The hand-and-a-half sword had a size between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. Blade Length: 34 1/2" Handle Length: 11 1/2" Weight: 3 lb 8 oz Point of Balance: 3 1/2" Blade Steel: 5160 These days, the term longsword most frequently refers to a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands. Daggers were loot/spoils. An Italian Two-Hand Sword First Half Of The 16th Century. Well, the most notable benefit of this sword type is the ability to use it with another weapon or shield. On the other hand, those with stainless steel blades are only meant for decoration while LARP versions have foam blades. The hand-and-a-half sword is particularly versatile in this regard. 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. The term two-handed sword, used as a general term, may refer to any large sword designed to be used primarily with two hands: The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). 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. Quantity. Non-sharpened. Classification of swords - Wikipedia What are hand and a half swords? - Sage-Answer So, what exactly is a hand-and-a-half sword? The Scabbard All Hanwei western medieval swords come with a nicely made scabbard. Agincourt War Sword - Functional European Swords at Reliks.com 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. Hand-and-a-Half Style Hilt Padded Leather Grip Tapered Blade for Slashing or Thrusting Now Available in Standard or Fully Tempered Carbon Steel Blade Full Tang Models on Sale To Order Model No. In Italy, spadone, or longsword, instruction lingered on despite the popularity of the rapier, at least into the mid-17th century (Alfieri's Lo Spadone of 1653), with a late treatise of the "two handed sword" by one Giuseppe Colombani, a dentist in Venice dating to 1711. Seconds Medieval European Hand and Half Bastard Sword Through Tempered 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. It was a specialist weapon wielded by certain Landsknechte (mercenary soldiers), so-called Doppelsldners. Since it has no legitimate claim to being a member of either weapon family, it has earned the name bastard sword. SBA-WARSPIKE-T $158 Out of Stock Traditional vs Modern Differential Hardening for Swords. 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 avg. Longsword | Military Wiki | Fandom The Weapons of an English Medieval Knight Oakeshott's Typology of the Medieval Sword - Albion Swords 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. Sign up for our mailing-list and be alerted to new products, special sales, limited product availability, and more. When wielded two-handed, they become brutally effective slashing or chopping weapons. However, a section on one-handed use is among the volume and demonstrates the techniques and advantages, such as sudden additional reach, of single-handed longsword play. Sword Mounting Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. The grip was somewhat larger than the grip of a one-handed sword so that . 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. Most are leather covered with metal chape and throat. They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. In southern Germany, it persisted into the 1560s, but its use also declined during the second half of the 16th century. Their handles have recognizable waist and bottle shapes which give a comfortable hold of the weapon. Though deemed a Hand and a Half sword, this sword has a grip length and handling characteristics that would be fitting for a longsword. The Filipino islands are widely known for their vast assortment of edged weapons. Often also referred to as a hand-and-a-half sword. Replicated from a sword thought to be that of Albrecht II of Austria, the Hand-and-a-Half Sword represents the pinnacle of beauty and balance in medieval swords. The term "broadsword" was never used historically to describe the one-handed arming sword. Inspired from swords used during the late 14th through to the mid-16th centuries, this is a hand and a half length sword and is fully functional. 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. 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. Answer (1 of 2): I'll apologize be as I'm long-winded and cover a lot of ground. In later usage, 'cutlass' referred to the short naval boarding sabre. [6] Historical European Martial Arts associations have turned the term spada da lato[7] into "side-sword". By the late 16th century, early forms of the developed-hilt appear on this type of sword. Specifications: Overall Length: 43" Blade Length: 33" Weight: 3 lbs Edge: Unsharpened Width: 4.7 mm - 3.6 mm Pommel: Nut P.O.B. Many different swords fall into this category and many of them are as maneuverable as they are surprisingly sturdy. These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. From cut to thrust: The, Hand-and-a-Half Sword vs. Both schools declined in the late 16th century, with the later Italian masters forgoing the longsword and focusing primarily on rapier fencing. 4 European Single Hand-and-a-half Sword. Ships in 3-7 days. It allowed more accurate and powerful thrusts against armored opponents. Knives such as the seax and other blades of similar length between 30 and 60cm (1 and 2ft) are sometimes construed as swords. It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. Harnischfechten, or "armoured fighting" (German kampffechten, or Fechten in Harnisch zu Fuss, literally "fighting in armour on foot"), depicts fighting in full plate armour.[25]. 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. Hand and Half Bastard Sword, "Winter's Wind" Fantasy Blade Among most Greek warriors, this weapon had an iron blade of about 60 centimetres. Its French name pe btarde implies a sword of uncertain origin or an irregular sword. Hand-and-a half varieties typically have a blade length between 30 and 34 inches and weigh between 2 and 4 pounds. Longsword | Medieval Wiki | Fandom The expression fechten mit dem langen schwert ("fencing with the long sword") in the German school of fencing denotes the style of fencing which uses both hands at the hilt; fechten mit dem kurzen schwert ("fencing with the short sword") is used in half-sword fighting, with one hand gripping the blade. Longsword - Wikipedia The Austrian Bastard Sword. These are referred to by a variety of names and include Langschwert, spadone or spada longa, grootzwaard, pe btarde, and bastard sword. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. The hand-and-a-half sword also belongs to Oakeshott types XVIa, XVII, and XVIIIa. . Minneapolis Minnesota What kind of swords were used in medieval times? Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. The arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. [2] Navigation menu . (M. Rector, Ed. A defining characteristic of the sword isn't the overall length, it's the length of the handle. [49] Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. The 1410 manuscript by Fiore dei Liberi presents a variety of uses for the longsword. Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. Optimized for armored combat, their blades were steeply pointed, suggesting that their primary function was to pierce armor. Add to cart. Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. A longsword, hand and a half sword or bastard sword is a long, symmetrical sword with a cruciform (cross-shaped) hilt, and a double-edged blade tapered to a sharp point for thrusting. [citation needed] In French, estoc also means thrust or point; and estoc et taille means cut and thrust. Type XVII is a shorter-lived type, popular during the mid-14th to early 15th century. However, they had various hilt and guard forms depending on their origin. [citation needed] The two handed claymore is an early Scottish version of a greatsword. What Type of Sword is the Master Sword from Zelda? | ResetEra Today, replicas have high-carbon steel blades, though the ones used in stage combat and reenactment have blunt edges. probably German. 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]. 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. Longswords vs Bastard Swords vs Hand-and-a-Half Swords Medieval Weapons: Longsword. Types of Longswords, Facts and History In the Oakeshott typology of blade morphology, "longswords" figure as a range of sub-types of the corresponding single-handed sword types.[16]. Ehhh, Xiphos were typically more of a shortsword, usually only about 24ish inches in length. Scabbards protected the sword from dampness, rain, and were typically reinforced by a metal chape at the tip. The term referred to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. #4. The two terms are largely equivalent to "unarmoured fighting" (blossfechten) and "armoured fencing" (fechten im harnisch). 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. These terms were often described in relation to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. 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. The hand-and-a-half sword was a balanced weapon that enabled one to use it with one or both hands. The hilt has a leather covered hardwood grip and forged hand guard. 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. . 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. [5], The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century);[6] Two-handed swords, on the other hand, are long and heavy, making them particularly effective at dealing critical blows. This hand-and-a-half sword is based on several historical originals. [5]:130 These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. Type XX blades are broad, with lenticular or octagonal cross-sections. Honshu Damascus Broadsword With Sheath - Damascus Steel Blade, TPR Handle, Stainless Steel Pommel - Length 43 1/2". hand and a half sword | BladeForums.com Hand and a Half Swords - Dark Knight Armoury Overall 39 inches. 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]. Shes particularly interested in the rise and fall of empires, accounts of war and conquest, and ancient and classical history. ], Antiquarian usage in the 19th century established the use of "bastard sword" as referring unambiguously to these large swords. 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. It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. The groin and throat were among the favourite targets. 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. The blade could be the same length as a single-hand sword but the tang and the grip . Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. These are double-edged, usually straight bladed swords, designed for optimized balance, reach and versatility. 15th Century Hand and a Half sword (#1537) - Darksword Armory They are a sub-class . The hand could grip above or below the half-grip, or directly at the middle. With the Irish Hand and Half Sword, you swiftly break through the enemy lines and claim victory for your army this morn. 1101 Stinson Blvd. Grip: hand-and-half to two hand length, 6" to 10" Average Weight: Primary purpose: cutting Period: Great Sword or War Sword, in use from middle of the 13th c to the latter half of the 14th Sub-Type XIIIb Profile: broad, flat and parallel edges Cross-section: lenticular Average Blade Length: 35" Others also had knuckle guards, particularly the Swiss style. Cold Steel Hand-and-A-Half Sword with Leather/Wood Scabbard 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. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. 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. Hand-and-a-half sword - CelticWebMerchant.com More details . The backsword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. Pen & Sword Books Limited. Benefits of Using a Hand-and-a-Half-Sword. Bastard Sword Weapons | NWN2DB Their long grip increased their striking power and made some fighting techniques easier. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. Top is some kind of dress sword, bottom is cavalry saber? Length. Venezia, fine secolo XV. 8 gp. The edgeless swords category comprises weapons which are related to or labelled as "swords" but do not emphasise hacking or slashing techniques or have any cutting edges whatsoever. [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. [53] The term 'falchion' may also refer to the early cutlass. It is considered "The General of All Weapons". 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. 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. Hand-and-a-half swords initially had a plain crossguard but later featured extensive hand guards. To overcome this problem, swords began to be used primarily 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. 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). 44. 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 . 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. [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. Warspike Knight's Hand-and-a-Half (Bastard) Sword $95 In Stock! Type XVa is the classical two-handed sword of the 14th and 15th centuries (with early examples appearing from the later 13th century). Albrecht II Sword - Functional European Swords at Reliks.com In medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. 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. Later on, the thrusting rapier gained favor as a civilian dueling weapon. A hand-and-a-half sword can be anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 feet long and generally weighs around 2-4 pounds. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. 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. However, a third type is a hand-and-a-half sword. The long grip gives the wielder plenty of leverage to maneuver the sword quickly and to strike decisively. Bonhams : A Rare All-Steel Left-Hand Dagger On the other hand, the hand-and-a-half swords were often used alone. 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. The hanger (obs. The hand-and-a-half swords optimized the combination of reach, maneuverability, and weight. Over the next several centuries blade shapes varied but we see these swords in two hands being used across the Europe. Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. [21] Others provided similar work, some with a wide array of images to accompany the text.[22]. 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 . The hook sword, twin hooks, fu tao or shuang gou (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: or ; pinyin: Gou), also known as hu tou gou (tiger head hook), is a Chinese weapon traditionally associated with northern styles of Chinese martial arts and Wushu weapons routines, but now often practiced by southern styles as well. Posted by Will Cruse on 23rd Oct 2022 Cool and does the job. In the early Middle Ages, swords were broad and heavy and used to hack through the mail. The last known German manual to include longsword teaching was that of Jakob Sutor, published in 1612. [4] The excellent balance and light weight make the Warspike an exceptional addition to any collection. Kodachi vs Wakizashi: What's the Difference? (2012). 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. Sword Length: 42 5/8". 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. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. [3] 30-40 Inches (3) 40-50 Inches (21) 50-60 Inches (2) Product Includes. The swords grouped as "longswords" for the purposes of this article are united by their being intended for two-handed use. 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. 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. 2023, Arms & Armor [citation needed], The sabre (US saber) or shable (French sabre, Spanish sable, Italian sciabola, German Sbel, Russian sablya, Hungarian szablya, Polish szabla, Ukrainian shablya) is a single-edged curved bladed cavalry sword.[57]. The French pe btarde and the English "bastard sword" originate in the 15th or 16th century, originally in the general sense of "irregular sword, sword of uncertain origin", but by the mid-16th century could refer to exceptionally large swords. Swordsmen were trained to use the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. 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. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. The term "hand-and-a-half" have originated due to the fact that the sword was designed for both one and two-handed use, not because one and a half hands are needed to wield it. 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. By the 15th century, larger and heavier swords had been developed, including the 'Bastard' or 'Hand-and-a-half' sword. 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. The basket-hilted sword is a sword type of the early modern era characterised by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. Hand-and-a-half swords had long grips that permitted the use of the second hand. Ewart Oakeshott distinguishes twelve different types. Advantages of Hand-and-a-Half Swords Hand and a Half Swords - Medieval Collectibles 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 In the years to follow, however, the sword later became known as a "bastard sword."