[2] Navigation menu . 5060cm long and typically made of bronze or iron. [14] [5], The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century);[6] 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 34 inch blade on that tends to be like 2 inches wide and 6mm+ thick and tapering . Traditional vs Modern Differential Hardening for Swords. Sign up for our mailing-list and be alerted to new products, special sales, limited product availability, and more. 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. The Oakeshott Type XVa is among the most common types of hand-and-a-half swords displayed in museums, including the Black Prince Sword, believed to be wielded by Edward, Prince of Wales. An Italian Two-Hand Sword First Half Of The 16th Century. [8][9][10] Prior to this the term "long sword" merely referred to any sword with a long blade; 'long' being simply an adjective rather than a classification. The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. Benefits of Using a Hand-and-a-Half-Sword. This balance made the hand-and-a-half sword a formidable weapon, as it was light enough to easily maneuver yet still heavy enough to inflict serious damage when wielded by a skilled swordsman. Sword Mounting Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. 3 European single handed sword. 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).. The hand-and-a-half sword was a balanced weapon that enabled one to use it with one or both hands. 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 . One-handed swords are shorter and lighter, but they allow the user to wield a second weapon or shield. [8] During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was used regularly to refer to this type of sword.[9]. The term hand-and-a-half or bastard sword became a label to denote the later manifestations of these war swords or longswords. 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 waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. 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. Length. [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. The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). It remains identifiable as a type during the period of about 1350 to 1550. (M. Rector, Ed. 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. This is very popular . Historical terminology overlaps with that applied to the Zweihnder sword in the 16th century: French espadon, Spanish espadn, or Portuguese montante may also be used more narrowly to refer to these large swords. 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 term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handed arming sword. 30-40 Inches (3) 40-50 Inches (21) 50-60 Inches (2) Product Includes. The later hardened plate armours, complete with ridges and roping, posed a threat against the careless attacker. Of these, "bastard sword" is the oldest, its use being contemporaneous with the weapon's heyday. [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. 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. The weapon was used in the half-sword, with one or both hands on the blade. In some instances, the crossguard could hook the shield or the weapon away and even trip the enemy. 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." 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 grip of the hand and a half sword was long enough to accommodate one hand or two hands when used in combat. The blade measured around 1 metre (40 inches), the grip averaged 15-23 cm (6-9 inches). The Scabbard All Hanwei western medieval swords come with a nicely made scabbard. 452. SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. Leather Wrapped Handle. Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff. 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. Blade: 5160 High Carbon Steel. the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. 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. This versatility was unique, as multiple works hold that the longsword provided the foundations for learning a variety of other weapons including spears, staves, and polearms. 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. 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. At only 7 inches long, the guard appears a bit small for a sword of this size, but again, it's true to the original design. It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. After a Brief exchange with the Questioner in another answer, I have gotten an approximation of what recurve profile has been asked upon. 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. SWORD, late 14th century, . 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. These blades are strongly tapered, more narrow and slender even than the single-handed type XV variant, with a flattened diamond cross-section. Rather than restricting its use to either one or two hands, it allows for both types of wielding. Specifications: Overall Length: 43" Blade Length: 33" Weight: 3 lbs Edge: Unsharpened Width: 4.7 mm - 3.6 mm Pommel: Nut P.O.B. All of these types can be classified in some of their forms as Longsword, Bastard Sword and Hand and a Half swords. [citation needed]. The Cold Steel Kris series, which includes a sword and dagger, is something we hope all . 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 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. Origins of the Hand-and-a-Half-Sword The longsword, greatsword and bastard-sword were also made in Spain, appearing relatively late, known as the espadon, the montante and bastarda or espada de mano y media respectively. This hand-and-a-half sword is based on several historical originals. These long-gripped weapons were ideal for thrusting at small gaps in armor when the typical slashing sword could not chop through it. Many different swords fall into this category and many of them are as maneuverable as they are surprisingly sturdy. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. Most long swords were double edged. 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 . Knives such as the seax and other blades of similar length between 30 and 60cm (1 and 2ft) are sometimes construed as swords. By the late 16th century, early forms of the developed-hilt appear on this type of sword. The blade is 79cm in length and constructed from a rugged 1060 spring steel and through . 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. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. [17]:7373,plate 67 The cross has been shown to be used as a hook for tripping or knocking an opponent off balance. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. What kind of swords were used in medieval times? They also had a pommel that counterbalanced the weight of the blade, improving its maneuverability. 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. 15th Century. In medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. In the UK, the swords were supposedly weapons of a long dead great grandfather in British Navy. The long hilt 10-15 inches in length mainly distinguishes the bastard sword from other medieval swords. HAND AND A HALF SWORD. Often also referred to as a hand-and-a-half sword. Tweet Share Google+ Pinterest . Shes particularly interested in the rise and fall of empires, accounts of war and conquest, and ancient and classical history. The hand-and-a-half sword is also called a bastard sword because it has no legitimate claim to being classified as either a one-handed or two-handed weapon. When pike formations became common on battlefield tactics, ranged weapons proved more effective against pikemen, diminishing the advantages of hand-and-a-half swords. [23] The manual also presents half-sword techniques as an integral part of armoured combat. Blade Length: 34.5 Inches ; Handle Length: 11.5 Inches ; Overall Length: 46 Inches ; Balance Point: 3.5 Inches Below Hilt ; Weight: 2 lbs. More . You've landed on the new (soon to be released) website for Arms & Armor. [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. We will respect your privacy. 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). As a history enthusiast, Abigail loves learning about the events that shaped the world. Frontline Books. It's typically used as an intermediate weapon for those learning how to use a real longsword. By the 15th century, larger and heavier swords had been developed, including the 'Bastard' or 'Hand-and-a-half' sword. By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. Venezia, fine secolo XV. 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. [9] 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. [4] Cod. The German school of swordsmanship includes the earliest known longsword Fechtbuch, a manual from approximately 1389, known as GNM 3227a. The two terms are largely equivalent to "unarmoured fighting" (blossfechten) and "armoured fencing" (fechten im harnisch). By the second half of the 16th century, it persisted mostly as a weapon for sportive competition (Schulfechten), and possibly in knightly duels. Longswords have straight, double-edged blades and are small enough to be drawn from the belt. 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. In Italy, spadone, or longsword, instruction lingered on despite the popularity of the rapier, at least into the mid-17th century (Alfieri's Lo Spadone of 1653), with a late treatise of the "two handed sword" by one Giuseppe Colombani, a dentist in Venice dating to 1711. Historically, katana () were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (, nihont)[47][48] that were used by the samurai of feudal Japan. [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. Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It was prevalent during the late medieval and Renaissance periods (approximately 1350 to 1550), with early and late use reaching into the 12th and 17th centuries. [30] However, George Silver and Joseph Swetnam refer to them merely as "two hande sworde". 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. 8 . Their handles have recognizable waist and bottle shapes which give a comfortable hold of the weapon. Distinct "bastard sword" hilt types developed during the first half of the 16th century. Both schools declined in the late 16th century, with the later Italian masters forgoing the longsword and focusing primarily on rapier fencing. As such, warriors using the hand-and-a-half sword were given more options. In modern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings. 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. As plate armor became more common, swords became longer and acquired a leaner blade with an acute point for thrusting. [17]:plates 128150, Another variation of use comes from the use of armour. [citation needed], The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten". It is considered possible for strong blows of the sword against plate armour to damage the blade of the sword, potentially rendering it much less effective at cutting and producing only a concussive effect against the armoured opponent. Most were better suited for thrusting, but others were also designed for more cutting. Sword Length: 42 5/8". A term that was coined by Italian curators. 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. [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. 120-150 cm (47-59 in), blade length: avg. The basket-hilted sword is a sword type of the early modern era characterised by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. Sword Length: 42 5/8". 2023, Arms & Armor [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). Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. 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. It was a specialist weapon wielded by certain Landsknechte (mercenary soldiers), so-called Doppelsldners.