iron-handle Quote"The langets that hold the blade have the profile of the stylized palmate motifs found on the langets of many arms attributed to the Tanjore armory.''Unquote. Attached Images

7th October 2017, 01:02 AM	#4
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Here is an interesting discovery; now a key museum exhibit and with description at http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-...ology/art42519 As its Museum write up confirms...Quote “These rare sword fittings provide valuable clues about medieval trade and travel in Anglo-Saxon England,” Unquote. Attached Images

13th October 2017, 09:06 AM	#5
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	Ecusson . I didnt know what this was until I looked it up... It is an ancient and important part of the hilt... Better known as the Quillon Block. My Armoury.com sees it as ...Quote"Part of the guard of edged weapons consisting of a small block of metal with the tang passing through it, acting as a support for the shoulder of the blade and the base of the cross guard. This feature was absent throughout most of the Bronze Age, appearing in antiquity as an intermediate element between the grip and the blade, being slightly broader than the latter. With the appearance of quillons and other elements of the guard, its form and function became more defined; in fact, the quillons extended from it, as did the knuckleguard and the arms of the hilt. The quillon block was also called the ecusson."Unquote.

14th October 2017, 03:18 PM	#6
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	A note on Fullers... See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuller_(weapon) for what I thought was a very good explanation...showing the fullering tools and technology.

19th October 2017, 04:56 PM	#7
Ibrahiim al Balooshi Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Buraimi Oman, on the border with the UAE Posts: 4,408	The Blade. Depending on which sword school we are looking at the blade could be divided into many more parts than the usual three: 1. The Foible. The part near the blade. 2. The Terzo. The mid section between Foible and Forte. 3. The Forte. The part nearest the hilt. The Foible (Feeble) is considered the weakest section whilst the strongest is the Forte (Fortified or Strongest). Some schools especially Rapier divide into as many as 12 parts for refined skewering techniques! whilst 6 or 9 sections is not unusual.