Sword
From WMAwiki
| Translation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Italian | ''spada | |
| Spanish | ''espada | |
| German | ''schwert | |
| French | ''epee | |
Definition
A sword is a long metal bar---sharpened for cutting, thrusting, or both---with a handle on one end.
Classifications
The following classifications of sword are typically used in the WMA community.
| Name | Period | School | Shape | Edges | Cross-section | Guard | Hands | Length | Combat | A.k.a. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longsword | middle ages | Fiore, Marozzo, Ringeck, Talhoffer | straight | double, full length | diamond | crossbar | one or two | 35"-45" | melee or single | hand-and-a-half |
| Arming sword | middle ages | I-33 | straight | double, full length | diamond | crossbar | one | melee or single | ||
| Sidesword | early Renaissance | Dardi | straight | double, full length | diamond | crossbar, rings, posts | one | 30"-36" | melee or single | cut-and-thrust rapier |
| Rapier | Renaissance | Fabris, Capo Ferro, Dardi | straight | double, half length | diamond | crossbar; rings; knuckle bow; posts, sweeps, plates, or cup | one | 30"-60" | single, unarmored | |
| Smallsword | Napoleonic | straight | double, last few inches | V | dish, knuckle bow | one | 24"-30" | single | ||
| Sabre | various | curved | single | hexagonal | bell or dish, knuckle bow | one | various, esp. cavalry | |||
| Backsword | Cromwell | straight | double | hexagonal | basket | one | 36" | single or melee | mortuary sword |
