Why Such LONG Handles on SINGLE-Handed Swords?
6,075Have you ever wondered why they would put an unnecessarily(?) long handle on a sword that was used in one hand only? Or did you think they were really intended for two-handed use?
Well, there are actually good, practical reasons to make them like this in certain cases. It's obviously not the only way to do it, but it's not arbitray. Here are some explanations as to why.
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The swords shown here (affiliate links):
"Gustav" and "Adorian" messer by Landsknecht Emporium
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/landsknecht-emporium-gustav-messer-beechwood-grip/?koa=259
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/landsknecht-emporium-gustav-messer-with-scabbard-beechwood-grip/?koa=259
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/landsknecht-emporium-adorian-messer/?koa=259
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/landsknecht-emporium-adorian-messer-with-halftan-leather-sheath/?koa=259
"Flying Phoenix" Han jian by LK Chen
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/lk-chen-flying-phoenix-han-jian-2/?koa=259
Practice messer and shortsword, Oakshott Type 14, I.33 by Viktor Berbekucz
http://www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
"The Knecht" kriegsmesser by Albion
(discontinued)
Relevant videos:
Can You Use a Single-Handed Sword with TWO Hands?
https://youtu.be/RaeBXJMnVTI
Knife or Sword?
https://youtu.be/jtIHDxaq6aU
Longsword and Saber/Messer Sparring With Commentary
https://youtu.be/WUdanDhU-qo
Test cutting with Swordsage
https://youtu.be/0QXxWxti6ks
*** Sources ***
Hand-and-a-half sword, 15th century
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/25628
Chinese mounted sword with Japanese blade
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/23387
Daishō (Katana & wakizashi)
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27789
Qing Dynasty military sword
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/large-qing-military-sword
Burmese dha
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/plain-dha
Swiss hand-and-a-half sword
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/116962/hand-and-a-half-sword
Hand-and-a-half saber
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27428
Fighting manuscript by Fiore de’i Liberi, around 1400
https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Fiore_de%27i_Liberi
Messer manuscripts
https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Category:Messer
Pommel
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/27619
Lóngquán jiàn
https://www.mandarinmansion.com/item/good-late-qing-longquan-jian
*** Music credits ***
"Winds of Stories" by Horror Pen
https://opengameart.org/content/winds-of-stories
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
"Medieval Town" by Syncopika
https://opengameart.org/content/medieval-town
CC BY 3.0
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/steve.yee/
Used with artist's permission
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Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
https://www.kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
http://www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
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Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
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Canada - https://amzn.to/2HeOCMA
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