Short Swords

pict

pict

Joined
Jan 7, 2003
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I’ve always been enamored with this class of weapon/tool. It seems every culture on earth has found a place for it. Even the United States during the frontier days developed its own version in the large bowie knife.

I remember seeing in the Philadelphia Museum of Art Arms and Armor exhibit a “Pioneers Sword”. This was about 14 – 16 inches of heavy, slightly curved blade with a saw back. If memory serves me correctly it was Russian in origin. I’ll try to find a photo on the net.

We aren’t accustomed to think in terms of swords anymore but at what point does a knife grow to the proportions of a short sword? In my mind “knives” like the RTAK and the more robust models in the Becker line are certainly in this class. The Battle Mistress/ Battle Rat and the BK-9 are nearly so. The CS Trailmaster is certainly there in the best of the American Short Sword tradition. The large Kurki is the Nepalese version of the short sword.

In the modern age where do these short swords still have a place? In an age when many people find it hard to justify a 7-inch knife why does this class of blade persist? Not that I’m downing them, I’m really trying hard to justify another purchase. Mac
 
I have a Rambo III that I use camping and sometings hiking. Not my only or best blade obviously but it has held up beyond what popular opinion might dictate. I also have a kuhkri that is basically a combo short sword and axe.
Just depends on what you want. Hell, buy another knife. I have heard you cannot have too many.

Unless you have ONE at the security check at your local airport! :eek:
 
pict said:
We aren’t accustomed to think in terms of swords anymore but at what point does a knife grow to the proportions of a short sword?...In the modern age where do these short swords still have a place? In an age when many people find it hard to justify a 7-inch knife why does this class of blade persist?
Click to expand...
For some reason, the value of "20 inches" jumps to mind as some sort of good crossover point...but I have to think that by over 14" you're looking at a sword. Is a machete a short broadsword? A falcatta is, and it's about the same length.

Why do they still have a place? Why do they persist? I have no idea on this. Beyond the purely asthetic, though, they do strike a great balance between the utility of a knife and the value of a sword.
 
Big blades have always been very useful to me, and I just plain enjoy using them! :cool:
 
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The Ontario Black Wind Katana is really more of a short sword than anything else -- it is 20" of blade and 10" of handle with a kydex sheath.
 
I think that when a blade loses the ease of use of a knife, it becomes a short sword. I have a full tanged 15" German bowie with 10" blade and because of it's length and large, decorative hand guard, it is a short sword and would be my choice in a knife fight. Well, it and my Khuk. :D
 
Large knives such as bolos, kukhris, goloks, machetes, and parangs certainly have their place in survival situations. There are many places on Earth that are still primitive and people who live in these places use these blades as an EDC tool. In America we usually carry smaller blades since they are lighter, get in the way less, and, though many won't admit it, most of us don't want to be seen with larger blades. None of this means larger blades are not more useful for survival. They are. Most people will never be in a true survival situation where one would be needed, but that does not mean that a small knife is just as good.

American-style Survival knives, 9-10" blades made from thick steel, are smaller than knives like bolos or machetes but due to their thickness are actually heavier. My RTAK is heavier than my longer bolo.

Actual swords are not meant to chop wood and are probably not useful as survival tools. You can use one as a survival tool but it will not likely hold up as well as a chopping knife and using one as a tool will usually be considered abuse.
 
Here's a great article on short swords and machetes in my part of the world.

http://therionarms.com/articles/cutacha/

I think this class of weapon/tool has a purpose but there is a point where a dedicated machete or axe would be a better choice. Still such an enduring and universal sized large knife/short sword has gained such widespread use for a reason. Mac
 
I think Laci Szabo designed a short sword to work as a weapon/survival tool, the all American maybe? Also Busse and I belive Livesay had at different times hard use short sword designs that looked like tthey could function in a variety of roles. I agree that they are cool as hell though to date my only pieces that fit this category are a pair of ontario blackwind khyber swords.
 
I think the "scaring the sheeple" factor is a limit to what we carry exposed or carry at all. I know in Canada a French guy spouted off at me for wearing my USMC Ka-bar outside my pants. I don't speak French and its probably a good thing. The look on his face said it all. It was clear that I was some lower form of life.

Here in Brazil I carry a machete strapped to my pack. It carries better there and doesn't look so menacing there. I have a Brazilian made copy of the Gerber BMF that draws alot of attention when it's on the belt. I don't carry it often and have since relegated it to the trunk of the car.

I don't class a machete in this category due to blade thickness. machetes work due to speed and sharpness not weight of impact. I know these are relative terms. I think the value of the short sword type knives is in their stiffness and forward weighted blade. Mac
 
i have an old bucksaw blade kinda like this exept thicker http://www.32bitcolor.com/models/bucksaw/bucksaw bryce.jpg that my father got a few months ago for decoration. he said if i made a sheet metal version of the blade to put on the saw i could have the good steel blade, because he only wants it as a display on our barn. so i figured that would make a good katana/cutlass type machete. something along the lines of white knives and a pirate cutlass and a katana, with a oval guard and a long handle would do nicely for hiking. what do you guys think?
 
The Tom Maringer "Vorpal" has always impressed me. I find a Smachet useful when a field as well.
Loandr.
 
Black Cloud Knives made me one of the Szabo Bush Swords...it's been a lot of fun, and in some sense, a practical blade...not very handy at clearing light vegetation like a machete, but works well on the thicker, heavier vines. I consider it my "hard-woods" machete...

BushSword.jpg


I know Bark River Knives is making a "Bush Sword" as well, and it should be a great tool for those that have a need. But, I honestly get more use out of a 12" blade machete/golock, small axe and a couple of decent knives for the majority of camping/hiking. My Bush Sword is for the last ditch, out-of-ammo Zombie attacks :D

ROCK6
 
that black cloud sword looks great
i just got one of the brkt bushswords
 
Caine, how's the handle on the BRK&T Bush Sword? I thought it was like a hand-and-half...? I'll bet Mike's convex grind is quite addition to that blade.

ROCK6
 
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