Khopesh Swords

The khopesh is the sickle sword of Bronze Age Egypt and the Near East. It appears in Mesopotamia around 2500 BC, reaches Egypt by the Middle Kingdom, and by the New Kingdom it is the weapon pharaohs are shown holding on temple walls. Two were buried with Tutankhamun. The shape grew out of the epsilon axe rather than the straight sword: a hooked blade on a long grip, sharpened along the outer edge of the curve, with the mass carried forward in the hook. Of all the ancient blades, it is the one whose silhouette needs no introduction.

Our khopesh swords are hand forged in 1095 high carbon or pattern-welded Damascus steel, 24 inches overall. Steel, hardness and dimensions are stated on each listing.

Choosing a khopesh

Steel

1095 is the traditional monosteel, typically finishing around 56 to 58 HRC, and takes a satin or antiqued finish that suits a Bronze Age shape well. Damascus is layered high carbon steel forged and folded so the pattern runs through the hook and along the straight section behind it, and the pattern reads differently on a curved blade than on a straight one. Both are high carbon steels and both want to be kept clean, dry and lightly oiled.

Edge

The historical khopesh was sharpened on the outside of the curve, the opposite of a scimitar, and ours follow that convention. The inside of the hook is left unsharpened, as on the originals.

Display

At 24 inches the khopesh sits comfortably on a single wall mount or a short sword stand, and the hooked profile makes it one of the more striking shapes to hang. The khopesh guide covers the history in more depth, and the Greek and Roman collections hold the other ancient Mediterranean blades.

Frequently asked questions

What is a khopesh?
A khopesh is an ancient Egyptian sickle sword with a hooked, single-edged blade sharpened on the outer curve. It was in use from roughly 2500 BC to around 1300 BC and remained a ceremonial symbol of royal authority after that.

Is a khopesh a sword or an axe?
It sits between the two. The khopesh descended from the crescent-bladed epsilon axe, and early examples were cast in bronze as a single piece with the grip. By the New Kingdom it was carried and depicted as a sword.

How long is a khopesh?
Surviving examples run roughly 50 to 60 cm. Ours are 24 inches overall, which is at the longer end of the historical range.

Which edge is sharp?
The outer edge of the curve. The inner edge of the hook is not sharpened.

Are these sharpened?
Each listing states how that piece is finished. The steel is hardened either way.

Can a khopesh be engraved?
Yes. Blade engraving and etching are done in our Illinois workshop. See the engraving options on each listing.