Thrown weapons. Throwing ax. Throwing knives - photo

Thrown weapons are a type of weapon that can hit an opponent without direct contact with the attacker, that is, at a distance. It is predominantly cold, except for grenades. The action of such weapons is based on the use of gravity, muscular strength, elastic properties of the material or energy of stretched or twisted fibers.

Classification

Cold throwing weapons, depending on its functionality, are divided into three groups.

1. Conditional-throwing. This is a conventional weapon that is not directly intended for throwing, but is adapted to hand-to-hand combat. So, if necessary, it can be used as a missile. For example, a battle ax, a spear or a knife.

2. The classic throwing. These are simple devices that allow, using the principle of lengthening the lever, to increase the power of the jerk and, as a consequence, the range of flight. For example, a sling, a bow, a crossbow, and so on.

Thrown weapons. This includes samples that were developed exclusively for these purposes. As an exception, such weapons can be used in melee combat. For example, throwing knives (photo is given in the article) and daggers, darts, plates, etc. The third group is represented by a great variety, and we will devote this article to it.

Mercury Knife

Mercury throwing knives (photo below) are raised by the myths of the people's wave to perfection. Everyone knows that they fly always with a blade forward. The principle of operation of such weapons is that it is hollow inside the entire length. The cavity is filled with mercury by one third, the air is pumped out. Throw such a knife, holding the handle. At the time of swing, mercury is accelerated by centrifugal force, at the time of release of the weapon, it reaches the end of the cavity near the point. As a result, the blade receives an additional impulse, which stabilizes the flight. Throw such a knife to a distance of 4-5 meters, then it starts to fall. The weapon was not widely used because of its large dimensions and high cost.

East is a delicate matter

In ancient times, too, used throwing knives, but for stabilization used bundles of feathers or rags. The maximum distance of use of such weapons is 8-10 meters. This method was very popular in the East. It was applied to small arrow-blades, which were clamped between the index and thumbs and flung without a coup, with the point forward. They could only be killed if they poisoned their weapons. Arrows used these blades mainly to distract the enemy, they were effective only at short distances. A more serious type of weapon are Chinese throwing darts and forks - these are wooden handles that end with massive tips. Such weapons are not stabilized at all, accuracy of hit depends only on the skill of its owner.

The next species that we will consider will be the throwing weapon of the ninja - plate.

Syaken

Japanese throwing plates are various in size and outwardly similar to stars with divergent razor-rays. Their form is dictated by both functionality and mystical symbols. Throw shakens from a distance of 6-10 meters in the following ways: horizontally from the chest and vertically from the head. Stars depending on the purpose are different in weight and size. Thus, light plates of small diameter are thrown from a distance of 2-4 meters exclusively in the face of the enemy in order to distract attention or cause reflex fright. The biggest stars can be thrown at a distance of 15-20 meters, but the goal should be decent, otherwise the chances of getting will be small. Usually in the middle of the shyaken a hole is made to ensure that the product does not warp during the hardening process.

Chakra

This is the ancient throwing weapon of the Indian Sikhs. It is a steel ring that is sharpened to the edge of the razor by the outer edge. The diameter of such a plate is 12-30 centimeters. The smallest throwing asterisks-chakras are thrown horizontally, clamping between the index and thumbs, first giving them a rotational movement around the axis. Medium-sized chakra before the throw is untwisted on the index finger above the head, and large ones on the index and middle.

African Throwing Knives

This is a very unusual weapon - it is not easy to determine exactly what it looks like. Such a missile projectile is a wide bronze plate, deeply divided into five ends, four of them are honed and sickle-shaped, a short handle is attached to the fifth. In West Africa, such weapons are called "Hunga-Munga", and in the central one - "Gangata". Specialists could not attribute it to any group and decided to call the term "throwing iron". The dimensions of this knife are 30x40 centimeters. It is convenient for throwing, and can also be used as an ax in hand-to-hand combat.

This weapon formed the basis of the design of the Agat knife, which is equipped with army special forces. Its blade consists of three parts, two of which are at the edges, when you press the button open at an angle of 90 degrees relative to the central. The top of the handle is also pointed.

Throwing ax

This weapon was widely used in all parts of the world, but the most famous were tomahawks, which were used by North American Indians. Today, the throwing of such weapons in the United States has become almost a national sport. So, some craftsmen can cut a matchbox from a distance of 8 meters. A special skill is the throwing simultaneously of four axes - two in each hand. In this case, one pair of tomahawks is stuck into the target with the handles down, and the second one up.

Throwing Ax in Russia

In the Far North of our country, the art of throwing axes is also highly valued. Moreover, it even entered the official program of national sports on a par with jumps through cross-established sleds and the throwing of a lasso onto the horns of an animal. True, in Russia there is no combat section for throwing axes, compete solely in throws for range. This is explained by the fact that often there is a situation where hunters find themselves on different banks of the river, and in order not to freeze, they are forced to transfer this "saving" ax to each other. The figures are impressive: 120 meters is no longer a record.

And again tomahawks

However, let's return to tomahawks. This throwing ax has a standard blade in shape: either a hatchet (economic) or a combat "French" (it is also called "espanton"). The modern tomahawk is usually called Vietnamese, as it was developed in 1966 for special forces of the American army, who participated in the war in Vietnam. This weapon has acquired an additional chamfering blade, it is able to break through an iron barrel, in addition, it imparts additional positive propulsive qualities. At close range, the weapons are thrown forward with the butt, as a result, the tomahawk sticks up with the handle. From the middle distances, the ax jerks forward (it makes a full turn), but sticks it with the handle down. For long distances the ax manages to make a half turn, he again rushes forward with his butt, sticking the handle upwards. Each of the distances is selected by trial and error individually.

The same principle is followed by the throwing of a small sapper blade, which is practiced in different countries around the world. Funny is the fact that it is advertised in Western catalogs as a cold weapon of Russian special forces.

Australian boomerang through the eyes of Jules Verne

This is a popular throwing weapon in the whole world. What stories they did not write about the boomerang! In Jules Verne's novel, this throwing projectile flew into a flock of birds, destroying a dozen of them, and then returned to the hands of its master. Even many experts on weapons "bought" on such tales. However, few people think about the fact that hitting the victim, the boomerang will change its initial trajectory, and its further flight is simply impossible to predict.

Real boomerang

It turns out that there are two types of boomerangs - hunting and fighting. All real projectiles of Australia are referred to as a non-refundable species. In fact, this flat throwing club, which during the rotation creates an aerodynamic force, capable of supporting them in the air and allowing you to fly much further. Such a throwing weapon has a direct trajectory of flight. Hunting boomerangs, as a rule, are equable, rather heavy and slightly curved, this contributes to the strengthening of the stopping action. The combat form of this throwing weapon is often equipped with a hilt or hook. The weight of such a boomerang-sword is 0.7-1.2 kg. The most effective distance of its application is 10-12 meters, the maximum distance is 40 meters, although it can fly 180-250 meters. The boomerang-hook, getting into the opponent's shield, clings to it with a hook and strikes the shield.

Returning type can serve as a toy or entertainment - an indispensable attribute for outdoor activities. They were never used in hunting or in combat. The weight of such a missile is 200-300 grams. One blade is slightly longer, due to this during the flight creates a "tipping effect", which constantly floods the boomerang on one side. As a result, he flies in a circular trajectory, and sometimes can describe an eight in which the owner of the toy is at the intersection of circles.

Throwing weapons of Europe

For some reason, speaking of ancient types of missile weapons, they avoid mentioning Europe. Really nothing interesting was invented there? However, curious and noteworthy samples exist there. For example, the Roman craze. This weapon resembles a trident, it has a light handle, the length of which is 40 centimeters. The two men rushed over the head with both hands. In Turkey, a short dagger was used. It was very actively used during the Turkish wars of conquest in Europe. It looks like a blade (15-16 centimeters long), at the end of which there is a load. Another throwing weapon of Europe is the Czech teland of the Hussite War. It was like a wedge, to which the rope was tied on the back. The length of the blade was 50 centimeters, the width was 10 centimeters, and the thickness was 4 centimeters. This projectile was unwound above the head, holding the rope. Telande, launched from a distance of 50 meters, through and through punched forged armor and hit the enemy. The range of flight was 100-200 meters.

Finally

This article lists only a small part of the cold propellant weapons of our planet and made a short digression into the history of ancient civilizations. However, one should not think that this topic is exhausted. After all, you can talk about throwing weapons for a very long time. It should be understood that many samples appeared on the pages of history, and then descended from them. This is due to the fact that often such weapons are created to counteract a specific enemy. A striking example is the Czech teland, which was created to fight knights encased in armor. When the last did not become, this weapon also came to naught. Therefore, in our days, one often only finds references in ancient texts about this or that kind of throwing guns.