From: JARDINE@RMCS.CRANFIELD.AC.UK
Date: Thu 16 Jun 1994 - 12:33:00 EEST
Ref: Me, Sandy & Joerg on bent swords
While I agree with most of Sandy's reply to my original missive I still disagree about the general use of scimitars by close order troops.
Sandy makes a point about Swiss halberds being used in pike phalanxes. While I am no expert on these I assume that they were used to protect the vulnerable sides and rear and not as part of the wall of spikes to the front. Also the Swiss did not use large shields. This is the main reason why a slashing sword is impractical for infantry in close order with large shields. Don't you think the romans would have adopted a long slashing weapon in Dacia when they were having their arms chopped off by peasants with romphia. Basically close order infantry with large shields have a very restricted weapon movement which has only a small effect on thrusting weapons and a huge one on slashing weapons (vikings and saxons don't count as most of them used spears and the axe wielders slung their shields when using them).
Joerg's ideas are OK but I see the Lunar hoplite's sidearm as being a sturdy dagger/shortsword length weapon with a curved double-edged blade. More similar to an arab weapon which would be used to thrust and cut upwards. When held the point would curve up rather than down like a kukri.
Lewis
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