3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. 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. The falchion (French braquemart,[52] Spanish bracamarte) proper is a wide straight-bladed but curved edged hanger or long knife. To overcome this problem, swords began to be used primarily for thrusting. The hand-and-a-half sword had a longer reach than the so-called short sword, the earlier arming sword, making it significant for a mounted knight fighting against other cavalry and foot soldiers. The hand could grip above or below the half-grip, or directly at the middle. [25] The term passot comes from the fact that these swords passed (passaient) the length of a "normal" short sword. Leather Wrapped Handle. 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). The groin and throat were among the favourite targets. The idea for the spatha came from the swords of ancient Celts in Germany and Britain. These terms were often described in relation to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. The blade is 79cm in length and constructed from a rugged 1060 spring steel and through . The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a double edged knife. Swordsmen were trained to use the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. The longsword was a quick, effective, and versatile weapon capable of deadly thrusts, slices, and cuts. These swords have long cruciform hilts with grips over 10 to 15 inches in length, which provide room for two hands. Folio 158 v.). (M. Rector, Ed. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. During half-swording, the entirety of the sword works as a weapon, including the pommel and crossguard. Today, the two terms are used interchangeably, with some people referring to as a hand-and-a-half sword and others calling it a bastard sword. The grip was somewhat larger than the grip of a one-handed sword so that . Pen & Sword Books Limited. The grip of the hand and a half sword was long enough to accommodate one hand or two hands when used in combat. [13][14][15][dubious discuss] The great sword proper was developed during the Renaissance, but its earlier cousin, the Scottish Claymore, was very similar in size and use, like the "outsized specimens" between 160cm and 180cm (approx. These blades are strongly tapered, more narrow and slender even than the single-handed type XV variant, with a flattened diamond cross-section. 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. 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. 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. + $45.00 shipping. The hilt has a leather covered hardwood grip and forged hand guard. . The grete war sword, also called epee de guerre or great sword, was an earlier type of longsword used throughout most of western Europe. It allowed more accurate and powerful thrusts against armored opponents. 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. In southern Germany, it persisted into the 1560s, but its use also declined during the second half of the 16th century. There is no historical Italian equivalent to the English word "rapier". The long grip gives the wielder plenty of leverage to maneuver the sword quickly and to strike decisively. Product description. They were made from wood, lined with cloth, and bound in leather. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihnder. Some had straight or curved quillons (arms of the crossguard), side rings, finger rings, and loop-back guards. The most common form is also known as the Chinese sabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as Chinese broadswords. This type of sword had a thickened back to the blade (opposite the cutting edge), which gave the blade strength. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. 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. (2012). The variety of longswords that have survived are diverse and it is obvious that personal preference and intended use where important factors in what a warrior of the period would choose to use. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. Their handles have recognizable waist and bottle shapes which give a comfortable hold of the weapon. They were in use during the 14th and 15th centuries. This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:56. SWORD, late 14th century, . This was the most common longsword up to the late 13th century CE. More . The blade could be the same length as a single-hand sword but the tang and the grip . 2023, Arms & Armor Regardless of what they are called these swords areall of a type that is iconic to the middle ages. The term two-handed sword, used as a general term, may refer to any large sword designed to be used primarily with two hands: The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). Tough, rigid and durable. . The medieval longsword could include the earlier grete war swords, hand-and-a-half or bastard swords, and estocs. The waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. [5], The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century);[6] 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 backsword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. Overall lenght 118,5 cm - Wheight 1300 g. 5152 . 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]. [citation needed]. 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 tang is peened onto the forged pommel. 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. 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). $349.99. "large/great sword")[16][17] can refer to either the longsword with a distinctive two-handed grip, or the basket-hilted sword. "arming sword", "broadsword", "long sword", etc.) By the 16th century, its military use was mostly obsolete, culminating in the brief period where the oversized Zweihnder were wielded by the German Landsknechte during the early to mid 16th century. The backsword reached its greatest use in the 17th and 18th century when many cavalry swords, such as the British 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword, were of this form. Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Etymology 4 Portrayal in adaptations 4.1 Peter Jackson's film trilogies 5 Reproductions 6 Translations 7 References Fine secolo XIV Lunghezza totale cm 108. HEMA practitioners also use steel swords with unsharpened blades designed to bend in the thrust. [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BC during the Spring and Autumn period;[18] one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian. . Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. Hand-and-a-Half (26) Length. [30] However, George Silver and Joseph Swetnam refer to them merely as "two hande sworde". 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. [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 intention of how to use the sword most likely dictated the way they were listed in inventories of the day. 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. It is considered "The General of All Weapons". Ewart Oakeshott distinguishes twelve different types. 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. [8] Some advantages over wooden training gear are, Durability - Won't split, rot or splinter. The Filipino islands are widely known for their vast assortment of edged weapons. 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". Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. Tweet Share Google+ Pinterest . Also, the hand on the blade increases its rigidity which is advantageous when thrusting. Longswords have straight, double-edged blades and are small enough to be drawn from the belt. In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as the broadsword.[36][37]. The term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handed arming sword. In later usage, 'cutlass' referred to the short naval boarding sabre. Dao are single-edged Chinese swords, primarily used for slashing and chopping. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. A longsword (long sword) is any sword that is generally wielded with two hands. [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. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. These swords were too heavy to be wielded one-handed and possessed a large grip for leverage. Expand Favorite View PDF Fencing longsword ("hand-and-a-half" sword) Culture German Datelate 1500s Mediumsteel, wood and leather DimensionsOverall length: 141.5 cm (55 3/4 in.) [53] The term 'falchion' may also refer to the early cutlass. 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. Venezia, fine secolo XV. 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. Print ; $299-$141. These days, the term longsword most frequently refers to a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands. [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". Most feel they were blades that could be used either one or two handed (much like the longsword pictured), and sometimes the term hand and a half sword is also used interchangeably. 1101 Stinson Blvd. The Scabbard All Hanwei western medieval swords come with a nicely made scabbard. [9] 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. 1400-1430 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373. 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 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 It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. A hand-and-a-half sword is a weapon either with a flat blade or with diamond or lenticular cross-section that's between 22 to 30 inches. The #034 Black Prince a Type XVa Longsword, Durer Bastard Sword #195 a Type XVIII Longsword. Weight 1700 g. 5144. 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. [17]:1516 The blade was generally used with both hands on the hilt, one resting close to or on the pommel. For example, there is a longsword in The Glasgow Art and History Museum, Labelled XIIIa. [5]:130 These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. Its handle featured a waisted shape, tapering towards shorter, thinner half-grips. The 19cm grip is constructed from timber, covered in faux leather with a sewn seam which is then cord wrapped for extra strength. Harnischfechten, or "armoured fighting" (German kampffechten, or Fechten in Harnisch zu Fuss, literally "fighting in armour on foot"), depicts fighting in full plate armour.[25]. A channel ran down about half of the blade. Honshu Damascus Broadsword With Sheath - Damascus Steel Blade, TPR Handle, Stainless Steel Pommel - Length 43 1/2". 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 . These techniques could be nearly instantly fatal or incapacitating, as a thrust to the skull, heart, or major blood vessel would cause massive trauma. SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. 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. [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]. Total Length: 1060mm; Blade Length: 790mm ; Hilt Length: 270mm ; Guard Width: 255mm ; Total Weight: 765g; View All Close. These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. This actually does help with defining how long the blade can be in relation t. Includes Scabbard or Sheath (19) Grip: hand-and-half to two hand length, 6" to 10" Average Weight: Primary purpose: cutting Period: Great Sword or War Sword, in use from middle of the 13th c to the latter half of the 14th Sub-Type XIIIb Profile: broad, flat and parallel edges Cross-section: lenticular Average Blade Length: 35"