WEAPONS

Origin: 1100s

Weight: .5-1 kg

The first truly separate sword that the Muslims wielded was the sabre. This one-handed sword had a slight curve to the blade which allowed it to be swung more fluidly and faster than a simple straight sword. The idea of the curvature to the blade originally came from the heart of Egypt, and following the successes of its construction, the sabre found its way all throughout the Middle East. Particularly, this blade was known for having a slight thickening of the metal towards the tip of the weapon, having a hilt that followed the same curvature as the blade, and little to no pommel. The lighter and more sophisticated cousin to the sabre was the scimitar. This newly employed design allowed the more versatile blade to be used even from horseback. Often time the blades were even given a bit of flexibility so that could "bend" while fighting. It was due to the quickness and bending ability of the scimitar that it could be considered more effective than the Crusader's counterpart.

Origin: 1200s

Weight: 2 oz

This discrete handheld weapon was crafted in imitation to the claws of the ferocious beast in which it draws its name: Tiger Claws. Four wicked claws stuck out of a piece of metal, and could be fitted into the fist with two holes for fingers. This was as much a weapon of surprise as it was a tool of last resort, for it couldn’t likely parry a sword with much success. Instead, the Tiger Claw relied upon being unexpected by an opponent, and raking havoc with its sharp points. Originating from India, this specialized weapon gained popularity within the Muslim Crusader's movement, for its stealth and simplicity. A set of tiger claws could even be fashioned with relatively little knowledge of blacksmithing techniques, and because of this, they saw widespread use.