And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Sunday, July 12, 2026
Hand and a half sword, probably Germany, circa 1400 - 1430 from The Metropolitan Museum of Art
I'd say that's a full two-handed sword except that the blade next to the guard is sharpened. Two handed swords generally aren't sharpened there so the swordsman can grab the blade forward of the guard for defense.
Has a proper counter balancing pommel. Not exactly easy to carry, might use a over the shoulder rig so you didn't trip on it easily, empty scabbards can be a PITA. You needed a man at arms to help you what with horse and armor, and the usual close in melee weapons, skin or cask of watered wine, (you get real thirsty fast in all that fighting in armor, mail and gambeston, and then calvary pistols and carbines, when they came along.
I'd say that's a full two-handed sword except that the blade next to the guard is sharpened. Two handed swords generally aren't sharpened there so the swordsman can grab the blade forward of the guard for defense.
ReplyDeleteI understand the classification but doesn't it really come down to how big your hands are
ReplyDeleteHas a proper counter balancing pommel. Not exactly easy to carry, might use a over the shoulder rig so you didn't trip on it easily, empty scabbards can be a PITA. You needed a man at arms to help you what with horse and armor, and the usual close in melee weapons, skin or cask of watered wine, (you get real thirsty fast in all that fighting in armor, mail and gambeston, and then calvary pistols and carbines, when they came along.
ReplyDelete