Strange swords

[caralampio]

I remember two-handed swords in vanilla were regular swords, ie with a single crossguard. It was kind of disturbing that in battle animations soldiers were seen grabbing the blade.

In SS all two-handed troops use these strange (for me) swords with a double guard.



I thought they were extravagant but the other day I stumbled upon one in a store. I've been looking around but all the info I can find shows only normal cross-hilted longswords. In fact I had never seen these swords until I played SS! So I don't think they were that common as their use in the game would imply. I'm no expert swordsman but these swords when used as shown in the picture feel more unwieldy than a regular cross-hilted longsword (I have one of those) and seem only good for thrusting attacks.

So can anybody comment on this? What are these swords called, and does that double guard have any special name? How and when they were used? Was their use as universal as the game implies?

[Caesar Clivus]

Here's an article that may interest you: http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html

[Inhuman One]

quite a nice read.

One question though, why werent zweihanders used much in the middle ages but mostly in the reinassance?

[MC_RIBS]

They became more popular in the renaissance period because of the introduction of pike infantry. The size of the swords made it easier to chop off the tips of the pikes or knock them aside allowing them to get closer to the enemy making the pike effectivley useless.

[caralampio]

Wow excellent reference, exactly what I was looking for + rep. The secondary hilt is a ricasso, the secondary guards parrying hooks.

It seems the sword I have (a replica of course) is a one-and-a-half handed sword. It's a good replica since it weighs only about 3 pounds and is quite wieldly.

[Fenix_120]

quite a nice read.

One question though, why werent zweihanders used much in the middle ages but mostly in the reinassance?

As has been stated they became more popular during the pike and Musket era but smaller but still two handed swords and hand and a half swords existed as it was easier to beat an armored opponent with a two handed weapon than a single handed one.

[Severloh]

Really interesting indeed! It is hard to imagine a warrior using those swords on close combat, but now I guess I can get the picture

But then, Those swords should be avaiable only later, concerning the RR, right? I mean, middle 14th century, minimum.

[Inhuman One]

I get that they where effective against pikes, but I am sure they would be usefull during the medieval period as well.

I imagine it would be good for sieges on the walls, giving some extra range against those that are on ladders or siege towers.

It would also be able to shatter wooden shields I imagine, and be of use against cavalry.

And unlike a polearm, its usefull for close combat.

[Angrychris]

the extra hand grip allowed the soldier to hold with two hands over head to strike downwards from above so that in certain cases it could pierce rather then slice/club. Pretty nutts to see in the documentarys. like a scorpion.

[Jsay]

Personlly, my weapon of Choice would be, hands down, The Germanic zweihander. And yes they were said to be used in the 1500 centroy, which means, 1400's, or did it say 1500's.
Anyways, ZweiHanders are my shock Troops of choice, infact, they are my favorite unit, plus, they make up about 1/4 of my Army in the High/Late Periods.

Oh and they were used as much as the game says. The ZweiHanders were starting to pick up Populaity.

[caralampio]

Apparently zweihanders came in both flavors- cross-hilted or with a ricasso.