A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). Frontline Books. With the Irish Hand and Half Sword, you swiftly break through the enemy lines and claim victory for your army this morn. This type includes the 14th to 15th century "hand and a half sword" or "two-handed" swords, often with two or more fullers. 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.. Properties. 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. Weight: 50oz Blade Thickness: 1/5" Blade Length: 33-1/2" Blade Steel: 1060 Carbon Handle Length/Material: 12" Overall Length: 45-1/2" Additional Features: Leather / Wood Scabbard with Steel Fittings. 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. 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. 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 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. Longswords or . [21] Others provided similar work, some with a wide array of images to accompany the text.[22]. Folio 158 v.). 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. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. germ. Sword Length: 42 5/8". When wielded two-handed, they become brutally effective slashing or chopping weapons. 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 . Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Etymology 4 Portrayal in adaptations 4.1 Peter Jackson's film trilogies 5 Reproductions 6 Translations 7 References Shes particularly interested in the rise and fall of empires, accounts of war and conquest, and ancient and classical history. Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor, Williams, G. (2014). Two-handed swords, on the other hand, are long and heavy, making them particularly effective at dealing critical blows. Weight 1700 g. 5144. [17]:1516 The blade was generally used with both hands on the hilt, one resting close to or on the pommel. Hand and a half swords is a modern term to describe bastard swords but it is used in reference to long swords. Fourteenth Century Length overall 124 cm. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. . 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. Type XX blades are broad, with lenticular or octagonal cross-sections. [5]:130 These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. The excellent balance and light weight make the Warspike an exceptional addition to any collection. 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. The hands and forearms are a frequent target of some cuts and slices in a defensive or offensive manoeuvre, serving both to disable an opponent and align the swordsman and his weapon for the next attack. [19] There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts. NE 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. 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. It also allowed pommeling technique, in which the pommel is partially held in the palm of the other hand to execute more forceful thrusts into heavy armor. Bastard swords are also known as hand-and-a-half swords, falling between the longsword and greatsword in length. It's not technically intended to be used with one and a half hands that doesn't make sense. avg. The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. [5]:133[15] 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. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimeter (28-inch) blade-length would be in a range of approximately .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}700 to 900 grams (1+12 to 2 pounds). 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. 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. 452. Some of these terms originate contemporaneously with the weapons which they describe. $349.99. Minneapolis Minnesota The term hand and . 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. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (18 to 31 inches) in length. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihnder. Its handle featured a waisted shape, tapering towards shorter, thinner half-grips. As such, warriors using the hand-and-a-half sword were given more options. The blade length is about 70 to 80 cm (28-32 inches). Sword Length: 42 5/8". [17]:plates 128150, Another variation of use comes from the use of armour. 44. A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for primarily two-handed use (around 15 to 30cm or 6 to 12in), a straight double-edged blade of around 80 to 110cm (31 to 43in), and weighing approximately 1 to 1.5kg (2lb 3oz to 3lb 5oz).[1][2]. The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). These long-gripped weapons were ideal for thrusting at small gaps in armor when the typical slashing sword could not chop through it. The later hardened plate armours, complete with ridges and roping, posed a threat against the careless attacker. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. 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). Suitable for martial arts training, film props etc. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. #4. We will respect your privacy. The name bastard sword was first used in the 15th century, as far as we know. Weight ranged from 1 to 1.5 kg. 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. Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. Hand-and-a half varieties typically have a blade length between 30 and 34 inches and weigh between 2 and 4 pounds. In medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. Their long grip increased their striking power and made some fighting techniques easier. [13] 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 . Today, it is among the most common weapons used in HEMA. The waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. It could also be used one-handed against lightly armored archers from horseback and two-handed for thrusting attacks against heavily armored opponents. 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). Sponsored. 3 European single handed sword. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. Scabbard. We see these depicted in art beginning in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages Miniature from Stuttgart Psalter, Ps 143, 10, showing David and Goliath. Ewart Oakeshott distinguishes twelve different types. 8 . Hand-and-a-half swords initially had a plain crossguard but later featured extensive hand guards. Hand-and-a-Half (26) Length. Apparently, many swords were designed for left-hand use, although left-handed swords have been described as "a rarity".[12]. [citation needed] Small swords were also used as status symbols and fashion accessories; for most of the 18th century anyone, civilian or military, with pretensions to gentlemanly status would have worn a small sword on a daily basis. The term longsword has been used to refer to different kinds of sword depending on historical context: The spatha was a double-edged longsword used by the Romans. For example, there is a longsword in The Glasgow Art and History Museum, Labelled XIIIa. 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. 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. Warspike Knight's Hand-and-a-Half (Bastard) Sword $95 In Stock! These swords have long cruciform hilts with grips over 10 to 15 inches in length, which provide room for two hands. The last known German manual to include longsword teaching was that of Jakob Sutor, published in 1612. By the second half of the 16th century, it persisted mostly as a weapon for sportive competition (Schulfechten), and possibly in knightly duels. It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. A longsword is, obviously, longer than a shortsword. So, what exactly is a hand-and-a-half sword? 4 European Single Hand-and-a-half Sword. Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. The Scabbard All Hanwei western medieval swords come with a nicely made scabbard. "[20] Espe bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short swords. 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. The sword is made of carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of HRC 54 ? Tweet Share Google+ Pinterest . In the years to follow, however, the sword later became known as a "bastard sword." Use in the Inheritance cycle [citation needed] It is thought to have appeared in France and spread quickly across the rest of Europe. The arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. The German school of swordsmanship includes the earliest known longsword Fechtbuch, a manual from approximately 1389, known as GNM 3227a. The hilt has a leather covered hardwood grip and forged hand guard. Length. Dual Tempered HRc 60 48-50 at the core Fittings : Mild Steel Blade Thickness: 1.34 mm Total Length: 45 . The hand could grip above or below the half-grip, or directly at the middle. 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). Blofechten (blosz fechten) or "bare fighting" is the technique of fighting without significant protective armour such as plate or mail. 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 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. The arming sword was the most used sword type in the medieval period. Often also referred to as a hand-and-a-half sword. Most swords are intended for use either one or two hands. The longsword as a late medieval type of sword emerges in the 14th century, as a military steel weapon of the earlier phase of the Hundred Years' War. By the 15th century, larger and heavier swords had been developed, including the 'Bastard' or 'Hand-and-a-half' sword. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. 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. The tip of the sword blade is . 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. Rather than restricting its use to either one or two hands, it allows for both types of wielding. The hand and a half blade is used for thrusting and the length of the blade is not any longer than the long sword. . After looking around, we'd appreciate 2 minutes of your timeto answer 3 short questions about your experience. 20-30 Inches (1) 30-40 Inches (6) 40-50 Inches (35) 50-60 Inches (2 . At only 7 inches long, the guard appears a bit small for a sword of this size, but again, it's true to the original design. The swords grouped as "longswords" for the purposes of this article are united by their being intended for two-handed use. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. This is the classic one-handed sword used by knights and was often used in conjunction with a shield. 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. As with our single-hand broadswords above these weapons are custom made. 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. Apart from being a writer, she also dabbles in fashion modeling and acting. Black War Sword And Scabbard - High Carbon Steel Blade, Wooden Handle, Leather-Wrapped - Length 42". 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. Includes Scabbard or Sheath (19) They were in use during the 14th and 15th centuries. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches).