Buzz
Throughout history, humanity has been engaged in warfare, and this will likely continue indefinitely. To wage these wars, people developed weapons, crafting tools from available skills and resources to cut, crush, pierce, and rend their foes. Each civilization possessed unique armaments that distinguished their military forces. When discussing ancient weaponry today, common examples like swords, spears, bows, and axes come to mind. However, my fascination lies with weapons that deviate from the ordinary. This compilation highlights an array of arms with unconventional designs, histories, or uses. If you believe any notable items are absent, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section!
10. Mere Club
The Māori tribes of New Zealand wielded this seemingly simple yet sturdy club, crafted from nephrite jade. Interestingly, the Māori employed the 12-20 inch club for thrusting and jabbing rather than delivering overhead strikes, unlike most other clubs. For the Māori, the mere held deep spiritual significance. They named their mere clubs and passed them down through generations, believing the weapons possessed their own mana (spiritual power). These clubs were highly revered, symbolizing leadership. If a tribe lost a significant mere, they would go to great lengths to recover and return it to its rightful owner.
9. Hook Swords
Among the most recognizable weapons on this list, the Chinese hook swords were famously used by the typically peaceful Shaolin monks of northern China. These exquisitely crafted blades featured a hook-shaped curve at the tip, enabling users to link them together and wield them as a single, extended-range weapon. The crescent-shaped guards were highly effective for blocking attacks and slashing nearby foes. Additionally, the hilt ends were sharpened into daggers for close-quarters combat. Measuring between 4 to 6 feet from the hook’s tip to the hilt’s end, these swords were primarily utilized by civilians, as they were never adopted by the Chinese military.
8. Kpinga
The kpinga, a throwing knife wielded by skilled warriors of the Azande tribe, was a distinctive weapon of Nubia, a region spanning northern Sudan and southern Egypt. Also known as the Hunga Munga, this knife measured up to 22 inches in length and featured three blades radiating from its center. The blade nearest the handle was shaped like male genitalia, symbolizing the owner’s masculine strength. The unique alignment of the blades significantly increased the likelihood of striking and impaling a target. Upon marriage, the owner would gift the kpinga to his wife’s family as a significant token.
7. Macuahuitl
The macuahuitl was essentially a wooden sword with razor-sharp obsidian fragments embedded along its edges. While it lacked a pointed tip for stabbing, the jagged obsidian rows provided immense tearing power, capable of inflicting severe wounds. The sturdy wooden frame was heavy enough to deliver blunt force, allowing Aztec warriors to incapacitate enemies for capture, often for use in ritual sacrifices. Historical accounts even suggest that the macuahuitl could decapitate horses, a remarkable feat given the thickness of a horse’s neck compared to a human’s.
6. Scissor
This peculiar weapon was employed by gladiators in the arenas of ancient Rome. Interestingly, the fighters who used the scissor were also referred to as scissors. The weapon featured a metal sleeve at the base, forming a long tube that protected the gladiator’s arm, enabling effective blocking, parrying, and counterattacking. Crafted from hardened steel, the scissor reached up to 18 inches in length. Despite its size, it was remarkably lightweight, weighing only 5-7 pounds, which allowed for swift and agile handling. Its distinctive design and functionality made it a popular spectacle among arena audiences.
5. Chakram
Don’t be deceived—the chakram is far from a playful frisbee. Unlike a frisbee, it was typically thrown vertically rather than horizontally. This circular metal weapon, with a diameter of up to 12 inches, featured a razor-sharp edge capable of severing limbs effortlessly. Originating in India, it was widely used by elite Sikh warriors. Similar to the shuriken, multiple chakrams could be stacked and thrown in rapid succession. Skilled warriors often spun the chakram on their index finger before launching it with a swift wrist flick, sending the spinning blade hurtling toward their target.
4. Chu Ko Nu
The chu ko nu, a Chinese invention, served as an early prototype for automatic rifles, prioritizing rapid reloading over range and power. This crossbow featured a wooden magazine on top that held 10 bolts, which automatically loaded into place when the rectangular lever at the rear was pulled after each shot. Remarkably, the chu ko nu saw action as late as the Sino-Japanese Wars of 1894-1895, long after firearms had become dominant. It could fire approximately 10 bolts in just 15 seconds, a significant advancement compared to traditional bows and crossbows. To enhance its lethality, some bolts were coated with poison derived from aconite, also known as wolfsbane.
3. Zhua
At first glance, this bizarre device immediately stood out, securing its top spot on the list. Another ingenious Chinese weapon, the zhua featured a striking iron 'hand' with sharp, claw-like nails designed to pierce flesh and rip it away. Its sheer weight alone could be fatal, but the claws added an extra layer of lethality. In skilled hands, it could dismount cavalry soldiers or strip shields from enemies, leaving them vulnerable to its iron grasp.
2. Katar
This Indian weapon mimicked the claws of a wolverine, though without the mythical strength of adamantium. At first glance, the katar appeared to have a single blade, but a trigger on its H-shaped handle could split it into three blades—one central and two on the sides. This design not only enhanced its stabbing and slashing capabilities but also served to intimidate or surprise opponents. The blade's unique placement allowed for effective blocking, and its triple-blade configuration could penetrate various types of Asian armor effortlessly.
1. Nest of Bees
The Chinese have truly impressed me, with four of their weapons making it onto this list. Securing the third spot is the nest of bees, also known as flying fire. This ingenious device consisted of a hexagonal wooden frame filled with tubes, resembling a honeycomb when viewed head-on. Each tube housed a rocket-propelled arrow, capable of launching with greater force and range than conventional bows. A single nest could unleash up to 32 arrows simultaneously. When deployed en masse, thousands of these nests could rain down destruction, eliminating scores of enemies in mere moments.
