| A "sword" is a general term for an edged weapon | | | | warriors. This is a significant contrast with the |
| longer than a "dagger". The distinction between a | | | | Renaissance rapier that will come some centuries |
| sword and a dagger is usually arbitrary, but it is | | | | later, with which finesse and tactic predominate |
| normally understood that the sword stemmed | | | | over brute force. |
| from the dagger after technological advances | | | | RENAISSANCE SWORDS |
| allowed the blade to extend longer. The term | | | | As civilization started anew, medieval knights |
| "sword" encompasses many types of blades such | | | | were starting to realize that their long, heavy |
| as the sabre, rapier, scimitar and cutlass. The | | | | swords were no good for close combat. At the |
| following article is a (very) brief history of swords | | | | same time, improvements in commerce and |
| in the Western World. | | | | trade also gave rise to high-quality sword |
| EARLY HISTORY | | | | craftsmanship. Cities such as Toledo, Spain and |
| The earliest swords are said to be made of stone | | | | Solingen, Germany became famous for their |
| during the Neolithic period. These primitive | | | | high-caliber swords. Much like Germany now sells |
| weapons gave way to the first flint daggers | | | | us BMWs and Mercedes', back then Germany |
| made of copper. Primitive swords were first | | | | exported their swords all over the known world. |
| constructed in two parts: the blade and the | | | | During the first half of the 16th century, swords |
| handle, which were usually held together with | | | | experienced rapid changes across Europe. The |
| rivets. | | | | rapier, a long, narrow blade with an intricate guard |
| One of the greatest advances in the construction | | | | design, soon grew in popularity. It became |
| of swords and daggers alike came when the | | | | customary for gentlemen all over Europe to wear |
| length of the blade was extended into the core of | | | | a rapier at all times, which inevitably increased the |
| the handle (full-tang), thereby creating a sword | | | | number of duels everywhere. The civilian sword |
| from one piece of metal. The full-tang | | | | of the 16th century, along with a higher incidence |
| construction thus prevented the blade and hilt | | | | of dueling completely revolutionized the art of |
| from separating during battle. As an aside, if you | | | | sword fighting during the Renaissance. |
| plan on buying a replica sword for a re-enactment | | | | In medieval times you could probably survive by |
| or play, make sure that the sword has a "full-tang | | | | swinging and hacking with your huge sword, but if |
| construction" to avoid embarrassing accidents | | | | your opponent is a skilled swordsman, swinging |
| during a sword fight. | | | | your sword could leave you open to attack. |
| During the classical period, swords were usually | | | | Therefore, sword fighting evolved from brute |
| short, straight and broad - this style of sword is | | | | force to strategic thrusts, parries and feints. By |
| often referred to as the Imperial Gladiator Sword | | | | the 17th century, the civilian rapier had reduced in |
| . The sword of choice by Roman warriors, the | | | | size even further and was now called the |
| "gladius", clearly displayed such attributes. A longer | | | | "smallsword". Surprisingly, one of the most |
| Roman sword also existed (called the "spatha") | | | | prominent purposes of the smallsword |
| but it wasn't as common as the gladius. Other | | | | was...fashion. Civilians would decorate their |
| styles of swords outside the Roman Empire were | | | | smallswords according to their taste, current fads, |
| referred to as "ensis". | | | | family tradition, etc... |
| The Franks, who would later rule over | | | | Elsewhere, specialized swords had not |
| modern-day France, preferred longer swords | | | | disappeared. The broadsword was still widely used |
| similar to the Roman spatha. Unlike the Roman | | | | in German and Swiss armies, and the famous |
| spatha, however, the Frankish sword was | | | | Scottish claymore was still used up until the 17th |
| constructed out of soft-iron which made it | | | | century. In most other militaries, the medieval |
| unreliable in combat situations. | | | | sword had been replaced by the sword rapier, a |
| By the end of the 6th century (after the fall of | | | | heavier version of the civilian rapier. Around the |
| the Roman Empire), Viking raiders were quickly | | | | time of the English Civil War, the sword rapier |
| becoming the trend-setters in the sword | | | | was in turn replaced by the "cavalry broadsword", |
| department. The sword styles that Viking raiders | | | | which better protected the swordsman's knuckles |
| brought with them were quickly assimilated and | | | | by employing a basket guard design. |
| refurbished in continental Europe. In fact, the | | | | MODERN SWORD |
| quintessential "knight sword" style is directly | | | | Since the mid 1700's, the predominant type of |
| derived from the Viking swords. | | | | sword was the sabre - a simple single-edge blade |
| MIDDLE AGES | | | | used primarily for cutting. By 1800, civilian |
| By the 6th century, European swords had | | | | smallswords had all but disappeared. It was rare |
| evolved from the broad Roman style to | | | | to see anyone walking around with a sword by |
| something heavier and more lethal. By now, we | | | | their side. |
| can distinguish 4 discernible components in | | | | In the military world, the sword still held its rightful |
| mainstream European swords: | | | | place. In particular, the naval cutlass (short, slightly |
| (1) The pommel - usually a round piece of metal | | | | curved blade with heavy guard) gained in |
| placed past the end of the hilt. The pommel | | | | notoriety for its usefulness in close quarters and |
| served as a counterpoise to the blade for | | | | while climbing. For as long as guns were still |
| increased maneuverability. | | | | single-shot weapons, armies across the world still |
| (2) The grip/handle - this is where you would grab | | | | relied on their loyal swords - even during the US |
| the sword from. The trend during the Early Period | | | | civil war, the cavalry would still charge with their |
| and into the Middle Ages was to increase the | | | | sabres. However, the invention of repeating |
| length of the handle to allow a double-handed grip. | | | | firearms, for obvious reasons, put a quick end to |
| Later on during the Renaissance and the Modern | | | | the sword's authority. There were some (very) |
| period, handle length became increasing | | | | brave European cavalrymen used sabres in WWI |
| unimportant. | | | | and WWII, but their efforts turned out to be |
| (3) The crossbar - the crossbar (sometimes | | | | ineffective anachronisms. |
| referred to as "guard") was added between the | | | | Nowadays, swords are mainly used for ceremonial |
| handle and the blade for balance as well as for | | | | purposes and as a mark of esteem or honor. |
| protection to the hand. Later on, as medieval | | | | Swords are still used in the militaries for the sake |
| armor and metal gauntlets became increasingly | | | | of tradition, but for the purpose of combat, |
| unpopular, the guard became more and more | | | | swords are virtually extinct. |
| elaborate and protective to shield the vulnerable | | | | THE END OF SWORDS? |
| hand. | | | | The word "end" used above has two different |
| (4) The blade - straight, pointed, and double | | | | interpretations. On one hand, "end" means |
| edged, the blade sometimes featured a central | | | | conclusion or termination. In that sense, yes - for |
| groove (sometimes called "blood groove") running | | | | all means and purposes swords are something of |
| down the middle for lightness and strength. | | | | the past. |
| Something else the Scandinavian Vikings brought | | | | However, the alternative meaning of the word |
| with them was the innovation of carbon steel. | | | | "end" provides us with additional insight. As you |
| Whether by accident or not, Vikings started using | | | | probably figured out already, "end" can also mean |
| carbon steel through a technique called "strip | | | | purpose. What is the purpose of swords if they |
| welding" in their making of swords. With strip | | | | belong in a museum, you ask? Collecting swords |
| welding, you take several bundles of metal, | | | | for fun isn't only a hobby, it is also a portal to our |
| hammer them together, cut them, bend them, | | | | past! Swords were around for thousands of |
| and hammer them again - thereby carbonizing the | | | | years, and their use changed the course of |
| blade material and making it many times stronger. | | | | history countless times. |
| All in all, medieval swords were swinging weapons | | | | With this in mind, I invite you to check out my |
| to be used with tremendous force. The medieval | | | | store at You will find all sorts of replica swords, |
| swords used during the Middle Ages were an | | | | medieval swords, renaissance swords, and even |
| entirely offensive weapons, relying on their | | | | some of the swords from your favorite movies |
| medieval shields and body armor to protect | | | | (among other awesome movie props)! |