Two Handed Sword

One of the most interesting and notable weapons that were utilized during the Medieval and Renaissance period of Europe is the two handed sword.

The term two handed sword which was utilized as a general term may have referred to any huge weapon that was designed to be wielded with two hands. The blade is considered to be among the slowest pieces but it is also one of the most powerful blades in any metallic set.

The two handed sword is also known as a double-handed slashing blade which means that the owner cannot carry a shield together with it; although to compensate, it provides the wielder access to various abilities and moves that cannot be executed with just a single-handed weapon.

Origin of the Two Handed Sword

Generally, it has been assumed that the two handed sword originated from Switzerland, yet unfortunately, there were no listed or recorded documents regarding this and other evidence bears against this theory.

Switzerland was a place that did not have any iron ore nor did they have an iron industry during the middle ages; so because of this, the Swiss were required to import armor and arms which were evident from the great predominance of the marks of German smiths.

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Of the sixteen two handed swords that were present, which dated all the way back from the 1550’s in Zurich’s Swiss National Museum, none except for two was Swiss.

Another blade that was found in Vienna dates all the way back to the late period of the thirteenth century; it was inlaid with the mark of the wolf from Passau.

During the end of the fourteenth century, there were records regarding the city of Liege providing tax advantages to merchants from other lands in return for their share of a great and long two handed sword.

It is certain that the Swiss have adopted the double-handed swords by the fourteenth century, but so had other people such as the Italians, Germans, French, Burgundians, the Scots, as well as the nights of military orders.

Characteristics of the Two Handed Sword

The two handed sword was a highly effective and specialized infantry blade that was recognized during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Samples of the two handed blade featured an extended cruciform-like hilt and at times, there were side rings on either one or both sides of the quillon.

During the sixteenth century, this form and appearance of the weapon remained dominant in countries such as Italy, but a more extravagant form was developed in Germany.

The regular two handed sword measured about a hundred and forty centimeters in total while its blade had a length of about a hundred and seven centimeters; additionally, its grip had a measurement of thirty-three centimeters in length while it weighed approximately two and a half kilograms.

There were also those who believed that the weapon was dull until the last thirty centimeters of the blade’s point which allowed the wielder to grip the blade to block enemy blows.

The swords appear uniform in style and design, with wheel pommels that are usually capped by the crescent-like nuts together with guards that have straight, forward-slanting arms that end in quatrefoils; there are also langets that go down the blade’s center right from its guard.

Even though the weapon is huge, it was not as bulky and heavy as it seemed since the two handed sword weighed around five to eight pounds. When the weapon was utilized by highly skilled warriors such as the German and Swiss infantrymen, the blade was a very efficient and lethal piece on the battlefield.

Types of Two Handed Sword

Listed are the various types of two handed swords:

Two Handed Broadsword

The broadsword was known as a regular medieval weapon that was utilized in numerous battles during the early medieval era and was also considered popular during the later periods of the medieval era.

The double edged weapon was mainly created for cutting and not for stabbing, so with adequate skills and power, the two handed broadsword is capable of slicing off the head and limbs of the enemy.

Two Handed Longsword

This is a type of European sword depicted by having a cruciform-like hilt together with a long grip that measures around six to eleven inches to accommodate two-handed wielding; it also features a double-edged blade that has a length of about thirty-three to forty-three inches.

From the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, these weapons were utilized by armored soldiers, mounted cavalrymen, as well as infantrymen. In the fifteenth century onwards, its use ended up becoming limited only to the infantrymen, and by the sixteenth century, this weapon was no longer in use.

Two Handed Great sword

This type of two handed sword is a massive weapon that features a broad blade, usually with two deadly cutting edges that were utilized to slice and cut, rather than stab.

It was developed during the Renaissance period and these measured around ninety to a hundred and twenty centimeters. Although extremely powerful, the weapon was very heavy to be carried and utilized with just a single hand which is why the two handed great sword featured an extended grip to accommodate double gripping during battles.

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Two Handed Sword for Sale

In this day and age, there are a lot of people who wish to get their hands on medieval weapons which is why a lot of high-quality replicas such as the two handed sword for sale are created and offered in physical and online weapon shops.

One of the weapons that can be found in these stores is the replica of the two handed sword for sale which is categorized as a fully functional blade or a decorative piece. The functional two handed sword for sale can be used for practice and training sessions which is perfect for practitioners learning how to wield a medieval sword.

For the decorative two handed sword for sale, this can be added to one’s growing collection of medieval armor and weapons, or it can simply be utilized to decorate and adorn one’s home.