Swords

Whether boy or girl, almost everyone has at some point dreamed of having their own sword. Once an adult, if that dream still persists, treat yourself. In your choices, pay close attention, as each sword design has unique characteristics fulfilling different functions (decoration, medieval reenactment and combat, etc.).

Swords: the definition

It is a double-edged bladed weapon formed by a straight metal blade with a fuller, a handle, a guard protecting the hand and a pommel.

It can refer to:

• A weapon of war, from the family and descended from the Roman gladius;
• A sporting accessory, the fencing sword, one of the three weapons of competitive fencing along with the foil and the sabre.

Swords: the different types

Currently, we can differentiate various types and shapes of swords based on the influence of archaeological and iconographic discoveries, or through the imagination of blacksmiths. But in the Middle Ages, there were three main types of swords, namely:

• The one-handed sword, which is shorter and often paired with a shield.
• The bastard sword or "hand-and-a-half", which is longer and could be wielded with one or two hands.
• The two-handed sword, as its name suggests, is a long sword (approximately 1 m) and more imposing.

Furthermore, these three types can come in several variants depending on their pommels, their crossguards, their grip and their blade. Note that the different parts of the sword can be finished in multiple ways depending on the era and the aesthetic preferences of its owner.