Medieval Collectibles Catalog : Swords : Renaissance Swords : Hand and a Half Swords
Hand and a Half Swords from Medieval Collectibles
Hand and a half swords is a modern term to describe bastard swords but it is used in reference to long swords. The hand and a half blade is used for thrusting and the length of the blade is not any longer than the longsword. The grip of the hand and a half sword was long enough to acomodate one hand or two hands when used in combat. These swords appear around the 16th century.