Venezia, fine secolo XV. The hand-and-a-half sword was a balanced weapon that enabled one to use it with one or both hands. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. The backsword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. Some historians believe that it was primarily used in war and not an everyday weapon of the knight. Its blade range from 33 to 41 inches in length. They are a sub-class . Scabbard. 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 . 1101 Stinson Blvd. 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". Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. [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. Lengths usually ranged from 110 cm to 150 cm, with 120 to 125 cm probably being the median. If a warrior was facing archers, for instance, he may wield the hand-and-a-half sword with one hand while using his other hand to hold a shield. The long hilt 10-15 inches in length mainly distinguishes the bastard sword from other medieval swords. 1d6 slashing. The hand could grip above or below the half-grip, or directly at the middle. In the years to follow, however, the sword later became known as a "bastard sword." 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. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. 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. It's not technically intended to be used with one and a half hands that doesn't make sense. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. With broad blade double-edged over half its length to the reinforced point and with pierced central fuller bordered by incised lines on each side and interrupted by small circular piercings, long ricasso in two stages with pierced and fluted fullers en suite . The Scottish name "claymore" (Scottish Gaelic: claidheamh mr, lit. 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. They have a flattened diamond cross-section, often with pronounced mid-rib, some being hollow-ground. The idea for the spatha came from the swords of ancient Celts in Germany and Britain. 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; 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 medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. Pen & Sword Books Limited. Frontline Books. 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).[9]. The medieval longsword could include the earlier grete war swords, hand-and-a-half or bastard swords, and estocs. The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihnder. 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. 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). In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as the broadsword.[36][37]. There is a wide assortment of Kris swords styles to choose from as each island, region, clan, or school has its own favorite with some putting more emphasis on cutting while others favor styles more conducive for thrusting. In some instances, the crossguard could hook the shield or the weapon away and even trip the enemy. Some of the earliest swords seemingly designed for two handed use are the "Grete Swords of War" of the 13thC. Type XVIIIc blades are somewhat broader and shorter (about 85cm), and sometimes have a short and narrow fuller. Hand and a half swords is a modern term to describe bastard swords but it is used in reference to long swords. The blade measured around 1 metre (40 inches), the grip averaged 15-23 cm (6-9 inches). Classically simple in design with a flattened diamond-section blade and cruciform hilt, the original dates from the early part of the 15th century. Some of these terms originate contemporaneously with the weapons which they describe. Powered by Shopify. Historical terminology overlaps with that applied to the Zweihnder sword in the 16th century: French espadon, Spanish espadn, or Portuguese montante may also be used more narrowly to refer to these large swords. 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. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. Historical terms (15th to 16th century) for this type of sword included the Italian spada longa (lunga) and French pe longue. This actually does help with defining how long the blade can be in relation t. [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. By the late 16th century, early forms of the developed-hilt appear on this type of sword. 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. The grip of the hand and a half sword was long enough to accommodate one hand or two hands when used in combat. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. Benefits of Using a Hand-and-a-Half-Sword. Unlike the xiphos, which is a thrusting weapon, the kopis was a hacking weapon in the form of a thick, curved single edged iron sword. The hand-and-a-half sword had a size between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. They possess an elongated grip which can easily accommodate both hands but they are generally well balanced enough to be wielded in one hand. On the other hand, those with stainless steel blades are only meant for decoration while LARP versions have foam blades. The French pe de passot may also refer to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. 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. 1400-1430 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373. Over the next several centuries blade shapes varied but we see these swords in two hands being used across the Europe. . The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. Hilt length: 34 cm (13 3/8") Pommel Length: 6.2 cm (2 7/16 in.) "large/great sword")[16][17] can refer to either the longsword with a distinctive two-handed grip, or the basket-hilted sword. Historically, katana () were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (, nihont)[47][48] that were used by the samurai of feudal Japan. The hand and a half blade is used for thrusting and the length of the blade is not any longer than the long sword. Regardless of what they are called these swords areall of a type that is iconic to the middle ages. HEMA practitioners also use steel swords with unsharpened blades designed to bend in the thrust. Add to cart. It remains identifiable as a type during the period of about 1350 to 1550. The steeply pointed blade, indicating that it was primarily intended . By the second half of the 16th century, it persisted mostly as a weapon for sportive competition (Schulfechten), and possibly in knightly duels. Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. 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. germ. 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. 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. Our Medieval Hand and a Half Sword with Blunted Blade is a Battle Ready sword designed to be used for Stage Combat. The term "single-handed sword" (or "one-handed sword") is a retronym coined to disambiguate from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" specimens. 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 . Type XVII is a shorter-lived type, popular during the mid-14th to early 15th century. In the early Middle Ages, swords were broad and heavy and used to hack through the mail. [44], The "tuck" (French estoc, Italian stocco)[citation needed] is an edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section used for thrusting. 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. 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. 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. Black War Sword And Scabbard - High Carbon Steel Blade, Wooden Handle, Leather-Wrapped - Length 42". By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. Perhaps. Hand-and-a-half swords had long grips that permitted the use of the second hand. Ehhh, Xiphos were typically more of a shortsword, usually only about 24ish inches in length. 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. Since it has no legitimate claim to being a member of either weapon family, it has earned the name bastard sword. Sign up for our mailing-list and be alerted to new products, special sales, limited product availability, and more. 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. 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. From cut to thrust: The, Hand-and-a-Half Sword vs. 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. 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. 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. With the Irish Hand and Half Sword, you swiftly break through the enemy lines and claim victory for your army this morn. Swordsmen were trained to use the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. So, what exactly is a hand-and-a-half sword? This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. 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]. It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. search . 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 hilts (handles) range from 8 to 16 inches long to provide room for gauntleted hands. Total Length: 1060mm; Blade Length: 790mm ; Hilt Length: 270mm ; Guard Width: 255mm ; Total Weight: 765g; View All Close. This increased the accuracy and strength of thrusts and provided more leverage for Ringen am Schwert or "wrestling at/with the sword". 120-150 cm (47-59 in), blade length: avg. [2] Navigation menu . [citation needed], The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten". [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). Rather than restricting its use to either one or two hands, it allows for both types of wielding. 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. This type includes the 14th to 15th century "hand and a half sword" or "two-handed" swords, often with two or more fullers. Longswords or . Its French name pe btarde implies a sword of uncertain origin or an irregular sword. Hand-and-a-half swords initially had a plain crossguard but later featured extensive hand guards. These terms were often described in relation to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. Its length is 118,5 cm with a blade of 89,5 cm and it weighs 2150 g. The grip gives the sword a unique character. The distance between the hands obviously increases the leverage that combatant could exert on the weapon. 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. Factory SecondsLoose Cross Guard, Tight Fit in Scabbard Based on a Medieval European Hand and Half, or "Bastard" sword, with stainless steel cross guard and wheel pommel. 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. Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. It was prevalent during the late medieval and Renaissance periods (approximately 1350 to 1550), with early and late use reaching into the 12th and 17th centuries. Blofechten (blosz fechten) or "bare fighting" is the technique of fighting without significant protective armour such as plate or mail. 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. When pike formations became common on battlefield tactics, ranged weapons proved more effective against pikemen, diminishing the advantages of hand-and-a-half swords. Sword Mounting Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. The tip is 0.9 inch side and 0.20 inches thick. A longsword is, obviously, longer than a shortsword. SPADA DI STOCCO. In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). Of these, "bastard sword" is the oldest, its use being contemporaneous with the weapon's heyday. Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition (i.e. The fighter could attempt to hit the opponent in the face using the pommel when wrestling with the sword, disarm, or throw him. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. A tradition of teaching based on this has survived in contemporary French and Italian stick fighting.[24]. [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. Early depictions of a sword in two hands show swords such as the A&A Hungarian Sword used to deliver these blows. The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. 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. Answer (1 of 2): I'll apologize be as I'm long-winded and cover a lot of ground. Apart from being a writer, she also dabbles in fashion modeling and acting. The guard is also cast of the same extremely hard stainless steel alloy.