Vietnamese Luc Lang Gian

By Crusader1307

The Vietnamese Luc Lang Gian, was a 6^th Century AD was a Class of ''Shock Weapon'' (Gian) used by Infantry Troops. Known in Western Culture as ''Sword Breakers'', unlike European Models which incorporated a blade catch (notched extension), at the Hilt, The Luc Lang Gian was not classed as a Sword. Wielded as such, they were made of iron and featured a hexagonal shaped ''blade''. This was affixed to a Handle. Various design patterns were used. The Gian was used to literally smash an Enemies Sword blade or at best damage them beyond usage. On average, a Gian could weight up to 5-lbs. And were roughly 30 to 40-inches in length. Specialized Companies would be fielded ahead of Regular Troops, with the goal of ''breaking up'' an Infantry Charge (the use of a variety of Swords were common in Medieval Southeast Asian Armies). Only the ''largest and strongest'' Soldiers were selected for such activities. In this, The Gian could be seen as much of a ''psychological weapon'' as any. Traditionally, Gian ''blades'' were not sharpened or had an edge. These were not seen as Fighting blades. This being said, later in the 8^th Century AD, some Gian were sharpened at their ''tip'' and used as a thrusting device. The Gian Class of weapons were not used much past the 16^th Century and the inception of primitive forearms.