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D. Rosen





Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Reading list: 3 books

Posts: 108

PostPosted: Tue 09 Dec, 2008 11:23 pm    Post subject: Falchions and the 16th Century Common Man         Reply with quote

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
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Sean Flynt




Location: Birmingham, Alabama
Joined: 21 Aug 2003
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PostPosted: Wed 10 Dec, 2008 7:45 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

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.

-Sean

Author of the Little Hammer novel

https://www.amazon.com/Little-Hammer-Sean-Flynt/dp/B08XN7HZ82/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=little+hammer+book&qid=1627482034&sr=8-1
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Chris Last




Location: Janesville, WI
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Reading list: 8 books

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Posts: 264

PostPosted: Wed 10 Dec, 2008 8:31 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Dan-

Here are the two pictures I was talkign about:



Dussage - 1590 from the myArmoury picture albums




Falchion 1580s from the myArmoury picture albums.

" Hang fires are all fun and games untill someone gets their eye poked out... by charging calvary." - J.Shoemaker

Chris Last
GSM-Bristol
http://www.gsmbristol.org
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