List of premodern combat weapons

Hand or fist weapons and fans

Single-handed weapons not resembling a straight dagger blade, usually wielded without wrist action; often protects the forearm.

Swords and bladed weapons

Thrusting and slicing weapons for close quarters melee.

Shortswords

Delineated as 20-28 inches/51–71 cm total length.

Straight shortswords

Curved shortswords

Swords

Long swords were classified by Gordon as longer than 28 inches/71 cm.

Curved one-handed swords

Straight one-handed swords

Curved two-handed swords

Hand-and-a-half and two-handed greatswords

Axe-like swords

Generally, convex blades used for heavy chopping or slashing.

Other swords

Hook sword (Chinese)

Shotel (Abyssinian)

Knives and daggers

Sickles and sickle-like knives

Generally short, concave blades used for heavy cutting.

Trauma weapons (clubs)

Wielded with one or two hands at close quarters with swinging motions.

Pole weapons

Wielded mainly with two hands. Primarily for melee with sweeping, thrusting, and/or hooking motions.

Blunt staves

Bâton français (European)

Bō (Japan)

Eku (Okinawan)

Gun (staff) (Chinese)

Jō (Japanese)

Lathi (Indian)

Naboot, asaya, asa, nabboot, shoum (Middle Eastern)

Quarterstaff (European)

Shareeravadi (Middle Asian)

Taiaha (New Zealand)

Spears

Thrown spears and javelins are listed under ranged weapons.

Polearms with spikes and hammers

Bec de corbin (European)

Lucerne hammer (European)

Zhua (Chinese)

Spears and javelins

All could be used as polearm spears, but were designed and primarily used for throwing.

Throwing sticks

Boomerang (Australian, worldwide)

Knobkierrie, knopkierie, knobkerry (African; also a blunt weapon)

Rungu (East African)

Throwing blades and darts

Chakram (Indian, Southeast Asian)

Martiobarbuli, plumbata (Mediterranean)

Shaken or shuriken/kurumaken, bo-shuriken/throwing spikes, hira-shuriken/throwing stars (Japanese)

Kpinga (The Zande tribe)

Kunai (improvised, Japanese)

Throwing knife (Worldwide)

Thrown darts (worldwide)

Swiss arrow

Arambai

Throwing axes

Could also be used as axe weapons, but were specifically designed for throwing.

Francisca, francesca (European)

Hunga munga, danisco, goleyo, njiga (African)

Hurlbat, whirlbat (European)

Nzappa zap (African)

Tomahawk (Americas; also an axe weapon)

Throwing balls

Bolas (South Americas)

Longbows

Decurve bow (sub-category)

Deflex bow (sub-category)

English longbow, Welsh longbow, Warbow

Flatbow

Self bow

Daikyū (Japanese)

Recurved bows

Cable-backed bow

Composite bow

Hungarian bow (sub-category)

Perso-Parthian bow (Middle Eastern)

Short bows and reflex bows

Gungdo, Hwal (Korean)

Hankyū (Japanese)

Mongol bow (Eastern European, Chinese)

Turkish bow (Eastern European)

Crossbows

Arbalest, Arblast (European)

Bullet Bow, English bullet bow, pellet crossbow (European)

Chu Ko Nu (Chinese)

Crossbow, small crossbow (European, Chinese)

Gastraphetes (Mediterranean)

German stone bow (European)

Pistol crossbow (subcategory)

Repeating crossbow, Chu-ko-nu, Zhuge Nu (Chinese)

Skåne lockbow (European)

Sling

Kestros, cestrosphendone, cestrus, kestrophedrone (Mediterranean)

Sling (paleolithic, Mediterranean, European)

Stave sling, fustibale (Mediterranean)

Blowgun

Blowgun, blow tube, blowpipe (worldwide)

Fukiya (Japanese)

Composite projectile weapons

Having a built-in gun or ranged weapon combined with some other type of weapon.

Ax match and wheellock (European axe with five barrells under a removable blade)

Carbine ax (European axe)

Halberd double-barreled wheellock (European Halberd)

Mace wheellock (European mace)

Matchlock ax/dagger (European axe, dagger, matchlock combination)

Pistol sword (European sword)

War hammer wheellock (European pick/hammer)

Ropes and Whips

Bullwhip (Worldwide)

Cat o' nine tails (European)

Chain whip, jiujiebian, qijiebian, samjitbin (Chinese)

Knout (Eastern Europe)

Lasso, lariat, uurga (Americas, Chinese)

Nagyka (Eastern European)

Sjambok, chicotte, fimbo, imvubu, kiboko, kurbash, litupa, mnigolo (Africa)

Smallwhips, crops (worldwide)

Stockwhip (Australia)

Urumi, chuttuval (Indian)

Sectional and composite

Having multiple handles or holdable sections.

Nunchaku (Okinawan)

Samjigun, sansetsukon (Chinese, Japanese, Okinawan)

Tabak-Toyok, chako (Southeast Asian)

Two-section staff, xhang xiao ban (Chinese; could also be considered a polearm)

Three-section staff, (Chinese)

Chain weapons

Having a heavy object attached to a flexible chain. Wielded by swinging, throwing, or projecting the end, as well as wrapping, striking, and blocking with the chain.

Chigiriki (Japanese)

Cumberjung, double-ended flail, flail with quoits (Middle Asian)

Flail, fleau d'armes, Kriegsflegel (European)

Flying claws (Chinese)

Kusari-gama (Japanese)

Kyoketsu-shoge (Japanese)

Kusari-fundo, manriki, manriki-gusari, manrikigusari (Japanese)

Meteor hammer, dai chui, dragon's fist, flying hammer, liu xing chui, sheng bao (Chinese)

Rope dart, jouhyou, rope javelin, sheng biao (Chinese, Japanese)

Slungshot (European, Chinese, Japanese; improvised; not to be confused with a slingshot)

Surujin, suruchin (Okinawan)

Shields

Used not only to block strikes and missiles but also swung outwardly (or in quick upward motions) to strike an opponent. Also used to rush an opponent (known as shield bashing). Some shields had spikes, sharp edges, or other offensive designs.

Aspis, hoplon (Mediterranean)

Buckler (European)

Ceremonial shields, hide, leather, wickerwork (worldwide, tribal)

Heater shield, heraldic shield (European)

Hungarian shield (European)

Ishlangu (African)

Kite shield (European)

Scuta, oval scutum, tower or rectangular scutum (Mediterranean)

Targe (European)

Gun Shield (Egypt, Rome,Greece)