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. 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. Peso g 1400 . #4. After looking around, we'd appreciate 2 minutes of your timeto answer 3 short questions about your experience. An example of a "true" bastard sword / hand-and-a-half sword Skallagrim 1.56M subscribers 881K views 7 years ago The term longsword (or "long sword") is often incorrectly applied to. Tough, rigid and durable. "Let thy (long) Rapier or (long) Sword be foure foote at the least, and thy dagger two foote." The backsword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. Terminology was further complicated by terms introduced[1] or misinterpreted[2][3][4] in the 19th century by antiquarians and in 20th century pop culture,[5] and by the addition of new terms such as "great sword", "Zweihnder" (instead of Beidhnder), and "cut-and-thrust sword". 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. The earlier flatter blade types could not chop through plate armor, and its thin tip would only glance off instead of puncturing it. What's in a name? [53] The term 'falchion' may also refer to the early cutlass. SBCM-MAS-RED Replicated from a sword thought to be that of Albrecht II of Austria, the Hand-and-a-Half Sword represents the pinnacle of beauty and balance in medieval swords. These swords were too heavy to be wielded one-handed and possessed a large grip for leverage. . Most were better suited for thrusting, but others were also designed for more cutting. [19] There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts. For example, there is a longsword in The Glasgow Art and History Museum, Labelled XIIIa. They run 3 pounds plus, but you wonder how much of that weight is in the basket hilt, etc.? In Athenian art, Spartan hoplites were often depicted using a kopis instead of the xiphos, as the kopis was seen as a quintessential "villain" weapon in Greek eyes.[46]. The term hand-and-a-half or bastard sword became a label to denote the later manifestations of these war swords or longswords. [44], The "tuck" (French estoc, Italian stocco)[citation needed] is an edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section used for thrusting. The edgeless swords category comprises weapons which are related to or labelled as "swords" but do not emphasise hacking or slashing techniques or have any cutting edges whatsoever. We will respect your privacy. 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? Handle Length. These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. Add to cart. Posted by Will Cruse on 23rd Oct 2022 Cool and does the job. This . Shes particularly interested in the rise and fall of empires, accounts of war and conquest, and ancient and classical history. Answer (1 of 2): I'll apologize be as I'm long-winded and cover a lot of ground. 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. 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. The Filipino islands are widely known for their vast assortment of edged weapons. When wielded one-handed, they can be paired with a shield for extra defense. [21] Others provided similar work, some with a wide array of images to accompany the text.[22]. probably German. Fourteenth Century Length overall 124 cm. 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 30cm or 6 to 12in), a straight double-edged blade of around 80 to 110cm (31 to 43in), and weighing approximately 1 to 1.5kg (2lb 3oz to 3lb 5oz).[1][2]. [citation needed]. SPADA DI STOCCO. [citation needed], The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten". this name was given because the balance of the sword made it usable in one hand, as well as two. 3 lb. The tip of the sword blade is . The tang is peened onto the forged pommel. These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. Some had broad parallel edges to those with acute tapers from the guard to a spike like point and many variations in between. Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. 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. Knives such as the seax and other blades of similar length between 30 and 60cm (1 and 2ft) are sometimes construed as swords. 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. Overall lenght 118,5 cm - Wheight 1300 g. 5152 . The hand could grip above or below the half-grip, or directly at the middle. 55413 United States. 100-122 cm (39-48 in) Width. They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. There are two late examples of longswords kept in the Swiss National Museum, both with vertically grooved pommels and elaborately decorated with silver inlay, and both belonging to Swiss noblemen in French service during the late 16th and early 17th century, Gugelberg von Moos and Rudolf von Schauenstein. In southern Germany, it persisted into the 1560s, but its use also declined during the second half of the 16th century. Ewart Oakeshott classified medieval swords into types, focusing on their blade type, pommel, and crossguard designs. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. [citation needed] It is thought to have appeared in France and spread quickly across the rest of Europe. Hand-and-a-half swords initially had a plain crossguard but later featured extensive hand guards. The hand and a half blade is used for thrusting and the length of the blade is not any longer than the long 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 19cm grip is constructed from timber, covered in faux leather with a sewn seam which is then cord wrapped for extra strength. First quarter of the 9th c. A.D. (Stuttgart: Wurt. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). Leather Wrapped Handle. The names derive from words popular at different times and places. 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. 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). Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. or example, 'longsword' is related to the German 'langshwert', and 'bastard sword' from the French 'pe btarde', Take the Survey (takes 2 minutes or less). (M. Rector, Ed. [citation needed]. These blades are strongly tapered, more narrow and slender even than the single-handed type XV variant, with a flattened diamond cross-section. Weight 1700 g. 5144. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. 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 term hand and . 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]. These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. [6] Historical European Martial Arts associations have turned the term spada da lato[7] into "side-sword". By the 15th century, larger and heavier swords had been developed, including the 'Bastard' or 'Hand-and-a-half' sword. Ships in 3-7 days. Regardless of what they are called these swords areall of a type that is iconic to the middle ages. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). In the early Middle Ages, swords were broad and heavy and used to hack through the mail. germ. Type XX blades are broad, with lenticular or octagonal cross-sections. [17]:plate 58 Some manuals even depict the cross as a hammer. The arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. 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. Hand-and-a-Half (26) Length. 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. Important sources for rapier fencing include the Italian Bolognese group, with early representatives such as Antonio . avg. 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. The blade measured around 1 metre (40 inches), the grip averaged 15-23 cm (6-9 inches). A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. Most swords are intended for use either one or two hands. Most long swords were double edged. The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. 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. 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. Swords with exceptionally long hilts are found throughout the High Middle Ages. 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 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. Product description. [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]. Length. [citation needed] In French, estoc also means thrust or point; and estoc et taille means cut and thrust. Cod. 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 actually does help with defining how long the blade can be in relation t. In later usage, 'cutlass' referred to the short naval boarding sabre. were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures and fabrication technology. [3] The Elizabethan long sword (cf. 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. More details . The Scottish name "claymore" (Scottish Gaelic: claidheamh mr, lit. [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. The blade could be the same length as a single-hand sword but the tang and the grip . Access this answer and support the author as a Quora+ subscriber The fighter could attempt to hit the opponent in the face using the pommel when wrestling with the sword, disarm, or throw him. 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 . Sword Length: 42 5/8". The hand-and-a-half sword is particularly versatile in this regard. 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. Others also had hexagonal cross-sections that cut poorly towards the tip. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a double edged knife. "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. Its blade range from 33 to 41 inches in length. Most are leather covered with metal chape and throat. More . The distance between the hands obviously increases the leverage that combatant could exert on the weapon. This increased the accuracy and strength of thrusts and provided more leverage for Ringen am Schwert or "wrestling at/with the sword". 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 . 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. Our Medieval Hand and a Half Sword with Blunted Blade is a Battle Ready sword designed to be used for Stage Combat. . It's not technically intended to be used with one and a half hands that doesn't make sense. 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. [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. $440. The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. Longswords have straight, double-edged blades and are small enough to be drawn from the belt. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. So, what exactly is a hand-and-a-half sword? It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. The grete war sword, also called epee de guerre or great sword, was an earlier type of longsword used throughout most of western Europe. Frontline Books. The hilts (handles) range from 8 to 16 inches long to provide room for gauntleted hands. Hans Talhoffer, a mid-15th-century German fightmaster, is probably the most prominent, using a wide variety of moves, most resulting in wrestling. 3 European single handed sword. Others also had knuckle guards, particularly the Swiss style. Traditional vs Modern Differential Hardening for Swords. As plate armor became more common, swords became longer and acquired a leaner blade with an acute point for thrusting. 15th Century. 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. 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 . [4] 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. Bastard medieval swords, also known as hand-and-a-half swords, are surprisingly diverse weapons. 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. Early depictions of a sword in two hands show swords such as the A&A Hungarian Sword used to deliver these blows. This sword tends to have a guard that is slightly loose. [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 #034 Black Prince a Type XVa Longsword, Durer Bastard Sword #195 a Type XVIII Longsword. Weight ranged from 1 to 1.5 kg. In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as the broadsword.[36][37]. 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. "large/great sword")[16][17] can refer to either the longsword with a distinctive two-handed grip, or the basket-hilted sword. A tradition of teaching based on this has survived in contemporary French and Italian stick fighting.[24]. Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han Dynasty were up to 150cm (58in) long. SWORD, late 14th century, . We offer an array of these swords. 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. And this is why it remains a popular sword type even after all of those years. Blade Length: 107.3 cm (42 1/4 in.) Bastard Sword. 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. 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 cutlass or curtal-axe also known as a falchion (French badelaire, braquemart,[54] coutelas,[55] malchus; Italian coltellaccio, storta; German messer,[56] dussack, malchus) is a broad-bladed curved hanger or long knife. 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. . In terms of weight, a typical hand-and-a-half sword weighed roughly 2.4 to 4 pounds (1.1 to 1.8 kg). Non-sharpened. 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. [5]:130 These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. 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. An Italian Two-Hand Sword First Half Of The 16th Century. This is very popular . [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". All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter. 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. Ehhh, Xiphos were typically more of a shortsword, usually only about 24ish inches in length. Today, it is among the most common weapons used in HEMA. The weapon was used in the half-sword, with one or both hands on the blade. This probably represents the differing tastes of current sword buyers from those of the Middle Ages. This was the most common longsword up to the late 13th century CE. Sword Length: 42 5/8". Distinct "bastard sword" hilt types developed during the first half of the 16th century. 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." 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 katana is characterized by its distinctive appearance: a curved, slender, single-edged blade usually with a round guard and long grip to accommodate two hands. 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. It was coined by modern collectors in the 19th century to refer to how the weapon is wielded. "[20] Espe bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short swords. The arming sword was the most used sword type in the medieval period. A sword with a single hand grip length but longsword blade length The so called "hand and a half" swords Longswords/Greatswords that could be effectively used one handed but were usually used with both making it hard to describe as strictly a one hander or two hander J Jonathon Belt Joined Aug 20, 2011 Messages 40 Aug 14, 2013 #8 In modern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings. Well, the most notable benefit of this sword type is the ability to use it with another weapon or shield. These long-gripped weapons were ideal for thrusting at small gaps in armor when the typical slashing sword could not chop through it. Also, the hand on the blade increases its rigidity which is advantageous when thrusting. The weapon may be held with one hand during disarmament or grappling techniques. 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. Buy the medieval Albrecht Hand-and-a-Half Swords for $ 299.99. 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. Print ; $299-$141. Price Availability* Description SBA-WARSPIKE $ 95 14 In Stock The Warspike: Knight Longsword Engrave this item for $20 . However, the reduced weight near the tips made them less efficient for slashing. Jun 13, 2018. The hand and a half length handle is 10 inches. Lengths usually ranged from 110 cm to 150 cm, with 120 to 125 cm probably being the median. A defining characteristic of the sword isn't the overall length, it's the length of the handle. The groin and throat were among the favourite targets. 1400-1430 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373. 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. [5], The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century);[6] Furthermore, there is a deprecation of the term "broadsword" by these associations. 44. The term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handed arming 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. Swordsmen were trained to use the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. + $45.00 shipping. $225.00. 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. Leather / Wood Scabbard with Steel Fittings. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When we see references to the Grans espes d'Allemagne (large swords of Germany) at the beginning of the 14th century,it is obvious that the idea of a larger sword for use with two hands has entered the arsenal of the Medieval Knight. Blade Length: 34 1/2" Handle Length: 11 1/2" Weight: 3 lb 8 oz Point of Balance: 3 1/2" Blade Steel: 5160 (2012). Perhaps. This hand-and-half sword has a sharpened, darkened 1065 high carbon steel blade with an extra-wide tang. Apparently, many swords were designed for left-hand use, although left-handed swords have been described as "a rarity".[12]. Hand-and-a-half swords had long grips that permitted the use of the second hand. Overall 39 inches. Origins of the Hand-and-a-Half-Sword 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).
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