List of Famous Swords, Knives, and Firearms in World History [Updated]
For better or for worse, weapons are some of the most important objects in the history of the world. Swords, knives, and firearms have been used for hundreds of years to both create and destroy.
Few historical events can be fully comprehended without also understanding the types of tools used by the people involved. Everyday tasks, exploration, rebellions, and outright warfare all required weapons of some kind.
While it’s true that civilizations around the world preferred certain weapons, the sword, knife, and firearm prove to be the most versatile and effective weapons for a range of uses.
The following are some of the most famous weapons in world history from ancient times to the 20th century. Many were made famous by the people who wielded them. Insights into the wielder behind the weapon are given when appropriate.
1) Sword of Goujian
The Sword of Goujian is one of the oldest surviving swords in human history and is a highly protected artifact in China. Discovered in 1965, the Sword of Goujian is considered a Chinese national treasure and is one of many artifacts forbidden from being exhibited abroad.
Archaeologists found the sword in an ancient tomb. The sword was perfectly preserved in a tight fitting scabbard. Dating to the Spring and Autumn Period (771-476 BC), the ancient sword has no tarnishing and maintains its sharpened edge.
The excellent condition of the Sword of Goujian has to do with its chemical composition. The sword is made of tin and bronze with added sulfur. The sulfur content of the blade prevents tarnishing.
The Sword of Goujian is famous not only for its condition but also its aesthetic design. Two columns of ancient Chinese text tell us the sword belonged to Goujian, one of the last kings of the Yue.
Crystals, turquoise, and silk decorate the hilt of the sword.
2) Tenka-Goken Swords
Tenka-Goken swords are five katana swords that are Japanese national treasures and holy relics. Most of the swords are displayed in the Tokyo National Museum.
Dojigiri Yatsutsuna, Mikazuki Munechika, Onimaru Kunitsuna, Odenta Mitsuyo, and Juzumaru Tsunetsugu are the five sword names. Each weapon has its own interesting story that can be read here.
3) Wallace Sword
The Wallace Sword is displayed in the Wallace Monument in Scotland. Many believe it to be the sword Sir William Wallace used to fight the English in the Battles of Stirling Bridge and Falkirk during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
While William Wallace has always been a hero to the people of Scotland, the movie Braveheart helped make the story of Wallace even more famous around the world.
The sword shown above has a 137 cm long blade and weighs nearly 6 pounds. In its current form, the sword is comprised of parts from several swords, meaning that it is likely not the complete sword of William Wallace. A portion of the sword could date to the 13th century, so there is still hope for those who believe it is Wallace’s weapon.
4) Honjo Masamune
Masamune is one the most famous swordsmiths in Japanese and world history. He was born in 1264 and studied under the master smith Shintogo Kunimitsu.
Masamune worked during the time of the samurai and earned a positive reputation among samurai lords for his high-quality blades.
Unlike other smiths of the time, Masamune forged his swords using high heat to remove impurities. To prevent the metal from becoming brittle at such high temperatures, Masamune layered soft and hard steels.
The young and talented smith started working for Emperor Fushimi as a top swordsmith at the age of only twenty-three.
While Masamune crafted many exceptional swords during his lifetime, none is as famous and mysterious as Honjo Masamune. This sword was named for its wielder, Honjo Shigenaga. The sword was passed down through the Tokugawa family for hundreds of years before being confiscated by Americans after World War II.
The sword may have been destroyed, but there is a good chance it was taken back the United States following the war.
5) Mons Meg
Mons Meg is a cannon that was crafted in 1449 by order of Philip the Good of Burgundy. He gifted the weapon to James II of Scotland.
The cannon was massive for its time, with the capability of firing 300 cannonballs weighing 30 pounds each. Scotland used Mons Meg in conflicts until the mid 16th century. After that, the cannon only fired during ceremonial events.
Part of Mons Meg exploded while being fired in a ceremony in 1681. Restoration of the cannon has long been an issue due to it being repaired and repainted several times.
Mons Meg is currently on display at Edinburgh Castle and is a major attraction for tourists.
6) George Washington’s Swords
George Washington utilized several swords during his time as a military leader during the Revolutionary War. Most of his blades were created by John Bailey, a swordsmith and cutler originally from Sheffield, England.
Bailey’s swords were cuttoes. These adaptations of hunting swords were extremely popular during the 18th century. Bailey adapted the European design of the cuttoe to make it smaller and more practical for use in the Colonies.
Washington wears a Bailey sword in the famous painting Washington Crossing the Delaware pictured above.
7) Pistols of Washington & Lafayette
George Washington also owned a famous pair of pistols that had three famous owners. The Marquis de Lafayette gifted Washington the .57 caliber flintlock pistols in 1778. The young French aristocrat traveled to the Colonies to get involved in the Revolution and became good friends with Washington.
Washington used the pistols during the Revolutionary War and the Whiskey Rebellion. Following his death in 1799, the pistols were passed down to nephews and eventually made it into the hands of future president Andrew Jackson in 1824.
Lafayette toured the young United States in 1824 and 1825 and visited Jackson at his home. Jackson showed Lafayette the pistols and gave them back to him.
8) Napoleon’s Coronation Sword
The swords of Napoleon Bonaparte are some of the most valuable weapons in the world. In 2007, one of Napoleon’s swords sold for over $6 million. More recently, a lucky buyer snagged a Napoleon sword for around $3 million.
The most beautiful of Napoleon’s swords is his coronation sword. Wanting a design similar to that of Louis XVI’s sword, Napoleon ordered the ceremonial weapon in 1801.
The small sword, or épée, was crafted by three different artisans. Nicholas-Noël Boutet crafted the blade and goldsmith Jean-Baptiste-Claude Odiot made the intricate gold hilt. The large diamonds that decorate the hilt were set by Marie-Etienne Nitot.
The hilt of the sword featured 42 diamonds totally 254 carats. The largest diamond was set in the guard of the weapon and was called Regent. This stone alone was worth a whopping 6 million francs.
Napoleon wore the bejeweled sword in several important ceremonies, the most famous being his own coronation. By 1811, Napoleon tired of the sword and commissioned a new one. The gems from the coronation sword were reused in the new version.
The sword is pictured in several portraits of Napoleon, such as the one shown above.
9) Davy Crockett’s “Old Betsy”
Frontiersman and politician Davy Crockett utilized his famous “Betsy” guns throughout his life. He received his first Betsy at the age of seventeen and several iterations followed.
The most famous was a .40 caliber firearm named “Old Betsy.” The Tennessee State Assembly presented Crockett with Old Betsy in 1822 for his service to the state. The gun was made by James M. Graham of Franklin County, Kentucky.
10) Daniel Boone’s “Tick Licker”
Daniel Boone is one of the most legendary figures in the history of the American frontier. As a child, Boone was fascinated with nature and became an expert marksman.
After fighting in the French and Indian War, Boone made a living as a hunter and trapper. He and his associates were some of the first white Americans to explore Kentucky prior to it becoming a state and created the Boonesborough settlement.
Daniel Boone protected himself and hunted with a long rifle nicknamed “Tick Licker.” The gun got its name because of Boone’s accuracy. He claimed to be able to shoot ticks off of animals without harming them.
11) Bowie Knife
The Bowie knife is the most famous blade in American history. The knife was originally designed in the 1820s by Rezin Bowie, the brother of Jim Bowie. Rezin’s design was brought to life by a blacksmith named Jesse Clift.
Jim Bowie used the first Bowie knife in an infamous duel called the Sandbar Fight in 1827. Afterwards, the knife gained popularity and blacksmiths rushed to keep up with demand. Many improved upon the original design of the weapon. James Black is a famous blacksmith who is credited with producing some of the earliest knives.
Early Bowie knives looked nothing like the style we think of today. The blades resembled large butcher knives and had no hand guards. They measured 8.5 to 12.5 inches in length.
By the 1850s, the Bowie knife became so popular that knife makers in Sheffield, England began producing the American design and importing it to customers in the Northern and Southern United State. Southerners used Bowies during the Civil War and customized them with Confederate etchings.
The 1850s marked the peak of the Bowie knife’s popularity as an everyday weapon. After the Civil War, the Bowie knife became a hunting knife for most users.
12) Big Bertha
Big Bertha is the name of several large cannons used by the Germans during World War I. The weapons were named after Bertha Krupp, who was the owner of a leading arms company in Germany during this period.
The Germans used four Big Berthas during their invasion of Belgium. The cannons could shoot 800 kilogram shells up to eight miles.
The cannons destroyed major forts in Belgium, allowing the Germans to move swiftly through Belgium towards Paris. It was therefore because of Big Bertha that most of World War I was fought in France.