They almost always included a single edge with a slight curve on the blade towards the point on the end and most were also affixed with a quilloned crossguard for the hilt in the manner of the contemporary arming swords.

[1] A number of weapons similar to the falchion existed in Western Europe, including the Messer, hanger and the backsword.

These have a falchion-like blade mounted on a wooden shaft 1–2 ft (30–61 cm) long, sometimes ending in a curve like an umbrella.

[6] Produced by bladesmith and historian James Elmslie, this typology continuously seeks to systematically classify medieval single edged swords, similar to the way Oakeshott typology addresses double edged swords of the same period.

[7] Currently, there are fewer than 30 confirmed surviving medieval falchions, contrasted with the thousands of straight double edged swords from the same period.

Unlike Central European messers, and smaller fighting knives such as tesak which could be of very crude construction and at times were popular among the peasantry, surviving Falchions display high levels of craftsmanship, oftentimes with intricately decorated pommels of bronze, and may feature inscribed blades of latten.