Hello, I'm looking for any information or documentation for the use of falchions by the average soldier during the second half of the 16th century. I've seen several examples of finer quality falchions from this period, but would like to learn more about their use by the baser sort.

The only mention of falchions falling into such a category I am familiar with are a scant note in the Stuart Press pamphlet "Tudor Swords & Swordsmanship," a note on the website of The Tudor Group http://www.tudorgroup.co.uk , and a reference by Sir John Smith in one of his military treatises recommending their use for soldiers.

Thank you,

-Dan

See a depiction of Smith's falchion here:

http://www.myArmoury.com/feature_virgina.html

Also, check Harold Peterson's Colonial Arms and Armor. He has a page or two about these weapons, citing references from the early colonial period.

Note that by this period there are multiple names for the weapon--hanger, falchion, cutlass, storta, dussage, etc. They all describe variations on the theme of a short, single-edge curved blade (typically broad) with ordinary sword hilt. If there's any distinction to be made, I would guess that the falchion would have a simple cross while a cutlass would have a shell guard. The falchion shown in Smith's hand has a broad blade, simple recurved quillons and large globular pommel.

Dan-

Here are the two pictures I was talkign about:

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Dussage - 1590 from the myArmoury picture albums


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Falchion 1580s from the myArmoury picture albums.