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83-466: Blade: avg. 80–110 cm (31–43 in) 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 30 cm or 6 to 12 in), a straight double-edged blade of around 80 to 110 cm (31 to 43 in), and weighing approximately 2 to 3 kg (4 lb 7 oz to 6 lb 10 oz). The "longsword" type exists in
166-552: A court rank in Constantinople ), and from this time, the term longsword is applied to swords comparatively long for their respective periods. Swords from the Parthian and Sassanian Empires were quite long, the blades on some late Sassanian swords being just under a metre long. Swords were also used to administer various physical punishments , such as non-surgical amputation or capital punishment by decapitation . The use of
249-526: A deadly character all its own on the battlefield. Most sabres also had sharp points and double-edged blades, making them capable of piercing soldier after soldier in a cavalry charge. Sabres continued to see battlefield use until the early 20th century. The US Navy M1917 Cutlass used in World War I was kept in their armory well into World War II and many Marines were issued a variant called the M1941 Cutlass as
332-427: A fight in seconds with just the sword's point, leading to the development of a fighting style which closely resembles modern fencing. Slashing swords such as the sabre and similar blades such as the cutlass were built more heavily and were more typically used in warfare. Built for slashing and chopping at multiple enemies, often from horseback, the sabre's long curved blade and slightly forward weight balance gave it
415-649: A general Urnfield background), and survives well into the Iron Age, with a life-span of about seven centuries. During its lifetime, metallurgy changed from bronze to iron , but not its basic design. Naue II swords were exported from Europe to the Aegean, and as far afield as Ugarit , beginning about 1200 BC, i.e. just a few decades before the final collapse of the palace cultures in the Bronze Age collapse . Naue II swords could be as long as 85 cm, but most specimens fall into
498-478: A hook for tripping or knocking an opponent off balance. Some manuals even depict the cross as a hammer. What is known of combat with the longsword comes from artistic depictions of battle from manuscripts and the Fechtbücher of Medieval and Renaissance Masters. Therein the basics of combat were described and, in some cases, depicted. The German school of swordsmanship includes the earliest known longsword Fechtbuch,
581-561: A large Scottish type of longsword with a V–shaped crossguard. Historical terminology overlaps with that applied to the Zweihänder sword in the 16th century: French espadon , Spanish espadón , or Portuguese montante may also be used more narrowly to refer to these large swords. The French épée de passot may also refer to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. The German langes schwert ("long sword") in 15th and 16th-century manuals does not denote
664-487: A large, decorative mount allowing it to be suspended from a belt on the wearer's right side. Because of this, it is assumed that the sword was intended to be drawn with the blade pointing downwards ready for surprise stabbing attacks. In the 12th century, the Seljuq dynasty had introduced the curved shamshir to Persia, and this was in extensive use by the early 16th century. Chinese iron swords made their first appearance in
747-473: A late treatise of the "two handed sword" by one Giuseppe Colombani , a dentist in Venice dating to 1711. A tradition of teaching based on this has survived in contemporary French and Italian stick fighting . Bloßfechten ( blosz fechten ) or "bare fighting" is the technique of fighting without significant protective armour such as plate or mail . The lack of significant torso and limb protection leads to
830-910: A makeshift jungle machete during the Pacific War . Non-European weapons classified as swords include single-edged weapons such as the Middle Eastern scimitar , the Chinese dao and the related Japanese katana . The Chinese jiàn 剑 is an example of a non-European double-edged sword , like the European models derived from the double-edged Iron Age sword . The first weapons that can be described as "swords" date to around 3300 BC. They have been found in Arslantepe , Turkey, are made from arsenical bronze , and are about 60 cm (24 in) long. Some of them are inlaid with silver . The sword developed from
913-444: A manual from approximately 1389, known as GNM 3227a . This manual, unfortunately for modern scholars, was written in obscure verse. It was through students of Liechtenauer, like Sigmund Ringeck , who transcribed the work into more understandable prose that the system became notably more codified and understandable. Others provided similar work, some with a wide array of images to accompany the text. The Italian school of swordsmanship
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#1732852353863996-574: A morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihänder . 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. 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 ." Of these, "bastard sword"
1079-454: 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. Another technique would be the Mordstreich (lit. "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
1162-559: A sword, an honourable weapon, was regarded in Europe since Roman times as a privilege reserved for the nobility and the upper classes. In the first millennium BC, the Persian armies used a sword that was originally of Scythian design called the akinaka ( acinaces ). However, the great conquests of the Persians made the sword more famous as a Persian weapon, to the extent that the true nature of
1245-645: A total length of more than 100 cm (39 in). These are the "type A" swords of the Aegean Bronze Age . One of the most important, and longest-lasting, types of swords of the European Bronze Age was the Naue II type (named for Julius Naue who first described them), also known as Griffzungenschwert (lit. "grip-tongue sword"). This type first appears in c. the 13th century BC in Northern Italy (or
1328-466: A two-handed sword for a more powerful blow. In the Middle Ages, the sword was often used as a symbol of the word of God . The names given to many swords in mythology , literature , and history reflected the high prestige of the weapon and the wealth of the owner. From around 1300 to 1500, in concert with improved armour , innovative sword designs evolved more and more rapidly. The main transition
1411-437: 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 ). 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. Swords with exceptionally long hilts are found throughout
1494-421: A variety of styles and teachers each providing a slightly different take on the art. Hans Talhoffer, a mid-15th-century German fightmaster, is probably the most prominent, using a wide variety of moves, most resulting in wrestling. The longsword was a quick, effective, and versatile weapon capable of deadly thrusts, slices, and cuts. The blade was generally used with both hands on the hilt, one resting close to or on
1577-519: Is a "sword" with a flexible whip-like blade. In Indonesia , the images of Indian style swords can be found in Hindu gods statues from ancient Java circa 8th to 10th century. However the native types of blade known as kris , parang , klewang and golok were more popular as weapons. These daggers are shorter than a sword but longer than a common dagger. Half-sword Half-sword , in 14th- to 16th-century fencing with longswords , refers to
1660-499: Is common in non-expert literature, where it often refers generically to any medieval sword. However, it more properly—and historically—refers to the basket-hilted swords of the 18th century. Contemporary use of "long-sword" or "longsword" only resurfaced in the 2000s in the context of reconstruction of the German school of fencing , translating the German langes schwert . Prior to this
1743-456: Is sometimes used interchangeably with side-sword. As rapiers became more popular, attempts were made to hybridize the blade, sacrificing the effectiveness found in each unique weapon design. These are still considered side-swords and are sometimes labeled sword rapier or cutting rapier by modern collectors. Side-swords used in conjunction with bucklers became so popular that it caused the term swashbuckler to be coined. This word stems from
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#17328523538631826-478: Is the consistent use of high tin bronze (17–21% tin) which is very hard and breaks if stressed too far, whereas other cultures preferred lower tin bronze (usually 10%), which bends if stressed too far. Although iron swords were made alongside bronze, it was not until the early Han period that iron completely replaced bronze. In the Indian subcontinent , earliest available Bronze age swords of copper were discovered in
1909-521: Is the oldest, its use being contemporaneous with the weapon's heyday. The French épée bâtarde 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. The "Masters of Defence" competition organised by Henry VIII in July 1540 listed two handed sword and bastard sword as two separate items. It
1992-409: 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. The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is relatively modern (from the late 19th century); this name was given because the balance of the sword made it usable in one hand, as well as two. During
2075-405: The ricasso to improve the grip (a practice that would continue in the rapier ) led to the production of hilts with a guard for the finger. This sword design eventually led to the development of the civilian rapier, but it was not replaced by it, and the side-sword continued to be used during the rapier's lifetime. As it could be used for both cutting and thrusting, the term "cut and thrust sword"
2158-518: The Franks . Wootz steel (which is also known as Damascus steel ) was a unique and highly prized steel developed on the Indian subcontinent as early as the 5th century BC. Its properties were unique due to the special smelting and reworking of the steel creating networks of iron carbides described as a globular cementite in a matrix of pearlite . The use of Damascus steel in swords became extremely popular in
2241-588: The Indian subcontinent made of Damascus steel also found their way into Persia . By the time of Classical Antiquity and the Parthian and Sassanid Empires in Iran, iron swords were common. The Greek xiphos and the Roman gladius are typical examples of the type, measuring some 60 to 70 cm (24 to 28 in). The late Roman Empire introduced the longer spatha (the term for its wielder, spatharius , became
2324-759: The Indus Valley civilization sites in the northwestern regions of South Asia . Swords have been recovered in archaeological findings throughout the Ganges - Jamuna Doab region of Indian subcontinent, consisting of bronze but more commonly copper . Diverse specimens have been discovered in Fatehgarh , where there are several varieties of hilt. These swords have been variously dated to times between 1700 and 1400 BC. Other swords from this period in India have been discovered from Kallur, Raichur . Iron became increasingly common from
2407-572: The Middle Ages , sword technology improved, and the sword became a very advanced weapon. The spatha type remained popular throughout the Migration period and well into the Middle Ages. Vendel Age spathas were decorated with Germanic artwork (not unlike the Germanic bracteates fashioned after Roman coins). The Viking Age saw again a more standardized production, but the basic design remained indebted to
2490-412: The two-handed sword , provided a longer area more fitting for gripping during half-swording. Filippo Vadi suggests that a sword be sharp only at the tip. It has been suggested that some swords were left unsharpened in a part of the sword a hand's breadth wide about halfway down the blade in order to facilitate this technique. In Italian and English, "half sword" refers to a crossing of the sword in
2573-455: The 11th century. From the 15th century to the 16th century, more than 200,000 swords were exported, reaching a quantitative peak, but these were simple swords made exclusively for mass production, specialized for export and lending to conscripted farmers ( ashigaru ). The khanda is a double-edge straight sword. It is often featured in religious iconography, theatre and art depicting the ancient history of India . Some communities venerate
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2656-422: The 13th century BC. Before that the use of swords was less frequent. The iron was not quench-hardened although often containing sufficient carbon, but work-hardened like bronze by hammering. This made them comparable or only slightly better in terms of strength and hardness to bronze swords. They could still bend during use rather than spring back into shape. But the easier production, and the better availability of
2739-509: The 14th century, as a military steel weapon of the earlier phase of the Hundred Years' War . It remains identifiable as a type during the period of about 1350 to 1550. 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. From the late 15th century, however, it is also attested as being worn and used by unarmoured soldiers or mercenaries. Use of
2822-459: The 14th-century change from mail to plate armour . It was during the 14th century, with the growing use of more advanced armour, that the hand and a half sword, also known as a " bastard sword ", came into being. It had an extended grip that meant it could be used with either one or two hands. Though these swords did not provide a full two-hand grip they allowed their wielders to hold a shield or parrying dagger in their off hand, or to use it as
2905-504: The 16th and 17th centuries. It was only from the 11th century that Norman swords began to develop the crossguard (quillons). During the Crusades of the 12th to 13th century, this cruciform type of arming sword remained essentially stable, with variations mainly concerning the shape of the pommel . These swords were designed as cutting weapons, although effective points were becoming common to counter improvements in armour, especially
2988-460: The 16th century, the large zweihänder was used by the elite German and Swiss mercenaries known as doppelsöldners . Zweihänder , literally translated, means two-hander. The zweihänder possesses a long blade, as well as a huge guard for protection. It is estimated that some zweihänder swords were over 6 feet (1.8 m) long, with the one ascribed to Frisian warrior Pier Gerlofs Donia being 7 feet (2.13 m) long. The gigantic blade length
3071-668: The 3rd millennium BC in the Middle East, first in arsenic copper , then in tin-bronze. Blades longer than 60 cm (24 in) were rare and not practical until the late Bronze Age because the Young's modulus (stiffness) of bronze is relatively low, and consequently longer blades would bend easily. The development of the sword out of the dagger was gradual; the first weapons that can be classified as swords without any ambiguity are those found in Minoan Crete , dated to about 1700 BC, reaching
3154-631: The 60 to 70 cm range. Robert Drews linked the Naue Type II Swords, which spread from Southern Europe into the Mediterranean, with the Bronze Age collapse . Naue II swords, along with Nordic full-hilted swords, were made with functionality and aesthetics in mind. The hilts of these swords were beautifully crafted and often contained false rivets in order to make the sword more visually appealing. Swords coming from northern Denmark and northern Germany usually contained three or more fake rivets in
3237-616: The Arabic term for a Western European, a " Frank ") was a sword type which used blades manufactured in Western Europe and imported by the Portuguese , or made locally in imitation of European blades. Because of its length the firangi is usually regarded as primarily a cavalry weapon. The sword has been especially associated with the Marathas , who were famed for their cavalry. However, the firangi
3320-529: The High Middle Ages. For example, there is a longsword in The Glasgow Art and History Museum, Labelled XIIIa. 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. The longsword as a late medieval type of sword emerges in
3403-670: 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. 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 swords grouped as "longswords" for
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3486-422: The armpits or throat or, even better, the same against a man who has already been cast to the ground. Some weapons may have been modified specifically for this purpose, sporting what is called a ricasso . Some longswords had a short ricasso, usually too close to the cross and hilt of the blade for practical use in half-swording except as a point of extra leverage in a thrust. The ricasso on larger swords, such as
3569-432: The blade of the sword, potentially rendering it much less effective at cutting and producing only a concussive effect against the armoured opponent. To overcome this problem, swords began to be used primarily for thrusting. The weapon was used in the half-sword, with one or both hands on the blade. This increased the accuracy and strength of thrusts and provided more leverage for Ringen am Schwert or "wrestling at/with
3652-474: The blade. Many swords are designed for both thrusting and slashing. The precise definition of a sword varies by historical epoch and geographic region. Historically, the sword developed in the Bronze Age , evolving from the dagger; the earliest specimens date to about 1600 BC. The later Iron Age sword remained fairly short and without a crossguard. The spatha , as it developed in the Late Roman army , became
3735-518: The developed-hilt appear on this type of sword. 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. In southern Germany, it persisted into the 1560s, but its use also declined during the second half of the 16th century. There are two late examples of longswords kept in
3818-500: The fighter on the right of the Codex Wallerstein picture). Sword A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger , is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed tip. A slashing sword is more likely to be curved and to have a sharpened cutting edge on one or both sides of
3901-411: 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). Another name originating from the 19th century is "broadsword," which grew out of comparisons of the blade to slender contemporary dueling swords. This name
3984-476: The gaps between plates of armour. The grip was sometimes wrapped in wire or coarse animal hide to provide a better grip and to make it harder to knock a sword out of the user's hand. A number of manuscripts covering longsword combat and techniques dating from the 13th–16th centuries exist in German, Italian, and English, providing extensive information on longsword combatives as used throughout this period. Many of these are now readily available online. In
4067-616: The hilt. Sword production in China is attested from the Bronze Age Shang dynasty . The technology for bronze swords reached its high point during the Warring States period and Qin dynasty. Amongst the Warring States period swords, some unique technologies were used, such as casting high tin edges over softer, lower tin cores, or the application of diamond shaped patterns on the blade (see sword of Goujian ). Also unique for Chinese bronzes
4150-474: The knife or dagger. The sword became differentiated from the dagger during the Bronze Age ( c. 3000 BC), when copper and bronze weapons were produced with long leaf-shaped blades and with hilts consisting of an extension of the blade in handle form. A knife is unlike a dagger in that a knife has only one cutting surface, while a dagger has two cutting surfaces. Construction of longer blades became possible during
4233-401: The late 16th century, with the later Italian masters forgoing the longsword and focusing primarily on rapier fencing. The last known German manual to include longsword teaching was that of Jakob Sutor , published in 1612. 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
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#17328523538634316-480: The late Renaissance, with duels being a preferred way to honourably settle disputes. The side-sword was a type of war sword used by infantry during the Renaissance of Europe . This sword was a direct descendant of the knightly sword . Quite popular between the 16th and 17th centuries, they were ideal for handling the mix of armoured and unarmoured opponents of that time. A new technique of placing one's finger on
4399-525: The later part of the Western Zhou dynasty , but iron and steel swords were not widely used until the 3rd century BC Han dynasty . The Chinese dao (刀 pinyin dāo) is single-edged, sometimes translated as sabre or broadsword , and the jian (劍 or 剑 pinyin jiàn) is double-edged. The zhanmadao (literally "horse chopping sword") is an extremely long, anti-cavalry sword from the Song dynasty era. During
4482-506: The most versatile for close combat, but it came to decline in military use as technology, such as the crossbow and firearms changed warfare. However, it maintained a key role in civilian self-defence . The earliest evidence of curved swords, or scimitars (and other regional variants as the Arabian saif , the Persian shamshir and the Turkic kilij ) is from the 9th century, when it
4565-639: The name of akrafena . They are still used today in ceremonies, such as the Odwira festival . As steel technology improved, single-edged weapons became popular throughout Asia. Derived from the Chinese jian or dao , the Korean hwandudaedo are known from the early medieval Three Kingdoms . Production of the Japanese tachi , a precursor to the katana , is recorded from c. AD 900 (see Japanese sword ). Japan
4648-558: The new fighting style of the side-sword and buckler which was filled with much "swashing and making a noise on the buckler". Within the Ottoman Empire , the use of a curved sabre called the yatagan started in the mid-16th century. It would become the weapon of choice for many in Turkey and the Balkans . The sword in this time period was the most personal weapon, the most prestigious, and
4731-422: The pommel. The weapon may be held with one hand during disarmament or grappling techniques. 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. Another variation of use comes from the use of armour. Half-swording was a manner of using both hands, one on the hilt and one on the blade, to better control
4814-598: The predecessor of the European sword of the Middle Ages, at first adopted as the Migration Period sword , and only in the High Middle Ages , developed into the classical arming sword with crossguard. The word sword continues the Old English , sweord . The use of a sword is known as swordsmanship or, in a modern context, as fencing . In the early modern period , western sword design diverged into two forms,
4897-469: The purposes of this article are united by their being intended for two-handed use. In terms of blade typology, they do not form a single category. In the Oakeshott typology of blade morphology, "longswords" figure as a range of sub-types of the corresponding single-handed sword types. The expression fechten mit dem langen schwert ("fencing with the long sword") in the German school of fencing denotes
4980-429: The raw material for the first time permitted the equipping of entire armies with metal weapons, though Bronze Age Egyptian armies were sometimes fully equipped with bronze weapons. Ancient swords are often found at burial sites. The sword was often placed on the right side of the corpse. Many times the sword was kept over the corpse. In many late Iron Age graves, the sword and the scabbard were bent at 180 degrees. It
5063-438: The rise of the samurai caste include the tsurugi (straight double-edged blade) and chokutō (straight one-edged blade). Japanese swordmaking reached the height of its development in the 15th and 16th centuries, when samurai increasingly found a need for a sword to use in closer quarters, leading to the creation of the modern katana . High quality Japanese swords have been exported to neighboring Asian countries since before
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#17328523538635146-451: The second half of the 16th century, it persisted mostly as a weapon for sportive competition ( Schulfechten ), and possibly in knightly duels . Distinct "bastard sword" hilt types developed during the first half of the 16th century. Ewart Oakeshott distinguishes twelve different types. These all seem to have originated in Bavaria and in Switzerland. By the late 16th century, early forms of
5229-447: The spatha. Around the 10th century, the use of properly quenched hardened and tempered steel started to become much more common than in previous periods. The Frankish 'Ulfberht' blades (the name of the maker inlaid in the blade) were of particularly consistent high quality. Charles the Bald tried to prohibit the export of these swords, as they were used by Vikings in raids against
5312-423: 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. The two terms are largely equivalent to "unarmoured fighting" ( blossfechten ) and "armoured fencing" ( fechten im harnisch ). Codified systems of fighting with the longsword existed from the later 14th century, with
5395-420: 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. Instead, the energy of the cut becomes essentially pure concussive energy . The later hardened plate armours, complete with ridges and roping, posed a threat against the careless attacker. It is considered possible for strong blows of the sword against plate armour to damage
5478-421: The sword". Also, the hand on the blade increases its rigidity which is advantageous when thrusting. 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. During half-swording, the entirety of the sword works as a weapon, including the pommel and crossguard. One example how
5561-429: The sword, as well as for delivering a more accurate and powerful thrust. Both of these are critical when fighting in plate armour because a slice or a cleaving blow from a sword is virtually useless against iron or steel plate. Most medieval treatises show armoured combat as consisting primarily of fighting at the half-sword; the best options against an armoured man being a strong thrust into less-protected areas such as
5644-674: The swordsman and his weapon for the next attack. Harnischfechten , or "armoured fighting" (German kampffechten , or Fechten in Harnisch zu Fuss , literally "fighting in armour on foot"), depicts fighting in full plate armour . The increased defensive capability of a man clad in full plate armour caused the use of the sword to be drastically changed. 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
5727-399: The technique of gripping the central part of the sword blade with the left hand in order to execute more forceful thrusts against armoured and unarmoured opponents. The term is a translation of the original German Halbschwert . The technique was also referred to as mit dem kurzen Schwert , "with the shortened sword" in German. Half-sword is used for leverage advantage when wrestling with
5810-643: The term "long sword" merely referred to any sword with a long blade; 'long' being simply an adjective rather than a classification. Historical (15th to 16th century) terms for this type of sword included Portuguese espada-de-armas , estoque or espada de duas mãos for the version with longer handle used exclusively with both hands; Spanish espadón , montante , or mandoble , Italian spada longa (lunga) or spada due mani (Bolognese) , and Middle French passot . The Scottish Gaelic claidheamh mòr means "great sword"; anglicised as claymore , it came to refer to
5893-401: The thrusting swords and the sabres. Thrusting swords such as the rapier and eventually the smallsword were designed to impale their targets quickly and inflict deep stab wounds. Their long and straight yet light and well balanced design made them highly maneuverable and deadly in a duel but fairly ineffective when used in a slashing or chopping motion. A well aimed lunge and thrust could end
5976-469: 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. By the 16th century, its military use was mostly obsolete, culminating in the brief period where the oversized Zweihänder were wielded by the German Landsknechte during the early to mid 16th century. By
6059-477: The use of a large amount of cutting and slicing techniques in addition to thrusts. These techniques could be nearly instantly fatal or incapacitating, as a thrust to the skull, heart, or major blood vessel would cause massive trauma. Similarly, strong strikes could cut through skin and bone, effectively amputating limbs. The hands and forearms are a frequent target of some cuts and slices in a defensive or offensive manoeuvre, serving both to disable an opponent and align
6142-516: The weapon as a symbol of Shiva . It is a common weapon in the martial arts in the Indian subcontinent . The khanda often appears in Hindu , Buddhist and Sikh scriptures and art. In Sri Lanka , a unique wind furnace was used to produce the high-quality steel. This gave the blade a very hard cutting edge and beautiful patterns. For these reasons it became a very popular trading material. The firangi ( / f ə ˈ r ɪ ŋ ɡ iː / , derived from
6225-454: The weapon has been lost somewhat as the name akinaka has been used to refer to whichever form of sword the Persian army favoured at the time. It is widely believed that the original akinaka was a 35 to 45 cm (14 to 18 inch) double-edged sword. The design was not uniform and in fact identification is made more on the nature of the scabbard than the weapon itself; the scabbard usually has
6308-426: The weapon in thrusts and jabs. 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 . Use of the longsword in attack was not limited only to use of the blade, however, as several Fechtbücher explain and depict use of the pommel and cross as offensive weapons. The cross has been shown to be used as
6391-481: Was also widely used by Sikhs and Rajputs . The talwar ( Hindi : तलवार ) is a type of curved sword from India and other countries of the Indian subcontinent , it was adopted by communities such as Rajputs, Sikhs and Marathas, who favored the sword as their main weapon. It became more widespread in the medieval era. The urumi ( Tamil : சுருள் பட்டாக்கத்தி surul pattai , lit. curling blade; Sinhala : එතුණු කඩුව ethunu kaduwa ; Hindi : aara )
6474-573: Was famous for the swords it forged in the early 13th century for the class of warrior-nobility known as the Samurai . Western historians have said that Japanese katana were among the finest cutting weapons in world military history. The types of swords used by the Samurai included the ōdachi (extra long field sword), tachi (long cavalry sword), katana (long sword), and wakizashi (shorter companion sword for katana ). Japanese swords that pre-date
6557-462: Was known as killing the sword. Thus they might have considered swords as the most potent and powerful object. High-carbon steel for swords, which would later appear as Damascus steel , was likely introduced in India around the mid-1st millennium BC. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions swords of Indian iron and steel being exported from ancient India to ancient Greece . Blades from
6640-443: Was perfectly designed for manipulating and pushing away enemy polearms , which were major weapons around this time, in both Germany and Eastern Europe. Doppelsöldners also used katzbalgers , which means 'cat-gutter'. The katzbalger's S-shaped guard and 2-foot-long (0.61 m) blade made it perfect for bringing in when the fighting became too close to use a zweihänder . Civilian use of swords became increasingly common during
6723-524: Was the lengthening of the grip, allowing two-handed use, and a longer blade. By 1400, this type of sword, at the time called langes Schwert (longsword) or spadone , was common, and a number of 15th- and 16th-century Fechtbücher offering instructions on their use survive. Another variant was the specialized armour-piercing swords of the estoc type. The longsword became popular due to its extreme reach and its cutting and thrusting abilities. The estoc became popular because of its ability to thrust into
6806-521: Was the other primary school of longsword use. The 1410 manuscript by Fiore dei Liberi presents a variety of uses for the longsword. Like the German manuals, the weapon is most commonly depicted and taught with both hands on the hilt. However, a section on one-handed use is among the volume and demonstrates the techniques and advantages, such as sudden additional reach, of single-handed longsword play. The manual also presents half-sword techniques as an integral part of armoured combat. Both schools declined in
6889-475: Was used among soldiers in the Khurasan region of Persia . The takoba is a type of broadsword originating in the western Sahel , descended from various Byzantine and Islamic swords. It has a straight double-edged blade measuring about one meter in length, usually imported from Europe. Abyssinian swords related to the Persian shamshir are known as shotel . The Asante people adopted swords under
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