Quillions: The cross piece of a sword, designed to protect one's hand.

Crossguard: Another word for Quillions.

Tang: The thin piece of the blade, runs through the hilt, and attatches to the pomel to prevent the sword from shattering.

Hilt: The handle of the sword.

Longsword: A long sword is a single handed sord with a good length on it. Long swords are typically used as a primary handed weapon, accompanied by a shorter sword, or shield. The general length for a long sword is be 30" blade, with a 6.5" hilt. Most people believe swords are heavy, which is quite the misconception. A well built sword will weigh around 2 pounds.

Short sword: A short sword is Generally an offhanded weapon, or a backup weapon for the polearm fighter, or Archer. The general length of a short sword is 16 inches,with a 6 inch hilt. The swords are lighter than the longsword, and faster. The disadvantage you suffer from a Shortsword versus a longsword is greatly decreased range.

Hand and a half: For the person seeking a longer sword than the longsword, but not quite a two handed weapon, They would use the hand and a half. The hand and a half has a slightly longer blade, around 34". it also has a longer hilt, looking at 10". The longer hilt allows one to use it single handed, or double handed. The sword is wieldable with one hand, Provided one could heft properly, a 3.5 pound sword. When using the sword with two hands, The speed one can swing is nearly doubled. This sword is a favorite to shield Fighters, because they can wield it with one hand, while hiding behind their shield. After the opponent had been worn down a bit, or had suffered some cuts, the shield could be dropped, and the sword could be taken in two hands for the kill.

Two handed: The two handed sword measures to around 36 inches, With a 10 inch hilt. This sword is specifically for power, weighing too much to wield with one hand, and too heavy to be terribly fast with two, it is designed for a quick kill, or to crush shields. This sword weighs in at around 5 pounds.

Claymore, or Greatsword: The Claymore swords, also known as Greatswords, are not used for person to person combat. These blades measure around 41" with a 15" hilt. Weighing in at 8 pounds, this sword is far too slow in a fight, and was specifically designed as an anti-cavalry weapon. As the horses came past, one would swing with all their might at the legs, taking down the horse, and dropping the rider to the ground. Once all the horses had passed, you would toss down your claymore, or put it back in it's backscabbard, and draw your primary weapon.(Click here for a description of such a weapon

Katana: The katana is used as a quick, slashing weapon. Katana's features a curved blade at about 28" and a 12" hilt. The curviture of the blade makes it easier to slide the weapon out of bone, should it get stuck. The Katana weighs in at about The Katana is a single handed weapon, generally paired with a Wakazashi.

Nodachi: The Nodachi is a Katana, with a longer hilt for more control. The blade length stays at the same 28", but the hilt is 15".

Wakazashi: The word Wakazashi, means Short sword. This is a Secondary weapon to the Katana. The blade length is 20", and the hilt is 6" weighing in at 1 pound.

Cut and Thrust: The Cut and thrust sword is a sword with a long blade that tapers off at the end. this allows it to have both decent slashing capabilities, and good thrusting capabilities. these swords tend to be fairly light and fast, similar to rapiers.

Flamberge: The Flamberge sword, is a sword with a curvy blade, similar to a kris. It was named such as it's blade looks similar to a flame. These swords are frequently two handed swords, or Sveihanders, which is german for two handed. however sveihanders are Far too large to use in hand to hand combat.

Broadsword: The broadsword is a sword with a wider blade than most. This was designed, to give the blade more durability. these swords are heavier than others, and have less likelihood of breaking against plate armor.

Sweihander: The Sweihander was a great large beast of a sword. reaching a height of 75 inches, or six feet. This blade was not used in combat, simply used similar to a claymore, to take out oncomming cavalry, or cut off oncoming pikeheads.

Scimitar: A scimitar is a curved blade, curving inward, and stretching to about 30 inches. The blade is curved as such to save room when fighting on horseback, and so that the blade will slide off of bone easier.

Dao, or Kung fu, Broadsword: The the Dao Broadsword features a curved blade, similar to a Scimitar, but the blade is at least an inch wider than the Scimitar. The handle of the Dao broadsword also curves, in a direction opposite of the blade. This sword also has a non-broadsword version. the difference is that the blade is not as wide.

Hooksword: The Hooksword is a sword, that has a single edged blade, and a hook at the end. This hook was designed for catching opponent's swords and allowing your mainhand time to attack.

Dadao Pronounced Du Dow, this sword features a curved blade, but not to the degree a scimitar would curve, it has a very slight curve, and the back of the blade stays as wide all the way along the blade, and gets wider at the top. the handle is straight, and long, allowing for two handed grips.

Cutlass: A cutlass is a shorter sword, the blade being about 22 inches, and curving inward. these swords were designed for shipboard fighting, where you needed the space of the shorter sword.

Dussage The Dussage is a cutlass, with small grooves up and down the blade. This was designed for catching ropes, so you could cut them with your boarding axe.

Rapier The Rapier is a light, fast weapon, with a long thin blade designed for thrusting. Generally paired with a main Gauche, the rapier has issues blocking a strike, and snaps easily under pressure, however it's speed is unmatched. There are two styles of Rapiers, Swept hilt rapiers, which have a hand guard made of Ironwork, running in a basket around the hand, protecting it from slashes. or, Cup hilt. A cup hilt rapier has a bowl shaped piece of metal over the front of the hilt, protecting the hand from attacks as well.

Falcatta: This blade is very short, designed specifically to be a close combat "chopper". The blade curves outward, with a wider top than a normal sword. this wider top gives it a topheavy feel, making it ideal for chopping.

Katar: The Katar is a dagger blade, with a handle on the end, designed to be held like brass knuckles. The Katar is also known as a punching dagger, because you use it like such. Frequently, Katars have two blades, that pop out when a trigger is pulled, and the middle blade is revealed, generally laced with poison.

Sword Breaker: A sword breaker is a dagger, not designed for slashing or thrusting, rather, catching blades and snapping them. The blade of the dagger is about a half inch thick, and two inches wide, serrations run to the middle of the blade on one side, designed to catch the blade in them, a twist of the wrist snaps the sword, or disarms the opponent.

Stiletto: The Stilleto is a straight Dagger, with a triangular shaped blade. It has no slashing capabilities whatsoever, Having been designed strictly for thrusting. The Triangular shape of the blade makes it so the blood cannot coagulate, and the would will continue to bleed until seen to. an excellent choice for assassins, or for ladies to defend themselves from men in chainmail.

Kris: A Kris is a dagger with a blade that curves inwards an outwards, yet retaining a straight blade. The effect of this is a flame looking blade, similar to a flamberge blade. These daggers are generally used for rituals.

Main Gauche: A Main Gauche is an offhand weapon, paired with a Rapier. The gauche has a fairly long blade for a dagger, running at around 14 inches. The Main Gauche Features a Ring at the quillions, designed to stop a blade from sliding down yours and mutilating your fingers.

Dirk: A Single bladed dagger, coming to a very sharp point at the end. The back side frequently has small serrations, This blades are generally around 13 inches, and is worn at the hip.

Sgian Dubh: A small dagger, with a blade similar to a dirk, ranging from 3 and a half, to four inches. This dagger is a last resort weapon, and would be tucked into a person's bracers, boots, belt, or shirt. Anywhere one could conceal it, and grab it easily.

Handy Terms:

Head: The head is the tip of the Weapon, the point in which you use to strike.

Haft: The haft is the shaft of the weapon, attatched to the head and handle.

Jitte: Small Metal pole, about 17 inches long. The rod used to strike the neck and head was 10 inches long. Just above the Handle, A small metal piece comes straight out, and then turns to run paralel with the rest of the weapon. This is designed as a blade catcher, and is a finger's width wide. The blade would be pushed into there, and then a flick of the wrist disarms or breaks the katana.

Nunchuks: A pair of metal or wooden rods, attatched at one end by a lengthy chain. These weapons were swung around to get momentum, and then used to hit the opponent with this momentum. These weapons can be deadly, but more than one practicioner is known to have taken their eye out with these things. Only for the skilled users.

Warhammer: The warhammer was a hammer designed similar to a mace, designed to crush armor. The handle was about a two feet, to three feet long, and the head consisted of a flat end, and generally had a spike on the other side. These were heavy weapons, not generally used one handed.

Mace: The Mace weapon designed for crushing blows, to destroy armor. The weapon has a handle, attatched to a 17" inch stick. At the top is fixed the weight. The head of the mace takes many forms, The most efficient however, is the flanged mace head, which is about 4" long. The flanged macehead consists of slats of Iron spaced away from each other in a circular formation. The mace weighs around, 2 pounds.

Morning star: The Morning star and the mace are very similar. In fact, they are for the most part the same thing. The difference between a mace and a morning star however, is the fact that The morning star had pointed spikes on it, rather then blunted edges.

Flails: The flail, is similar to a mace, in that it is a handle, attatched to a stick, or Haft. At the head of the haft however, where one would expect to find the mace head, is a chain. At the end of the chain you would find a small ball, covered in spikes. The number of balls attatched to the flail is optional.

Clubs: Clubs are quite simple. A large stick, designed for bashing people. If you were to put spikes on this club, it becomes a War Club.

The Polearm is a long range weapon, a large haft at about 58", with some form of blade attatched to it. The type of blade attatched to the Polearm, determins how the weapon is used, and what it is called.

Handy Terms: See Maces and Blunt Weapons.

Halberd: The halberd is a polearm with an axe like head atop it, and a spike running out the top. This weapon is useful as both a slashing weapon and a piercing weapon, and is the most versatile of the polearm class weapons.

Spear and Pike: The spear is a shorter polearm, with a double bladed spike at the top, designed particularly for thrusting. The Pike, is a longer version of the spear.

Naginata: The Naginata is a polearm, with a curved single edged blade set at the top. Designed specifically for thrusting.

Yari: The Yari is a Polearm, with a straight, double edged blade set atop it. This weapon was capable of thrusting and slashing.

Poleaxe: The Poleaxe, is a polearm, with a simple Axehead set atop it, designed for thrusting.

Lance: The lance is a cavalry weapon, a long stick with a point at the edge. The length of the Lance is about 12 Feet.

SkiffHooks: A shipboard weapon. This weapon uses a long pole with a spike on it, and just under the spike is a large hook. The Normal use for these weapons is docking, and untangling lines. But over the years, many sailors have learned to use them.

Axes are heavy slashing weapons, attatched to a haft. The weight of the head is ideal for fighting against shields, as you could Crush down upon the shield, ramming it into their body to still deal damage.

Handy Terms: See Maces and blunt weapons.

Double edged Axe: The double edge axe is an axe with a blade on either side of it. weighing about 8.5 pounds

Single edged Axe: The single edged axe is a haft, with a single blade atop it. Weighing about 4.5 pounds

Two Handed Axe: The two handed axe, is an axe with either a double blade, or single blade, and a longer haft for gripping with two hands.

Great Axe: A large axe, Similar to a two handed axe with a much larger than average axe-head. The weapon has great weight in the head, making it ideal for chopping. However, this great weight makes it nearly unwieldable by all but the strongest.

Tower Shield: A tower shield is a large, rectangular shield with a slight curve. The shields were large, and heavy, coming up to just under a person's head When resting on the ground. The Tower shield is largely used for Shield walls, a tactical use in armies, utilizing large ammounts of forces, All holding up a shield in one hand, and a polearm in the other. The shield walls would stand still, and protect the troops behind them, usually archers. The polearms were used to keep troops at bay, as well as skewering enemy horses on a charge.

Heater Shield: The Heater shield is one of the more commonly used shields, With a broad top, Tapering to a point at the bottom. These shields were used in combat, Held in the off hand, the weapon in the primary hand. With the shield, One could block one's body, while striking a blow simultaneously.

Targe Shield: The Targe shield Is a lighter, smaller, round shield used in the same way as a heater shield would be used for.

Buckler: The Buckler is a Very small shield, generally round. Held in the offhand, this small shield is very light, allowing for more calculated blocking.

Handy Terms:

String: The string is attatched to the bow, and is pulled to make the bow flex. the Memory of the wood pulls it back to it's original shape once it is released, and the arrow flies.

Head: The Tip of the arrow.

Shaft: The mid section of the arrow.

Fletching: The feathers of the arrow, designed to keep the arrow straight, and in the air.

Noc The End piece of the arrow, is notched so that it will fit around the String.

Thong: A piece of leather.

Bullet: A small stone, or bit of metal, used in a sling.

Longbow: Longbows Can Range from 68" to 72". They are strung with Sinew. Designed for Long range attacks. Longbows are designed with a simple straight look. The bows have a very small curviture to them, which is what gives them their long range. This bow has a range of around 175 yards.

Recurve: Recurve bows look like a traditional Bow, with an extra curviture, pointed outwards on either end. The sizes vary from 30" to 52". Used for longer range attacks, but not quite as long as the longbow. Recurve bows are smaller and easier to transport than a longbow. This bow has a range of about 100 yards.

Compound: Compound bows look similar to a recurve Bow, however these bows use a pulley system at either end of the bow, to let the weight of the draw off. These bows are made of fiberglass and are not suggested for use in Fou Lou. This bow has a range of about, 100 yards.

Horse Bow: Made of a softer wood, making them more flexible. This makes the bow use far more weight, yet easier to draw. The bows are small, Curved very similar to a recurve bow. These bows are fast, deadly, and long ranged. Because of the size of these small bows, they're far more convenient for use horseback. The Horse bow has a range of around 25 yards.

Crossbow: Designed with a shaft, and a small bow on the end, a pulley system inside is attatched to the trigger, allowing for a stronger pull. These Crossbows have varied sizes and styles. The Traditional Crossbow has a range of about, 25 yards.

Hand Crossbow: A smaller Version of a crossbow, Frequently fitted onto the wrist. Used more for assassination than long range. These small crossbows Have about a range of 30 feet.

Sling: The sling is a leather thong, with a small piece of leather attatched to the center of it, where you would hold the bullet. The sling is spun around rapidly to gain momentum, and then one end is released at the end of the shot, to fling the Bullet.

Harpoons, and Harpoon Guns: The Harpoon is a spear like weapon, with many serrations down the blade, and is designed specifically for throwing, or shooting out of a harpoon gun. A harpoon gun is a spring loaded weapon that will launch the Harpoons at the target. harpoons were originally used for fishing, but over time, Everything on a ship becomes a means to defend against pirates.

Chakram: A round metal disk, thrown. When throwing one must take into account many equations, such as trajectory. if thrown properly, the weapon acts as a boomerang, and returns.