More . Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. Type XVIIIc blades are somewhat broader and shorter (about 85cm), and sometimes have a short and narrow fuller. The Oakeshott Type XVa is among the most common types of hand-and-a-half swords displayed in museums, including the Black Prince Sword, believed to be wielded by Edward, Prince of Wales. [citation needed] The height of the small sword's popularity was between the mid-17th and late 18th century. 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. In the Oakeshott typology of blade morphology, "longswords" figure as a range of sub-types of the corresponding single-handed sword types.[16]. The term hand and . 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 hand-and-a-half sword had a size between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. The swords grouped as "longswords" for the purposes of this article are united by their being intended for two-handed use. 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. They were in use during the 14th and 15th centuries. 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. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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). Early depictions of a sword in two hands show swords such as the A&A Hungarian Sword used to deliver these blows. Hand-and-a-Half (26) Length. Longswords or . $269.99 $211.98! Landesbib. 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. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. . the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. Tough, rigid and durable. The backsword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. (2012). [23] The manual also presents half-sword techniques as an integral part of armoured combat. 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. 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]. This is the classic one-handed sword used by knights and was often used in conjunction with a shield. Their handles have recognizable waist and bottle shapes which give a comfortable hold of the weapon. Bastard medieval swords, also known as hand-and-a-half swords, are surprisingly diverse weapons. 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. Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. [8] During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was used regularly to refer to this type of sword.[9]. The arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. From cut to thrust: The, Hand-and-a-Half Sword vs. So, what exactly is a hand-and-a-half sword? This technique combines the use of the sword with wrestling, providing opportunities to trip, disarm, break, or throw an opponent and place them in a less offensively and defensively capable position. Most swords are intended for use either one or two hands. Folio 158 v.). 15th Century. Weight ranged from 1 to 1.5 kg. 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. Half-swording was a manner of using both hands, one on the hilt and one on the blade, to better control the weapon in thrusts and jabs. [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 hand-and-a-half swords had long, slender blades and sharp points that could penetrate the gaps in the opponents armor. Regardless of what they are called these swords areall of a type that is iconic to the middle ages. Includes a leather belt frog and scabbard with belt stop. avg. Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Etymology 4 Portrayal in adaptations 4.1 Peter Jackson's film trilogies 5 Reproductions 6 Translations 7 References Others also had hexagonal cross-sections that cut poorly towards the tip. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. 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. Overall lenght 118,5 cm - Wheight 1300 g. 5152 . The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. [citation needed] In French, estoc also means thrust or point; and estoc et taille means cut and thrust. The grip of the hand and a half sword was long enough to accommodate one hand or two hands when used in combat. 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. [21] Others provided similar work, some with a wide array of images to accompany the text.[22]. 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. [4], The Panzerstecher ("armour stabber") is a German and East European weapon with a long, edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section for penetrating armour. [17]:7373,plate 67 The cross has been shown to be used as a hook for tripping or knocking an opponent off balance. The cross sections of the blades also varied a great deal. The Blunted Blade is made from hardened spring steel with a full tang construction. The most common form is also known as the Chinese sabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as Chinese broadswords. Overall 39 inches. Others also had knuckle guards, particularly the Swiss style. "large/great sword")[16][17] can refer to either the longsword with a distinctive two-handed grip, or the basket-hilted sword. They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. Its handle featured a waisted shape, tapering towards shorter, thinner half-grips. In HEMA, the term longsword refers to all swords with grips long enough to accommodate two hands yet lightweight enough to wield in one hand. The hand-and-a-half sword falls somewhere in between the one-handed and two-handed weapons. The long hilt 10-15 inches in length mainly distinguishes the bastard sword from other medieval swords. These swords were too heavy to be wielded one-handed and possessed a large grip for leverage. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). The term "single-handed sword" (or "one-handed sword") is a retronym coined to disambiguate from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" specimens. They have a 2 inch guard width and 0.24 inch guard thickness. Important sources for rapier fencing include the Italian Bolognese group, with early representatives such as Antonio . SBA-WARSPIKE-T $158 Out of Stock The fighter could attempt to hit the opponent in the face using the pommel when wrestling with the sword, disarm, or throw him. However they mainly saw prominence outside the battlefield as a duelling weapon. ; M. Rector, Trans.). There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a double edged knife. "arming sword", "broadsword", "long sword", etc.) 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 term hand-and-a-half or bastard sword became a label to denote the later manifestations of these war swords or longswords. Hand-and-a-Half (44) Length. [5], The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century);[6] + $45.00 shipping. This 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword is a surprisingly agile sword for its size with a total weight of only about 3 lbs - this ensures the sword is swift on the strike and a fine sword for drills and use. Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition (i.e. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. 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. One example how a sword can be used this way is to thrust the tip of the crossguard at the opponent's head right after parrying a stroke. However, they had various hilt and guard forms depending on their origin. It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. Quantity. Bastard Sword Sren Niedziella from Denmark . In the UK, the swords were supposedly weapons of a long dead great grandfather in British Navy. Sword hangers are knotted onto the scabbard with strips of leather, and they can be adjusted to fit and angle with a pair of brass screws. Some had broad parallel edges to those with acute tapers from the guard to a spike like point and many variations in between. [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. [17]:plate 58 Some manuals even depict the cross as a hammer. [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. These techniques could be nearly instantly fatal or incapacitating, as a thrust to the skull, heart, or major blood vessel would cause massive trauma. 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. 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. Many different swords fall into this category and many of them are as maneuverable as they are surprisingly sturdy. The sword is made of carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of HRC 54 ? 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). were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures and fabrication technology. [3] 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. 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. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. In the years to follow, however, the sword later became known as a "bastard sword." Leather Wrapped Handle. The hand could grip above or below the half-grip, or directly at the middle. The hilt has a leather covered hardwood grip and forged hand guard. Jian (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: jin; Cantonese: gim) is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. In terms of weight, a typical hand-and-a-half sword weighed roughly 2.4 to 4 pounds (1.1 to 1.8 kg). Fourteenth Century Length overall 124 cm. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. The Scottish name "claymore" (Scottish Gaelic: claidheamh mr, lit. Some advantages over wooden training gear are, Durability - Won't split, rot or splinter. Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han Dynasty were up to 150cm (58in) long. [17]:plates 128150, Another variation of use comes from the use of armour. The hilts (handles) range from 8 to 16 inches long to provide room for gauntleted hands. [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. Properties. The intention of how to use the sword most likely dictated the way they were listed in inventories of the day. Hand-and-a-half swords had long grips that permitted the use of the second hand. [5]:130 These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. 1d6 slashing. The hanger (obs. 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. A term that was coined by Italian curators. In later usage, 'cutlass' referred to the short naval boarding sabre. 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. Great swords or greatswords are related to the long swords of the Middle Ages. 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. As such, warriors using the hand-and-a-half sword were given more options. 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 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. These are double-edged, usually straight bladed swords, designed for optimized balance, reach and versatility. The French pe de passot may also refer to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. 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. They also had a pommel that counterbalanced the weight of the blade, improving its maneuverability. After a Brief exchange with the Questioner in another answer, I have gotten an approximation of what recurve profile has been asked upon. Both schools declined in the late 16th century, with the later Italian masters forgoing the longsword and focusing primarily on rapier fencing. 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; [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". The name bastard sword was first used in the 15th century, as far as we know. Among most Greek warriors, this weapon had an iron blade of about 60 centimetres. The groin and throat were among the favourite targets. Traditional vs Modern Differential Hardening for Swords. 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. The term "rapier" appeared in the English lexicon via the French pe rapire which either compared the weapon to a rasp or file; it may be a corruption of "rasping sword"[38] which referred to the sound the blade makes[39] when it comes into contact with another blade. Daggers were loot/spoils. 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). The waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. Cod. 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 earliest forms of these are oversized examples of the single handed swords would be hard to distinguish as a separate group. 44. It was longer than the gladius, and had more reach, so the spatha was most popular with soldiers in the cavalry. Rather than restricting its use to either one or two hands, it allows for both types of wielding. Scabbards protected the sword from dampness, rain, and were typically reinforced by a metal chape at the tip. 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 . 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 term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). Length. Sword Length: 42 5/8". By the early 16th century, hand-and-a-half swords continued to be used by knights and men-at-arms in knightly duels and sporting competitions. Bastard swords are also known as hand-and-a-half swords, falling between the longsword and greatsword in length. 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. The hand-and-a-half sword was a balanced weapon that enabled one to use it with one or both hands. 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. It is considered "The General of All Weapons". This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:56. 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 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. When wielded one-handed, they can be paired with a shield for extra defense. It remains identifiable as a type during the period of about 1350 to 1550. Origins of the Hand-and-a-Half-Sword Peso g 1400 . During half-swording, the entirety of the sword works as a weapon, including the pommel and crossguard. Dual Tempered HRc 60 48-50 at the core Fittings : Mild Steel Blade Thickness: 1.34 mm Total Length: 45 . 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. [9] The two terms are largely equivalent to "unarmoured fighting" (blossfechten) and "armoured fencing" (fechten im harnisch). [13] It was "[a sword] which was neither French, nor Spanish, nor properly Landsknecht [German], but longer than any of these sturdy swords. Type XVa is the classical two-handed sword of the 14th and 15th centuries (with early examples appearing from the later 13th century). $440. So, what benefits (if any) does a hand-and-a-half sword offer? It remained in use as a weapon of war intended for wielders wearing full plate armour either on foot or on horseback, throughout the late medieval period. The Elizabethan long sword (cf. The Cold Steel Kris series, which includes a sword and dagger, is something we hope all . 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. 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. 20-30 Inches (1) 30-40 Inches (6) 40-50 Inches (35) 50-60 Inches (2 . [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. $349.99. During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was also 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).[7]. In the early Middle Ages, swords were broad and heavy and used to hack through the mail. 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 . Historical terms (15th to 16th century) for this type of sword included the Italian spada longa (lunga) and French pe longue. Scabbard. A channel ran down about half of the blade. The name hand-and-a-half is not a historical term. Theme by Safe As Milk. Black War Sword And Scabbard - High Carbon Steel Blade, Wooden Handle, Leather-Wrapped - Length 42". Total Length: 1060mm; Blade Length: 790mm ; Hilt Length: 270mm ; Guard Width: 255mm ; Total Weight: 765g; View All Close. The arming sword was paired with a small, round buckler shield on the left hand. NE 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. 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". Advantages of Hand-and-a-Half Swords Pal. They were made from wood, lined with cloth, and bound in leather. Swords with exceptionally long hilts are found throughout the High Middle Ages. Sword Length: 42 5/8". 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. Optimized for armored combat, their blades were steeply pointed, suggesting that their primary function was to pierce armor. 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. SWORD, late 14th century, . Regardless, the sword's defining characteristics remain the same: it can be used with either one hand or both hands. All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse.