Another misconception. Most armies relied heavily on cavalry in the early medieval era, and the Arabs do not appear to have been significantly more cav-heavy than the average. In the initial conquest phase, there are many accounts of Arab armies fighting on foot in spear formations. Sometimes they appear to have campaigned on horseback but dismounted before battle. By the ninth century we're not really talking "Arabs" any more, but a number of successful later Muslim armies -- ie, the Almoravids/Murabitun -- were also fighting in disciplined foot formations.
Straight islamic swords.
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Another misconception. Most armies relied heavily on cavalry in the early medieval era, and the Arabs do not appear to have been significantly more cav-heavy than the average. In the initial conquest phase, there are many accounts of Arab armies fighting on foot in spear formations. Sometimes they appear to have campaigned on horseback but dismounted before battle. By the ninth century we're not really talking "Arabs" any more, but a number of successful later Muslim armies -- ie, the Almoravids/Murabitun -- were also fighting in disciplined foot formations.
nijis said:
Hmmm, that's something I didn't know, thanks.
Aqtai
Sergeant Knight at Arms
The Topkapi and Askeri Museums in Istanbul have quite a large collection of straight "Islamic" swords (The quotation marks are because AFAIK swords don't follow any particular religion 
). many of these were published in a book by Unsal Yucel (not sure of that spelling). The earliest curved sabre in those two collections dates to the 1290ies. The reason these swords have survived is that many of them are attributed to important historical figures.
Some pics:
). many of these were published in a book by Unsal Yucel (not sure of that spelling). The earliest curved sabre in those two collections dates to the 1290ies. The reason these swords have survived is that many of them are attributed to important historical figures.Some pics:
Merlkir
AWdeV said:
engraved, maybe etched? I don't think it would affect durability or cutting abilities.
NordArcher
Sergeant at Arms
I noticed the last straight swords have different grips from the ones in the beginning on the thread.
Aqtai
Sergeant Knight at Arms
Those are probably the original 13th-14th century hilts. A lot of old swords were rehilted in the 15th-16th century, and 15th-16th century hilts are quite different in style. Pre-13th century hilts looked different again, although some styles appear to have been popular from the 11th century right through to the 15th century.
