Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. Tweet Share Google+ Pinterest . (2012). When wielded one-handed, they can be paired with a shield for extra defense. Some of the earliest swords seemingly designed for two handed use are the Grete Swords of War of the 13th C. These are referred to by a variety of names and include Langschwert, spadone or spada longa, grootzwaard, pe btarde, and bastard sword. 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. First quarter of the 9th c. A.D. (Stuttgart: Wurt. This hand-and-half sword has a sharpened, darkened 1065 high carbon steel blade with an extra-wide tang. [citation needed]. Shes particularly interested in the rise and fall of empires, accounts of war and conquest, and ancient and classical history. This hand-and-a-half sword is based on several historical originals. This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:56. The Blunted Blade is made from hardened spring steel with a full tang construction. The medieval longsword could include the earlier grete war swords, hand-and-a-half or bastard swords, and estocs. The two terms are largely equivalent to "unarmoured fighting" (blossfechten) and "armoured fencing" (fechten im harnisch). Apparently, many swords were designed for left-hand use, although left-handed swords have been described as "a rarity".[12]. Similarly, strong strikes could cut through skin and bone, effectively amputating limbs. Also, the hand on the blade increases its rigidity which is advantageous when thrusting. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. The longsword was a quick, effective, and versatile weapon capable of deadly thrusts, slices, and cuts. Total Length: 1060mm; Blade Length: 790mm ; Hilt Length: 270mm ; Guard Width: 255mm ; Total Weight: 765g; View All Close. germ. 452. Some of the heavier normal size swords that I looked out were the single handed wide blade cut and thrust swords like the Munich town guard swords. With broad blade double-edged over half its length to the reinforced point and with pierced central fuller bordered by incised lines on each side and interrupted by small circular piercings, long ricasso in two stages with pierced and fluted fullers en suite . For example, 'longsword' is related to the German 'langshwert', and 'bastard sword' from the French 'pe btarde',but they all refer to the same basic form, a double edged sword with a grip large enough to be used with two hands. Posted by Will Cruse on 23rd Oct 2022 Cool and does the job. [19], What is known of combat with the longsword comes from artistic depictions of battle from manuscripts and the Fechtbcher of Medieval and Renaissance Masters. These swords are distinctly made for use in one or two hands and have the grip length and reach to be used as longswords as described in the material fromthe Liechtenauer tradition and Fiore de Libre. Their defining characteristics is that they have three fullers, a shallow central fuller running along half the blade's length, with two shallow parallel fullers along the first quarter. The hand-and-a-half sword was a balanced weapon that enabled one to use it with one or both hands. Its French name pe btarde implies a sword of uncertain origin or an irregular sword. Use of the two-handed Great Sword or Schlachtschwert by infantry (as opposed to their use as a weapon of mounted and fully armoured knights) seems to have originated with the Swiss in the 14th century. The term "hand-and-a-half" have originated due to the fact that the sword was designed for both one and two-handed use, not because one and a half hands are needed to wield it. This was the most common longsword up to the late 13th century CE. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a double edged knife. SWORD, late 14th century, . These swords were what we today call a "Hand and a Half" sword, or rather swords that can be utilized for either one-handed or two-handed use. However, the grete war sword should not be confused with the extremely large great swords of the Renaissance that required the use of two hands. The hands and forearms are a frequent target of some cuts and slices in a defensive or offensive manoeuvre, serving both to disable an opponent and align the swordsman and his weapon for the next attack. Hilt length: 34 cm (13 3/8") Pommel Length: 6.2 cm (2 7/16 in.) The French pe de passot was also known as pe btarde[citation needed] (i.e., bastard sword) and also coustille croix[23] (literally a cross-hilted blade). "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. If a warrior was facing archers, for instance, he may wield the hand-and-a-half sword with one hand while using his other hand to hold a shield. The name hand-and-a-half is not a historical term. 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter. A longsword, hand and a half sword or bastard sword is a long, symmetrical sword with a cruciform (cross-shaped) hilt, and a double-edged blade tapered to a sharp point for thrusting. Its handle featured a waisted shape, tapering towards shorter, thinner half-grips. $225.00. Traditional vs Modern Differential Hardening for Swords. [24] The pe de passot was the sidearm of the franc-archers (French or Breton bowmen of the 15th and 16th centuries). Many different swords fall into this category and many of them are as maneuverable as they are surprisingly sturdy. 20-30 Inches (1) 30-40 Inches (6) 40-50 Inches (35) 50-60 Inches (2 . Two-Hander Longsword DJ Combat Two-Hander Longsword (2 reviews) Write a Review SKU: DD-W-206 $110.00 Quantity: Description Specifications Made from polypropylene. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. It was through students of Liechtenauer, like Sigmund Ringeck, who transcribed the work into more understandable prose[20] that the system became notably more codified and understandable. In later usage, 'cutlass' referred to the short naval boarding sabre. [17][18] Use of the longsword in attack was not limited only to use of the blade, however, as several Fechtbcher explain and depict use of the pommel and cross as offensive weapons. Dao are single-edged Chinese swords, primarily used for slashing and chopping. Grip: hand-and-half to two hand length, 6" to 10" Average Weight: Primary purpose: cutting Period: Great Sword or War Sword, in use from middle of the 13th c to the latter half of the 14th Sub-Type XIIIb Profile: broad, flat and parallel edges Cross-section: lenticular Average Blade Length: 35" As an example, the Type XIX blade cross section are not as common as they seem to be in the surviving historical examples, and the tuck style blade is rarely seen at all in modern production and is often only done as a custom order. An Italian Two-Hand Sword First Half Of The 16th Century. A hand-and-a-half sword is a weapon either with a flat blade or with diamond or lenticular cross-section that's between 22 to 30 inches. Codified systems of fighting with the longsword existed from the later 14th century, with a variety of styles and teachers each providing a slightly different take on the art. Rather, it's intended to be used with either one hand or both, depending on the user's preferences and the circumstances in which he or she is using it. In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as the broadsword.[36][37]. Type XVa is the classical two-handed sword of the 14th and 15th centuries (with early examples appearing from the later 13th century). There is a wide assortment of Kris swords styles to choose from as each island, region, clan, or school has its own favorite with some putting more emphasis on cutting while others favor styles more conducive for thrusting. A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for primarily two-handed use (around 15 to 30 cm or 6 to 12 in), a straight double-edged blade of around 80 to 110 cm (31 to 43 in), and weighing approximately 1 to 1.5 kg (2 lb 3 oz to 3 lb 5 oz).. Historical terms (15th to 16th century) for this type of sword included the Italian spada longa (lunga) and French pe longue. Perhaps. Type XVII is a shorter-lived type, popular during the mid-14th to early 15th century. 750-1050)-language text, Articles containing Russian-language text, Articles containing Hungarian-language text, Articles containing Ukrainian-language text, Articles containing Turkish-language text, Articles containing Persian-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 20 December 2022, at 11:53. [8] In southern Germany, it persisted into the 1560s, but its use also declined during the second half of the 16th century. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with . The weapon may be held with one hand during disarmament or grappling techniques. What's in a name? The 1410 manuscript by Fiore dei Liberi presents a variety of uses for the longsword. Grip Length: 7.5 inches; Overall Length: 46.5 inches; Blade thickness (base): 4.6 mm; Blade thickness (1" from tip): 3.0 mm; Guard Width: 10 inches; The scimitar (French cimeterre, Italian scimitarra) is a type of saber that came to refer in general to any sabre used by the Turks or Ottomans (kilic), Persians (shamshir) and more specifically the Stradioti[58] (Albanian and Greek mercenaries who fought in the French-Italian Wars and were employed throughout Western Europe). Some had straight or curved quillons (arms of the crossguard), side rings, finger rings, and loop-back guards. Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. This is especially the case for weapons from antiquity, made before the development of high quality steel that is necessary for longer swords, in particular: Oversized two-handers used as parade swords or ceremonial weapons often exceeded the length and weight of practical weapons of war. This probably represents the differing tastes of current sword buyers from those of the Middle Ages. It was "[a sword] which was neither French, nor Spanish, nor properly Landsknecht [German], but longer than any of these sturdy swords. Overall 39 inches. Others also had knuckle guards, particularly the Swiss style. These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. In medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. The term "rapier" appeared in the English lexicon via the French pe rapire which either compared the weapon to a rasp or file; it may be a corruption of "rasping sword"[38] which referred to the sound the blade makes[39] when it comes into contact with another blade. Overall Length: 45.5" Blade Length: 33.50" Handle Material: Wood Covered in Leather, Black Carry System: Wood Scabbard Covered in Leather, Black This item is not for sale in some specific zip codes Frequently bought together + + Total price: Product Description The majority of these elongated weapons were designed for agility, precision and rapid thrusting blows to exploit gaps in the enemy's defences; the major joints of the arms, the opening in a visor. [5]:130 These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. Pal. By the 15th century, larger and heavier swords had been developed, including the 'Bastard' or 'Hand-and-a-half' sword. Sign up for our mailing-list and be alerted to new products, special sales, limited product availability, and more. The term hand-and-a-half or bastard sword became a label to denote the later manifestations of these war swords or longswords. Factory SecondsLoose Cross Guard, Tight Fit in Scabbard Based on a Medieval European Hand and Half, or "Bastard" sword, with stainless steel cross guard and wheel pommel. To overcome this problem, swords began to be used primarily for thrusting. It's typically used as an intermediate weapon for those learning how to use a real longsword. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). HEMA practitioners also use steel swords with unsharpened blades designed to bend in the thrust. German Bastard or Hand-And -A-Half Sword, early 16th century with long slender tapering double-edged blade of flattened diamond section, hilt comprising arched quillons with swelling tips of flat triangular section, side-ring en suite and with fluted tips where they join the quillons, and inner bar of circular section bent down and made in one with the downcurved arm, associated fluted fig . [10] It is also used as a possible gloss of the obscure term tonsword by Nares (1822);[11] "one-handed sword" is somewhat later, recorded from c. 1850. The later hardened plate armours, complete with ridges and roping, posed a threat against the careless attacker. The earlier flatter blade types could not chop through plate armor, and its thin tip would only glance off instead of puncturing it. The evolution of the large swords of war into the Knightly longsword can first be seen as a distinct group in the swords of Oakeshotts Type XIIa and XIIIa. The grete war sword, also called epee de guerre or great sword, was an earlier type of longsword used throughout most of western Europe. Sponsored. [25], The "Masters of Defence" competition organised by Henry VIII in July 1540 listed[26] "two hande sworde", "bastard sworde", and "longe sworde" as separate items (as it should in Joseph Swetnam's context). Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. The variety of longswords that have survived are diverse and it is obvious that personal preference and intended use where important factors in what a warrior of the period would choose to use. (J. L. Forgeng, Trans.). If wielded in one hand, the hand-and-a-half sword functioned similarly to an arming sword, though its balance would be slightly different. Important sources for rapier fencing include the Italian Bolognese group, with early representatives such as Antonio . [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. Most were better suited for thrusting, but others were also designed for more cutting. The backsword reached its greatest use in the 17th and 18th century when many cavalry swords, such as the British 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword, were of this form. The hand-and-a-half swords optimized the combination of reach, maneuverability, and weight. Honshu Damascus Broadsword With Sheath - Damascus Steel Blade, TPR Handle, Stainless Steel Pommel - Length 43 1/2". A rapier (/ r e p i r /) or espada ropera is a type of sword with a slender and sharply-pointed two-edged blade that was popular in Western Europe, both for civilian use (dueling and self-defense) and as a military side arm, throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.. They run 3 pounds plus, but you wonder how much of that weight is in the basket hilt, etc.? [14] Most long swords were double edged. A longsword (also spelled long sword, long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for two handed use and a straight double-edged blade of around 100 to 122 cm (39 to 48 in . Properties. Fine secolo XIV Lunghezza totale cm 108. They represent larger versions of type XII and type XIII swords which were the standard. The bastard sword had a two-edged blade that tapered into a point and weighed around 5-8 pounds, it was usually around 40 to 48 inches in length. The arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. The most well-known systematic typology of blade types of the European medieval sword is the Oakeshott typology, although this is also a modern classification and not a medieval one. Warspike Knight's Hand-and-a-Half (Bastard) Sword $95 In Stock! 5, which scholars have dated back to between 1100 and 1200 due to the hilt style and specific taper, but swords like this remain incredibly rare, and are not representative of an identifiable trend before the late 13th or early 14th century. Handle Length. Since it has no legitimate claim to being a member of either weapon family, it has earned the name bastard sword. Early depictions of a sword in two hands show swords such as the A&A Hungarian Sword used to deliver these blows. The hanger (obs. This sword tends to have a guard that is slightly loose. The hand-and-a-half swords had straight, double-edged blades. Leather Wrapped Handle. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. Regardless, the sword's defining characteristics remain the same: it can be used with either one hand or both hands. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. Hand-and-a-Half Sword. We see these depicted in art beginning in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages Miniature from Stuttgart Psalter, Ps 143, 10, showing David and Goliath. A bastard sword or hand-and-a-halfer[1] are swords which fall between the longsword or broadsword and the two-handed greatsword in size. They also had a pommel that counterbalanced the weight of the blade, improving its maneuverability. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. The French pe btarde and the English "bastard sword" originate in the 15th or 16th century, originally in the general sense of "irregular sword, sword of uncertain origin", but by the mid-16th century could refer to exceptionally large swords. A longsword is, obviously, longer than a shortsword. The top hand would push, and the bottom hand would pull; this gave extra leverage thus the sword would be easier to swing, ignoring much of its weight. Print ; $299-$141. Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. 2023, Arms & Armor Today, replicas have high-carbon steel blades, though the ones used in stage combat and reenactment have blunt edges. We offer an array of these swords. The steeply pointed blade, indicating that it was primarily intended . The earliest forms of these are oversized examples of the single handed swords would be hard to distinguish as a separate group. The arming sword was the most used sword type in the medieval period. SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. The hand-and-a-half sword falls somewhere in between the one-handed and two-handed weapons. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). Most swords are intended for use either one or two hands. Half-swording (German halbschwert) refers to the technique of gripping the middle of the blade with the left hand to better control the tip of the sword. The specific term used to describe these swords in period varied by region as listed above. A channel ran down about half of the blade. This . [citation needed] The two handed claymore is an early Scottish version of a greatsword. Leather Wrapped Handle. The Scottish name "claymore" (Scottish Gaelic: claidheamh mr, lit. Medieval Longsword, Xiphos Sword: Facts About the Leaf-Bladed Greek Sword, Your Ultimate Guide to the European Smallsword, Gladius Sword: A Guide on the Roman Short Sword, Claymore: A Guide to Popular Scottish Sword, The Historically Authentic Executioner Sword, Flamberge: A Guide to the Flame-Bladed Swords. According to the book titled "Exhibition of the Royal House of Tudo," hand-and-a-half sword is a relatively new term that just recently appeared beginning in the latter half of the 19th century. The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry, Fighting: Teaching the Foundations of Sigmund Ringecks Style, A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times: Together with Some Closely Related Subjects, Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat. George Silver[31] and Joseph Swetnam) is a single-handed "cut-and-thrust" sword with a 1.2-meter-long (4ft) blade[22] similar to the long rapier. [49] Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. More . It remained in use as a weapon of war intended for wielders wearing full plate armour either on foot or on horseback, throughout the late medieval period. The hand-and-a-half sword had a longer reach than the so-called short sword, the earlier arming sword, making it significant for a mounted knight fighting against other cavalry and foot soldiers. The backsword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. However, a third type is a hand-and-a-half sword. Blade: 5160 High Carbon Steel. Access this answer and support the author as a Quora+ subscriber [citation needed], The sabre (US saber) or shable (French sabre, Spanish sable, Italian sciabola, German Sbel, Russian sablya, Hungarian szablya, Polish szabla, Ukrainian shablya) is a single-edged curved bladed cavalry sword.[57]. The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. This type of sword had a thickened back to the blade (opposite the cutting edge), which gave the blade strength. The term two-handed sword, used as a general term, may refer to any large sword designed to be used primarily with two hands: The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). It could also be used one-handed against lightly armored archers from horseback and two-handed for thrusting attacks against heavily armored opponents. These blades are strongly tapered, more narrow and slender even than the single-handed type XV variant, with a flattened diamond cross-section. Overall lenght 118,5 cm - Wheight 1300 g. 5152 . Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was used regularly to refer to this type of sword, while "long sword" or "long-sword", if used at all, referred to the rapier (in the context of Renaissance or Early Modern fencing).[9]. Pen & Sword Books Limited. The term hand-and-a-half is more of modern designation for a range of sword types that featured tapered blades longer than the common shorter arming swords of the time but without the double-hand grips of larger heavier war-swords.
