Questions on historical weapons, their use and significance.
26
votes
7answers
1k views
When were swords last used in European warfare?
Specifically, I'm interested in the last documented occurrence of swords (of any sort) being used as a primary weapon by infantrymen or cavalrymen in Western warfare. That is, when did any European or ...
20
votes
1answer
232 views
Did Archery evolve independently on separate continents?
Is there evidence that early civilizations across the world discovered archery independently from one another (like Native Americans, Europeans and Africans)? Or can the technology be traced back to a ...
16
votes
1answer
2k views
Did World War II-era bombs actually whistle?
In WWII-era films and newsreels, aerial bombs are often shown making a whistling sound as they fall; starting high pitched, then decreasing as the bomb approaches the Earth (example here, starting at ...
15
votes
1answer
198 views
How was armour rusting in the rain handled throughout history?
Various sources (ex) state as one of the biggest advantages of non-metal armours, that they did not rust in the rain.
However, a knight would have a squire to clean and oil his armour every evening. ...
14
votes
5answers
332 views
What was “Greek fire”?
What was Greek fire?
I read in my history book that it was a flamethrower. But in certain fantasy movies it's been portrayed as something similar to dynamite. What was it dynamite or what? Did it ...
14
votes
2answers
700 views
When did steel first appear? [closed]
When in history do we first have record of steel being used as a material? I am also interested in both its initial purpose and when it was first used in weapon making.
12
votes
1answer
110 views
What percentage of the population in the “Old West” actually carried handguns?
I'm hoping cenus information and historical gun manufacturing records make this an answerable question. What percentage of the population in the Old West actually carried handguns? Was it a minority ...
11
votes
5answers
302 views
Are modern handguns a major reason for democratization?
I had a history teacher who argued that a major reason for the fall of the feudal system, was that the knights lost their military superiority because of development in weapon technology (longbow, ...
11
votes
2answers
250 views
In the Medieval period, how long would an average swordsmith need to forge an average sword?
Based on this question over in RPG, I'm trying to figure out how long it took to forge a sword in the Medieval/Renaissance smith to make swords. I am recalling a figure of about 9-12 months per ...
10
votes
3answers
168 views
Was there any separation between hunting bow technology and weapon bows?
Was there a clear trend throughout early history (say, before 1300 for Europe) to have (or ot have) separate technologies/materials for bows and arrows for hunting purposes, and same-period ...
10
votes
3answers
195 views
Why did Chinese use high tin bronze for swords?
Also unique for Chinese bronzes is the consistent use of high tin bronze (17–21% tin) which is very hard and breaks if stressed too far, whereas other cultures preferred lower tin bronze (usually ...
10
votes
1answer
311 views
What was the first successful mass tank battle of WW1?
What was the first big scale (over 50 tanks used) battle with the use of tanks in WW1?
Please note that the typical examples don't constitute good answer:
Battle of Flers-Courcelette (Somme) was ...
9
votes
2answers
251 views
Is there any historical evidence of boiling oil being poured on attackers?
A typical modern scenario of the medieval siege was the throwing of oil on the attackers from ramparts. Oil was really expensive so why waste it on attackers? Most commonly the items thrown were ...
9
votes
1answer
131 views
Who was the first military force to use teppo (guns) in mass battles during the Sengoku-jidai?
Oba used guns to great efficency against the Takeda clan but which war lord (or faction) used them for the first time? I seem to recall that some of the shoei order had access to firearms and that is ...
9
votes
4answers
171 views
Were there bows employed by tribes living in the desert, and if so, what were they made of?
For tribes that inhabited desert areas (e.g. Arabian Peninsula, Sahara, etc...), there seems to have been a problem: a good bow would likely require materials that would be hard to come by in the ...
8
votes
4answers
268 views
Why did the Germans fall behind the Americans in the development of the atomic bomb after an initial lead?
I actually know certain facts about this matter, but am seeking guidance in interpreting these facts into "theories."
1) Theory 1, Economic: The Americans spent something like $2 billion (in money of ...
8
votes
4answers
404 views
At the end of WWII, were nazis working on any other super weapon besides V-2?
At the end of WWII, were nazis working on anything else besides V-2? If so, what was it, how close was it to completion, and could it potentially turn the events around for them?
8
votes
3answers
150 views
How far could an English war bow shoot?
The range of the medieval weapon is not accurately known, with estimates from 165 to 228 m (180 to 249 yds)
So says Wikipedia. I did read, however, in a semi-fictional, semi-historical work of ...
8
votes
2answers
188 views
What was the first recorded use of Aerial Weapons in warfare?
Fighter planes were popularised by their extensive use in WWI. What Aerial weapons were used before that period (if any)? What is earliest recorded use of Aerial Attacking and what was the technology ...
8
votes
2answers
259 views
What was the first battle in history fought by vast-majority-% “distance-shooting” non-mechanized force?
Historically, armies usually had a balance between warriors with projectile weapons (bows/guns) and close combat edged weapons (sword/pike/axe etc...).
This was necessary because ranged weapons of ...
8
votes
1answer
163 views
Who started the “katana is the soul of the Samurai” meme?
Samurai used to be defined by their ability to use horses and bows in the early history of Japan. This moved to using the sword, first tachi then katana. Within the Tokugawa period, the katana ...
7
votes
2answers
215 views
Why did the United States not seriously develop Anti Aircraft Missiles?
During the Cold War, the United States did not seem to actively develop anti-aircraft missiles
(I know that Wikipedia is not an exhaustive source for lists, but just as a rough estimate, they list ...
7
votes
2answers
372 views
How were dagger axes used in battle?
During the Chinese warring states, weapons knowns as dagger axes were used and there is a wide body of evidence that those were common at one time -- so so I believe. Is there any record of fighting ...
7
votes
1answer
289 views
Samurai, Damascus, and Toledo Steel
Has a comparison been made of the qualities of Samurai (Tamahagane), Damascus and Toledo steel (rather than the swords)? I've seen claims for each being better than the others.
If it's on topic, I'm ...
7
votes
1answer
437 views
What kind of siege weapons were used during Punic wars
I would like to know which kind of siege weapons were used during Punic wars on both sides, there is not wery much information around.
6
votes
1answer
158 views
Did Roman military require uniform weapons?
It seems to me that weapons were quite expensive in ancient world. At the same time there could be much of captured and imported weapons available. So did the Roman military prohibit use of captured ...
6
votes
1answer
359 views
What types of weapons did the British army use in the late 1890's?
I am particularly interested in the types of rifles that troops serving in Africa would use, especially during the 1890's. Did they have any kind of repeating rifles, or were they still using single ...
6
votes
1answer
122 views
How was Hitler able to rearm?
It seems that Germany must've been under incredible scrutiny especially by the British.
How was Hitler able to rearm?
Please provide specifics on personnel and weapons classes.
6
votes
1answer
121 views
Is there any evidence for dual-wielding in the 12th Century?
To settle an office debate - I was wondering if there was any evidence for any soldier or knight in the 12th Century using two weapons at once - for instance, if a shield was dropped or wasn't ...
6
votes
1answer
105 views
What was involved in “grounding arms?”
This practice appeared NOT to have been common in the twentieth century, with long-ranged, and "repeating" weapons. But prior to the nineteenth century, it was apparently a form of surrender.
What ...
5
votes
2answers
433 views
What effect did tanks have on warfare strategies upon their introduction?
After the introduction of the tank in WW1, what effect did their introduction have on how battles were carried out, and strategies were formulated?
5
votes
1answer
129 views
When did blade fuller appear?
A fuller is the rounded or beveled groove or slot in the flat side of a blade which make the blade lighter -- not as some suggest a blood groove. When did the practice start? I suspect it was a ...
4
votes
5answers
368 views
Which arm was the shield held in?
I'm asking a question elsewhere and I'm sure I've heard some historical text to back this up as well as sound reasoning: you want your strongest arm to stop yourself from getting killed by using a ...
4
votes
2answers
4k views
Number of bullets used in WW2
I have wondered if there are any estimates on the number of bullets used in World War 2. I have thought about the question but cannot even get a plausible attack strategy.
4
votes
1answer
195 views
Who said that Saddam Hussein had WMDs?
To be more specific:
Who said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction in 2003?
By "weapons of mass destruction", I mean atomic, biological, or chemical weapons.
I'm looking for official ...
4
votes
1answer
123 views
Mexico has the right to possess firearms? [closed]
I have lived and grown up in Mexico for most of my life. I have always known firearms to be illegal here, as well as everyone I know. But just today, I came across this article on Wikipedia, (Gun ...
4
votes
1answer
100 views
Machine gun specs in WW1
I know that machine guns were a vital part of world war 1. I know that they were mainly used in the trenches as fixed position weapons. However, I would like some specifications about the machine gun ...
4
votes
2answers
120 views
Breakdown of casualty causes in American Civil War
What was the general breakdown of casualties per their cause during American Civil War?
E.g. bullets vs. artillery vs. edged weapons vs. disease vs. natural death.
Did that breakdown change in ...
4
votes
1answer
82 views
Explosive Ordinance Yield Over History
I'm writing an essay, and one of the elements of it has to do with the development of military technology throughout history. I've noticed that there is a quickly increasing and disturbing trend in ...
3
votes
2answers
377 views
Were there biological weapons used in WW1?
WW1 was, among other things, the first war where chemical weapons were used on massive scale.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_weapons_in_World_War_I
However, I never heard of any mention of ...
3
votes
0answers
50 views
How many firearms were owned by civilian population between 1836 and 1912 in USA?
How many firearms in total were owned by civilian population between 1836 and 1912 in USA (cumulatively, not simultaneously)?
The timeframe is what I would consider "Old West" timeframe, but starting ...
