European Two-handed Swords

Dürer Bastard Sword.

The Dürer Bastard sword is a gorgeous specimen of form and function. As a working sword it performs admirably. Added to this is its subtle beauty, which puts this sword among one of the nicer long swords.

This sword is a joy to handle. It has just enough blade presence to make one's cut effortless, with plenty of tip control for thrusting. It flows easily from guard to guard, and can be wielded single handed if desired without much effort, but is created for a dual handed fighter. The quillions of this particular sword are the real aesthetic seller, however. The gentle s-curve is well defined and beautifully formed. This is not simply a piece of bar stock bent into shape, but a well thought out sculpted form, wide at the center and gently narrowing at the bends. There are no sharp edges, as the corners are gracefully rounded. Here is an excellent example of simple elegance.

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English Longsword.

The English longsword is a genuinely lovely sword, a faithfully historic sword, and a real performance sword. The pommel and cross are cast from mild steel and are elegantly proportioned with nice detail.

The grip is wood, wrapped with cord to achieve the visible pattern and covered with black leather (stitched up one side). The wood on the lower grip, below the cord riser, is carved in a hexagonal section, to blend into the hexagonal portion of the pommel. This provides a very attractive grip and also a very comfortable one for one or two hands. When held with two hands, the pommel actually acts as an extension of the grip, allowing the second hand to fit comfortably.

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German Branch Sword.

By popular definition a German Branch Sword is a weapon designed for use with either one or two hands. The design of twisted branches, called the Gothic bough style.

The grip is hand-carved hardwood with a gloss finish. The mid-grip fillet has a roped detail and a lower bezel binds of the grip. The furniture is then gold-plated to match the gold finish on the original. A sharply tapering, stiff blade ideal for the thrust gives this sword a solid feel in the hand.

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Black Prince Sword.

The Black Prince sword has such an incredible balance that it could be used quite easily with one hand despite weighing roughly 60 ounces.

When holding the Black Prince sword for the first time, it almost feels alive in the hands; it seems to practically know what you want it to do and where you want the blade to go. This sword is essentially a dedicated thrusting sword whose point would have deadly efficiency if used by someone who knows how to exploit weaknesses in armor. Its cutting ability, while secondary, is admirable.

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Fechtbuch Sword.

The longsword was often considered one of the core weapons that taught the principles of all weapons.

Some blunts handle very realistically, but to keep the mass down the have very thin edges, and while this is fine for some practitioners, others do not feel comfortable with the safety level of these swords. A smooth brushed steel finish is used on this piece to help control the cost and keep it affordable. This is an excellent weapon for those who are purchasing weapons for a training group or school or need an economical practice weapon.

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