The Falchion is a medieval knife design that encorporates a wide, long and fairly straight blade with a curved knifepoint, much akin to the original Bowie Knife designs of the mid 19th Century. Its longer than average length allowed it to serve in the shortsword's stead for the English army and militias and its simple design allowed all men who needed arms to be outfitted with one. It was notably adopted by the English longbowmen as a sidearm to their bows, which they used to great effect on targets ranging from militia to knights.