King or Chief of Franks armed with the Scramasax, from a Miniature of the Ninth Century, drawn by H. de Vielcastel.

The Scramasax is a European bladed weapon, vaguely resembling a butcher knife or a machete. Its blade is gently curving, usually tapering to a point, sometimes sporting a false edge on the back up to a third of the whole length. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (690x1790, 43 KB)King or Chief of Franks armed with the Seramasax, from a Miniature of the Ninth Century, drawn by H. de Vielcastel. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (690x1790, 43 KB)King or Chief of Franks armed with the Seramasax, from a Miniature of the Ninth Century, drawn by H. de Vielcastel. ... This article is about the continent. ... Iron age axe from Gotland A bladed weapon is a weapon with a blade. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

The total length could range from as little as half a foot (150 mm) to a full yard (910 mm).

The name 'sax' stems from the Germanic word 'sahs', designating a knife or blade. The tribe of the Saxons, who customarily carried this type of weapon, took their name from it. It was also worn by Lombard warriors as a tool, a last resort weapon, and sign of rank from the 4th century AD to the 9th century AD, and was probably well known to many other Germanic tribes around Europe too. Map showing the Saxons homeland in traditional region bounded by the three rivers: Weser, Eider, and Elbe Src: Freemans Historical Geographys. The Saxons or Saxon people are (nowadays) part of the German people with its main areas of settlements in the German States of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony, Saxony... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, whence the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire. ... As a means of recording the passage of time, the 4th century was that century which lasted from 301 to 400. ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was that century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ...

The Vikings distinguished between the sax (a longer straight backsword) and the scramasax. The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen who originated in Scandinavia and raided the coasts of the British Isles, France and other parts of Europe from the late 8th century to the 11th century. ... 19th century French Navy officer sabre A backsword is a sword having a blade with only one edge. ...

Being cruder than a fully fledged sword, yet nonetheless an effective weapon against an unarmoured foe, it became a staple with poorer soldiers, and it was still a weapon of choice for English bowmen as late as 1450. The blade was more often than pressed to service as a general tool, and in some quarters was used as an 'eating knife' of sorts, resembling as it did a large kitchen knife. It would have been used as a garden or farm implement, with many peasant-stock soldiers fetching their own from home, where it would have seen use in the kitchen as well as the dining table, much like the Gurkha Kukri. Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Look up Sword in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2005 est. ... Events March - French troops under Guy de Richemont besiege the English commander in France, Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, in Caen April 15 - Battle of Formigny. ... Gurkha, also spelt as Gorkha, are people from Nepal who take their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ...

See also: Backsword 19th century French Navy officer sabre A backsword is a sword having a blade with only one edge. ...

External link

• Photo of Scramasax (seax) replica