Choosing a Longsword
Choosing a Longsword
Your first sword should be a blunt training sword, suitable for working safely with partners and against durable training targets. The blade should be made from heat-treated spring steel, and the sword should handle in a way that reflects the historical originals.
The recommendations below are based on the requirements of the two major traditions most commonly studied today.
Longsword for Fiore
Fiore’s system works best with a relatively compact, lively sword.
The blade should be made from heat-treated spring steel, and the complete sword should measure between 110 and 130 cm (approximately 43–51 inches) from pommel to point.
Even the longest sword in this range should weigh no more than 1.8 kg (just under 4 pounds). For most people, a sword around 120 cm (47 inches) long, weighing approximately 1.6 kg (3½ pounds), with the point of balance about 5 cm (2 inches) in front of the crossguard, is ideal.
The grip should be at least three hand-breadths long. Any shorter and it becomes difficult to perform actions found in Fiore’s plays—we know this because Fiore sometimes has us seize our opponent’s hilt between their hands, so there must be room for three hands on the grip. Much longer, and the weapon begins to behave like a large two-handed sword rather than the swords shown in Fiore’s illustrations.
Recommended Suppliers
My preferred suppliers for training longswords are:
- Pavel Moc (Europe)
- Arms & Armor (North America)
- Malleus Martialis (Europe)
Students in Asia and Australia also tend to order from the European makers, largely because of shipping costs.
Specifications Summary
| Specification | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Hilt | Simple crossguard (side rings optional) |
| Total length | 110–130 cm (43–51”) |
| Blade length | 87–105 cm (34–42”) |
| Weight | 1.6–1.8 kg (3.5–4 lb) |
| Point of balance | 6–10 cm (2.5–4”) in front of the crossguard |
Longsword for Liechtenauer
In general, Liechtenauer’s system is best served by a somewhat longer sword, typically between 120 and 140 cm overall, with a grip (excluding the pommel) of at least 24 cm.
I am not a Liechtenauer specialist, so if you have an instructor, follow their recommendations.
Many practitioners train with a Feder (or Federschwert), a specialised practice sword based on surviving historical examples from the early seventeenth century.
Specifications Summary
| Specification | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Hilt | Simple crossguard (side rings optional) |
| Total length | 120–140 cm (47–55”) |
| Blade length | 96–114 cm (37–45”) |
| Weight | 1.7–2.0 kg (3.7–4.4 lb) |
| Point of balance | 6–10 cm (2.5–4”) in front of the crossguard |
Typical Feder Specifications
The following specifications are taken from Peter Regenyei’s standard feder.
| Specification | Typical Feder |
|---|---|
| Hilt | Simple crossguard (side rings optional) |
| Total length | 132 cm (52”) |
| Blade length | 100 cm (39”) |
| Weight | 1.4 kg (3 lb) |
| Point of balance | 8 cm (3”) in front of the crossguard |
