Classification of swords
The English language terminology used in the classification of swords is imprecise and has varied widely over time. There is no historical dictionary for the universal names, classification, or terminology of swords; a sword was simply a single-edged or double-edged knife that grew incrementally longer and more complex with technological advances.
Historical terms without a universal consensus of definition were used to label weapons of similar appearance but of different historical periods, regional cultures, and fabrication technology. These terms were often described in relation to other unrelated weapons, without regard to their intended use and fighting style. In modern history, many of these terms have been given specific, often arbitrary meanings that are unrelated to any of their historical meanings.
Terminology
Some of these terms originate contemporaneously with the weapons which they describe. Others are modern or early modern terms used by antiquarians, curators, and modern-day sword enthusiasts for historical swords.Terminology was further complicated by terms introduced or misinterpreted in the 19th century by antiquarians and in 20th century pop culture, and by the addition of new terms such as "great sword", "Zweihänder", and "cut-and-thrust sword". Historical European martial arts associations have turned the term spada da lato into "side-sword". Furthermore, there is a deprecation of the term "broadsword" by these associations. All these newly introduced or redefined terms add to the confusion of the matter.
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. Elizabethans used descriptive terms such as "short", "bastard", and "long" which emphasized the length of the blade, and "two-handed" for any sword that could be wielded by two hands.
Classification by hilt type
Handedness
The term two-handed sword may refer to any large sword designed to be used primarily with two hands:- the European longsword, popular in the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
- * the Scottish late medieval claymore
- the Bidenhänder sword favored by the Landsknechte of 16th-century Germany
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" referred to the rapier.
The term "single-handed sword" or "one-handed sword" was coined to distinguish from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" swords.
"Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. It is also used as a possible gloss of the obscure term tonsword by Nares ; "one-handed sword" is somewhat later, recorded from.
Some swords were designed for left-hand use, although left-handed swords have been described as "a rarity".
Great sword
Great swords or greatswords are related to the long swords of the Middle Ages. The great sword was developed during the Renaissance, but its earlier cousin the Scottish Claymore was very similar in size and use, like the "outsized specimens" between such as the Oakeshott type XIIa or Oakeshott type XIIIa. These swords were too heavy to be wielded one-handed and possessed a large grip for leverage.Claymore
The Scottish name "claymore" can refer to either the longsword with a distinctive two-handed grip, or the basket-hilted sword. The two-handed claymore is an early Scottish version of a great sword.''Zweihänder''
The Zweihänder or Beidhänder is a true two-handed sword, in the sense that it cannot be wielded in only one hand. It was a specialist weapon wielded by certain Landsknechte, so-called Doppelsöldners. A similar weapon used in Spain and Portugal was called montante.Classification by blade type
Double-edge and straight swords
These are double-edged, usually straight-bladed swords, designed for optimized balance, reach and versatility.is a double-edged straight sword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention the jian date to the 7th century BC during the Spring and Autumn period; one of the earliest specimens being the Sword of Goujian. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from in length. The weight of an average sword of blade-length would weigh about. There are also larger two-handed versions used by ancient and medieval armies and for training by many styles of Chinese martial arts. Two handed jians from the time of the Chu and Han dynasty were up to long.Longsword
In modern times, the term longsword most frequently refers to a late Medieval and Renaissance weapon designed for use with two hands. The German langes Schwert in 15th-century manuals did not necessarily denote a type of weapon, but the technique of fencing with both hands at the hilt.The French épée bâtarde and the English bastard sword originate in the 15th or 16th century, originally having the general sense of "irregular sword or sword of uncertain origin". It was " which was neither French, nor Spanish, nor properly Landsknecht , but longer than any of these sturdy swords." Espée bastarde could also historically refer to a single-handed sword with a fairly long blade compared to other short swords.
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 and also coustille à croix. The term referred to a medieval single-handed sword optimized for thrusting. The épée de passot was the sidearm of the franc-archers. The term passot comes from the fact that these swords passed the length of a "normal" short sword.
The "Masters of Defence" competition organised by Henry VIII in July 1540 listed "two hande sworde", "bastard sworde", and "longe sworde" as separate items.
Antiquarian usage in the 19th century established the use of "bastard sword" as referring unambiguously to these large swords. However, George Silver and Joseph Swetnam refer to them merely as "two hande sworde". The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern. During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was used regularly to refer to this type of sword.
The Elizabethan long sword is a single-handed "cut-and-thrust" sword with a blade similar to the long rapier. "Let thy Rapier or Sword be foure foote at the least, and thy dagger two foote." Historical terms for this type of sword included the Italian spada longa and French épée longue.
The term longsword has been used to refer to different kinds of sword depending on historical context:
- Zweihänder or two-hander, a late Renaissance sword of the 16th century Landsknechte, the longest sword of all;
- the long "side sword" or "rapier" with a cutting edge.
Broadsword
- Claymore
- Basket-hilted sword
- Sabre
Shortswords and daggers
Knives such as the seax and other blades of similar length between, they are sometimes construed as swords because of their longer blades. 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:- Iron Age swords:
- *Seax, a tool and weapon, common in Northern Europe.
- *Gladius, an early ancient Roman thrusting shortsword for legionaries
- *Xiphos, a double-edged, single-hand blade used by the ancient Greeks;
- Certain Renaissance-era sidearms:
- *Baselard, a late medieval heavy dagger;
- *Cinquedea, a civilian long dagger;
- *Dirk, the Scottish long dagger ;
- *Hanger or wood-knife, a type of hunting sword or infantry sabre;
- Certain fascine knives:
- *Model 1832 Foot Artillery Sword, is a short sword designed after the Roman gladius with a blade length around in length. It was also known as a coupe-chou in France.
Edgeless and thrusting swords
The edgeless swords category comprises weapons which are related to or labelled as "swords" but do not emphasise hacking or slashing techniques or have any cutting edges whatsoever. The majority of these elongated weapons were designed for agility, precision and rapid thrusting blows to exploit gaps in the enemy's defences; the major joints of the arms, the opening in a visor. However they mainly saw prominence outside the battlefield as a duelling weapon.Basket-hilted sword
The basket-hilted sword is a sword type of the early modern era characterised by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. The basket hilt is a development of the quillons added to swords' crossguards since the Late Middle Ages.In modern times, this variety of sword is also sometimes referred to as the broadsword.The Spartan army were always armed with a xiphos as a secondary weapon. Among most Greek warriors, this weapon had an iron blade of about. The Spartan version of the sword typically had a blade about in length. The Spartan's shorter weapon proved deadly in the crush caused by colliding phalanx formations, as it was far more capable of being thrust through gaps in the enemy's shield wall and armour, where there was little to no room for longer edged weapons. The groin and throat were among the favourite targets.