Kyrenaian Sabres

**Kyrenaian Sabres** are the distinctive

Nowadays, they are, much like the Tabar, mostly seen as ceremonial equipment and sports equipment.

## History

The earliest finds of swords in Kyrenaia date back to the days of Almadaldima, the ancient city. Arsenical bronze was the material of choice, an alloy of copper and arsenic. Analysis showed, that these swords were cast and almost mass-produced. The longest found had blades of around fifty centimeters in length, but the majority is way shorter. As bronze was not a stiff material and the swords could bend easily, there were huge stockpiles unearthed in the city.

The first swords evolved from axes and had a sickle-like shape, were used to hammer down onto the enemy from the back of either horses or camels or both.

After the discovery and utilization of iron, the sickle-swords soon developed into a one-handed, single-edged weapon, balanced so it pitched forward towards the point, the edge being concave towards the hilt and convex towards the tip. It was an ideal weapon for slashing down from horseback with the momentum of an axe, although they could thrust, too. The oldest finds are from the 7th to 8th centuries BCE, but the first mentions are from the 10th and 11th centuries BCE.

These first models already showed the main tendencies of sword-development in Kyrenaia: Mostly, and contrary to both axe and spear, the sword was a weapon of riders, be they high-class or robbers.

## Designs

### Type 1

   **Type 1 Sabres**, also called **Yatagan**, are characterized by their relative shortness and their full Bell Guards. Type 1B usually also has a holdfast for the pointer, as seen in the image to the right.

They are rather popular amongst modern Kyrenaian Swordfighters and are, since ages long past, a sidearm for officers of the Infantry. The Tabardariyya carries these sabres as side arm of their Sergeants to this day.

### Type 2

   **Type 2 Sabres** are mostly characterized by their absence of any form of bell guard, instead having a pronounced pommel (used to whack in heads) and a crossguard.

Type 2 Sabres were especially prominent amongst horsemen of any description as sidearms (including armoured forces of the modern day, for the blue dress) and for ceremonial services. Traditionally, horsemen of the  Old Academies carry these sabres for their sportive events. The Sabres on the Kyrenaian Flag are usually identified as Type 2 Sabres as well.

### Type 3

   **Type 3 Sabres** are characterized by their guard as well, this one not a full bell guard but more of a wire or a strap and the crossguard with an endpin.

Type 3B Sabres also have a rather heavy cap at the end of the handle, which was usually used by the users for beating in heads.

Type 3C uses a similar model of blade, but an elongated handle, omitting the guard. Foreign observers usually note the similarities to the Japanese Longsword, the Katana, .

Type 3 Sabres, especially 3Cs, are relatively popular amongst modern sportspeople and they do have a cult following amongst arms collectors and they are seen as good tools in storytelling.

### Type 4

    **Type 4 Sabres** are characterized by their wide, rounded guards and the heavy spines, used to both stabalize the blade and to give more power to the swing with more weight of the blade. The wide, rounded guard usually protects a handle long enough to accomodate up to two hands, although it is entirely possible to use them only one-handed.

Type 4 Sabres were in the past rather common amongst bandits, but nowadays are mostly wide-spread amongst professional sportspeople. In times long past, the woman-warriors of the Khanate of Las preferred the Type 4 over other kinds of sabres and the Tabar. They are rather unsuited as wall-decorations.

### Dagger Sabre/Type 5

    **Dagger Sabres**, or **Type 5 Sabres** are short sabres, in many cases the blade being around the length of the lower arm of the wielder. Many pieces are highly decorated.

Up until the modern age, Kyrenaian Handmaidens and butlers learn how to use the Type 5, their personal defense weapon should things go really south.

### Swordlance/Type 6

The Type 6, or Swordlance, is a Jalidi weapon, basically a Type 3 blade put on a long stick.

The Type 6 is noted to be similar to the Bonoha, the *Blade on a stick*, of Okunaratsuru.