Cod. By the 15th century, larger and heavier swords had been developed, including the 'Bastard' or 'Hand-and-a-half' sword. The longsword was a quick, effective, and versatile weapon capable of deadly thrusts, slices, and cuts. So, what benefits (if any) does a hand-and-a-half sword offer? It's typically used as an intermediate weapon for those learning how to use a real longsword. search . Benefits of Using a Hand-and-a-Half-Sword. 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. 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 . Venezia, fine secolo XV. Most long swords were double edged. More details . Historically, katana () were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (, nihont)[47][48] that were used by the samurai of feudal Japan. The term "single-handed sword" (or "one-handed sword") is a retronym coined to disambiguate from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" specimens. The arming sword was paired with a small, round buckler shield on the left hand. The idea for the spatha came from the swords of ancient Celts in Germany and Britain. Sword Mounting Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. After looking around, we'd appreciate 2 minutes of your timeto answer 3 short questions about your experience. Great swords or greatswords are related to the long swords of the Middle Ages. The names derive from words popular at different times and places. 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. These are referred to by a variety of names and include Langschwert, spadone or spada longa, grootzwaard, pe btarde, and bastard sword. 8 gp. The arming sword was the most used sword type in the medieval period. It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. 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. Shes particularly interested in the rise and fall of empires, accounts of war and conquest, and ancient and classical history. Lengths usually ranged from 110 cm to 150 cm, with 120 to 125 cm probably being the median. [8] Type XVIIIb blades are slender, comparable to XVa blades but longer, measuring between 90 and 107cm, with a correspondingly longer grip, often waisted for comfortable two-handed use. The grip was somewhat larger than the grip of a one-handed sword so that . [25], The "Masters of Defence" competition organised by Henry VIII in July 1540 listed[26] "two hande sworde", "bastard sworde", and "longe sworde" as separate items (as it should in Joseph Swetnam's context). Some of these terms originate contemporaneously with the weapons which they describe. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. [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. On the other hand, the hand-and-a-half swords were often used alone. Tony Willis, "A Pair of Scottish Swords", Learn how and when to remove this template message, List of premodern combat weapons Swords, "Pappenheimer | Define Pappenheimer at Dictionary.com", "SOCIETY:: WEAPONS:: THRUSTING AND CUTTING WEAPONS [1] image - Visual Dictionary Online", "Search Chambers - Free English Dictionary", "A Perfect Length II: The Longsword | Encased in Steel", "Sword types in prize playing - The Association for Renaissance Martial Arts", "The Raymond J. Lord Collection of Historical Combat Treatises and fencing manuals: Terms of Use", "dictionary:: Panzerstecher [Blankwaffe]:: German-English translation", "Philadelphia Museum of Art - Collections Object: Tuck (Panzerstecher)", "Hermann Historica - Internationales Auktionshaus fr Antiken, Alte Wa", "Glossaire archologique du Moyen Age et de la Renaissance", "Ethnographic Arms & Armour - Article: Notes on development of modern sabers - Role of Eastern Europe & the Hussars", "Stradioti: Balkan Mercenaries In Fifteenth And Sixteenth Century Italy", "estradiot: dfinition de estradiot, citations, exemples et usage pour estradiot dans le dictionnaire de franais Littr adapt du grand dictionnaire de la langue franaise d'Emile Littr", Best and most powerful martial arts, fight science, Top Quality Bokken/ Katana Sword available for Martial Arts training, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Classification_of_swords&oldid=1128493319, Articles that may contain original research from October 2012, All articles that may contain original research, Articles with disputed statements from August 2013, Articles containing Scottish Gaelic-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2012, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles containing Italian-language text, Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text, Articles containing traditional Chinese-language text, Articles containing Yue Chinese-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2013, Articles with unsourced statements from April 2014, Articles with self-published sources from August 2022, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Articles containing Japanese-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Articles containing Old High German (ca. 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. Honshu Damascus Broadsword With Sheath - Damascus Steel Blade, TPR Handle, Stainless Steel Pommel - Length 43 1/2". If wielded in one hand, the hand-and-a-half sword functioned similarly to an arming sword, though its balance would be slightly different. By the late 16th century, early forms of the developed-hilt appear on this type of sword. 44. The weapon may be held with one hand during disarmament or grappling techniques. (J. L. Forgeng, Trans.). These blades are strongly tapered, more narrow and slender even than the single-handed type XV variant, with a flattened diamond cross-section. [citation needed]. Fourteenth Century Length overall 124 cm. 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. Bastard medieval swords, also known as hand-and-a-half swords, are surprisingly diverse weapons. 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). Type XVa is the classical two-handed sword of the 14th and 15th centuries (with early examples appearing from the later 13th century). $269.99 $211.98! Jun 13, 2018. 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 2023, Arms & Armor Rather than restricting its use to either one or two hands, it allows for both types of wielding. The name hand-and-a-half is not a historical term. We will respect your privacy. The lack of significant torso and limb protection leads to the use of a large amount of cutting and slicing techniques in addition to thrusts. 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. 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. The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). When pike formations became common on battlefield tactics, ranged weapons proved more effective against pikemen, diminishing the advantages of hand-and-a-half swords. It could also be used one-handed against lightly armored archers from horseback and two-handed for thrusting attacks against heavily armored opponents. Tough, rigid and durable. [4] 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. 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. These techniques could be nearly instantly fatal or incapacitating, as a thrust to the skull, heart, or major blood vessel would cause massive trauma. 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. Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han Dynasty were up to 150cm (58in) long. The earlier flatter blade types could not chop through plate armor, and its thin tip would only glance off instead of puncturing it. 5060cm long and typically made of bronze or iron. The swords grouped as "longswords" for the purposes of this article are united by their being intended for two-handed use. Hand and a half swords is a modern term to describe bastard swords but it is used in reference to long swords. . The later hardened plate armours, complete with ridges and roping, posed a threat against the careless attacker. It was a specialist weapon wielded by certain Landsknechte (mercenary soldiers), so-called Doppelsldners. . Their handles have recognizable waist and bottle shapes which give a comfortable hold of the weapon. Ewart Oakeshott distinguishes twelve different types. Historical (15th to 16th century) terms for this type of sword included Portuguese espada-de-armas, estoque or espada de duas mos for the version with longer handle used exclusively with both hands; Spanish espadn, montante, or mandoble, Italian spada longa (lunga) or spada due mani (Bolognese), and Middle French passot. 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. Minneapolis Minnesota [9] Print ; $299-$141. Two-handed swords, on the other hand, are long and heavy, making them particularly effective at dealing critical blows. Theme by Safe As Milk. 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. 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. . These swords were too heavy to be wielded one-handed and possessed a large grip for leverage. Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. 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. The guard is also cast of the same extremely hard stainless steel alloy. 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. Equipped with a long grip, the hand-and-a-half sword was suitable for use with one or even both hands if one wished to give extra force to a blow. Often also referred to as a hand-and-a-half sword. This balance made the hand-and-a-half sword a formidable weapon, as it was light enough to easily maneuver yet still heavy enough to inflict serious damage when wielded by a skilled swordsman. 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. In modern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings. The waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. Overall lenght 118,5 cm - Wheight 1300 g. 5152 . Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. An Italian Two-Hand Sword First Half Of The 16th Century. Hand and a Half Sword 88HNH medieval bastard sword by Cold Steel. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. Important sources for rapier fencing include the Italian Bolognese group, with early representatives such as Antonio . 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]. SWORD, late 14th century, . Weight ranged from 1 to 1.5 kg. These swords have a point of balance at 5 inches and a point of harmonics at 21 inches. : 4 3/4" Grip Length: 6 7/8" Blade: [C60 High Carbon Steel] Manufacturer: Deepeeka Some historians believe that it was primarily used in war and not an everyday weapon of the knight. $349.99. The hanger (obs. 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. 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. 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. Dual Tempered HRc 60 48-50 at the core Fittings : Mild Steel Blade Thickness: 1.34 mm Total Length: 45 . [27][28][29][self-published source? The evolution of the large swords of war into the Knightly longsword can first be seen as a distinct group in the swords of Oakeshotts Type XIIa and XIIIa. Scabbard. It remains identifiable as a type during the period of about 1350 to 1550. For example, there is a longsword in The Glasgow Art and History Museum, Labelled XIIIa. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with . Bastard Sword Sren Niedziella from Denmark . [59][60] The scimitar proper was the Stradioti saber,[61][62] and the term was introduced into France by Philippe de Commines (1447 18 October 1511) as cimeterre,[63] Italy (especially the Venetian Republic who hired the stradioti as mercenaries) as scimitarra, and England as cimeter or scimitar via the French and Italian terms. 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. the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. [5], The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century);[6] Product description. SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. . The bastard sword had a two-edged blade that tapered into a point and weighed around 5-8 pounds, it was usually around 40 to 48 inches in length. Top is some kind of dress sword, bottom is cavalry saber? Longswords or . All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter. The hand-and-a-half sword is particularly versatile in this regard. Hand-and-a-half swords initially had a plain crossguard but later featured extensive hand guards. A Rare All-Steel Left-Hand DaggerThird Quarter Of The 16th Century, Probably Spanish. avg. The arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. GOTHIC HAND AND A HALF SWORD. The blade measured around 1 metre (40 inches), the grip averaged 15-23 cm (6-9 inches). These days, the term longsword most frequently refers to a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands. This versatility was unique, as multiple works hold that the longsword provided the foundations for learning a variety of other weapons including spears, staves, and polearms. Hand-and-a-half swords have special half-grips that can be used with either one or both hands. In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). ], Antiquarian usage in the 19th century established the use of "bastard sword" as referring unambiguously to these large swords. Frontline Books. 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 fighter could attempt to hit the opponent in the face using the pommel when wrestling with the sword, disarm, or throw him. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (18 to 31 inches) in length. These are double-edged, usually straight bladed swords, designed for optimized balance, reach and versatility. Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. 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. From the late 15th century, however, it is also attested as being worn and used by unarmoured soldiers or mercenaries. NE Some had straight or curved quillons (arms of the crossguard), side rings, finger rings, and loop-back guards. Would a sword with a long handle, but a shorter blade (like an arming sword) be a "bastard" neither being a one nor two handed sword? [citation needed] In French, estoc also means thrust or point; and estoc et taille means cut and thrust. Non-sharpened. The last known German manual to include longsword teaching was that of Jakob Sutor, published in 1612. Still, some sources show them used with bucklers or spiked shields in judicial duels, though the latter was unusual. The Italian school of swordsmanship was the other primary school of longsword use. @d-a-half-sw. Total Length: 1060mm; Blade Length: 790mm ; Hilt Length: 270mm ; Guard Width: 255mm ; Total Weight: 765g; View All Close. Hand-and-a-Half Sword. 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. 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 Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. The blade could be the same length as a single-hand sword but the tang and the grip . Bastard swords are also known as hand-and-a-half swords, falling between the longsword and greatsword in length. This actually does help with defining how long the blade can be in relation t. When wielded one-handed, they can be paired with a shield for extra defense. 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. What kind of swords were used in medieval times? 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. 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. #4. It remained in use as a weapon of war intended for wielders wearing full plate armour either on foot or on horseback, throughout the late medieval period. Type XVIa is the classical "longsword" of the 14th and 15th centuries. It does not mean that these blades could not cut well, though they were less optimized for slashing. The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. The German school of swordsmanship includes the earliest known longsword Fechtbuch, a manual from approximately 1389, known as GNM 3227a. The Austrian Bastard 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. 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. Sword Length: 42 5/8". 120-150 cm (47-59 in), blade length: avg. were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures and fabrication technology. Made from 5160 high-carbon steel, this functional sword has a double-edge blade. 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. They run 3 pounds plus, but you wonder how much of that weight is in the basket hilt, etc.? HAND AND A HALF SWORD. The tip is 0.9 inch side and 0.20 inches thick. These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. [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. Tweet Share Google+ Pinterest . + $45.00 shipping. The distance between the hands obviously increases the leverage that combatant could exert on the weapon. [17]:1516 The blade was generally used with both hands on the hilt, one resting close to or on the pommel. Regardless, the sword's defining characteristics remain the same: it can be used with either one hand or both hands. All of these types can be classified in some of their forms as Longsword, Bastard Sword and Hand and a Half swords. Beginning about 1520, the Swiss sabre (schnepf) in Switzerland began to replace the straight longsword, inheriting its hilt types, and the longsword had fallen out of use in Switzerland by 1550. [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.