"[20] Espe bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short swords. The hand-and-a-half sword falls somewhere in between the one-handed and two-handed weapons. 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 . They also had a pommel that counterbalanced the weight of the blade, improving its maneuverability. [27][28][29][self-published source? Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. Special Properties None Base Damage: 1d10 Base Critical Threat: 19-20/x2 Base Damage Type: Slashing Weapon Size: Medium Feats Required: Exotic Item Code: nw_wswbs001 Return to Top Bastard Sword +1 More . It also allowed pommeling technique, in which the pommel is partially held in the palm of the other hand to execute more forceful thrusts into heavy armor. Contemporary use of "long-sword" or "longsword" only resurfaced in the 2000s in the context of reconstruction of the German school of fencing, translating the German langes schwert. All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter. On the other hand, those with stainless steel blades are only meant for decoration while LARP versions have foam blades. Hand-and-a-Half Sword. The term "hand-and-a-half sword" refers to a sword with a moderate-length blade that can be used with either one hand or two. 4.14-3.1 cm, then sharp point. The earliest forms of these are oversized examples of the single handed swords would be hard to distinguish as a separate group. Overall 39 inches. The hand and a half blade is used for thrusting and the length of the blade is not any longer than the long sword. Landesbib. The Military History Book: The Ultimate Visual Guide to the Weapons that Shaped the World, Cut and Thrust: European Swords and Swordsmanship, Knight: The Warrior and World of Chivalry, Medieval Armies and Weapons in Western Europe: An Illustrated History, The Art of Sword Combat: A 1568 German Treatise on Swordsmanship. Theme by Safe As Milk. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. It does not mean that these blades could not cut well, though they were less optimized for slashing. Specifications: Overall Length: 43" Blade Length: 33" Weight: 3 lbs Edge: Unsharpened Width: 4.7 mm - 3.6 mm Pommel: Nut P.O.B. The term longsword has been used to refer to different kinds of sword depending on historical context: The spatha was a double-edged longsword used by the Romans. The intention of how to use the sword most likely dictated the way they were listed in inventories of the day. From the late 15th century, however, it is also attested as being worn and used by unarmoured soldiers or mercenaries. Some had broad parallel edges to those with acute tapers from the guard to a spike like point and many variations in between. Product details: Length: 115.6 cm / Blade length: 85.10 cm / Grip length: 30.5 cm / Blade width at guard: 5.1 cm / Weight: 1389 g / Steel type: 1056 carbon steel, hardness 52-54 HRC . The longsword is characterized not so much by a longer blade, but by a longer grip, which indicates a weapon designed for two-handed use. The Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mr means "great sword"; anglicised as claymore, it came to refer to a large Scottish type of longsword with a Vshaped crossguard. Type XVII is a shorter-lived type, popular during the mid-14th to early 15th century. We see very thin blades with tremendous cutting potential to swords of the more common diamond cross section, many with fullers, to the category of Tucks which hadblades designed for thrusting and levering ones opponent in close play. However they mainly saw prominence outside the battlefield as a duelling weapon. The hand-and-a-half sword was a balanced weapon that enabled one to use it with one or both hands. Use in the Inheritance cycle The grip was somewhat larger than the grip of a one-handed sword so that . The "Masters of Defence" competition organised by Henry VIII in July 1540 listed two handed sword and bastard sword as two separate items. Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. As plate armor became more common, swords became longer and acquired a leaner blade with an acute point for thrusting. 55413 United States. Some of these terms originate contemporaneously with the weapons which they describe. [citation needed], The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten". 8 . Early depictions of a sword in two hands show swords such as the A&A Hungarian Sword used to deliver these blows. These long-gripped weapons were ideal for thrusting at small gaps in armor when the typical slashing sword could not chop through it. This sword is an extremely well proportioned and elegant example of a type that was in use throughout Western Europe from the late fourteenth through the fifteenth century. Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. The blade could be the same length as a single-hand sword but the tang and the grip . The arming sword was paired with a small, round buckler shield on the left hand. When pike formations became common on battlefield tactics, ranged weapons proved more effective against pikemen, diminishing the advantages of hand-and-a-half swords. While slashing attacks were still moderately effective against infantry wearing half-plate armour, cutting and slicing attacks against an opponent wearing plate armour were almost entirely ineffective in providing any sort of slashing wound as the sword simply could not cut through the steel, although a combatant could aim for the chinks in a suit of armour, sometimes to great effect. Some historians believe that it was primarily used in war and not an everyday weapon of the knight. For example, there is a longsword in The Glasgow Art and History Museum, Labelled XIIIa. Over the next several centuries blade shapes varied but we see these swords in two hands being used across the Europe. In medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. Some had straight or curved quillons (arms of the crossguard), side rings, finger rings, and loop-back guards. But if that same warrior encountered an enemy on an open battlefield, he may switch to using two hands for greater strength and stopping power. The term hand-and-a-half sword is often used interchangeably with longsword, although it is not entirely accurate. The German langes schwert ("long sword") in 15th and 16th-century manuals does not denote a type of weapon, but the technique of fencing with both hands at the hilt, contrasting with kurzes schwert ("short sword") used of fencing with the same weapon, but with one hand gripping the blade (also known as a half-sword).[11][12]. The Blunted Blade is made from hardened spring steel with a full tang construction. Powered by Shopify. The long hilt 10-15 inches in length mainly distinguishes the bastard sword from other medieval swords. Here are the unique characteristics of hand-and-a-half swords: Historical hand-and-a-half sword blades were often made of a single piece of steel and were hardened by quenching. SBCM-MAS-RED Special, versatile (1d8) The middle ground between an arming sword and a longsword --sometimes called a "hand and a half sword"-- this blade's hilt is short enough to be used in one hand while also being long enough to warrant two hands if needed though it isn't as effective as a longsword . Some of the earliest swords seemingly designed for two handed use are the "Grete Swords of War" of the 13thC. Most are leather covered with metal chape and throat. 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. [30] However, George Silver and Joseph Swetnam refer to them merely as "two hande sworde". this name was given because the balance of the sword made it usable in one hand, as well as two. A defining characteristic of the sword isn't the overall length, it's the length of the handle. Some advantages over wooden training gear are, Durability - Won't split, rot or splinter. This type includes the 14th to 15th century "hand and a half sword" or "two-handed" swords, often with two or more fullers. The hand-and-a-half swords had long, slender blades and sharp points that could penetrate the gaps in the opponents armor. Bastard medieval swords, also known as hand-and-a-half swords, are surprisingly diverse weapons. Many different swords fall into this category and many of them are as maneuverable as they are surprisingly sturdy. 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. [citation needed] The small sword was the immediate predecessor of the pe de Combat from which the pe developed[45] and its method of useas typified in the works of such authors as Sieur de Liancour, Domenico Angelo, Monsieur J. Olivier, and Monsieur L'Abbatdeveloped into the techniques of the French classical school of fencing. 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. This type of sword was first developed in Europe in the 15th century and reflected the emergence of asymmetric guards, which made a two-edged blade somewhat redundant. Its handle featured a waisted shape, tapering towards shorter, thinner half-grips. Blade Length: 34 1/2" Handle Length: 11 1/2" Weight: 3 lb 8 oz Point of Balance: 3 1/2" Blade Steel: 5160 The term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handed arming sword. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures and fabrication technology. The most common form is also known as the Chinese sabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as Chinese broadswords. 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. germ. It was coined by modern collectors in the 19th century to refer to how the weapon is wielded. Scabbards protected the sword from dampness, rain, and were typically reinforced by a metal chape at the tip. In the UK, the swords were supposedly weapons of a long dead great grandfather in British Navy. A nonce attestation of "long-sword" in the sense of "heavy two-handed sword" is found in, Systematic use of the term only from 2001 beginning with, Oakeshott's Typology of the Medieval Sword A Summary, "Medieval and Renaissance Fencing Terminology", "Study of the Destructive Capabilities of the European Longsword", "The Two-Handed Great Sword Making lite of the issue of weight", "Oakeshott's Typology of the Medieval Sword: A Summary", Halflang and Tua Handit: Hand-and-a-Half and Two-Handed Scottish Swords, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Longsword&oldid=1141836737, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox weapon with unknown parameters, Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Italian-language text, Articles containing Scottish Gaelic-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Types XIIa and XIIIa represent the Great Sword or War Sword type used in the later 13th and in the 14th century. The sword is made of carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of HRC 54 ? 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. Well, the most notable benefit of this sword type is the ability to use it with another weapon or shield. Its French name pe btarde implies a sword of uncertain origin or an irregular sword. 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. Perhaps. Most long swords were double edged. The backsword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. Glamdring (also called the Foe-hammer and the Beater) was a hand-and-a-half sword, forged for Turgon, the Elven King of Gondolin during the First Age, and much later owned by the wizard Gandalf . The Scabbard All Hanwei western medieval swords come with a nicely made scabbard. Frontline Books. 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. The hand-and-a-half sword is particularly versatile in this regard. From cut to thrust: The, Hand-and-a-Half Sword vs. The expression fechten mit dem langen schwert ("fencing with the long sword") in the German school of fencing denotes the style of fencing which uses both hands at the hilt; fechten mit dem kurzen schwert ("fencing with the short sword") is used in half-sword fighting, with one hand gripping the blade. probably German. [citation needed] Small swords were also used as status symbols and fashion accessories; for most of the 18th century anyone, civilian or military, with pretensions to gentlemanly status would have worn a small sword on a daily basis. Swordsmen were trained to use the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. As its name suggests, it had an advantage in terms of greater reach over the so-called short sword or arming sword. [4], The Panzerstecher ("armour stabber") is a German and East European weapon with a long, edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section for penetrating armour. It's typically used as an intermediate weapon for those learning how to use a real longsword. Ewart Oakeshott distinguishes twelve different types. In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). 100-122 cm (39-48 in) Width. A longsword is, obviously, longer than a shortsword. The lack of significant torso and limb protection leads to the use of a large amount of cutting and slicing techniques in addition to thrusts. However, the reduced weight near the tips made them less efficient for slashing. Bastard Sword. They represent larger versions of type XII and type XIII swords which were the standard. In terms of weight, a typical hand-and-a-half sword weighed roughly 2.4 to 4 pounds (1.1 to 1.8 kg). Their specially shaped grips, usually bottle-shaped or waisted, gave better control and hold of the weapon. 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; [44], The "tuck" (French estoc, Italian stocco)[citation needed] is an edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section used for thrusting. [citation needed] In French, estoc also means thrust or point; and estoc et taille means cut and thrust. The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. [9] Classically simple in design with a flattened diamond-section blade and cruciform hilt, the original dates from the early part of the 15th century. In a depiction of a duel, individuals may be seen wielding sharply pointed longswords in one hand, leaving the other hand open to manipulate the large dueling shield. Shes particularly interested in the rise and fall of empires, accounts of war and conquest, and ancient and classical history. 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).. Honshu Damascus Broadsword With Sheath - Damascus Steel Blade, TPR Handle, Stainless Steel Pommel - Length 43 1/2". Hand-and-a-Half (44) Length. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with . Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. . They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. 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. ], Antiquarian usage in the 19th century established the use of "bastard sword" as referring unambiguously to these large swords. Hand and a Half Sword 88HNH medieval bastard sword by Cold Steel. [17]:1516 The blade was generally used with both hands on the hilt, one resting close to or on the pommel. This actually does help with defining how long the blade can be in relation t. Benefits of Using a Hand-and-a-Half-Sword. Their long grip increased their striking power and made some fighting techniques easier. [citation needed], The small sword or smallsword (also court sword or dress sword, French: pe de cour)[citation needed] is a light one-handed sword designed for thrusting[citation needed] which evolved out of the longer and heavier rapier of the late Renaissance. [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. The backsword blade was cheaper to manufacture than a two-edged blade. [citation needed] The two handed claymore is an early Scottish version of a greatsword. [5]:133[15] In the Oakeshott typology of blade morphology, "longswords" figure as a range of sub-types of the corresponding single-handed sword types.[16]. The longsword has many names in the English language, which, aside from variant spellings, include terms such as "bastard sword" and "hand-and-a-half sword." The hand-and-a-half sword had a size between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. 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. A longsword (long sword) is any sword that is generally wielded with two hands. Cod. 44. [53] The term 'falchion' may also refer to the early cutlass. The hand-and-a-half swords optimized the combination of reach, maneuverability, and weight. 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). 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. avg. Product description. Modern replica longswords cover many of these diverse types, though certainstyles are less well represented in the current market place. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. Middle Ages Warrior Short Broadsword With Black Sheath - Double-Edged Sharp Blade - 22 1/2" Length. This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:56. They have a flattened diamond cross-section, often with pronounced mid-rib, some being hollow-ground. It was a specialist weapon wielded by certain Landsknechte (mercenary soldiers), so-called Doppelsldners. 1400-1430 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373. Furthermore, there is a deprecation of the term "broadsword" by these associations. The term hand-and-a-half or bastard sword became a label to denote the later manifestations of these war swords or longswords. Similarly, strong strikes could cut through skin and bone, effectively amputating limbs. This 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword is a surprisingly agile sword for its size with a total weight of only about 3 lbs - this ensures the sword is swift on the strike and a fine sword for drills and use. Type XVIIIc blades are somewhat broader and shorter (about 85cm), and sometimes have a short and narrow fuller. These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. The 1410 manuscript by Fiore dei Liberi presents a variety of uses for the longsword. Handle Length. "Let thy (long) Rapier or (long) Sword be foure foote at the least, and thy dagger two foote." The Zweihnder ("two-hander") or Beidhnder ("both-hander") is a true two-handed sword, in the sense that it cannot be wielded in only one hand. 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. However, they had various hilt and guard forms depending on their origin. The Italian school of swordsmanship was the other primary school of longsword use. This technique combines the use of the sword with wrestling, providing opportunities to trip, disarm, break, or throw an opponent and place them in a less offensively and defensively capable position. 5060cm long and typically made of bronze or iron. The 34 inch blade on that tends to be like 2 inches wide and 6mm+ thick and tapering . + $45.00 shipping. $440. Most swords are intended for use either one or two hands. Bastard Sword Sren Niedziella from Denmark . Elizabethans used descriptive terms such as "short", "bastard", and "long" which emphasized the length of the blade, and "two-handed" for any sword that could be wielded by two hands. 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. [49] Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. [24] The pe de passot was the sidearm of the franc-archers (French or Breton bowmen of the 15th and 16th centuries). [25] The term passot comes from the fact that these swords passed (passaient) the length of a "normal" short sword. Hand-and-a-half swords initially had a plain crossguard but later featured extensive hand guards. SBA-WARSPIKE-T $158 Out of Stock Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). "arming sword", "broadsword", "long sword", etc.) Others also had hexagonal cross-sections that cut poorly towards the tip. They were in use during the 14th and 15th centuries. The Spartan version was typically only 3045 centimetres. [17]:7373,plate 67 The cross has been shown to be used as a hook for tripping or knocking an opponent off balance. The weapon was used in the half-sword, with one or both hands on the blade. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (18 to 31 inches) in length. The French pe de passot may also refer to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. These are single-cutting edged, usually thick or curved construction bladed swords, typically designed for slashing, chopping, severing limbs, tripping or broad sweeping techniques; but were often very poorly designed for stabbing. Includes Scabbard or Sheath (19) . The half-swording technique was essential in armored combat, as most cutting and slashing blows will not cause enough damage to an iron or steel plate. Leather Wrapped Handle. This is very popular . The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihnder. Sword hangers are knotted onto the scabbard with strips of leather, and they can be adjusted to fit and angle with a pair of brass screws. 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. Knives such as the seax and other blades of similar length between 30 and 60cm (1 and 2ft) are sometimes construed as swords. In HEMA, the term longsword refers to all swords with grips long enough to accommodate two hands yet lightweight enough to wield in one hand. The blade could range between 0.5 and 1m (1ft 8in and 3ft 3in) long while the handle was usually between 18 and 20cm (7 and 8in). 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. 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.. The Filipino islands are widely known for their vast assortment of edged weapons. The cross sections of the blades also varied a great deal. Swordecyclopedia 2022 - All Rights Reserved, Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods And Techniques, Medieval Military Technology, Second Edition. ca. Leather Wrapped Handle. Great swords or greatswords are related to the long swords of the Middle Ages. In later usage, 'cutlass' referred to the short naval boarding sabre. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. CAS Hanwei Hand-and-a-Half Sword SH2034 Brand: CAS Hanwei $40399 About this item Authentic replica of Museum Piece Fully functional Overall length: 44 1/2" Product Description The Hand-and-a-Half Sword is replicated from a sword thought to be that of Albrecht II of Austria and represents the pinnacle of beauty and balance in medieval swords. 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. Leather / Wood Scabbard with Steel Fittings. 120-150 cm (47-59 in), blade length: avg. [19] There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts. The last known German manual to include longsword teaching was that of Jakob Sutor, published in 1612. 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. 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). 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. Two-handed swords, on the other hand, are long and heavy, making them particularly effective at dealing critical blows. In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as the broadsword.[36][37]. Hilt length: 34 cm (13 3/8") Pommel Length: 6.2 cm (2 7/16 in.) Its length is 118,5 cm with a blade of 89,5 cm and it weighs 2150 g. The grip gives the sword a unique character. Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff. [21] Others provided similar work, some with a wide array of images to accompany the text.[22]. The distance between the hands obviously increases the leverage that combatant could exert on the weapon. 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.