Scimitar (2024)

FAQs

What is a scimitar used for? ›

A cimeter or scimitar is a large, curved butcher's knife, with a blade typically 8–14" (20–35 cm) long. It is used primarily for cutting large pieces of meat into retail cuts such as steaks.

scimitar (noun as in knife) Strongest matches. bayonet blade cutter dagger machete scalpel sickle skewer sword. Strong matches.

These curved weapons have come to symbolize courage and strength in many Eastern cultures and appear on the Saudi Arabian coat of arms as well U.S. and British emblems and insignia. Scimitars today are treasured collectibles and symbolic reminders of Middle Eastern and western history and pride.

Scimitar became used to describe all curved oriental blades, in contrast to the straight and double-edged European swords of the time. The term سَيْف saif in Arabic can refer to any Middle Eastern (or North African, South Asian) sword, straight or curved.

Their most common uses are cutting down large chunks of meat into smaller, retail-sized cuts (like steaks), and getting large chunks of meat off bones. If you're camping, you can use a scimitar knife for other tasks, such as splintering your firewood and chopping through bone.

Compare a real life rapier to a scimitar. One is a long, thin thrusting sword with a sharp, pointed tip and no sharpened edge--very light--the other is a broad sharp-edged weapon that's so heavy its almost used more for crushing than slashing.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Scimitar

SCIMITAR. sim'-i-tar, -ter (akindke): Formerly given as "fauchion" in the King James Version Judith 13:6; 16:9, the weapon which Judith took down from the rail of the bed at Holofernes' head, and with which she severed his head from his body.

Sabers tended to have mildly to heavily curved blades, but with the point still in line with the guard. The other difference, but much more minor, is the hilt. Sabers USUALLY had either a full basket hilt, partial basket hilt, or a D-guard, and scimitars usually didn't.

A scimitar is lighter weapon than a longsword, and so would be quicker to draw and wield. A scimitar has a curved blade made for quick, slashing attacks, while a longsword, being heavier, would probably break a scimitar in two in the unlikely event that the blades impact each other.

The scimitar's curved design was probably introduced into central Islamic lands by Turkic warriors from central Asia. It became widespread throughout the Middle East from at least the Ottoman period. Previously, Arabs and Persians used straight-bladed swords.

Why are pirates depicted with scimitars? ›

Some of the more well-travelled pirates would often don scimitars. It was exotic enough to add a little more dread to their appearance, and also looked different and stylish (Pirates, although they would never admit it, were usually obsessed with their appearance).

There is no *historical* type of sword by that name. Scimitar is believed to have started from a mispronunciation/mis-transliteration of shamshir, a style of saber originating in medieval Persia but derived from the wide family of central-asian sabers that was common across the Turks, Mongols, Avars and other groups.

A bisentō (眉尖刀, 'brow blade') is a polearm used in feudal Japan. The bisentō has various descriptions, "a double-edged long sword with a thick truncated blade", "a spear-like weapon with a blade at the end that resembles a scimitar", "a polearm resembling a glaive, with a long, heavy haft and a heavy, curved blade".

Princess Anne's first Reliant Scimitar car was a joint 20th birthday and Christmas gift from parents Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. She owned a total of eight Scimitar cars, the most recent of which is now at the Great British Car Journey in Ambergate.

Scimitars did not have the damaging power of longswords or other heavier swords, but with skill they could hit vital areas better than most. Using the one-sided, curved scimitar required special training and was therefore classified as a martial weapon.

Pirates traveled extensively thoughout the world, and often found unique weapons to carry. The notorious Barbary Pirates of Northern Africa often carried scimitars instead of cutlasses, and this trend seemed to catch on a bit. Some of the more well-travelled pirates would often don scimitars.

Functional Advantages of Curved Blades:

Effective Slashing: The Cutting Edge The primary advantage of a curved sword lies in its effectiveness in slashing motions. The curvature allows for a more extended cutting edge, increasing the surface area that makes contact with the target.