Type XVIIIb blades are slender, comparable to XVa blades but longer, measuring between 90 and 107cm, with a correspondingly longer grip, often waisted for comfortable two-handed use. 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 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. Some had straight or curved quillons (arms of the crossguard), side rings, finger rings, and loop-back guards. Many different swords fall into this category and many of them are as maneuverable as they are surprisingly sturdy. Gothic hand-and-a-half sword Wolfram - CelticWebMerchant.com Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff. Hand-and-a-Half Sword - The Metropolitan Museum of Art [44], The "tuck" (French estoc, Italian stocco)[citation needed] is an edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section used for thrusting. Print ; $299-$141. The term hand-and-a-half or bastard sword became a label to denote the later manifestations of these war swords or longswords. The blade is 79cm in length and constructed from a rugged 1060 spring steel and through . The hand-and-a-half swords optimized the combination of reach, maneuverability, and weight. The later hardened plate armours, complete with ridges and roping, posed a threat against the careless attacker. Bonhams : An Italian Two-Hand Sword [5]:130 These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. From the late 15th century, however, it is also attested as being worn and used by unarmoured soldiers or mercenaries. [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. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. 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. [5]:133[15] 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. Hand and a Half Sword 88HNH Bastard Sword by Cold Steel - Get a Sword The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. Among most Greek warriors, this weapon had an iron blade of about 60 centimetres. What Really is a Hand and a Half Sword? Full Analysis By the 15th century, larger and heavier swords had been developed, including the 'Bastard' or 'Hand-and-a-half' sword. Hand-and-a-Half Sword: Its History and Use in Combat Weight 1700 g. 5144. A nonce attestation of "long-sword" in the sense of "heavy two-handed sword" is found in, Systematic use of the term only from 2001 beginning with, Oakeshott's Typology of the Medieval Sword A Summary, "Medieval and Renaissance Fencing Terminology", "Study of the Destructive Capabilities of the European Longsword", "The Two-Handed Great Sword Making lite of the issue of weight", "Oakeshott's Typology of the Medieval Sword: A Summary", Halflang and Tua Handit: Hand-and-a-Half and Two-Handed Scottish Swords, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Longsword&oldid=1141836737, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox weapon with unknown parameters, Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Italian-language text, Articles containing Scottish Gaelic-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Types XIIa and XIIIa represent the Great Sword or War Sword type used in the later 13th and in the 14th century. Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. It was coined by modern collectors in the 19th century to refer to how the weapon is wielded. Its blade range from 33 to 41 inches in length. The French pe de passot was also known as pe btarde[citation needed] (i.e., bastard sword) and also coustille croix[23] (literally a cross-hilted blade). We see very thin blades with tremendous cutting potential to swords of the more common diamond cross section, many with fullers, to the category of Tucks which hadblades designed for thrusting and levering ones opponent in close play. Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. Regardless, the sword's defining characteristics remain the same: it can be used with either one hand or both hands. 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 SWORD | Cold Steel Knives Powered by Shopify. Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. A Rare All-Steel Left-Hand DaggerThird Quarter Of The 16th Century, Probably Spanish. The long hilt 10-15 inches in length mainly distinguishes the bastard sword from other medieval swords. Glamdring | The One Wiki to Rule Them All | Fandom The idea for the spatha came from the swords of ancient Celts in Germany and Britain. In the UK, the swords were supposedly weapons of a long dead great grandfather in British Navy. The arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. This hand-and-half sword has a sharpened, darkened 1065 high carbon steel blade with an extra-wide tang. The term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handed arming sword. Blofechten (blosz fechten) or "bare fighting" is the technique of fighting without significant protective armour such as plate or mail. Minneapolis Minnesota Hand and a Half Swords - Medieval Collectibles Two-Hander Longsword - Superior Swords Co. Their specially shaped grips, usually bottle-shaped or waisted, gave better control and hold of the weapon. It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. 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. The term "single-handed sword" (or "one-handed sword") is a retronym coined to disambiguate from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" specimens. [6] Historical European Martial Arts associations have turned the term spada da lato[7] into "side-sword". Oakeshott's Typology of the Medieval Sword - Albion Swords 120-150 cm (47-59 in), blade length: avg. 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. Ewart Oakeshott classified medieval swords into types, focusing on their blade type, pommel, and crossguard designs. Special Properties None Base Damage: 1d10 Base Critical Threat: 19-20/x2 Base Damage Type: Slashing Weapon Size: Medium Feats Required: Exotic Item Code: nw_wswbs001 Return to Top Bastard Sword +1 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. "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. The medieval longsword could include the earlier grete war swords, hand-and-a-half or bastard swords, and estocs. $440. Scabbard. The name hand-and-a-half is not a historical term. It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. Rather than restricting its use to either one or two hands, it allows for both types of wielding. GOTHIC HAND AND A HALF SWORD. 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. $225.00. 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. The tang is peened onto the forged pommel. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. Most are leather covered with metal chape and throat. The Austrian Bastard Sword. Hand-and-a-half sword | Inheriwiki | Fandom The German school of swordsmanship includes the earliest known longsword Fechtbuch, a manual from approximately 1389, known as GNM 3227a. Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Viking Sword, Sharp / Battle Ready Medieval Sword. 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. Dual Tempered HRc 60 48-50 at the core Fittings : Mild Steel Blade Thickness: 1.34 mm Total Length: 45 . The term hand-and-a-half is more of modern designation for a range of sword types that featured tapered blades longer than the common shorter arming swords of the time but without the double-hand grips of larger heavier war-swords. The blade length is about 70 to 80 cm (28-32 inches). These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. A longsword (long sword) is any sword that is generally wielded with two hands. Tony Willis, "A Pair of Scottish Swords", Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of premodern combat weapons Swords, "Pappenheimer | Define Pappenheimer at Dictionary.com", "SOCIETY:: WEAPONS:: THRUSTING AND CUTTING WEAPONS [1] image - Visual Dictionary Online", "Search Chambers - Free English Dictionary", "A Perfect Length II: The Longsword | Encased in Steel", "Sword types in prize playing - The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts", "The Raymond J. Lord Collection of Historical Combat Treatises and fencing manuals: Terms of Use", "dictionary:: Panzerstecher [Blankwaffe]:: German-English translation", "Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object: Tuck (Panzerstecher)", "Hermann Historica - Internationales Auktionshaus fr Antiken, Alte Wa", "Glossaire archologique du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance", "Ethnographic Arms & Armour - Article: Notes on development of modern sabers - Role of Eastern Europe & the Hussars", "Stradioti: Balkan Mercenaries In Fifteenth And Sixteenth Century Italy", "estradiot: dfinition de estradiot, citations, exemples et usage pour estradiot dans le dictionnaire de franais Littr adapt du grand dictionnaire de la langue franaise d'Emile Littr", Best and most powerful martial arts, fight science, Top Quality Bokken/ Katana Sword available for Martial Arts training, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Classification_of_swords&oldid=1128493319, Articles that may contain original research from October 2012, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with disputed statements from August 2013, Articles containing Scottish Gaelic-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2012, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles containing Italian-language text, Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Articles containing Yue Chinese-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2014, Articles with self-published sources from August 2022, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Old High German (ca. The Blunted Blade is made from hardened spring steel with a full tang construction. 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. Hand-and-a-Half (44) Length. The 19cm grip is constructed from timber, covered in faux leather with a sewn seam which is then cord wrapped for extra strength. Fencing longsword ("hand-and-a-half" sword) - Gallery Systems NE 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]. In terms of blade typology, they do not form a single category. 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.. [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). 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 . [2] Navigation menu . Bastard sword - A Wiki of Ice and Fire 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. Frontline Books. The term hand-and-a-half sword is often used interchangeably with longsword, although it is not entirely accurate. The hand-and-a-half sword also belongs to Oakeshott types XVIa, XVII, and XVIIIa. The 34 inch blade on that tends to be like 2 inches wide and 6mm+ thick and tapering . SBA-WARSPIKE-T $158 Out of Stock Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. . 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. Most were better suited for thrusting, but others were also designed for more cutting. They also had a pommel that counterbalanced the weight of the blade, improving its maneuverability. In medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. Sword Dimensions? | BladeForums.com The khopesh is an ancient Egyptian curved short sword with a length of approx. Some of the earliest swords seemingly designed for two handed use are the Grete Swords of War of the 13th C. These are referred to by a variety of names and include Langschwert, spadone or spada longa, grootzwaard, pe btarde, and bastard sword. The lack of significant torso and limb protection leads to the use of a large amount of cutting and slicing techniques in addition to thrusts. 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. They have a flattened diamond cross-section, often with pronounced mid-rib, some being hollow-ground. All of these types can be classified in some of their forms as Longsword, Bastard Sword and Hand and a Half swords. 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 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]. Price Availability* Description SBA-WARSPIKE $ 95 14 In Stock The Warspike: Knight Longsword Engrave this item for $20 . The steeply pointed blade, indicating that it was primarily intended . They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. The grip was somewhat larger than the grip of a one-handed sword so that . CAS Hanwei Hand-and-a-Half Sword SH2034 - Amazon.com [citation needed]. Fine secolo XIV Lunghezza totale cm 108. When wielded two-handed, they become brutally effective slashing or chopping weapons. The distance between the hands obviously increases the leverage that combatant could exert on the weapon. These terms were often described in relation to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. 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. 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. When pike formations became common on battlefield tactics, ranged weapons proved more effective against pikemen, diminishing the advantages of hand-and-a-half swords. Later on, the thrusting rapier gained favor as a civilian dueling weapon. the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. Important sources for rapier fencing include the Italian Bolognese group, with early representatives such as Antonio . It allowed more accurate and powerful thrusts against armored opponents. Warspike Knight's Hand-and-a-Half (Bastard) Sword $95 In Stock! [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 bastard sword also had a long thin long blade that tapered into a point. They have a 2 inch guard width and 0.24 inch guard thickness. Sub-type XXa has a more acutely tapering blade and a more acute point. . The two terms are largely equivalent to "unarmoured fighting" (blossfechten) and "armoured fencing" (fechten im harnisch). Longsword | Military Wiki | Fandom German Bastard or Hand-And -A-Half Sword, early 16th century | Barnebys Pen & Sword Books Limited. Access this answer and support the author as a Quora+ subscriber Swordsmen were trained to use the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. 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. We offer an array of these swords. In the early Middle Ages, swords were broad and heavy and used to hack through the mail. The waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. The specific term used to describe these swords in period varied by region as listed above. Over the next several centuries blade shapes varied but we see these swords in two hands being used across the Europe. The hand-and-a-half sword was a balanced weapon that enabled one to use it with one or both hands. 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; Others are modern or early modern terms used by antiquarians, curators, and modern-day sword enthusiasts for historical swords. 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.) Advantages of Hand-and-a-Half Swords After a Brief exchange with the Questioner in another answer, I have gotten an approximation of what recurve profile has been asked upon. This increased the accuracy and strength of thrusts and provided more leverage for Ringen am Schwert or "wrestling at/with the sword". ca. We will respect your privacy. 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 1d6 slashing. The hand-and-a-half sword had a size between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. "[20] Espe bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short 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. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. Sword Mounting Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. This is very popular . Length: 115 cm Weight: 1.4 kg Acquisition and important dates Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1933-03-16) by Henderson, James Stewart Dating 13th/14th Century Circa 1250 CE - 1350 CE Note 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. A sword called by these names would most likely have a blade length of 33 to 40+ inches and a grip and pommel that one can get both hands placed comfortably upon. : 4 3/4" Grip Length: 6 7/8" Blade: [C60 High Carbon Steel] Manufacturer: Deepeeka Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). Albrecht II Sword - Functional European Swords at Reliks.com [59][60] The scimitar proper was the Stradioti saber,[61][62] and the term was introduced into France by Philippe de Commines (1447 18 October 1511) as cimeterre,[63] Italy (especially the Venetian Republic who hired the stradioti as mercenaries) as scimitarra, and England as cimeter or scimitar via the French and Italian terms. [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. Great swords or greatswords are related to the long swords of the Middle Ages. SBCM-MAS-RED Cod. 2023, Arms & Armor This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. An example of a "true" bastard sword / hand-and-a-half sword Bastard Sword Weapons | NWN2DB Leather / Wood Scabbard with Steel Fittings. These are double-edged, usually straight bladed swords, designed for optimized balance, reach and versatility. Kodachi vs Wakizashi: What's the Difference? It was longer than the gladius, and had more reach, so the spatha was most popular with soldiers in the cavalry. In southern Germany, it persisted into the 1560s, but its use also declined during the second half of the 16th century. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. Irish Hand and Half Sword - Irish hand and a half sword, a Legacy Arms/Generation 2 design, dating from around 1475 - 1525 A.D. Swords, Knives & Reenactment menu. Irish Hand and Half Sword - Medieval Collectibles The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. The #034 Black Prince a Type XVa Longsword, Durer Bastard Sword #195 a Type XVIII Longsword. They possess an elongated grip which can easily accommodate both hands but they are generally well balanced enough to be wielded in one hand. Posted by Will Cruse on 23rd Oct 2022 Cool and does the job. [19] There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts. Black War Sword And Scabbard - High Carbon Steel Blade, Wooden Handle, Leather-Wrapped - Length 42". The hand-and-a-half swords had straight, double-edged blades. 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. The hilt has a leather covered hardwood grip and forged hand guard. Their handles have recognizable waist and bottle shapes which give a comfortable hold of the weapon. The 1410 manuscript by Fiore dei Liberi presents a variety of uses for the longsword. Ehhh, Xiphos were typically more of a shortsword, usually only about 24ish inches in length. The guard is also cast of the same extremely hard stainless steel alloy. [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. Add to cart. Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han Dynasty were up to 150cm (58in) long. Sword Classification Basics - Medieval Swords World They were made from wood, lined with cloth, and bound in leather. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. Fourteenth Century Length overall 124 cm. A channel ran down about half of the blade. Venezia, fine secolo XV. 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 . (J. L. Forgeng, Trans.). . [4] After looking around, we'd appreciate 2 minutes of your timeto answer 3 short questions about your experience. SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. First quarter of the 9th c. A.D. (Stuttgart: Wurt. The most common form is also known as the Chinese sabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as Chinese broadswords. 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. 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 .