Zhanmadao

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Zhanmadao
Type	Infantry Anti-Cavalry Saber
Place of origin	Song Dynasty, China
Production history
Variants	Possible Changdao Miao dao Wodao Zanbato
Specifications
Length	Approx 150cm
Blade length	Approx 120cm

Blade type	Single edged, straight for most of the length, curving in the last third.
Hilt type	Two handed

The zhanmadao (斬馬刀) (zhǎn mǎ dāo) (lit. chopping horse saber) was a Chinese sword of the Song Dynasty.

Dating to 1027, it was used as an anti-cavalry weapon. Surviving examples include a sword that might resemble a nagamaki in construction; it had a wrapped handle 37 cm long making it easy to grip with two hands. The blade was 114 cm long and very straight with a slight curve in the last half.

Possible variations of these Chinese swords were the changdao, miao dao, and wodao.

The sword may have been the inspiration for the Zanbatō (if it ever existed) as, both have been said to have been used for killing the horse and rider in one swing.

Most likely, the Zanbato is just a mis-drawing of the Zhanmadao when it was poorly drawn or translated by Japanese travelers who saw the sword in action.

In the Western world, swords of an equivalent size may have been used to batter into formations of pikemen or to cut out the front legs of a galloping horse - though the historical accuracy of this information is also a matter of debate. See Bihänder.