Kisten - what is it? Flexible-jointed cold steel: description, application

Kisten - what is it? It is a medieval weapon that was used to pinpoint the protection of heavy infantry armor and equestrian riders. In the standard configuration, it had the form of a pole or a stick, to which was attached a belt or chain with a shock element at the end.

The etymology of the concept

According to the researchers, the name of the brush, the photo of which is presented in this material, was obtained from the word "brush". It was on this part of the hand that the strap that held the weapon was fixed. It is also believed that the kisteni received its name from the Turkic definition kistän, which means "club" or "mace".

A short excursion into the history

To this day, it is not exactly established when the kisten appeared. The earliest finds speak only of the fact that the medieval European variety of weapons was derived from the products used by nomadic tribes who came to this part of the world from the southeast.

On domestic expanses kisteni were first found on the Don. According to the results of the research, their age is from the 4th to the 9th century. It was at this time that such weapons were widely spread throughout the territory of Ancient Rus.

Initially, the kisten, a photo of which can be seen in this section, was completed with a bone weighting. However, in view of the increase in military armor, later on such a decision was rejected in favor of metal weights.

Kisteni spread quite quickly over the territory of the medieval states of Europe and Asia. The reason for this was their high efficiency in the conduct of close combat. Kisten served as an ideal means for breaking through metal helmets and armor, as it had a high lethal force, which was achieved due to inertial acceleration of the metal impactor on the swing.

Kisten in modern times

Wide distribution of the battle chain was on the border of the XIX-XX centuries among the people associated with crime. The weapons used by the criminals had a somewhat simplified design, which included a wooden or metal holder, a flexible cord and an arbitrary weighting weigher. As the latter, a heavy nut was most often used. To this day, as for example, forensic experts, forensics classify homemade impact weapons with flexible construction, the end of which contains a weight or a metal cap.

It is noteworthy that this type of military chain is practically not of interest to people who are engaged in historical reconstruction. The blame for all is the impressive punching power of such weapons, its unpredictability and the highest traumatic danger. According to the above reasons, the use of kisteni during demonstration battles is fraught with problems with representatives of law enforcement agencies.

Structure

In ancient times the weight of the weapon was from 200 to 500 g. A small mass made it convenient for the application of lightning-aimed impact. Length along with the chain and handle was about one meter. However, in the folded state, such a battle chain was rather compact. The impactor contained a through hole, which served to connect it to a chain, belt or rope.

Flexible-jointed cold steel of this type usually had a decorative finish in the area of the handle. Here figured carving, various signs of difference, mythological images, etc. were put. Among the most common motifs are plant and animal drawings.

Basic Types

Historians distinguish several varieties of kisteneys:

• With an egg-shaped impact element and a loop at the end for a complete strap or rope;
• With a pear-shaped or globular weighting;
• With small and large protuberances on the shock;
• With the weight of a flattened form decorated with ornaments, inscriptions, relief images;
• With a cube-shaped weighting agent;
• With a shock element containing spikes of different lengths.

Application

Kisten - what is it and how was it used? Weapons of such a plan were used mainly when the need to break through the protection of heavy infantry. Since the handles here differed in an insignificant length and were turned out of wood, such products could only be used for attack. Therefore, the soldiers who preferred the kitten, necessarily equipped with massive shields and clothed the body in armor.

The fighting kisten particularly suited the light horse riders. In the case of skillful handling of such weapons, cavalrymen were able to make quick raids on the enemy, breaking through helmets and protection elements. Due to the composite flexible design of the product of this plan proved to be effective when it was necessary to strike at the enemy.

Kisten - a weapon that gave the skilful warrior many advantages over the enemy. For example, the compound design allowed to disarm the enemy, which held the blade, ax or spear. Among other things, it was extremely difficult to defend against the lightning blows of the kisten.

One of the main shortcomings of the combat chain with the weighting agent was the difficulty of conducting combat in a tight formation, since an aimed attack on the enemy required the execution of a swing. In such conditions, there was a high risk of damage to the Allies.

How to make a handshake?

Kisten is a weapon that has a fairly simple design. Therefore, his own hand-making with imagination is not difficult. As the most simple variant, you can use an ordinary leather strap, the end of which contains a metal buckle or lock. An alternative to this decision can serve as a studded dog collar.

Considering the kisten (what it is and how it is applied), it is worth paying attention to the possibility of using a keychain as a weight. The latter can be connected with a cable or chain by means of a carbine or a ring.

Another option is to use a stick with a braided decorative cord attached to it. The end of such weapons can be completed with a loop on the carbine, which will be fastened to the belt and hold it on the wrist during the fight. As a weighting agent, you can use a heavy key chain, nut, spoon, other improvised means.

Kisten is simple enough to make out of a normal towel. It is enough to tighten it tightly, first rolling in the middle of a billiard ball. Replacement for such a weighting agent can serve as a round stone.

As you can see, it's not a problem to make a kisten with your own hands. The main thing is to learn how to handle it properly, in order to avoid accidental injury to others and yourself.

Finally

So we figured out what kind it was, when it was used, how the kisten was used, what it is. Finally, it should be noted that with the advent of firearms, this type of products began to be used less and less in combat. Despite this, such adaptations nevertheless retained the status of self-defense means for merchants, travelers. Such weapons continued to be used in small conflicts, in particular, by rebellious peasants, members of insurgent armies. Even today, the usual mace or rubber hose with a nut or bolt at the end is classified by law enforcement as a kisten.