African Throwing Knife: A multi-branched, incredibly nasty-looking weapon
meant to be thrown horizontally like a frisbee, not over-hand like an ax. Any of several
sharpened blades may strike the target which accounts for the power.
Aiguchi: A short knife without a guard.
Bagh Nakh: The name means "tiger claws". Four or five curved iron spikes are
affixed to the crossbar, which, when held in the hand, causes the spikes to extend in
front of the fist. Holes or rings at the end of the crossbar (not unlike those on brass
knuckles) allow a good grip. It is easily concealed in the palm, which made it a favorite
among assassins.
Bank: Dagger with strongly curved, sickle-shaped blade and a straight handle.
Bhuj: A short, heavy, single-edged knife blade mounted in line with a straight
handle. Generally runs about one foot, eight inches in length.
Bich'wa: Doubly curved, double-edged blade with a loop hilt, the shape was
derived from the curve of the buffalo horns from which they were originally made. The
name, however, refers to a scorpion's sting, which it also resembles. Sometimes, these
were build to include bagh nakh.
Dirk: A short, thick bladed dagger tapering uniformly from hilt to tip. It
is usually only single edged, though double edge blades have been known to exist.
Haladie: A double dagger with two short, curved or straight daggers fastened
to opposite ends of a straight handle.
Jambiya: This blade is curved and double-edged. Some were curved to the point
where the end pointed upwards. The blade of this weapon could be either rather wide or
fairly narrow.
Jitte: Similar to the sai, this weapon has only one prong. It is
rarely sharpened and is used as a defensive weapon.
Kama: A short, scythe-like weapon that is easily overlooked as a weapon due
to its use in agriculture. Reputed to be a favorite amongst ninja.
Katar: Also called a punch dagger, as it was effectively used to burst mail
links in armor, this knife tended to be rather broad at the base, then tapered evenly
to a point. The intresting point about the weapon lies within the hilt, which is shaped
like an 'H' with two flat side bars and a single, or double, crossbar. It is used by holding
it in the clenched fist to be thrust forward, the blade leading the knuckles.
Kris: This dagger comes in many traditional shapes, though the common concept
is a blade of several undulations. Often thought of in relation to cermonial usage amongst
Pagan religions, thanks, no doubt, in great part to Hollywood.
Kukri: A heavy, curved single-edged blade which is sharp only on the concave
side.
Main gauche: The left-handed dagger used to guard and parry while using a
sword in the right hand. Blade usually straight and double-edged with a short grip, but
elaborate handguard.
Misericorde: A long, narrow-bladed dagger intended for thrusting.
Pata: Also known as a long katar, this evolved weapon is basicly a sword with
an attached gauntlet. Blade is straight, long and double-edged. Rather awkward in melee
situations because the attached gauntlet deprives you of the use of the wrist, such as
is the case with the manople.
Poniard: A small, straight dagger without sharp edges, used primarily for
thrusting or throwing.
Sai: A two-pronged knife used to catch weapons and pull them from the wielder's
grip. It is usually unsharpened and is essentially a defensive weapon.
Sax: Also called "scramasax", this dagger is a very large, broad, single-edged
blade almost big enough to be considered a short sword. A Bowie Knife (original design)
or an Arkansas Toothpick would be contemporary near-equivalents, allowing for differences
in quality of forging.
Stiletto: A very small dagger intended primarily for thrusting, though it can
be thrown quite effectively.
Tanto: A short knife with a guard, often used by women, easily hidden in a
kimono or the hilt of a katana.
