Swords - Know your monster smooshing devices!

[tarriel]

So, I'm doing this for some fun.

I'm a pretty avid HEMA and blacksmithing lover. It's how I tend to fill my weekends, along with airsoft, rally and piloting. 

I don't claim to be a historian, or expert, just to have a good chunk of knowledge about weaponry, to a point where my first thesis was on the progression of Japanese sword making. In light of that, I'm hoping to do a bunch of posts about various weapons, their use, specifications and origin. As ever, names and designations can vary from person to person, tradition to tradition, even between time periods. (the 14-1700s had very little specification when it came to swords, they were all just called "sword", kinda lazy really!).

So, for the first attempt, we'll start with something often and easily confused: Swords! (These means of classification for all the weapons are modern, so overlap can happen.)

Differences: 

Are there differences? Yes. In nwn, you have Short, Long, Bastard and Great. It's a fantasy setting, so I'm inclined to say: Do as you please, but for the sake of some fun and knowledge, here's the real life equivalents or differences:

1. Short Blade

A short blade, can be any number of things. A roman gladius, a Ninjato (I'll not ramble about Japanese swords or their historical evidence here), a cavalry saber, long dagger and even a machete would all fit this bill. Nwn, understandably, generalizes for the  sake of not having a million different weapon types. Huge variation in size, though 10-20 inches is a serviceable estimate.

2. Arming Sword

The arming sword, is the most traditionally thought of blade in a fantasy minded way. A one handed, fixed or threaded pommeled sword. Can be with, or without a guard. This is the weapon traditionally used by your "sword and shield" bearing fighter. Arming swords vary in length, but a good rule of thumb, is that if held properly, with tip pointed down, it should not reach the floor. Arming swords were specifically made to be used with one hand. The grip should not be any longer than the bearers closed fist. The pommel was usually made to guard the bearers lower hand side. Typically not more than 30 inches long. 

3. Long Sword

A long sword is a sword that is longer than an arming sword and that is typically (but not always) used with two hands. The grip must be sufficiently long to allow both hands to be on it, with good space between them, to allow leverage for various strikes and guards. Long swords have no exacting length, though are typically not longer than 40 inches, as this becomes a tad impractical. 

4. Bastard Sword

Sometimes called a "hand and a half" sword. These blades sit between Arming and Long swords in length, their classification is difficult, as they can easily slip into one or the other. They are in between the two for blade length (30-40 inches approx.) but have a grip that is only just large enough to be held with two hands. This makes them unsuitable for some of the strikes and guards associated with a long sword, but can allow them to be used more like an arming sword for close-in fighting, giving them versatility. They were typically broader and heavier in design, allowing for heavy strikes, despite their short grip. 

5. Great Sword

A truly mammoth blade, wielded with both hands, unless you're some freakish musclebound monster. Great swords are often extremely long, heavy blades, over 50 inches long, with examples up to 70. They are heavy, weighing anywhere from 8-16lbs. This includes the often used, but not always correct designations of Zweihander, Claymore (scottish extremely large longsword, some overlap), Flamberge and Bidenhander. Typically wielded by specialist units with extensive training, as they are difficult to use in close quarters, requiring precise techniques to keep the enemy at an optimal distance. 

So post 1 done. Should there be more? Or less? Specifications, historical ramblings, more numbers, less numbers, pictures, focusing on one weapon per post? Videos of me bashing watermelons with my collection? Feedback and criticism is loved. Also I'm probably wrong somewhere in this, so may have to do a couple edits.

[ladybug]

Jul 11, 2015 20:38:28 GMT -5 tarriel said:

Videos of me bashing watermelons with my collection?

Yes. Gallagher away!

[ClockworkMayhem]

+1 to that. Many watermelon smashings.