On Season 9, Episode 20 of Forged in Fire we saw the introduction of the KILIJ, a fascinating piece of weaponry with an illustrious history. The Kilij, also known as a pusat, is an iconic Ottoman-era sword literally meaning “to kill” in Turkish. Popular for its distinguished curve, these swords were carried by Turkish and Mongol armies from the Balkans to the Mongol steppes from the 13th to the 19th century.

The sword originates from deep in the Mongolian mountains where it was used by confederations of nomadic tribes and was a favorite of their cavalry soldiers. As these tribal groups spread to the Middle East and Turkey, their unique sword quickly became popular among the locals. Slaves who served in the Umayyad Caliphate army introduced this weapon throughout many Middle Eastern cultures with the Kilij seeing extensive use for the next several centuries.

With the rise of the Ottoman Empire, the Kilij would become a staple of their military campaigns. This sword was famously carried by the armies Khan Muhammad Uzbek, who stretched the empire of the Golden Horde to its farthest extent. His 300,000-man strong army swept through present-day Russia, Bulgaria, and Ukraine. Carrying this weapon was instrumental in his campaigns and would have made his predecessor Genghis Khan proud.

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The process for crafting this deadly sword involved a process of pattern welding high carbon steel to create strong, nimble blades with their trademark curve. Additionally, the Ottoman method of crafting this sword involved narrowing the blade at the hilt and making it wider near the tip. The inclusion of a widened blade known as a yalman, or a false tip, allowed the sword to have devastating cutting power against opponents.

Elite Ottoman infantry, known as Janissaries, used the Kilij extensively in battle to devastating results. Janissaries were Christian child-slaves from conquered European territories who trained to be the Sultan’s personal elite corps. Armed with their trusty Kilijs, the Janissaries struck a decisive blow to the Order of the Knights Hospitaller during the Battle of Rhodes in 1522.

During the 18th century, the Ottoman Kilij underwent radical changes. The blade was shortened and featured a larger curve allowing for greater mobility and thrusting power. This new design allowed the blade to become stiffer without sacrificing any weight.

Many variations of this sword have popped up over the years as it came into contact with different cultures, each of which adding to or altering it’s design. Civilizations as far as Germany came into contact with the Kilij who subsequently began curving their blades in a similar fashion. During the Napoleonic wars, the French observed this sword being used by the Mamluks in Egypt with deadly results, and promptly adopted the use of the blade among their cavalry officers.

Exposure to the Kilij eventually spread throughout Europe and even further West. After initially receiving a Kilij as a gift from an Ottoman officer during the Barbary Wars, the United States Marine Corps adopted it as their own and incorporated a version of the weapon into the dress uniforms worn by high-ranking officers even today.  While each of the various cultures and armies would uniquely adapt the sword to fit their specific needs, the original silhouette remained largely unchanged.

As is always the case, the advent of modernized armies forced the weapon to be retired from frontline use. On top of that, an 1826 Janissary-led revolt against the Ottoman leader, Sultan Mahmud II, caused the Kilij to become less popular as it was demonized as the chosen weapon of the revolutionaries. Ultimately, the increased secularization of Turkey caused many things from the Ottoman heritage to be virtually erased.

To this day, the Kilij is a staple in museums across the world and can be seen prominently featured as an integral ceremony piece for many armies.

The Kilij is a weapon with ancient roots that has had a lasting impact upon history and armies across the globe. Make sure you watch Season 9 Episode 20 of Forged in Fire to witness the contestants craft their own versions of this iconic design. 

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