On ancient weapons in the world

Due to different functions and use occasions, ancient weapons were designed and tried for the needs of war, automation, self-defense, hunting and competition, and they were constantly improved and innovated, among which the weapons used in war were the most advanced. In order to protect themselves, the threatened party must develop more advanced weapons, which leads to the progress of science and technology. Many inventions of mankind are accompanied by the development of weapons, and science and technology have evolved accordingly. Holding ancient weapons is like holding history in the palm of your hand, and the history books about the development of weapons are like reading world history. History tells us that improving or inventing new weapons is cutting-edge technology. Only weapons can conquer others or protect themselves, so nothing is closer to human life than weapons. In addition to the perspective of history and social education, we can also see the evolution of human civilization and the cultural characteristics of different regions from the manufacturing technology and decorative art of weapons.

Maximilian Wind Full Body Armor1Early 6th Century

This kind of full-body armor originally belonged to the Roman emperor Maximilian I. Maximilian I was good at updating weapons. He is in the present Austrian city of Innsbruck. Establish a weapons manufacturing workshop, especially to lead the fashion of armor manufacturing. The shape of illustrated armor is its first creation, which has been widely imitated and popular in Europe for decades. The whole set weighs about 30 kilograms.

German black and white bust 1550

In order to seek their own safety, ancient soldiers often made simple wartime fortifications with hard bones, wood, hides, thick cotton cloth and other materials; Humans began to know how to weave small iron rings in series into a "chain mail" to protect their bodies; Due to the progress of ironmaking technology, armored armor is becoming more and more popular, and the armor of senior soldiers must be specially customized. The shape and style are very artistic, and what can be preserved so far is regarded as a fine work of art and widely treasured. This black and white half-length armor is a typical style popular in Germany.

German crossbow 1580

The crossbow system in Europe was developed from the traditional bow and arrow and appeared in the Middle Ages. It has the advantages of silent shooting, no fireworks, easy to carry, free from weather and terrain restrictions, and beneficial to sneak attack. It was originally used for hunting, and later used in the battlefield. The crossbow body is made of elastic wood, synthetic wood or steel plate and cannot be operated by hand. Special auxiliary tools must be used to wind the bow, such as a stringing machine and a pull rod.

German double-handed knife 1580

Two-handed knife, as its name implies, is a weapon that needs two hands to operate. It probably originated from Teutonic people in Europe. It is the most heavy weapon used in medieval infantry fighting, and its appearance rarely changes. Generally, the length of two-handed knives is 1.8m, and the weight is 16kg. Specially used for fighting competitions, defending cities or using spears against group infantry. The blade of a two-handed knife is sometimes wavy, which makes it easy to cut off the enemy's spear. It is near the bottom of the big cross armguard and has two prominent knives, mainly to prevent the enemy's sword from slipping and cutting his hand during fighting.

Spanish left-handed dagger 1650

The left-handed dagger, also known as dagger, was once popular in Europe, especially in Germany. Left-handed daggers are often used with long swords. A thin blade doesn't have to be sharp, but it should be strong enough to resist the enemy's sword attack and act like a shield. Sometimes the blade is serrated and can break the enemy's tip, so it is also called broken arrow.

Italian sword 1650

Sword is popular in Europe and has become a necessary weapon for samurai, but it is only suitable for stabbing and has no cutting function. As far as the influence is concerned, learning fencing has become a fashion, and the research and development of fencing is also very vigorous. The hilt of a long sword has many shapes. Sword makers can design various shapes according to their personal preferences, among which there are many exquisite works, which will become the favorite of weapon collectors in the future.

European long-handled weapons16-17th century

The most common weapon in ancient times, originally used in war and hunting, was later specially designed for knights and used by infantry. By the Renaissance, long-handled weapons with various styles, styles, sizes and ornate carvings were more sophisticated and their functionality was improved. For example, the claw-shaped spear, which protrudes from the inside and outside, can hook the cavalry off the horse's back and then hurt the other side with spikes; Although the axe halberd is not sharp, it can be chopped by its weight, causing great damage to knights wearing full-body metal armor. Long-handled weapons are usually about 2-3 meters long and light in weight, and users need considerable physical strength.

Ejection pliers and die pliers

When making pellets, the lead is melted by fire, poured into the mold, cooled, opened and taken out, and then the extra part is removed by the "trimmer" on the handle of pliers, and the pellets are made.

Persian helmet and shield 1820

Bowl-shaped helmet, the neck armor is made of a small iron ring, with a nose guard that can move up and down, a spike on the top of the hat, and two thin tubes on the left and right for tassels; The inner surface of the shield is padded, which can not only avoid rubbing the skin, but also reduce the strength when being attacked. The other four buckles can be connected into two leather ropes, which is convenient to hold, so there are four protruding semicircles on the shield surface to decorate the buckle holes. If there are portraits of people inlaid with gold and silver on the surface, or rigorous geometric patterns, they are quite valuable weapons.

Persian armguard 1760

Vambrace, also known as Dastana or Arm-guard, sometimes only has a right hand strap, and the front end has a cloth and a chain to protect the back of the hand. It is usually decorated with gold or silver patterns to show its brilliance.

Chain mail 1650.

According to legend, the "Carters" in western Europe (Celts, living in present-day Ireland, Wales and Scotland) knew to weave corsets with small iron rings 500 years ago and use them for protection in war or competition. Although armored armor prevailed from the 2nd century to17th century, some parts of the body still need armored protection. Even in backward areas such as Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Caucasus, Iran, India and other regions, due to backward production technology and hot climate, armor was not popular until gunpowder weapons gradually became popular, and iron armor was still regarded as important combat equipment.

Making chain jackets is labor-consuming and time-consuming. Every small iron ring must be flattened and overlapped at the joint, then drilled (generally one hole, two holes and three holes are extremely rare) and fixed with rivets to avoid falling off. The iron rings are interlocking, and sometimes the smaller iron rings are rotated into the required shape, which is suitable for human wear and activities. In battle, hammer, bow and arrow, sword and spear hook are all sharp weapons against chain mail. This piece weighs about 18kg, and there are about 17000 small iron rings.

Kris

Snake knife is a unique weapon in Malaysia and Indonesia. Most of the blades are serpentine, with bending waves ranging from 5 ~ 15. Locals believe that the supernatural and incredible characteristics of snake knives have been passed down from generation to generation. Usually a man will have several snake knives in his life, which were handed down from his father and father-in-law and customized for himself.

Philippine breastplate18th century

This armor is not native to the Philippines, but a style influenced by Spain. Helmets are made of animal horns. The body-protecting part is made of animal shells or horns and ground into thin slices, sewn with chain mail and decorated with brass patterns.