Long & Two-Handed Swords
Large swords such as the ones pictured in this gallery were designed for a variety of purposes, and for none of these jobs was simply being BIG enough to get the job done. Some large swords are made for hitting power, others for extended reach, and some are designed specifically for fighting against either armored or unarmored opponents. The end use dictated the exact design, and the uses that large swords were put to changed substantially over time. The large swords also required specific training to be used effectively, and this may have been more true in this case than with many other weapons. When using a two-handed weapon, that weapon must act as both offense and defense, and the fighting styles that were developed for these swords were aimed at finding the best balance between these two.
Unlike the single-handed swords and sabers, the larger swords were never intended for use from horseback. Horseback weapons are by definition one-handed (except in the case of the horse bow) since it is exceedingly awkward to swing to one side and then the other while holding the weapon with both hands. These swords were simply too large to be wielded effectively one-handed, which left them solely in the realm of the footsoldier. I guess this is our way of telling all you folks out there itching to fight from horseback, "Are you crazy, that horse might bite you!" Also, you should look elsewhere on the website for a more appropriate weapon.
Catalog number: S.L2.12 |
Catalog number: S.L2.11 |
Catalog number: S.L2.10 |
Catalog number: S.L2.09 |
Catalog number: S.L2.08 |
Catalog number: S.L2.07 |
Catalog number: S.L2.06 |
Catalog number: S.L2.05 |
Catalog number: S.L2.04 |
Catalog number: S.L2.03 |
Catalog number: S.L2.02 |
Catalog number: S.L2.01 |