The term referred to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. 2023, Arms & Armor [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. These long-gripped weapons were ideal for thrusting at small gaps in armor when the typical slashing sword could not chop through it. Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. Traditional vs Modern Differential Hardening for Swords. 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. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. Lengths usually ranged from 110 cm to 150 cm, with 120 to 125 cm probably being the median. Kodachi vs Wakizashi: What's the Difference? Cod. 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. 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. Black War Sword And Scabbard - High Carbon Steel Blade, Wooden Handle, Leather-Wrapped - Length 42". It does not mean that these blades could not cut well, though they were less optimized for slashing. 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. 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. 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). The arming sword was paired with a small, round buckler shield on the left hand. In southern Germany, it persisted into the 1560s, but its use also declined during the second half of the 16th century. Powered by Shopify. 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. The medieval longsword could include the earlier grete war swords, hand-and-a-half or bastard swords, and estocs. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with . 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. Types XVIIIb and XVIIIc represent the later longswords of the mid-15th to early 16th centuries. In modern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings. Their long grip increased their striking power and made some fighting techniques easier. By the second half of the 16th century, it persisted mostly as a weapon for sportive competition (Schulfechten), and possibly in knightly duels. HEMA practitioners also use steel swords with unsharpened blades designed to bend in the thrust. These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. Type XVIa is the classical "longsword" of the 14th and 15th centuries. 1d6 slashing. 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. 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. Dao are single-edged Chinese swords, primarily used for slashing and chopping. 20-30 Inches (1) 30-40 Inches (6) 40-50 Inches (35) 50-60 Inches (2 . This probably represents the differing tastes of current sword buyers from those of the Middle Ages. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. NE They were in use during the 14th and 15th centuries. 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 This hand-and-half sword has a sharpened, darkened 1065 high carbon steel blade with an extra-wide tang. were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures and fabrication technology. It is considered "The General of All Weapons". However, the grete war sword should not be confused with the extremely large great swords of the Renaissance that required the use of two hands. Longswords or . 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. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. Most are leather covered with metal chape and throat. Most were better suited for thrusting, but others were also designed for more cutting. They possess an elongated grip which can easily accommodate both hands but they are generally well balanced enough to be wielded in one hand. So, what benefits (if any) does a hand-and-a-half sword offer? Pal. The earlier flatter blade types could not chop through plate armor, and its thin tip would only glance off instead of puncturing it. Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. Hand and a half swords is a modern term to describe bastard swords but it is used in reference to long swords. 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). 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. The blade measured around 1 metre (40 inches), the grip averaged 15-23 cm (6-9 inches). Special, versatile (1d8) The middle ground between an arming sword and a longsword --sometimes called a "hand and a half sword"-- this blade's hilt is short enough to be used in one hand while also being long enough to warrant two hands if needed though it isn't as effective as a longsword . A hand-and-a-half sword can be anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 feet long and generally weighs around 2-4 pounds. 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. Many different swords fall into this category and many of them are as maneuverable as they are surprisingly sturdy. 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 4.14-3.1 cm, then sharp point. 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 . [17]:plates 128150, Another variation of use comes from the use of armour. 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. 5060cm long and typically made of bronze or iron. Swordecyclopedia 2022 - All Rights Reserved, Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods And Techniques, Medieval Military Technology, Second Edition. Tough, rigid and durable. We will never share your information with anybody else cross our hearts, hope to die, stick a sharp sword in our (ok, this just got a little silly). 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]. 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. [6] Historical European Martial Arts associations have turned the term spada da lato[7] into "side-sword". Type XX blades are broad, with lenticular or octagonal cross-sections. [19] There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts. The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. [3] They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. 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. Some had straight or curved quillons (arms of the crossguard), side rings, finger rings, and loop-back guards. Their defining characteristics is that they have three fullers, a shallow central fuller running along half the blade's length, with two shallow parallel fullers along the first quarter. . 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 . Medieval Longsword, Xiphos Sword: Facts About the Leaf-Bladed Greek Sword, Your Ultimate Guide to the European Smallsword, Gladius Sword: A Guide on the Roman Short Sword, Claymore: A Guide to Popular Scottish Sword, The Historically Authentic Executioner Sword, Flamberge: A Guide to the Flame-Bladed Swords. In the early Middle Ages, swords were broad and heavy and used to hack through the mail. It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. Longswords have straight, double-edged blades and are small enough to be drawn from the belt. 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]. Over the next several centuries blade shapes varied but we see these swords in two hands being used across the Europe. Leather / Wood Scabbard with Steel Fittings. Folio 158 v.). There is no historical Italian equivalent to the English word "rapier". Furthermore, there is a deprecation of the term "broadsword" by these associations. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. Leather Wrapped Handle. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. A longsword is, obviously, longer than a shortsword. 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. Type XVII is a shorter-lived type, popular during the mid-14th to early 15th century. The khopesh is an ancient Egyptian curved short sword with a length of approx. Swords with exceptionally long hilts are found throughout the High Middle Ages. Ewart Oakeshott classified medieval swords into types, focusing on their blade type, pommel, and crossguard designs. 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. Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. Well, the most notable benefit of this sword type is the ability to use it with another weapon or shield. Warspike Knight's Hand-and-a-Half (Bastard) Sword $95 In Stock! A Rare All-Steel Left-Hand DaggerThird Quarter Of The 16th Century, Probably Spanish. Total Length: 1060mm; Blade Length: 790mm ; Hilt Length: 270mm ; Guard Width: 255mm ; Total Weight: 765g; View All Close. Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Etymology 4 Portrayal in adaptations 4.1 Peter Jackson's film trilogies 5 Reproductions 6 Translations 7 References These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. A tradition of teaching based on this has survived in contemporary French and Italian stick fighting.[24]. In the UK, the swords were supposedly weapons of a long dead great grandfather in British Navy. CAS Hanwei Hand-and-a-Half Sword SH2034 Brand: CAS Hanwei $40399 About this item Authentic replica of Museum Piece Fully functional Overall length: 44 1/2" Product Description The Hand-and-a-Half Sword is replicated from a sword thought to be that of Albrecht II of Austria and represents the pinnacle of beauty and balance in medieval swords. By clicking enter you are verifying that you are old enough to consume alcohol. Includes a leather belt frog and scabbard with belt stop. This increased the accuracy and strength of thrusts and provided more leverage for Ringen am Schwert or "wrestling at/with the sword". 15th Century. 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. They have a 2 inch guard width and 0.24 inch guard thickness. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). [53] The term 'falchion' may also refer to the early cutlass. In the Oakeshott typology of blade morphology, "longswords" figure as a range of sub-types of the corresponding single-handed sword types.[16]. Some had broad parallel edges to those with acute tapers from the guard to a spike like point and many variations in between. 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. 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. Weight 1700 g. 5144. ca. [17]:1516 The blade was generally used with both hands on the hilt, one resting close to or on the pommel. The steeply pointed blade, indicating that it was primarily intended . Properties. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. Most long swords were double edged. 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. The names derive from words popular at different times and places. The weapon may be held with one hand during disarmament or grappling techniques. Knives such as the seax and other blades of similar length between 30 and 60cm (1 and 2ft) are sometimes construed as swords. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). Handle Length. It's typically used as an intermediate weapon for those learning how to use a real longsword. 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