falchions used in colonial americas?

[chevalier]

did the spanish settlers/conquistadors ever use falchions in the new world? did the english??

[Gonzalo G]

Not the spanish, I believe, and the english colonization was latter. I can´t sepeak for sure about the english weapons, but it seems that the falchion was used more from the medium to the late Middle Age.
Regards

Gonzalo

[Jim McDougall]

The term falchion, as Gonzalo has indicated, is a term from middle ages usage and typically refers to a broad short sword, with the blade having a convex edge that curved widely toward the point. The term itself derives from L. falci, falx=sickle to OF 'fauchion.

These were common implements that probably evolved from farmers or peasants knives across Continental Europe in many variations, with the most commonly known existing examples the 13th c. Conyers falchion, and the 14th c. Thorpe falchion (both English). Apparantly few of these common weapons survive beyond that.

In the New World, "...the majority of Spanish noblemen and officers serving in the Americas undoubtedly used the swords they had in Europe".

-"Arms and Armor of the Conquistador 1492-1600", by the late Walter J. Karcheski Jr. of Higgins Armoury Museum, 1990, p.10

These were of course typically rapiers to heavier bladed long swords with varying hilt forms, and were quite effective in combat initially with the unprotected native warriors. These became much less effective as the exploration entered the rugged landscape of the desert regions of Mexico, and the guerrilla warfare of the American Indians rendered them less than useful.

It became clear that more practical sidearms were required to be used as both a practical tool and weapon, and hunting type hangers became used in degree. These utility short swords of the 17th century used in England and Europe are believed to have led to the development of the common short sword of New Spain known as the espada ancha in the 18th century.
While these typically had heavy short blades ( the term meant heavy sword) many were mounted with shortened broadsword blades from the heavy military swords. They served as both a 'machete' and weapon on the frontier.
These typically had stirrup type guards as the hunting hangers, but there were eventually also the true 'machetes'.

"...the machete, in reality a large knife early carried by Spanish peasants in thier belts, was considered a short sword and tool in Colonial America".
-"Spanish Military Weapons in Colonial America 1700-1821"
Brickerhoff & Chamberlain, 1972, p.78

These might have been used in the same chopping fashion as the medieval 'falchion', and eventually became used in the same manner as the ancestor of the falchion in use as hunting or butchers knife, but using that term would be misplaced in this context.

In the English colonies, things were much the same. Arms and armour was the same as used in Europe, however hangers became more practically useful. As far as is known, no 'falchions' (as defined) were used by the colonial period nor in any references discussing the weapons recorded there, nor in any of the excavations.


Best regards,
Jim

[chevalier]

ahh, i had thought falchions where used as late as the 1500s, at least in the italian city states (florence/pavia/milan, ect) ive seen them used in many paintings by leonardo davinci ect.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by chevalier

ahh, i had thought falchions where used as late as the 1500s, at least in the italian city states (florence/pavia/milan, ect) ive seen them used in many paintings by leonardo davinci ect.

I had thought the question applied to the 'New World' which is typically held to be the colonies in the Americas, and as you noted those of the Spanish and English.

While the term falchion seems to have largely fallen out of use, as noted, in Italy the short sword/hangers with heavy chopping type blades known as 'storta' might have been perceived as a sort of 'falchion'. In reviewing the excellent resource on Italian weapons "Armi Bianchi Italiene" (Boccia & Coelho, 1975) there are no references to falchion, and the only heavy bladed chopper swords are these variations of storta.
I'm curious which Davinci paintings you are referring to, as it would be interesting to see what weapon form they are. It should be remembered that often classical artists used weapons out of context using contemporary or even exotic pieces to convey sensation or emotion in thier works. It seems that in one Biblical theme work, Rembrandt even used an Indonesian keris.

All the best,
Jim

[chevalier]

here it is:

[Jim McDougall]

Nicely done Chevalier!! Thanks!
Yup, those are the 'stortas' I was referring to.
Was it Shakespeare? ..."a falchion by any other name, is still....."
All the best,
Jim