All parts of the sword are used for offensive purposes, including the pommel and crossguard. The specific term used to describe these swords in period varied by region as listed above. Leadingthe research, replication and understanding ofarms and armor for over 37 years, creating exceptional items for those who appreciate history and its material culture. This hand-and-a-half sword is based on several historical originals. 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. 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. A tradition of teaching based on this has survived in contemporary French and Italian stick fighting.[24]. These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. After a Brief exchange with the Questioner in another answer, I have gotten an approximation of what recurve profile has been asked upon. Advantages of Hand-and-a-Half Swords 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 hanger (obs. Specifications: Overall Length: 43" Blade Length: 33" Weight: 3 lbs Edge: Unsharpened Width: 4.7 mm - 3.6 mm Pommel: Nut P.O.B. [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. The khopesh is an ancient Egyptian curved short sword with a length of approx. An Italian Two-Hand Sword First Half Of The 16th Century. In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as the broadsword.[36][37]. Bastard medieval swords, also known as hand-and-a-half swords, are surprisingly diverse weapons. 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. Folio 158 v.). A hand-and-a-half sword can be anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 feet long and generally weighs around 2-4 pounds. Blade: 5160 High Carbon Steel. 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 . Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. 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 hand and a half blade is used for thrusting and the length of the blade is not any longer than the long sword. . Longswords or . Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. 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). Price Availability* Description SBA-WARSPIKE $ 95 14 In Stock The Warspike: Knight Longsword Engrave this item for $20 . A longer and broader blade which widened slightly towards the handle. 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. We will respect your privacy. 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]. 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. They run 3 pounds plus, but you wonder how much of that weight is in the basket hilt, etc.? It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. Made from 5160 high-carbon steel, this functional sword has a double-edge blade. ca. The two terms are largely equivalent to "unarmoured fighting" (blossfechten) and "armoured fencing" (fechten im harnisch). 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 However they mainly saw prominence outside the battlefield as a duelling weapon. Type XX blades are broad, with lenticular or octagonal cross-sections. 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. [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. . 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. [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 term longsword has been used to refer to different kinds of sword depending on historical context: The spatha was a double-edged longsword used by the Romans. 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. 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. A channel ran down about half of the blade. Daggers were loot/spoils. [5], The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century);[6] The swords grouped as "longswords" for the purposes of this article are united by their being intended for two-handed use. Its blade range from 33 to 41 inches in length. As plate armor became more common, swords became longer and acquired a leaner blade with an acute point for thrusting. [17][18] Use of the longsword in attack was not limited only to use of the blade, however, as several Fechtbcher explain and depict use of the pommel and cross as offensive weapons. [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. This type of sword had a thickened back to the blade (opposite the cutting edge), which gave the blade strength. [24] The pe de passot was the sidearm of the franc-archers (French or Breton bowmen of the 15th and 16th centuries). [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). 55413 United States. 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. 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. Sign up for our mailing-list and be alerted to new products, special sales, limited product availability, and more. [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. Most hand-and-a-half swords had a diamond cross-section with a central ridge, creating a more rigid blade and specialized anti-armor tip for thrusting. Today, it is among the most common weapons used in HEMA. The blade could range between 0.5 and 1m (1ft 8in and 3ft 3in) long while the handle was usually between 18 and 20cm (7 and 8in). 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. [citation needed] The two handed claymore is an early Scottish version of a greatsword. It's typically used as an intermediate weapon for those learning how to use a real longsword. 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. 4.14-3.1 cm, then sharp point. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). Hand and a half swords are basically the historically correct terminology for a long sword, it's a sword that can be two handed or one handed depending on your needs, it only weighs like a pound and a half so it's super easy to handle. 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 evolution of these swords and how they were used was a dynamic and vigorous interplay of weapons and armor development with the keenest minds of martial combat striving to define the new environment of plate armor and longsword. Hand-and-a-Half (44) Length. Of these, "bastard sword" is the oldest, its use being contemporaneous with the weapon's heyday. "Let thy (long) Rapier or (long) Sword be foure foote at the least, and thy dagger two foote." 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. 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. [4] The term hand-and-a-half or bastard sword became a label to denote the later manifestations of these war swords or longswords. 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. Classically simple in design with a flattened diamond-section blade and cruciform hilt, the original dates from the early part of the 15th century. 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 . $225.00. Blade Length: 34.5 Inches ; Handle Length: 11.5 Inches ; Overall Length: 46 Inches ; Balance Point: 3.5 Inches Below Hilt ; Weight: 2 lbs. 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. Since it has no legitimate claim to being a member of either weapon family, it has earned the name bastard sword. This type includes the 14th to 15th century "hand and a half sword" or "two-handed" swords, often with two or more fullers. What kind of swords were used in medieval times? 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. 20-30 Inches (1) 30-40 Inches (6) 40-50 Inches (35) 50-60 Inches (2 . [53] The term 'falchion' may also refer to the early cutlass. (M. Rector, Ed. A longsword is, obviously, longer than a shortsword. Overall lenght 118,5 cm - Wheight 1300 g. 5152 . The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. If wielded in one hand, the hand-and-a-half sword functioned similarly to an arming sword, though its balance would be slightly different. Their specially shaped grips, usually bottle-shaped or waisted, gave better control and hold of the weapon. The most common form is also known as the Chinese sabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as Chinese broadswords. It's not technically intended to be used with one and a half hands -- that doesn't make sense. 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. To overcome this problem, swords began to be used primarily for thrusting. 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. 44. 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. The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. 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. Overall 39 inches. 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. The hand-and-a-half swords had long, slender blades and sharp points that could penetrate the gaps in the opponents armor. 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. 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 The guard is also cast of the same extremely hard stainless steel alloy. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. Swordecyclopedia 2022 - All Rights Reserved, Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods And Techniques, Medieval Military Technology, Second Edition. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. Includes a leather belt frog and scabbard with belt stop. The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). Historical (15th to 16th century) terms for this type of sword included Portuguese espada-de-armas, estoque or espada de duas mos for the version with longer handle used exclusively with both hands; Spanish espadn, montante, or mandoble, Italian spada longa (lunga) or spada due mani (Bolognese), and Middle French passot. The earliest forms of these are oversized examples of the single handed swords would be hard to distinguish as a separate group. They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. The backsword blade was cheaper to manufacture than a two-edged blade. Venezia, fine secolo XV. The distance between the hands obviously increases the leverage that combatant could exert on the weapon. It could also be used one-handed against lightly armored archers from horseback and two-handed for thrusting attacks against heavily armored opponents. 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.. Sub-type XXa has a more acutely tapering blade and a more acute point. Early depictions of a sword in two hands show swords such as the A&A Hungarian Sword used to deliver these blows. 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. NE The German langes Schwert ("long sword") in 15th-century manuals did not necessarily denote a type of weapon, but the technique of fencing with both hands at the hilt. The name bastard sword was first used in the 15th century, as far as we know. 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 term "single-handed sword" (or "one-handed sword") is a retronym coined to disambiguate from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" specimens. The weapon was used in the half-sword, with one or both hands on the blade. It's not technically intended to be used with one and a half hands that doesn't make sense. 1400-1430 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373. The term hand and . "arming sword", "broadsword", "long sword", etc.) [citation needed], The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten". The arming sword was the most used sword type in the medieval period. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. 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. were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures and fabrication technology. It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. With the Irish Hand and Half Sword, you swiftly break through the enemy lines and claim victory for your army this morn. George Silver[31] and Joseph Swetnam) is a single-handed "cut-and-thrust" sword with a 1.2-meter-long (4ft) blade[22] similar to the long rapier. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a double edged knife. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. Their handles have recognizable waist and bottle shapes which give a comfortable hold of the weapon. The French pe de passot may also refer to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. 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. Scabbard. This hand-and-half sword has a sharpened, darkened 1065 high carbon steel blade with an extra-wide tang. Sword Mounting Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. 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 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. 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 First quarter of the 9th c. A.D. (Stuttgart: Wurt. Fine secolo XIV Lunghezza totale cm 108. [49] Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. . $269.99 $211.98! Suitable for martial arts training, film props etc. The grete war sword, also called epee de guerre or great sword, was an earlier type of longsword used throughout most of western Europe. The hand-and-a-half sword also belongs to Oakeshott types XVIa, XVII, and XVIIIa. It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. 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. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. Fourteenth Century Length overall 124 cm. The #034 Black Prince a Type XVa Longsword, Durer Bastard Sword #195 a Type XVIII Longsword. 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).. This . [30] However, George Silver and Joseph Swetnam refer to them merely as "two hande sworde". Product description. (2012). Ships in 3-7 days. Some of the heavier normal size swords that I looked out were the single handed wide blade cut and thrust swords like the Munich town guard swords. HEMA practitioners also use steel swords with unsharpened blades designed to bend in the thrust. Hand-and-a-half swords had long grips that permitted the use of the second hand. Its French name pe btarde implies a sword of uncertain origin or an irregular sword. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. In the UK, the swords were supposedly weapons of a long dead great grandfather in British Navy. 1101 Stinson Blvd. [14] Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. SBCM-MAS-RED They were in use during the 14th and 15th centuries. It allowed more accurate and powerful thrusts against armored opponents. So, what benefits (if any) does a hand-and-a-half sword offer? [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. The term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handed arming sword. 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. By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff. ; M. Rector, Trans.). 120-150 cm (47-59 in), blade length: avg. 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.) Most longswords were made between the mid-14th century and the mid-16th century, and most of these measure approximately 120-150 cm overall (100-120 cm blade length) and weigh an average 1.5 kg. Landesbib. The names derive from words popular at different times and places. Knives such as the seax and other blades of similar length between 30 and 60cm (1 and 2ft) are sometimes construed as swords. 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 sword tends to have a guard that is slightly loose. The longsword was a quick, effective, and versatile weapon capable of deadly thrusts, slices, and cuts. . Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. The Blunted Blade is made from hardened spring steel with a full tang construction. 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. We will never share your information with anybody else cross our hearts, hope to die, stick a sharp sword in our (ok, this just got a little silly). The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. 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. [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 fighter could attempt to hit the opponent in the face using the pommel when wrestling with the sword, disarm, or throw him. In terms of blade typology, they do not form a single category. By the second half of the 16th century, it persisted mostly as a weapon for sportive competition (Schulfechten), and possibly in knightly duels. 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. "large/great sword")[16][17] can refer to either the longsword with a distinctive two-handed grip, or the basket-hilted sword. Both schools declined in the late 16th century, with the later Italian masters forgoing the longsword and focusing primarily on rapier fencing. [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. 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. Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han Dynasty were up to 150cm (58in) long. (J. L. Forgeng, Trans.). Scabbard. Hans Talhoffer, a mid-15th-century German fightmaster, is probably the most prominent, using a wide variety of moves, most resulting in wrestling. Two-handed swords, on the other hand, are long and heavy, making them particularly effective at dealing critical blows. 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. On the other hand, the hand-and-a-half swords were often used alone. 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. Its handle featured a waisted shape, tapering towards shorter, thinner half-grips. [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. . 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 hilts (handles) range from 8 to 16 inches long to provide room for gauntleted hands. [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. 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.
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hand and a half sword length