Scimitar

Scimitars differed from European sabers mainly in their finish, hilt, and sheath (the sheath top preventing from hitting stirrup was longer up to the front edge of a sheath; a sheath itself was springy when drawing out the scimitar, and was often finished with fish or shagreen leather). There were many oriental craftsmen who made perfect scimitar blades. This weapon was valued all over the world. For instance, craftsmen of the Damascus City were never surpassed by their European colleagues. They kept the secret of the steel making technology brought from India and handed it down from a father to a son only. Their product called damask steel became synonymous to a blade in many languages. Like European sabers, scimitars were intended for chopping, not thrusting. Unlike a sword, a scimitar had a curved blade. Weapons with straight blades can chop up solids, but their capability for penetrating tissues is low. A curved blade cuts tissues rather than chops them, and penetrates deep inside. Scimitars were prevalent in the East, where not only cavalry but also officers and irregular forces were armed with them.