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. What Is a Hand-and-a-Half Sword? | MartialArtSwords.com They run 3 pounds plus, but you wonder how much of that weight is in the basket hilt, etc.? All of these types can be classified in some of their forms as Longsword, Bastard Sword and Hand and a Half swords. 4 European Single Hand-and-a-half Sword. 15th Century Hand and a Half sword (#1537) - Darksword Armory (M. Rector, Ed. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages. The blade could be the same length as a single-hand sword but the tang and the grip . Sub-type XXa has a more acutely tapering blade and a more acute point. The basket-hilted sword is a sword type of the early modern era characterised by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. A hand-and-a-half sword can be anywhere from 3.5 to 4.5 feet long and generally weighs around 2-4 pounds. ], Antiquarian usage in the 19th century established the use of "bastard sword" as referring unambiguously to these large swords. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. 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. It was not defined, as we do today, by specific lengths or forms. The tip is 0.9 inch side and 0.20 inches thick. 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. 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. Cold Steel - Kris Sword - Kult of Athena Medieval Weapons: Longsword. Types of Longswords, Facts and History 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). Hand and a Half Sword 88HNH Bastard Sword by Cold Steel - Get a Sword The most well-known systematic typology of blade types of the European medieval sword is the Oakeshott typology, although this is also a modern classification and not a medieval one. This type of sword was first developed in Europe in the 15th century and reflected the emergence of asymmetric guards, which made a two-edged blade somewhat redundant. 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. The Scottish name "claymore" (Scottish Gaelic: claidheamh mr, lit. Landesbib. This . SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. 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. Hand-and-a-Half (26) Length. 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. Leadingthe research, replication and understanding ofarms and armor for over 37 years, creating exceptional items for those who appreciate history and its material culture. Bastard Swords - Medieval Chronicles The hand-and-a-half sword had a longer reach than the so-called short sword, the earlier arming sword, making it significant for a mounted knight fighting against other cavalry and foot soldiers. 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. Powered by Shopify. The German langes schwert ("long sword") in 15th and 16th-century manuals does not denote a type of weapon, but the technique of fencing with both hands at the hilt, contrasting with kurzes schwert ("short sword") used of fencing with the same weapon, but with one hand gripping the blade (also known as a half-sword).[11][12]. The earliest forms of these are oversized examples of the single handed swords would be hard to distinguish as a separate group. Middle Ages Warrior Short Broadsword With Black Sheath - Double-Edged Sharp Blade - 22 1/2" Length. Two-handed swords, on the other hand, are long and heavy, making them particularly effective at dealing critical blows. . 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. 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. These blades are long and slowly tapering, with a flat hexagonal blade cross-section and a fuller running along one third of the blade. Includes Scabbard or Sheath (19) They have a 2 inch guard width and 0.24 inch guard thickness. [3] As plate armor became more common, swords became longer and acquired a leaner blade with an acute point for thrusting. 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. This hand-and-half sword has a sharpened, darkened 1065 high carbon steel blade with an extra-wide tang. CAS Hanwei Hand-and-a-Half Sword SH2034 - Amazon.com 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. The Cold Steel Kris series, which includes a sword and dagger, is something we hope all . 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 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. HAND-AND-A-HALF SWORD | Cold Steel Knives 1400-1430 On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 373. [49] Modern versions of the katana are sometimes made using non-traditional materials and methods. [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). The hand-and-a-half sword had a size between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. The hand-and-a-half sword was a balanced weapon that enabled one to use it with one or both hands. Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more , The 4 Key Elements of a High-Quality Traditional Japanese Sword. Fully functional medieval battle ready sword. After looking around, we'd appreciate 2 minutes of your timeto answer 3 short questions about your experience. Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. In modern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings. the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. Tweet Share Google+ Pinterest . The term hand-and-a-half sword is often used interchangeably with longsword, although it is not entirely accurate. The variety of longswords that have survived are diverse and it is obvious that personal preference and intended use where important factors in what a warrior of the period would choose to use. Type XVII is a shorter-lived type, popular during the mid-14th to early 15th century. ; M. Rector, Trans.). They represent larger versions of type XII and type XIII swords which were the standard. 1101 Stinson Blvd. It was coined by modern collectors in the 19th century to refer to how the weapon is wielded. Deepeeka Spadona Review - sword-buyers-guide.com "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. 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. 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 Scabbards protected the sword from dampness, rain, and were typically reinforced by a metal chape at the tip. 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. 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. [citation needed], The tuck may also get its name from the verb "to tuck" which means "to shorten". Hand-and-a-Half Sword. 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. 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]. Jun 13, 2018. 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. 100-122 cm (39-48 in) Width. Hand-and-a-half swords had long grips that permitted the use of the second hand. Swordsmen were trained to use the dulled side for defensive and blocking techniques. Hand and Half Bastard Sword, "Winter's Wind" Fantasy Blade The Red Knight - Weapons 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). 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. Cod. 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]. You've landed on the new (soon to be released) website for Arms & Armor. Though deemed a Hand and a Half sword, this sword has a grip length and handling characteristics that would be fitting for a longsword. These swords were what we today call a "Hand and a Half" sword, or rather swords that can be utilized for either one-handed or two-handed use. [9] In the early Middle Ages, swords were broad and heavy and used to hack through the mail. germ. The most common form is also known as the Chinese sabre, although those with wider blades are sometimes referred to as Chinese broadswords. There is no historical Italian equivalent to the English word "rapier". Longsword | Military Wiki | Fandom An example of a "true" bastard sword / hand-and-a-half sword 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. It was "[a sword] which was neither French, nor Spanish, nor properly Landsknecht [German], but longer than any of these sturdy swords. The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. On the other hand, the term hand-and-a-half tends to describe later types of longswords with sharply tapering blades and specially shaped grips widely used in the 15th and 16th centuries. ca. Cold Steel Hand and a Half Sword - 9 7/16" Grip - Kult of Athena Sponsored. "arming sword", "broadsword", "long sword", etc.) The swords grouped as "longswords" for the purposes of this article are united by their being intended for two-handed use. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. Quantity. 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. Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. 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. Expand Favorite View PDF Fencing longsword ("hand-and-a-half" sword) Culture German Datelate 1500s Mediumsteel, wood and leather DimensionsOverall length: 141.5 cm (55 3/4 in.) 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. The weapon was used in the half-sword, with one or both hands on the blade. The hand-and-a-half sword falls somewhere in between the one-handed and two-handed weapons. Some advantages over wooden training gear are, Durability - Won't split, rot or splinter. Longsword - Wikipedia 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 sword is made of carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of HRC 54 ? 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. 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. Bastard swords are also known as hand-and-a-half swords, falling between the longsword and greatsword in length. As with our single-hand broadswords above these weapons are custom made. Optimized for armored combat, their blades were steeply pointed, suggesting that their primary function was to pierce armor. Folio 158 v.). However, they had various hilt and guard forms depending on their origin. Scabbard. Many different swords fall into this category and many of them are as maneuverable as they are surprisingly sturdy. In the UK, the swords were supposedly weapons of a long dead great grandfather in British Navy. 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. It's not technically intended to be used with one and a half hands that doesn't make sense. The hand-and-a-half sword also belongs to Oakeshott types XVIa, XVII, and XVIIIa. Swordecyclopedia 2022 - All Rights Reserved, Medieval Swordsmanship: Illustrated Methods And Techniques, Medieval Military Technology, Second Edition. [27][28][29][self-published source? @d-a-half-sw. Total Length: 1060mm; Blade Length: 790mm ; Hilt Length: 270mm ; Guard Width: 255mm ; Total Weight: 765g; View All Close. 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]. The hand-and-a-half swords had straight, double-edged blades. A hand-and-a-half sword, however, falls somewhere between these two, with an average blade length of about 22 to 30 inches. Sign up for our mailing-list and be alerted to new products, special sales, limited product availability, and more. Blofechten (blosz fechten) or "bare fighting" is the technique of fighting without significant protective armour such as plate or mail. Bastard Sword. Most are leather covered with metal chape and throat. The blade is 79cm in length and constructed from a rugged 1060 spring steel and through . Advantages of Hand-and-a-Half Swords Others also had hexagonal cross-sections that cut poorly towards the tip. [17][18] Use of the longsword in attack was not limited only to use of the blade, however, as several Fechtbcher explain and depict use of the pommel and cross as offensive weapons. European Hand-and-a-half Sword - Superior Swords Co. Bastard medieval swords, also known as hand-and-a-half swords, are surprisingly diverse weapons. 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. Later on, the thrusting rapier gained favor as a civilian dueling weapon. Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han Dynasty were up to 150cm (58in) long. Weight 1700 g. 5144. 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. By The Sword, Inc. - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword They are a sub-class . Longsword - Types and History - ilovebuhurt.com This type of sword had a thickened back to the blade (opposite the cutting edge), which gave the blade strength. Black War Sword And Scabbard - High Carbon Steel Blade, Wooden Handle, Leather-Wrapped - Length 42". 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 sword" is modern (late 19th century). Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition (i.e. 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. 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 Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mr means "great sword"; anglicised as claymore, it came to refer to a large Scottish type of longsword with a Vshaped crossguard. They have a flattened diamond cross-section, often with pronounced mid-rib, some being hollow-ground. Blade Length: 107.3 cm (42 1/4 in.) Some had broad parallel edges to those with acute tapers from the guard to a spike like point and many variations in between. This probably represents the differing tastes of current sword buyers from those of the Middle Ages. Sword Classification Basics - Medieval Swords World Classically simple in design with a flattened diamond-section blade and cruciform hilt, the original dates from the early part of the 15th century. 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. [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. Types XVIIIb and XVIIIc represent the later longswords of the mid-15th to early 16th centuries. From the late 15th century, however, it is also attested as being worn and used by unarmoured soldiers or mercenaries. It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. 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 . German Bastard or Hand-And -A-Half Sword, early 16th century | Barnebys Ewart Oakeshott distinguishes twelve different types. The tang is peened onto the forged pommel. Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Viking Sword, Sharp / Battle Ready Medieval Sword. For example, there is a longsword in The Glasgow Art and History Museum, Labelled XIIIa. [44], The "tuck" (French estoc, Italian stocco)[citation needed] is an edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section used for thrusting. [4] Albrecht II Sword - Functional European Swords at Reliks.com