Terminology of Polish-Lithuanian arms

awdaniec666 · 18th April 2024, 04:16 PM

After a recent annoying discussion in a well-known facebook forum (yes, I see my mistake...) about trying to explain to someone that a Polish-Hungarian type sabre is not the same as a Karabela, I decided to record the terminology of weapons from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth here in all its facets from the literature, the way I got to know it.

In each case the picture of a weapon type is shown which is representative of possible alterations and the common names are given. I try as best I can to show an original example of each type, but if it makes didactic sense, a replica may also be used. This will then be clarified.

Please note that the terminology only really took off at the end of the 19th century and that the terms were used synonymously before then. In the 17th century, for example, there were "curved sabres", "curved pallasches", "straight sabres", "swords" (could be anything from rapiers to dussacks) and so on and so forth.

Let's start with Karabelas, after all, that's where the muck grew.

18th April 2024, 04:16 PM	#1
awdaniec666 Member Join Date: May 2021 Location: Northern Germany Posts: 143	Terminology of Polish-Lithuanian arms Terminology of Polish-Lithuanian arms After a recent annoying discussion in a well-known facebook forum (yes, I see my mistake...) about trying to explain to someone that a Polish-Hungarian type sabre is not the same as a Karabela, I decided to record the terminology of weapons from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth here in all its facets from the literature, the way I got to know it. In each case the picture of a weapon type is shown which is representative of possible alterations and the common names are given. I try as best I can to show an original example of each type, but if it makes didactic sense, a replica may also be used. This will then be clarified. Please note that the terminology only really took off at the end of the 19th century and that the terms were used synonymously before then. In the 17th century, for example, there were "curved sabres", "curved pallasches", "straight sabres", "swords" (could be anything from rapiers to dussacks) and so on and so forth. Let's start with Karabelas, after all, that's where the muck grew. Last edited by awdaniec666; 18th April 2024 at 09:10 PM.