The Millenium Falchion
Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 October 2009 21:57 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 07 October 2009 00:00
Today I'm going to focus on a neglected sword of history. It is also one that has recently been added to my collection. This is not the glamorous Excalibur or a cruciform hilted crusader sword. The falchion was a true workhorse of the battlefield. It was carried by everyone from the common foot soldier to mounted knights.
Here is a picture of the example I picked up at the local ren faire recently. It's not the 100% prototypical example. It is a little short and could have a bigger belly.
What you might notice is that it looks similar in some ways to a common tool of jungle explorers everywhere. It resembles a machete because they both serve a similar purpose. They are both cutting weapons. The falchion was not designed as a stabbing weapon. It performs the same function as a cleaver or butcher knife. In some ways it combines the force and power of an axe with the manuverability of a sword. While there are several styles of falchions, they all share the feature of a heavy blade.
The falchion is likely to have evolved from the earliest knives. The evolution is likely to have started with early blades like the falcata and the kopis. These are the blades of the ancient Iberians and Greeks. The kopis was spread all over the world by Alexander the great. Its influence can be seen in knives such as the Nepalese kukri.
The falchion even has some legends built around it. The Conyers falchion for example is said to have taken part in the slaying of a great worm.
"Sr Jo Conyers of Storkburn Knt who slew ye monstrous venoms and poysons wiverms Ask or worme which overthrew and Devourd many people in fight, for the scent of poyson was soo strong, that no person was able to abide it, yet he by the providence of god overthrew it and lyes buried at Storkburn before the Conquest, but before he did enterprise it (having but one sonne) he went to the Church in compleat armour and offered up his sonne to the holy ghost, which monument is yet to see, and the place where the serpent lay is called Graystone."
(From British Museum MS Harleian No. 2118, fo. 39, circa 1625-49)
The very reason that not many examples survive to this day is likely do to their great utility. They are easily repurposed as tools for the home and farm. Some ornate versions belonging to noblemen, and the historic Conyers falchion exist to this day. I look forward to learning more about this great weapon of history as I sharpen and polish the version I recently picked up. It will also be used to prepare my jack-o-lantern for composting after Halloween. Off with his head!
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Comments
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