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Defining swords and how subtle differences can be.
2011-06-10 11:43:45
edited 2011-06-10 11:43:45 in General
One foot in front of the other, every day.
19th century historians had a lot to do with this, calling medieval and Renaissance weapons "broadswords" by definition when a broadsword is actually a single-edged, basket-hilted backsword that was only broad in comparison to rapiers. And today "longswords" are long-bladed, single-handed swords. Great swords are confused with Renaissance-era two-handers. Some games have "short swords", which aren't so much swords as largish daggers.
But the worst is when there's legitimate confusion over what a sword is.
Take, for instance, longswords. By the definitions of their time, they were two-handed, long-bladed swords that could be used in one-hand if you were strong in the wrist but were predominantly designed for two hands. Great swords are exactly the same in design, but have slightly longer blades and are significantly heavier without having much extra size, thus the nickname of "war swords". But larger longswords and smaller great swords are so similar that it is not often clear where the line is drawn.
This is relevant because the physical properties that are different in a longsword and a great sword will alter the way you fight. A longsword is faster on the recovery and redouble, but a great sword more effectively resists enemy strikes and pushes through enemy defenses. A sword in that middle-ground between longsword and great sword can make it difficult to judge which approach is best in any given bout, especially given the variety of adversaries one can meet (in hypothetical violent situations or regulated bouts).
And I don't do this sword thing on my own, so I have to work out how to most appropriately express these things when a dozen people might have differing standards on what constitutes what.
Why can't pieces of steel just be simple.
But the worst is when there's legitimate confusion over what a sword is.
Take, for instance, longswords. By the definitions of their time, they were two-handed, long-bladed swords that could be used in one-hand if you were strong in the wrist but were predominantly designed for two hands. Great swords are exactly the same in design, but have slightly longer blades and are significantly heavier without having much extra size, thus the nickname of "war swords". But larger longswords and smaller great swords are so similar that it is not often clear where the line is drawn.
This is relevant because the physical properties that are different in a longsword and a great sword will alter the way you fight. A longsword is faster on the recovery and redouble, but a great sword more effectively resists enemy strikes and pushes through enemy defenses. A sword in that middle-ground between longsword and great sword can make it difficult to judge which approach is best in any given bout, especially given the variety of adversaries one can meet (in hypothetical violent situations or regulated bouts).
And I don't do this sword thing on my own, so I have to work out how to most appropriately express these things when a dozen people might have differing standards on what constitutes what.
Why can't pieces of steel just be simple.
Comments
That is all I care to know on the subject.
I prefer spears personally. Probably just a Welsh thing. Wouldn't mind a claymore, but it is lower on my priority list than getting a really fancy Guan-Do.
* handle
* sharp blade
* pointy tip
All arguments about pointy ends and sharp edges are now void.