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 long hilt 10-15 inches in length mainly distinguishes the bastard sword from other medieval swords. The hilts (handles) range from 8 to 16 inches long to provide room for gauntleted hands. Sub-type XXa has a more acutely tapering blade and a more acute point. As its name suggests, it had an advantage in terms of greater reach over the so-called short sword or arming sword. 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). This . After the mid-14th century, sword blades became more sharply tapered toward the point, with diamond or hexagonal cross-sections to increase their rigidity for thrusting. Leadingthe research, replication and understanding ofarms and armor for over 37 years, creating exceptional items for those who appreciate history and its material culture. [13] All of these types can be classified in some of their forms as Longsword, Bastard Sword and Hand and a Half swords. Type XVa is the classical two-handed sword of the 14th and 15th centuries (with early examples appearing from the later 13th century). Ewart Oakeshott distinguishes twelve different types. 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. From cut to thrust: The, Hand-and-a-Half Sword vs. 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. Length. the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. The hand could grip above or below the half-grip, or directly at the middle. Pal. These techniques could be nearly instantly fatal or incapacitating, as a thrust to the skull, heart, or major blood vessel would cause massive trauma. They represent larger versions of type XII and type XIII swords which were the standard. "arming sword", "broadsword", "long sword", etc.) The term hand and . [3] More . [4] The term referred to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. Some had straight or curved quillons (arms of the crossguard), side rings, finger rings, and loop-back guards. 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. The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). 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 [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 19cm grip is constructed from timber, covered in faux leather with a sewn seam which is then cord wrapped for extra strength. A term that was coined by Italian curators. [5], The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century);[6] Bastard Sword Sren Niedziella from Denmark . Made from 5160 high-carbon steel, this functional sword has a double-edge blade. Leather Wrapped Handle. This could be a 5-inch handle with a pommel that accommodates being used as part of the grip to one that would have considerable room between the hands. In the early Middle Ages, swords were broad and heavy and used to hack through the mail. It remains identifiable as a type during the period of about 1350 to 1550. The hand-and-a-half swords had long, slender blades and sharp points that could penetrate the gaps in the opponents armor. The last known German manual to include longsword teaching was that of Jakob Sutor, published in 1612. Scabbard. The backsword blade was cheaper to manufacture than a two-edged blade. They run 3 pounds plus, but you wonder how much of that weight is in the basket hilt, etc.? This actually does help with defining how long the blade can be in relation t. The hanger (obs. [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 term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). Regardless of what they are called these swords areall of a type that is iconic to the middle ages. A defining characteristic of the sword isn't the overall length, it's the length of the handle. Some had broad parallel edges to those with acute tapers from the guard to a spike like point and many variations in between. "large/great sword")[16][17] can refer to either the longsword with a distinctive two-handed grip, or the basket-hilted sword. Overall lenght 118,5 cm - Wheight 1300 g. 5152 . The #034 Black Prince a Type XVa Longsword, Durer Bastard Sword #195 a Type XVIII Longsword. There is no historical Italian equivalent to the English word "rapier". [17]:7373,plate 67 The cross has been shown to be used as a hook for tripping or knocking an opponent off balance. Ships in 3-7 days. 20-30 Inches (1) 30-40 Inches (6) 40-50 Inches (35) 50-60 Inches (2 . 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. 452. Distinct "bastard sword" hilt types developed during the first half of the 16th century. Classically simple in design with a flattened diamond-section blade and cruciform hilt, the original dates from the early part of the 15th century. Scabbard. In the Oakeshott typology of blade morphology, "longswords" figure as a range of sub-types of the corresponding single-handed sword types.[16]. The Filipino islands are widely known for their vast assortment of edged weapons. "Let thy (long) Rapier or (long) Sword be foure foote at the least, and thy dagger two foote." $440. The medieval longsword could include the earlier grete war swords, hand-and-a-half or bastard swords, and estocs. The term hand-and-a-half sword is often used interchangeably with longsword, although it is not entirely accurate. Our Medieval Hand and a Half Sword with Blunted Blade is a Battle Ready sword designed to be used for Stage Combat. 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 Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. Regardless, the sword's defining characteristics remain the same: it can be used with either one hand or both hands. On the other hand, those with stainless steel blades are only meant for decoration while LARP versions have foam blades. Traditional vs Modern Differential Hardening for Swords. The distance between the hands obviously increases the leverage that combatant could exert on the weapon. 3 European single handed sword. The grip of the hand and a half sword was long enough to accommodate one hand or two hands when used in combat. [citation needed] It is thought to have appeared in France and spread quickly across the rest of Europe. These blades are long, slender and acutely tapering, approaching the outline of type XVa, while still retaining a narrow hexagonal cross-section and a shallow fuller running along about one quarter of the blade. The term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handed arming sword. The hand-and-a-half sword is particularly versatile in this regard. 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. These days, the term longsword most frequently refers to a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands. Quantity. One-handed swords are shorter and lighter, but they allow the user to wield a second weapon or shield. 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. "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. These are double-edged, usually straight bladed swords, designed for optimized balance, reach and versatility. The "Masters of Defence" competition organised by Henry VIII in July 1540 listed two handed sword and bastard sword as two separate items. SBA-WARSPIKE-T $158 Out of Stock The German school of swordsmanship includes the earliest known longsword Fechtbuch, a manual from approximately 1389, known as GNM 3227a. Bastard Sword. Inspired from swords used during the late 14th through to the mid-16th centuries, this is a hand and a half length sword and is fully functional. Its handle featured a waisted shape, tapering towards shorter, thinner half-grips. 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. 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. The steeply pointed blade, indicating that it was primarily intended . [citation needed]. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. Though deemed a Hand and a Half sword, this sword has a grip length and handling characteristics that would be fitting for a longsword. 8 . The tang is peened onto the forged pommel. [17]:plates 128150, Another variation of use comes from the use of armour. Weight ranged from 1 to 1.5 kg. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. The hand-and-a-half sword had a size between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. 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 . Recommended Products Windlass Rustblocker Special Offer (Reg $24.95) [+$21.95] Flitz Care Kit Special Offer (Reg $26.95) [+$21.95] In stock BUY NOW OVERVIEW In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). Sponsored. 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. Also, the hand on the blade increases its rigidity which is advantageous when thrusting. 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 . The Spartan version was typically only 3045 centimetres. The falchion (French braquemart,[52] Spanish bracamarte) proper is a wide straight-bladed but curved edged hanger or long knife. Modern replica longswords cover many of these diverse types, though certainstyles are less well represented in the current market place. Powered by Shopify. In terms of weight, a typical hand-and-a-half sword weighed roughly 2.4 to 4 pounds (1.1 to 1.8 kg). In the years to follow, however, the sword later became known as a "bastard sword." [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. The hand and a half blade is used for thrusting and the length of the blade is not any longer than the long sword. [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". 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. It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. An Italian Two-Hand Sword First Half Of The 16th Century. 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. If wielded in one hand, the hand-and-a-half sword functioned similarly to an arming sword, though its balance would be slightly different. The arming sword was the most used sword type in the medieval period. Important sources for rapier fencing include the Italian Bolognese group, with early representatives such as Antonio . With the Irish Hand and Half Sword, you swiftly break through the enemy lines and claim victory for your army this morn. Total Length: 1060mm; Blade Length: 790mm ; Hilt Length: 270mm ; Guard Width: 255mm ; Total Weight: 765g; View All Close. The intention of how to use the sword most likely dictated the way they were listed in inventories of the day. Tony Willis, "A Pair of Scottish Swords", Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of premodern combat weapons Swords, "Pappenheimer | Define Pappenheimer at Dictionary.com", "SOCIETY:: WEAPONS:: THRUSTING AND CUTTING WEAPONS [1] image - Visual Dictionary Online", "Search Chambers - Free English Dictionary", "A Perfect Length II: The Longsword | Encased in Steel", "Sword types in prize playing - The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts", "The Raymond J. Lord Collection of Historical Combat Treatises and fencing manuals: Terms of Use", "dictionary:: Panzerstecher [Blankwaffe]:: German-English translation", "Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object: Tuck (Panzerstecher)", "Hermann Historica - Internationales Auktionshaus fr Antiken, Alte Wa", "Glossaire archologique du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance", "Ethnographic Arms & Armour - Article: Notes on development of modern sabers - Role of Eastern Europe & the Hussars", "Stradioti: Balkan Mercenaries In Fifteenth And Sixteenth Century Italy", "estradiot: dfinition de estradiot, citations, exemples et usage pour estradiot dans le dictionnaire de franais Littr adapt du grand dictionnaire de la langue franaise d'Emile Littr", Best and most powerful martial arts, fight science, Top Quality Bokken/ Katana Sword available for Martial Arts training, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Classification_of_swords&oldid=1128493319, Articles that may contain original research from October 2012, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with disputed statements from August 2013, Articles containing Scottish Gaelic-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2012, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles containing Italian-language text, Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Articles containing Yue Chinese-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2014, Articles with self-published sources from August 2022, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Old High German (ca. search . These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. [40][41][42] Early models were either two-handers or "hand-and-a-half" hilted,[43] while later 16th and 17th century models (also known as koncerz) were one-handed and used by cavalry. Equipped with a long grip, the hand-and-a-half sword was suitable for use with one or even both hands if one wished to give extra force to a blow. All parts of the sword are used for offensive purposes, including the pommel and crossguard. The khopesh is an ancient Egyptian curved short sword with a length of approx. 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. It's typically used as an intermediate weapon for those learning how to use a real longsword. 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 . As with our single-hand broadswords above these weapons are custom made. 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. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. Its blade range from 33 to 41 inches in length. 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. The Spartan's shorter weapon proved deadly in the crush caused by colliding phalanx formations it was capable of being thrust through gaps in the enemy's shield wall and armour, where there was no room for longer weapons. [17]:plate 58 Some manuals even depict the cross as a hammer. [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. 8 gp. whinyard, whinger, cuttoe), wood-knife, or hunting sword is a long knife or short sword that hangs from the belt and was popular as both a hunting tool and weapon of war.[50][51]. A hand-and-a-half sword can be anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 feet long and generally weighs around 2-4 pounds. [citation needed], The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten". 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 tip of the sword blade is . "[20] Espe bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short swords. 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. The waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. Often also referred to as a hand-and-a-half sword. The Warspike combines the length of a long arming sword, the hilt of a small hand-and-a-half, and just a hint of a "tuck" thrusting blade. The distinction between two-handed swords and longswords can be confusing, and the deeper you delve into marginal cases the less clear the distinction can become. Historically, katana () were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (, nihont)[47][48] that were used by the samurai of feudal Japan. After looking around, we'd appreciate 2 minutes of your timeto answer 3 short questions about your experience. 120-150 cm (47-59 in), blade length: avg. Would a sword with a long handle, but a shorter blade (like an arming sword) be a "bastard" neither being a one nor two handed sword? Suitable for martial arts training, film props etc. Benefits of Using a Hand-and-a-Half-Sword. 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. The weapon was used in the half-sword, with one or both hands on the blade. 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. Slung across his back in a black leather shoulder sheath was Longclaw, the hand-and-a-half bastard blade the Old Bear had given him for saving his life. This was the most common longsword up to the late 13th century CE. [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. 5060cm long and typically made of bronze or iron. Frontline Books. Blade Length: 34.5 Inches ; Handle Length: 11.5 Inches ; Overall Length: 46 Inches ; Balance Point: 3.5 Inches Below Hilt ; Weight: 2 lbs. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). It is considered "The General of All Weapons".