Description
Circa 1300
This sword follows the design principles rooted in the German martial tradition of the early 14th century. The long, straight crossguard is forged to catch or parry an opponent’s blade, shielding the wielder’s hand in the heat of close quarters combat. Its grip extends enough to be wielded with either one or two hands, giving the fighter the option to switch between nimble, single-handed strikes and stronger, two-handed blows. The blade’s length and weight are balanced for cutting and slashing, typical of knightly swords used both on the battlefield and in tournament duels. The accompanying scabbard would have enabled safe carrying and swift drawing of the blade. Crafted with care by Windlass Steelcrafts, this sword can be sharpened if needed for cutting drills or left blunt for display purposes.
- Overall length: 42-1⁄4″
- Blade length: 34″ long, 1-7⁄8″ wide, 3⁄16″ thick
- Weight: 2 lbs 7 oz
Fun fact: The German hand-and-a-half sword was called a “bastard sword” because its grip was longer than a typical one-handed sword but shorter than a full two-handed sword, giving warriors the ability to adapt their fighting style in the midst of battle.
