Backsword

The backsword is a single-edged sword with a straight blade, used throughout Europe from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries. It gets its name from its blunt back edge. It may also be referred to as a "broad sword", to distinguish it from slim-bladed smallswords or rapiers. By the 18th century it was distinctively a military weapon. As Captain John Godfrey wrote in his 1747 A TREATISE Upon the Useful Science of Defence, Connecting the SMALL and BACK-SWORD, And showing the Affinity between them, "The Small-Sword is the Call of Honour, the Back-Sword the Call of Duty." It was the predecessor of many later sabre traditions.

Historically they exist in a huge variety of forms and sizes, with a range of fencing styles associated with them.

"Backsword" can also refer to its historical training version, the singlestick. This is a simple stick, usually ash, about three feet long, and with a basket hilt. The basket can be made of actual basketwork, or leather. These days many practitioners also use a plastic basket.

In the School we use the singlestick as a starting point for learning to fence, because you can fence reasonably safely with just an elbow cup, a glove, and a fencing mask.

A blunt training backsword with a Schiavona hilt

Choosing a Backsword

Historical Systems

Backsword fencing developed in several traditions across Europe. The best-known surviving sources include those of the British broadsword school, though earlier and later systems also survive. Early masters whose works are influential include George Silver, Zachary Wylde, and Thomas Page. We derive most of our backsword syllabus from a later military source, Charles Roworth's 1798 book The Art of Defence on Foot with the Broad Sword and Sabre.