Frontline Books. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. Pal. Later on, the thrusting rapier gained favor as a civilian dueling weapon. HEMA practitioners also use steel swords with unsharpened blades designed to bend in the thrust. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). When pike formations became common on battlefield tactics, ranged weapons proved more effective against pikemen, diminishing the advantages of hand-and-a-half swords. Hand-and-a-half swords had long grips that permitted the use of the second hand. 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. 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). 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 weapon may be held with one hand during disarmament or grappling techniques. [citation needed]. Some of the earliest swords seemingly designed for two handed use are the "Grete Swords of War" of the 13thC. Some had broad parallel edges to those with acute tapers from the guard to a spike like point and many variations in between. HAND AND A HALF SWORD. Others are modern or early modern terms used by antiquarians, curators, and modern-day sword enthusiasts for historical swords. [17]:plate 58 Some manuals even depict the cross as a hammer. [8] 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). [30] However, George Silver and Joseph Swetnam refer to them merely as "two hande sworde". The tang is peened onto the forged pommel. All parts of the sword are used for offensive purposes, including the pommel and crossguard. However, a third type is a hand-and-a-half sword. Perhaps. [49] Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. As plate armor became more common, swords became longer and acquired a leaner blade with an acute point for thrusting. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. . Daggers were loot/spoils. Venezia, fine secolo XV. 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. Some of these terms originate contemporaneously with the weapons which they describe. Over the next several centuries blade shapes varied but we see these swords in two hands being used across the Europe. 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. Apart from being a writer, she also dabbles in fashion modeling and acting. Use in the Inheritance cycle avg. this name was given because the balance of the sword made it usable in one hand, as well as two. Hand-and-a-half swords initially had a plain crossguard but later featured extensive hand guards. 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. Weight: 50oz Blade Thickness: 1/5" Blade Length: 33-1/2" Blade Steel: 1060 Carbon Handle Length/Material: 12" Overall Length: 45-1/2" Additional Features: Leather / Wood Scabbard with Steel Fittings. 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. Among most Greek warriors, this weapon had an iron blade of about 60 centimetres. 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 . The hanger (obs. Beginning about 1520, the Swiss sabre (schnepf) in Switzerland began to replace the straight longsword, inheriting its hilt types, and the longsword had fallen out of use in Switzerland by 1550. The "Masters of Defence" competition organised by Henry VIII in July 1540 listed two handed sword and bastard sword as two separate items. Ehhh, Xiphos were typically more of a shortsword, usually only about 24ish inches in length. Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. So, what benefits (if any) does a hand-and-a-half sword offer? Furthermore, there is a deprecation of the term "broadsword" by these associations. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Etymology 4 Portrayal in adaptations 4.1 Peter Jackson's film trilogies 5 Reproductions 6 Translations 7 References [citation needed] The two handed claymore is an early Scottish version of a greatsword. The French pe de passot may also refer to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. 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. 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." What kind of swords were used in medieval times? This type of sword had a thickened back to the blade (opposite the cutting edge), which gave the blade strength. A longer and broader blade which widened slightly towards the handle. On the other hand, the hand-and-a-half swords were often used alone. The arming sword was the most used sword type in the medieval period. Historical terms (15th to 16th century) for this type of sword included the Italian spada longa (lunga) and French pe longue. Maximum Diameter: 4.2 cm (1 5/8 in.) The basket-hilted sword is a sword type of the early modern era characterised by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. 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. Sponsored. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihnder. 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 . 44. This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:56. [6] Historical European Martial Arts associations have turned the term spada da lato[7] into "side-sword". $440. Hand-and-a-Half (44) Length. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. . This actually does help with defining how long the blade can be in relation t. Blade Length: 34 1/2" Handle Length: 11 1/2" Weight: 3 lb 8 oz Point of Balance: 3 1/2" Blade Steel: 5160 A longsword (long sword) is any sword that is generally wielded with two hands. Our Medieval Hand and a Half Sword with Blunted Blade is a Battle Ready sword designed to be used for Stage Combat. 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. Irish Hand and Half Sword - Irish hand and a half sword, a Legacy Arms/Generation 2 design, dating from around 1475 - 1525 A.D. Swords, Knives & Reenactment menu. 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. All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter. It allowed more accurate and powerful thrusts against armored opponents. The term referred to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. Add to cart. The term hand and . [17]:1516 The blade was generally used with both hands on the hilt, one resting close to or on the pommel. In terms of blade typology, they do not form a single category. Its handle featured a waisted shape, tapering towards shorter, thinner half-grips. . More details . Regardless, the sword's defining characteristics remain the same: it can be used with either one hand or both hands. On the contrary, the hand-and-a-half sword had a longer grip to allow it to be wielded with one or two hands, delivering a more powerful blow in one stroke if necessary. 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. On the other hand, the term hand-and-a-half tends to describe later types of longswords with sharply tapering blades and specially shaped grips widely used in the 15th and 16th centuries. Benefits of Using a Hand-and-a-Half-Sword. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. In medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. Length: 115 cm Weight: 1.4 kg Acquisition and important dates Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart Dating 13th/14th Century Circa 1250 CE - 1350 CE Note [17]:7373,plate 67 The cross has been shown to be used as a hook for tripping or knocking an opponent off balance. These days, the term longsword most frequently refers to a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands. These swords have long cruciform hilts with grips over 10 to 15 inches in length, which provide room for two hands. Print ; $299-$141. Middle Ages Warrior Short Broadsword With Black Sheath - Double-Edged Sharp Blade - 22 1/2" Length. Most were better suited for thrusting, but others were also designed for more cutting. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. probably German. ca. 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. It is considered "The General of All Weapons". [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. [21], Joseph Swetnam states that the bastard sword is midway in length between an arming sword and a long sword,[22] and Randall Cotgrave's definition seems to imply this, as well. (J. L. Forgeng, Trans.). Most long swords were double edged. In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). Types XVIIIb and XVIIIc represent the later longswords of the mid-15th to early 16th centuries. Hand-and-a-half swords were carried in scabbards attached to waist belts, though some sources mention swords being carried in rings welded directly to the skirt of a harness. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). @d-a-half-sw. Sub-type XXa has a more acutely tapering blade and a more acute point. 1400-1430 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373. Product description. Pen & Sword Books Limited. The falchion (French braquemart,[52] Spanish bracamarte) proper is a wide straight-bladed but curved edged hanger or long knife. These terms were often described in relation to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. The idea for the spatha came from the swords of ancient Celts in Germany and Britain. These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. SWORD, late 14th century, . The fighter could attempt to hit the opponent in the face using the pommel when wrestling with the sword, disarm, or throw him. 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. [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). 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. Answer (1 of 2): I'll apologize be as I'm long-winded and cover a lot of ground. 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. The earliest forms of these are oversized examples of the single handed swords would be hard to distinguish as a separate group. 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. [citation needed], The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten". 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. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. The German school of swordsmanship includes the earliest known longsword Fechtbuch, a manual from approximately 1389, known as GNM 3227a. Honshu Damascus Broadsword With Sheath - Damascus Steel Blade, TPR Handle, Stainless Steel Pommel - Length 43 1/2". 452. Dual Tempered HRc 60 48-50 at the core Fittings : Mild Steel Blade Thickness: 1.34 mm Total Length: 45 . 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. 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. Two-handed swords, on the other hand, are long and heavy, making them particularly effective at dealing critical blows. They were hybrid swords that enabled blows to be delivered with the power of a two-handed sword but could also be wielded with one hand. A Rare All-Steel Left-Hand DaggerThird Quarter Of The 16th Century, Probably Spanish. 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. The sword is made of carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of HRC 54 ? 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. One example how a sword can be used this way is to thrust the tip of the crossguard at the opponent's head right after parrying a stroke. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. They represent larger versions of type XII and type XIII swords which were the standard. 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). A tradition of teaching based on this has survived in contemporary French and Italian stick fighting.[24]. In China, the dao is considered one of the four traditional weapons, along with the gun (stick or staff), qiang (spear), and the jian (sword). It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. . At the most basic level a longsword, also often known as a hand-and-a-half sword or a Bastard Sword, is a double-edged European sword, often with a cruciform hilt, that is capable of being used in either one hand or two. There is no historical Italian equivalent to the English word "rapier". Classically simple in design with a flattened diamond-section blade and cruciform hilt, the original dates from the early part of the 15th century. It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. This sword tends to have a guard that is slightly loose. Swordsmen were trained to use the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. The specific term used to describe these swords in period varied by region as listed above. The longsword as a late medieval type of sword emerges in the 14th century, as a military steel weapon of the earlier phase of the Hundred Years' War. Weight ranged from 1 to 1.5 kg. It is uncertain whether the same term could still be used to other types of smaller swords, but antiquarian usage in the 19th century established the use of "bastard sword" as referring unambiguously to these large swords. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). 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. By the early 16th century, hand-and-a-half swords continued to be used by knights and men-at-arms in knightly duels and sporting competitions. [23] The manual also presents half-sword techniques as an integral part of armoured combat. This type includes the 14th to 15th century "hand and a half sword" or "two-handed" swords, often with two or more fullers. Minneapolis Minnesota [citation needed], The French pe btarde and the English bastard sword originate in the 15th or 16th century,[citation needed] originally having the general sense of "irregular sword or sword of uncertain origin". The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. Hand-and-a-Half Style Hilt Padded Leather Grip Tapered Blade for Slashing or Thrusting Now Available in Standard or Fully Tempered Carbon Steel Blade Full Tang Models on Sale To Order Model No. Hilt length: 34 cm (13 3/8") Pommel Length: 6.2 cm (2 7/16 in.) Both schools declined in the late 16th century, with the later Italian masters forgoing the longsword and focusing primarily on rapier fencing. Buy the medieval Albrecht Hand-and-a-Half Swords for $ 299.99. 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. Half-swording was a manner of using both hands, one on the hilt and one on the blade, to better control the weapon in thrusts and jabs. This increased the accuracy and strength of thrusts and provided more leverage for Ringen am Schwert or "wrestling at/with the sword". "murder stroke"), where the weapon is held by the blade (hilt, pommel and crossguard serving as an improvised hammer head) and swung, taking advantage of the balance being close to the hilt to increase the concussive effect (see the fighter on the right of the Codex Wallerstein picture).[26]. The medieval longsword could include the earlier grete war swords, hand-and-a-half or bastard swords, and estocs. 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. 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. Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. 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 . "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. The earlier flatter blade types could not chop through plate armor, and its thin tip would only glance off instead of puncturing it. As a history enthusiast, Abigail loves learning about the events that shaped the world. Cod. A longsword is, obviously, longer than a shortsword. 55413 United States. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. Optimized for armored combat, their blades were steeply pointed, suggesting that their primary function was to pierce armor. 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. . [citation needed] The arming sword was wrongly labelled a broadsword by antiquarians as the medieval swords were similar in blade width to the military swords of the day (that were also sometimes labeled as broadswords) and broader than the dueling swords and ceremonial dress swords. 20-30 Inches (1) 30-40 Inches (6) 40-50 Inches (35) 50-60 Inches (2 . With long tapering double-edged blade of flattened diamond section cut with two shallow fullers forming a low medial ridge over its entire length on each side, and incised with an indistinct crucifix mark on both sides towards the forte, long waisted ricasso with a pair of small pointed . Advantages of Hand-and-a-Half Swords The hand-and-a-half swords had long, slender blades and sharp points that could penetrate the gaps in the opponents armor. In modern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings.