Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (18 to 31 inches) in length. [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. [citation needed], The French pe btarde and the English bastard sword originate in the 15th or 16th century,[citation needed] originally having the general sense of "irregular sword or sword of uncertain origin". 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]. 8 gp. 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. Some of the heavier normal size swords that I looked out were the single handed wide blade cut and thrust swords like the Munich town guard swords. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihnder. The intention of how to use the sword most likely dictated the way they were listed in inventories of the day. 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. Top is some kind of dress sword, bottom is cavalry saber? 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. Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Etymology 4 Portrayal in adaptations 4.1 Peter Jackson's film trilogies 5 Reproductions 6 Translations 7 References Origins of the Hand-and-a-Half-Sword [8] Print ; $299-$141. The medieval longsword could include the earlier grete war swords, hand-and-a-half or bastard swords, and estocs. 15th Century. germ. While slashing attacks were still moderately effective against infantry wearing half-plate armour, cutting and slicing attacks against an opponent wearing plate armour were almost entirely ineffective in providing any sort of slashing wound as the sword simply could not cut through the steel, although a combatant could aim for the chinks in a suit of armour, sometimes to great effect. As its name suggests, it had an advantage in terms of greater reach over the so-called short sword or arming sword. The sword is made of carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of HRC 54 ? The point would be to hold the grip with one hand at the top of the grip, and one hand at the bottom. Here are the unique characteristics of hand-and-a-half swords: Historical hand-and-a-half sword blades were often made of a single piece of steel and were hardened by quenching. [17]:plate 58 Some manuals even depict the cross as a hammer. 2023, Arms & Armor You've landed on the new (soon to be released) website for Arms & Armor. Honshu Damascus Broadsword With Sheath - Damascus Steel Blade, TPR Handle, Stainless Steel Pommel - Length 43 1/2". Rather, it's intended to be used with either one hand or both, depending on the user's preferences and the circumstances in which he or she is using it. 452. Functionally, swords become more maneuverable, powerful, and fast when the handle is gripped with two hands. They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. The tip of the sword blade is . [40][41][42] Early models were either two-handers or "hand-and-a-half" hilted,[43] while later 16th and 17th century models (also known as koncerz) were one-handed and used by cavalry. Its blade range from 33 to 41 inches in length. Add to cart. The waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. 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 arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. The term referred to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. The name hand-and-a-half is not a historical term. 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. Cod. This is very popular . 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. However, the reduced weight near the tips made them less efficient for slashing. 20-30 Inches (1) 30-40 Inches (6) 40-50 Inches (35) 50-60 Inches (2 . A defining characteristic of the sword isn't the overall length, it's the length of the handle. (2012). As with our single-hand broadswords above these weapons are custom made. 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. [8][9][10] Prior to this the term "long sword" merely referred to any sword with a long blade; 'long' being simply an adjective rather than a classification. NE 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. 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. These swords were too heavy to be wielded one-handed and possessed a large grip for leverage. 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. 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. 1d6 slashing. Over the next several centuries blade shapes varied but we see these swords in two hands being used across the Europe. [17]:plates 128150, Another variation of use comes from the use of armour. What's in a name? Dual Tempered HRc 60 48-50 at the core Fittings : Mild Steel Blade Thickness: 1.34 mm Total Length: 45 . 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). The swords grouped as "longswords" for the purposes of this article are united by their being intended for two-handed use. This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:56. These days, the term longsword most frequently refers to a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands. 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. . "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. 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. Hand and a half swords is a modern term to describe bastard swords but it is used in reference to long swords. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. 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. Great swords or greatswords are related to the long swords of the Middle Ages. The hand-and-a-half sword is also called a bastard sword because it has no legitimate claim to being classified as either a one-handed or two-handed weapon. 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]. They are a sub-class . Similarly, strong strikes could cut through skin and bone, effectively amputating limbs. Hand-and-a half varieties typically have a blade length between 30 and 34 inches and weigh between 2 and 4 pounds. They run 3 pounds plus, but you wonder how much of that weight is in the basket hilt, etc.? Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han Dynasty were up to 150cm (58in) long. In the UK, the swords were supposedly weapons of a long dead great grandfather in British Navy. (M. Rector, Ed. The hand-and-a-half swords had straight, double-edged blades. 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. this name was given because the balance of the sword made it usable in one hand, as well as two. 55413 United States. The hilts (handles) range from 8 to 16 inches long to provide room for gauntleted hands. Scabbard. In the Oakeshott typology of blade morphology, "longswords" figure as a range of sub-types of the corresponding single-handed sword types.[16]. 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. [44], The "tuck" (French estoc, Italian stocco)[citation needed] is an edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section used for thrusting. The Scabbard All Hanwei western medieval swords come with a nicely made scabbard. In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). Powered by Shopify. the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). The basket-hilted sword is a sword type of the early modern era characterised by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. They were made from wood, lined with cloth, and bound in leather. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. Optimized for armored combat, their blades were steeply pointed, suggesting that their primary function was to pierce armor. [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. 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. . Tough, rigid and durable. Type XVa is the classical two-handed sword of the 14th and 15th centuries (with early examples appearing from the later 13th century). Advantages of Hand-and-a-Half Swords Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. And this is why it remains a popular sword type even after all of those years. Some had straight or curved quillons (arms of the crossguard), side rings, finger rings, and loop-back guards. 1101 Stinson Blvd. . [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. The hanger (obs. It's not technically intended to be used with one and a half hands -- that doesn't make sense. Daggers were loot/spoils. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. Leadingthe research, replication and understanding ofarms and armor for over 37 years, creating exceptional items for those who appreciate history and its material culture. Overall Length: 45.5" Blade Length: 33.50" Handle Material: Wood Covered in Leather, Black Carry System: Wood Scabbard Covered in Leather, Black This item is not for sale in some specific zip codes Frequently bought together + + Total price: Product Description This type of sword had a thickened back to the blade (opposite the cutting edge), which gave the blade strength. The fighter could attempt to hit the opponent in the face using the pommel when wrestling with the sword, disarm, or throw him. search . 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 . The longsword has many names in the English language, which, aside from variant spellings, include terms such as "bastard sword" and "hand-and-a-half sword." Buy the medieval Albrecht Hand-and-a-Half Swords for $ 299.99. The backsword was a single-edged, straight-bladed sword, typically for military use. 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. The longsword, greatsword and bastard-sword were also made in Spain, appearing relatively late, known as the espadon, the montante and bastarda or espada de mano y media respectively. Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition (i.e. 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 . 1400-1430 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373. 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. After a Brief exchange with the Questioner in another answer, I have gotten an approximation of what recurve profile has been asked upon. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. 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. Handle Length. 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. Some had broad parallel edges to those with acute tapers from the guard to a spike like point and many variations in between. The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. Hand-and-a-half swords varied in their blade length, usually ranging from 88 to 100 centimeters (35 to 40 inches). Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor, Williams, G. (2014). 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. Price Availability* Description SBA-WARSPIKE $ 95 14 In Stock The Warspike: Knight Longsword Engrave this item for $20 . Scabbards protected the sword from dampness, rain, and were typically reinforced by a metal chape at the tip. 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 The term hand-and-a-half sword is often used interchangeably with longsword, although it is not entirely accurate. The Austrian Bastard Sword. On the other hand, those with stainless steel blades are only meant for decoration while LARP versions have foam blades. By the second half of the 16th century, it persisted mostly as a weapon for sportive competition (Schulfechten), and possibly in knightly duels. Pen & Sword Books Limited. 3 European single handed sword. The grip of the hand and a half sword was long enough to accommodate one hand or two hands when used in combat. [citation needed]. Frontline Books. Type XX blades are broad, with lenticular or octagonal cross-sections. With the Irish Hand and Half Sword, you swiftly break through the enemy lines and claim victory for your army this morn. 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. 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. After looking around, we'd appreciate 2 minutes of your timeto answer 3 short questions about your experience. As such, warriors using the hand-and-a-half sword were given more options. 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. It was longer than the gladius, and had more reach, so the spatha was most popular with soldiers in the cavalry. It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. Learn more about the history and use of the hand-and-a-half sword and how it compares to other medieval swords. 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. HEMA practitioners also use steel swords with unsharpened blades designed to bend in the thrust. [53] The term 'falchion' may also refer to the early cutlass. 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. It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. Sword Length: 42 5/8". This is especially the case for weapons from antiquity, made before the development of high quality steel that is necessary for longer swords, in particular: Oversized two-handers used as parade swords or ceremonial weapons often exceeded the length and weight of practical weapons of war. Swords with exceptionally long hilts are found throughout the High Middle Ages. were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures and fabrication technology. After the mid-14th century, sword blades became more sharply tapered toward the point, with diamond or hexagonal cross-sections to increase their rigidity for thrusting. 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. Posted by Will Cruse on 23rd Oct 2022 Cool and does the job. In some instances, the crossguard could hook the shield or the weapon away and even trip the enemy. + $45.00 shipping. 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.. 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). Leather / Wood Scabbard with Steel Fittings. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. "Let thy (long) Rapier or (long) Sword be foure foote at the least, and thy dagger two foote." These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. A channel ran down about half of the blade. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). Overall lenght 118,5 cm - Wheight 1300 g. 5152 . Answer (1 of 2): I'll apologize be as I'm long-winded and cover a lot of ground. [5]:130 These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. Though deemed a Hand and a Half sword, this sword has a grip length and handling characteristics that would be fitting for a longsword. [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. Hand-and-a-Half (44) Length. Properties. . If wielded in one hand, the hand-and-a-half sword functioned similarly to an arming sword, though its balance would be slightly different. Tweet Share Google+ Pinterest . This was the most common longsword up to the late 13th century CE. [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. 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. They had handles of roughly 17 to 25 centimeters (7 to 10 inches), excluding pommels, and weighed about 3 to 4 pounds. Their specially shaped grips, usually bottle-shaped or waisted, gave better control and hold of the weapon. Important sources for rapier fencing include the Italian Bolognese group, with early representatives such as Antonio . [citation needed] The arming sword was wrongly labelled a broadsword by antiquarians as the medieval swords were similar in blade width to the military swords of the day (that were also sometimes labeled as broadswords) and broader than the dueling swords and ceremonial dress swords. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. From cut to thrust: The, Hand-and-a-Half Sword vs. This hand-and-half sword has a sharpened, darkened 1065 high carbon steel blade with an extra-wide tang. Dao are single-edged Chinese swords, primarily used for slashing and chopping. One-handed swords are shorter and lighter, but they allow the user to wield a second weapon or shield. The hand and a half length handle is 10 inches. 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. 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. Kodachi vs Wakizashi: What's the Difference? 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 blade is 79cm in length and constructed from a rugged 1060 spring steel and through . Overall 39 inches. Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. 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 . In terms of weight, a typical hand-and-a-half sword weighed roughly 2.4 to 4 pounds (1.1 to 1.8 kg). Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. Sword Length: 42 5/8". Well, the most notable benefit of this sword type is the ability to use it with another weapon or shield. As a history enthusiast, Abigail loves learning about the events that shaped the world. It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. A hand-and-a-half sword can be anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 feet long and generally weighs around 2-4 pounds. By the 15th century, larger and heavier swords had been developed, including the 'Bastard' or 'Hand-and-a-half' sword. Access this answer and support the author as a Quora+ subscriber