Falcota.... ring a bell?

[Snowdog]

About a decade back I received an Atlanta Cutlery catalog that included an odd sword called the falcota. It was described as being used by empirical Roman cavalry and designed to cleave through some types of armor.

The blade itself was reminiscent of a kukri, and a brass handle with a hooked pommel that wrapped around the pinky to prevent slipping. It was a pleasing sword to behold, but I haven't seen a picture of one since.

Does anyone recall hearing of the falcota?

 

[Tamara]

The falcata is a weapon used by celtiberian peoples that is very similar to the Greek kopis. The kukhri looks like one because it is descended from these blades that had been brought east by Alexander's armies.

 

[Kjay]

Yup the celtiberian version of the kopis. A very effective cutting sword. Here's a pic...

 

[El Tejon]

Snow, the Greeks spread this weapon East, the Wromans spread it West.

 

[Soap]

The great thing is that an offshoot is still issued by a military: the khukri.

 

[Snowdog]

That's the one, kjay.
Now I'm going to find one to buy.

 

[JShirley]

Snowdog,

Himalayan Imports made a falcata recently. Being a HI product, this is a serious weapon that will take a licking and keep on...and is warranteed for life.

Here is a thread where a Blade Forums member tried several tests with one, including attacking a kevlar helmet!

John

 

[Jim March]

That's NEAT!

Yes, the Khukuri and Falcata are both derived from an earlier Greek weapon that was probably used at Thermopylae over 2,500 years ago. That shortsword was basically their back-up weapon; their primary weapon was the spear , with the shortsword reserved for situations when the lines got so tangled there was no room for spear thrusts. The Greeks had both throwing spears and non-throwing "thrusting spears" used on the front line.

The early Roman swords weren't any longer, but they were more "thrusters" than "choppers". The Greek design was what somehow got to the Celtic tribes of what is now Spain...anybody know how that happened? 'Cuz the Greeks never made it out that far...mebbe the Phoenicians carried it out that way?

Alexander the Great carried the Greek shortsword out to Northern India, where the Nepalese got ahold of some and it became the Khukuri.

 

[Kjay]

Keep in mind that the ancient world had extenstive trading of goods and peoples. Even isolated examples could be copied and "product improved" by local swordsmiths.

 

[mp5man1]

About a month ago I had read a article that mentioned that 2 swords of the Falcata design were found in a field in Greece where the Athenian Army fought the Persians in the first invasion. They are now in a museum in New York.