From time to time MAGWEB (http://www.magweb.com) runs a survey of its many readers. While all the questions and responses are always interesting, I found this question particularly so. If you could "time travel," which single weapon would you choose to bring back to show friends? [Due to the wide ranging answers, we've congregated responses into categories]
"Named" weapons 24.0%
(Greek Fire, Excalibur, Brutus' dagger used to kill Julius Caesar, Sling of David, Spear that pierced Christ's side, The arrow that wounded King Harold at Hastings, Katana of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Alexander's sword, Hannibal's sword, Richard the Lionheart's sword, Achilles' Armor, The musket that slew Nelson at Trafalgar, The Sword of Mars (Attila's sword), Fat Man, Little Boy)
Edged weapons 16.3%
(Roman Pilum, Roman Gladius, A mint condition Rifle Brigade infantry sword from 1870, Heavy cavalry napoleonic blade, Huscarls war axe, Macedonian Sarissa, spear of the Vistula lancers, Ancient Greek Spear, Scimitar of Damascus Steel)
Ranged Gunpowder weapons 13.4%
(Ferguson Rifle, Napoleonic musket, French Napoleonic musket, 12pdr French Napoleonic cannon, arquebus, Gatling Gun, An 88 in the antitank role, Early cannon, Brown Bess, Baker Rifle, Henry Repeating Rifle, Von Dreyse Needle Gun, Some sort of Chinese artillery)
None 6.7%
Bow weapons 6.7%
(Chinese repeating crossbow, English Long Bow, Assyrian bow & arrow (700BC))
Siege Weapons 10.6%
(Trebuchet, Catapult, Balista, Real Trojan Horse, Roman siege works)
Ancient Vehicles 5.8%
(Hittite heavy chariot, Assyrian heavy chariot, Egyptian war chariot, Celtic/Briton chariot, Scythed Chariot)
Modern Vehicles 5.8%
(WWII Tiger Tank, WWII Panther Tank, Abrams Tank, B2 Stealth bomber)
Ships 4.8%
(SMS Derflinger (WWI German Battlecruiser), Bismark, British 74 Gun SoL, Athenian Galley, Athenian Trireme)
"Sci-Fi" 2.9%
(Phased Plasma Rifle, Hand phaser from 2054, 40 watt plasma rifle)
Other 2.9%
(Cuirassier Armor, Roman Legionary, etc.)
Top 10 Weapons
- 1. Greek Fire 5.8%
1. Roman Pilum 5.8%
3. English Long Bow 3.8%
3. Roman Gladius 3.8%
5. Ballista 2.9%
5. Brutus' Dagger 2.9%
5. Excaliber 2.9%
5. Trebuchet 2.9%
9. Catapult 1.9%
9. Chinese Repeating Crossbow 1.9%
9. David's Sling 1.9%
9. Ferguson Rifle 1.9%
9. Scythed Chariot 1.9%
9. Panther Tank 1.9%
9. Tiger Tank 1.9%
9. Trojan Horse 1.9%
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