Cut-and-thrust weapons, with hilts, form the class, including sabers, swords, rapiers, claymores, and their congeners. When fastened to the end of a shaft or handle, they are halberts or Japanese long swords ; when throw^n from the hand, they branch out into the large class of African trumbases and throwing irons. The cut-and- thrust series here shown begins with a natural object, pointed and capable of slashing, and proceeds along the road of progress in ways suggested in this exhibit. The saber has but one edge, the back being thick and strong. The sword is the perfection of this type of weapons, having two edges and a point. The saber cuts flesh and blood vessels, and in its modern form with its dull edge also makes ugly bruises, and so comes into the category of bruising weapons. The sword is for piercing, cutting, and even for breaking bones, and in its largest form is used with both hands. Burton regards it as the most exalted weapon in single combats.

No. 1. Flakes of obsidian and flint suitable for slashing. Mexico_ 35,159, 149,866

No. 2. Beautifully chipped blade, both edges sharpened and both ends pointed.

Kentucky. May have had fur wrapped around one end to form a

grip 2,407

No. 3. Sharks'-teeth slashing weapon, in which a wooden blade has sharks' teeth sewed close together on both edges. Gilbert Islands. Coco- nut-fiber armor coexists with weapons of this class — 3,697, 178,064

22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL, MUSEUM. Vol.60.

No. 4. Copper blades for slashing, with grip, tang, or socket for hafting. Illinois, Greece, and Italy 7,535

No. 5. Boarding blade turned into a slashing weapon by wrapping the tang with split spruce root. Eskimos, Mackenzie River 2,077

No. 6. Slashing weapon, Malay blade, razor-shaped ; tang driven into the end of the hilt. The latter is octagonal in section at the butt, curved, tapering forward, and ornamented with hair and basket work in bamboo 154,130

No. 7. Nepaul sword (kookri) with curved, leaf -shaped blade, thick on the back and chisel-edged ; hilt of wood, fitting close to the blade, which has a shoulder on the tang ; sword breaker on the blade near the tang. India 126,691

No. 8. Cutlass or machete. Blade of steel, thin, wide, curved at the end, double grooved at the back ; tang flat, riveted between two pieces of carved wood to form the grip 151,162

No. 9. Japanese saber with nearly straight blade, pentagonal in section ; grip of wood, with brass cap and ferrule and ornamented with knotted leather thong; guard against thrust.

No. 10. Cutlass. Straight two-edged blade ; brass hilt, with guard. American Navy.

No. 11. Bronze sword. Blade long, leaf-shaped, and grooved, inserted into hilt piece and riveted ; grip ridged ; pommel adorned with open work. Roman.

No. 12. Gaboon sword, West Central Africa. Blade short, leaf -shaped, slightly ribbed, finely chased, and punched at inner end. This portion is fur- nished with sword-breaking attachment. Hilt elaborately adorned with wirework 164,912

No. 13. Chinese sword. Blade tapering slightly, point angular, shoulder of chased brass, covering the end of the scabbard ; grip of bone, fluted ;