hand and a half sword length

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 The weapon was used in the half-sword, with one or both hands on the blade. 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. The name hand-and-a-half is not a historical term. Well, the most notable benefit of this sword type is the ability to use it with another weapon or shield. 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. Others also had knuckle guards, particularly the Swiss style. 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. Swords with exceptionally long hilts are found throughout the High Middle Ages. However they mainly saw prominence outside the battlefield as a duelling weapon. So, what benefits (if any) does a hand-and-a-half sword offer? It is ideal for HEMA study - recreating the longswords from Fiore, Talhoffer, etc. 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. These terms were often described in relation to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. Historically, katana () were one of the traditionally made Japanese swords (, nihont)[47][48] that were used by the samurai of feudal Japan. Bastard medieval swords, also known as hand-and-a-half swords, are surprisingly diverse weapons. These swords are distinctly made for use in one or two hands and have the grip length and reach to be used as longswords as described in the material fromthe Liechtenauer tradition and Fiore de Libre. 4 European Single Hand-and-a-half Sword. 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. Hans Talhoffer, a mid-15th-century German fightmaster, is probably the most prominent, using a wide variety of moves, most resulting in wrestling. 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]. You've landed on the new (soon to be released) website for Arms & Armor. germ. Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor, Williams, G. (2014). Benefits of Using a Hand-and-a-Half-Sword. The longsword was a quick, effective, and versatile weapon capable of deadly thrusts, slices, and cuts. 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 The Elizabethan long sword (cf. Longswords have straight, double-edged blades and are small enough to be drawn from the belt. The falchion (French braquemart,[52] Spanish bracamarte) proper is a wide straight-bladed but curved edged hanger or long knife. [4] Bastard Sword Sren Niedziella from Denmark . The hanger (obs. The two terms are largely equivalent to "unarmoured fighting" (blossfechten) and "armoured fencing" (fechten im harnisch). "murder stroke"), where the weapon is held by the blade (hilt, pommel and crossguard serving as an improvised hammer head) and swung, taking advantage of the balance being close to the hilt to increase the concussive effect (see the fighter on the right of the Codex Wallerstein picture).[26]. All of these types can be classified in some of their forms as Longsword, Bastard Sword and Hand and a Half swords. 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. The Zweihnder ("two-hander") or Beidhnder ("both-hander") is a true two-handed sword, in the sense that it cannot be wielded in only one hand. 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. Scabbard. [21] Others provided similar work, some with a wide array of images to accompany the text.[22]. We will respect your privacy. The expression fechten mit dem langen schwert ("fencing with the long sword") in the German school of fencing denotes the style of fencing which uses both hands at the hilt; fechten mit dem kurzen schwert ("fencing with the short sword") is used in half-sword fighting, with one hand gripping the blade. An Italian Two-Hand Sword First Half Of The 16th Century. 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. [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). These blades are long, slender and acutely tapering, approaching the outline of type XVa, while still retaining a narrow hexagonal cross-section and a shallow fuller running along about one quarter of the blade. So, what exactly is a hand-and-a-half sword? Leather Wrapped Handle. Most hand-and-a-half swords had a diamond cross-section with a central ridge, creating a more rigid blade and specialized anti-armor tip for thrusting. 848 Groe Heidelberger Liederhandschrift(Codex Manesse) Zrich, 1305 bis 1340 321v: Herr Dietmar der Setzer. 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. We offer an array of these swords. Hand and a Half Sword 88HNH medieval bastard sword by Cold Steel. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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). All parts of the sword are used for offensive purposes, including the pommel and crossguard. A longsword is, obviously, longer than a shortsword. On the other hand, those with stainless steel blades are only meant for decoration while LARP versions have foam blades. 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]. The term hand-and-a-half sword is often used interchangeably with longsword, although it is not entirely accurate. These techniques could be nearly instantly fatal or incapacitating, as a thrust to the skull, heart, or major blood vessel would cause massive trauma. 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition (i.e. . [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. This type includes the 14th to 15th century "hand and a half sword" or "two-handed" swords, often with two or more fullers. It was longer than the gladius, and had more reach, so the spatha was most popular with soldiers in the cavalry. Bastard Sword. 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. It was prevalent during the late medieval and Renaissance periods (approximately 1350 to 1550), with early and late use reaching into the 12th and 17th centuries. 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. 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. Modern replica longswords cover many of these diverse types, though certainstyles are less well represented in the current market place. In terms of blade typology, they do not form a single category. [citation needed]. . The hand-and-a-half sword had a size between a one-handed sword and a two-handed sword. "[20] Espe bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short swords. ], Antiquarian usage in the 19th century established the use of "bastard sword" as referring unambiguously to these large swords. Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter. [44], The "tuck" (French estoc, Italian stocco)[citation needed] is an edgeless blade of square or triangular cross-section used for thrusting. There is no historical Italian equivalent to the English word "rapier". The arming sword, also called the knightly sword, had a short grip and was designed to be wielded with one hand. 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). 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 SBCM-MAS-RED The Italian school of swordsmanship was the other primary school of longsword use. The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with . The grete war sword, also called epee de guerre or great sword, was an earlier type of longsword used throughout most of western Europe. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. After a Brief exchange with the Questioner in another answer, I have gotten an approximation of what recurve profile has been asked upon. The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. Of these, "bastard sword" is the oldest, its use being contemporaneous with the weapon's heyday. 452. 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. 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. To overcome this problem, swords began to be used primarily for thrusting. 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. 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. . Black War Sword And Scabbard - High Carbon Steel Blade, Wooden Handle, Leather-Wrapped - Length 42". Two-handed swords, on the other hand, are long and heavy, making them particularly effective at dealing critical blows. The hand-and-a-half sword falls somewhere in between the one-handed and two-handed weapons. Minneapolis Minnesota The groin and throat were among the favourite targets. These are double-edged, usually straight bladed swords, designed for optimized balance, reach and versatility. Some of the earliest swords seemingly designed for two handed use are the "Grete Swords of War" of the 13thC. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. It was the typical knights sword of the 15th century designed for thrusting against vulnerable points in plate armor. [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 1410 manuscript by Fiore dei Liberi presents a variety of uses for the longsword. The sword is made of carbon steel with a Rockwell hardness of HRC 54 ? Add to cart. SWORD, late 14th century, . [3] [citation needed] It is thought to have appeared in France and spread quickly across the rest of Europe. The steeply pointed blade, indicating that it was primarily intended . 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. In terms of weight, a typical hand-and-a-half sword weighed roughly 2.4 to 4 pounds (1.1 to 1.8 kg). Longswords or . It's typically used as an intermediate weapon for those learning how to use a real longsword. The hand-and-a-half swords optimized the combination of reach, maneuverability, and weight. Apart from being a writer, she also dabbles in fashion modeling and acting. Answer (1 of 2): I'll apologize be as I'm long-winded and cover a lot of ground. SPADA SCHIAVONESCA. 8 . The blade length is about 70 to 80 cm (28-32 inches). Daggers were loot/spoils. Includes Scabbard or Sheath (19) . And this is why it remains a popular sword type even after all of those years. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. The hand-and-a-half sword also belongs to Oakeshott types XVIa, XVII, and XVIIIa. 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. Kodachi vs Wakizashi: What's the Difference? The bastard sword also had a long thin long blade that tapered into a point. Tweet Share Google+ Pinterest . Type XVII is a shorter-lived type, popular during the mid-14th to early 15th century. Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. [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). [19] There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts. 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. A longsword typically features a blade with a length of approximately 33 to 41 inches (85 to 110 cm). Hilt length: 34 cm (13 3/8") Pommel Length: 6.2 cm (2 7/16 in.) Shes particularly interested in the rise and fall of empires, accounts of war and conquest, and ancient and classical history. [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". 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. Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Viking Sword, Sharp / Battle Ready Medieval Sword. A longer and broader blade which widened slightly towards the handle. The hand-and-a-half sword is particularly versatile in this regard. They run 3 pounds plus, but you wonder how much of that weight is in the basket hilt, etc.? [8] During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was used regularly to refer to this type of sword.[9]. From cut to thrust: The, Hand-and-a-Half Sword vs. They are a sub-class . 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. 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. [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. Hand-and-a-half swords had long grips that permitted the use of the second hand. "Let thy (long) Rapier or (long) Sword be foure foote at the least, and thy dagger two foote." [citation needed] In French, estoc also means thrust or point; and estoc et taille means cut and thrust. The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Prehistory to the Age of Chivalry, Fighting: Teaching the Foundations of Sigmund Ringecks Style, A Glossary of the Construction, Decoration, and Use of Arms and Armor in All Countries and in All Times: Together with Some Closely Related Subjects, Medieval Combat: A Fifteenth-Century Manual of Swordfighting and Close-Quarter Combat. Bastard swords are also known as hand-and-a-half swords, falling between the longsword and greatsword in length. In comparison, a shortsword's blade is about 12 to 20 inches (30 to 50 cm). There are two late examples of longswords kept in the Swiss National Museum, both with vertically grooved pommels and elaborately decorated with silver inlay, and both belonging to Swiss noblemen in French service during the late 16th and early 17th century, Gugelberg von Moos and Rudolf von Schauenstein. Advantages of Hand-and-a-Half Swords $440. Pen & Sword Books Limited. 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. These are all in reference to swords commonly called hand and a half swords or longswords today. Overall 39 inches. Dorling Kindersley Publishing Staff. The grip was somewhat larger than the grip of a one-handed sword so that . Type XVIa is the classical "longsword" of the 14th and 15th centuries. The #034 Black Prince a Type XVa Longsword, Durer Bastard Sword #195 a Type XVIII Longsword. 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]. This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 01:56. [2] Navigation menu . Handle Length. Regardless of what they are called these swords areall of a type that is iconic to the middle ages.

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