hand and a half sword length

Half-swording was a manner of using both hands, one on the hilt and one on the blade, to better control the weapon in thrusts and jabs. On the contrary, the hand-and-a-half sword had a longer grip to allow it to be wielded with one or two hands, delivering a more powerful blow in one stroke if necessary. Their long grip increased their striking power and made some fighting techniques easier. (2012). It's not technically intended to be used with one and a half hands -- that doesn't make sense. A channel ran down about half of the blade. 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. They represent an optimised compromise between thrusting capability and retaining good cutting characteristics. "[20] Espe bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short swords. 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. The term referred to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. In medieval fight books, the crossguard and pommel can be used for striking. . 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 . Properties. SPADA DI STOCCO. Both schools declined in the late 16th century, with the later Italian masters forgoing the longsword and focusing primarily on rapier fencing. $440. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Venezia, fine secolo XV. 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. 4.14-3.1 cm, then sharp point. The French pe de passot may also refer to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. The waisted grip, featuring a wider center tapering toward the pommel, allowed better control of the weapon. Apparently, many swords were designed for left-hand use, although left-handed swords have been described as "a rarity".[12]. Sword 5 - 15th Century Hand and a Half Sword. Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition (i.e. [21], Joseph Swetnam states that the bastard sword is midway in length between an arming sword and a long sword,[22] and Randall Cotgrave's definition seems to imply this, as well. By the late 16th century, early forms of the developed-hilt appear on this type of sword. 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. Leather Wrapped Handle. Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han Dynasty were up to 150cm (58in) long. The Spartiats were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. In some instances, the crossguard could hook the shield or the weapon away and even trip the enemy. 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]. 3 Reviews; 3 Reviews. It is considered "The General of All Weapons". Tough, rigid and durable. As a history enthusiast, Abigail loves learning about the events that shaped the world. 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. Some of the earliest swords seemingly designed for two handed use are the "Grete Swords of War" of the 13thC. [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. Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Etymology 4 Portrayal in adaptations 4.1 Peter Jackson's film trilogies 5 Reproductions 6 Translations 7 References We will respect your privacy. 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. As its name suggests, it had an advantage in terms of greater reach over the so-called short sword or arming sword. Blofechten (blosz fechten) or "bare fighting" is the technique of fighting without significant protective armour such as plate or mail. The hand-and-a-half swords had straight, double-edged blades. Sword Mounting Hand-and-a-half swords can be used with one or both hands as needed in combat. This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. 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. 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 hand and a half blade is used for thrusting and the length of the blade is not any longer than the long sword. In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as the broadsword.[36][37]. Buy the medieval Albrecht Hand-and-a-Half Swords for $ 299.99. Includes Scabbard or Sheath (19) Handle Length. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (18 to 31 inches) in length. 30-40 Inches (3) 40-50 Inches (21) 50-60 Inches (2) Product Includes. Hilt length: 34 cm (13 3/8") Pommel Length: 6.2 cm (2 7/16 in.) The hand-and-a-half sword also belongs to Oakeshott types XVIa, XVII, and XVIIIa. [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). avg. [citation needed] The two handed claymore is an early Scottish version of a greatsword. 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 blades are strongly tapered, more narrow and slender even than the single-handed type XV variant, with a flattened diamond cross-section. The long hilt 10-15 inches in length mainly distinguishes the bastard sword from other medieval swords. In southern Germany, it persisted into the 1560s, but its use also declined during the second half of the 16th century. Minneapolis Minnesota Longsword, bastard sword, and hand-and-a-half sword are all names used to describe a variety of medieval European swords. 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. Also, the hand on the blade increases its rigidity which is advantageous when thrusting. Hand Forged High Carbon Steel Viking Sword, Sharp / Battle Ready Medieval Sword. The idea for the spatha came from the swords of ancient Celts in Germany and Britain. Origins of the Hand-and-a-Half-Sword 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. [30] However, George Silver and Joseph Swetnam refer to them merely as "two hande sworde". Warspike Knight's Hand-and-a-Half (Bastard) Sword $95 In Stock! [26] Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy. 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.) So, what benefits (if any) does a hand-and-a-half sword offer? 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. 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. Hand-and-a-half swords were carried in scabbards attached to waist belts, though some sources mention swords being carried in rings welded directly to the skirt of a harness. Honestly, your best bet for undestanding the dimensions of a historically accurate sword would be to have a look at museum pieces and moder. the same height as the user) such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. [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. The term hand-and-a-half sword is often used interchangeably with longsword, although it is not entirely accurate. The guard is also cast of the same extremely hard stainless steel alloy. Hans Talhoffer, a mid-15th-century German fightmaster, is probably the most prominent, using a wide variety of moves, most resulting in wrestling. The Military History Book: The Ultimate Visual Guide to the Weapons that Shaped the World, Cut and Thrust: European Swords and Swordsmanship, Knight: The Warrior and World of Chivalry, Medieval Armies and Weapons in Western Europe: An Illustrated History, The Art of Sword Combat: A 1568 German Treatise on Swordsmanship. Answer (1 of 2): I'll apologize be as I'm long-winded and cover a lot of ground. 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. Includes a leather belt frog and scabbard with belt stop. [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. 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.