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John C. Dos Santos
Location: United States Joined: 29 May 2019
Posts: 10
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 Posted: Thu 21 May, 2026 6:16 pm Post subject: Khopesh from bronze to iron? |
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Hello,
Has anyone studied khopesh swords? Was there a time where they might have made of iron and used in battle by Israelite or Egyptian armies?
Also,
Does anyone in the Northeastern United States participate in Bronze Age Living history or reenactment?
Thank you,
John
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Dan Kary
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| Posted: Fri 22 May, 2026 7:29 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure, but didn't they stop being used pretty early on? They stopped being used during the bronze age, I thought, and so I'm guessing they would never have been made of iron.
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Matthew Amt
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| Posted: Fri 22 May, 2026 9:53 am Post subject: |
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Agreed. As far as I know, the khopesh did not survive into the Iron Age, so it was only made from bronze.
For reenactors, I've got a ton of kit, here in the DC/Baltimore area, but it's been a while! About 3 years ago I did an event as Romulus Founder of Rome, which is kind of Late Bronze/Early Iron (terrific and fascinating era!), can't even remember the last time I hauled out the Mycenaean stuff.
https://www.larp.com/hoplite/bronze.html
Matthew
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Dan Howard
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| Posted: Yesterday at 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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The khopesh falls out of use during the reign of Rameses II. By that time, the Egyptians were using the same sword types that all of their neighbours were using.
Author: Bronze Age Military Equipment, Pen and Sword Books
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Dan Kary
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| Posted: Today at 8:19 am Post subject: |
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| Dan Howard wrote: | | The khopesh falls out of use during the reign of Rameses II. By that time, the Egyptians were using the same sword types that all of their neighbours were using. |
That makes a lot of sense to me that it would be Rameses II that saw it off. Wasn't he pretty innovative in military reforms? As I recall, he expanded Egypt to it's greatest extent through military conquest. Surely he was adapting new military strategies and equipment.
As an aside: Is there anybody out there making good bronze kopesh these days?
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This is a standard topic