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What is a bastard sword?
What is the difference between a bastard and a longsword?
What is a longsword & a bastard sword?
What are the different types of longswords?
Joseph Swetnam states that the bastard sword is midway in length between an arming sword and a long sword, and Randall Cotgrave's definition seems to imply this, as well. The French épée de passot was also known as épée bâtarde [ citation needed ] (i.e., bastard sword) and also coustille à croix [24] (literally a cross-hilted blade).
Learn about the origin, design and use of bastard sword and longsword, two types of medieval swords that are often confused. Find out how they differ in terms of finesse and versatility, and why they are the same in essence.
- Short Sword. The short sword is a light one-handed sword. These swords are considered easy to wield. Due to the short blade length, the wielder is at a disadvantage when fighting longer swords with more range.
- Arming Sword. This is the classic one-handed sword used by knights and was often used in conjunction with a shield. The arming sword was the most used sword type in the medieval period.
- Bastard Sword. Often also referred to as a hand-and-a-half sword. They are a sub-class of longswords. The difference between a bastard sword and a regular longsword is that the former could be wielded either with one hand or with two.
- Longsword. The longsword came up in Europe in the late medieval period. The grip of the sword was longer so that two hands could be used. The weapon features a blade length of around 85 to 110 cm (33-43 inches), while the grip measured around 10 to 30 cm (4-12 inches) in length.
Some of the earliest swords seemingly designed for two handed use are the “Grete Swords of War” of the 13 th C. These are referred to by a variety of names and include Langschwert, spadone or spada longa, grootzwaard, épée bâtarde, and bastard sword.
Longswords are heavier weapons often preferred for defense or parrying but can also be used offensively due to their length. Bastard swords (hand-and-a-half Swords) are larger than either type of medieval sword and were designed with thrusting capabilities as well as heavy striking blows in mind.
May 17, 2023 · However, fencing master Joseph Swetnam described bastard swords as shorter than longswords but longer than the short swords. Characteristics of Medieval Longsword. The distinguishing characteristic of the longsword was its longer grip rather than its long blade, though most of them had both.
Aug 4, 2023 · On the other hand, bastard swords typically have blades ranging from 30 to 35 inches (76 to 90 cm). The extra length of long swords grants them a slight advantage in reach during combat...
