Any 2H swords that are long BUT not wide and bulky? : V - Skyrim

» Tue Dec 13, 2011 12:40 am

The problem is that he confused a bastard sword with a greatsword. The people in the video you posted are using bastard swords, the website you posted has images of greatswords which look more like the swords in Skyrim.

If you want to be so anol, there is no such thing as a "greatsword". "Greatsword" referred to any sword "bigger than normal". It's not a type of a sword like Claymore or Zweihander are.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 11:07 pm

It's a nice derail..

Thanks for the links. I'll check em out.

I wouldn't say it's a widespread myth though. No one even wants to talk about swords anymore. It's always guns :\

In fairness it's not a derail at all, it's a natural progression from the OP considering the picture was of a longsword and he was asking for a greatsword.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:03 pm

On sharpening: many longswords and zweihanders had a portion of the blade close to the hilt that was left unsharpened. However, this wasn't because the weapon was meant to be used for blunt-force trauma, it was because swordsmen would use that part as an auxiliary grip. This was a technique called half-swording, and it was developed in order to counter plate armor.

Wasn't this also a reason you see those hilt guards that kinda fan out a bit at the ends? So they could act as small axe-heads when they swing the sword by its blade?

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 5:51 pm

If you want to be so anol, there is no such thing as a "greatsword". "Greatsword" referred to any sword "bigger than normal". It's not a type of a sword like Claymore or Zweihander are.

It's not being anol, it's clarification. A bastard sword is just a normal longsword with a two handed grip.

and FYI, claymore means greatsword. The name comes from the Gaelic for 'great sword'.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:45 pm

damn you PC gamers with your wizardry.

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 9:11 am

Wasn't this also a reason you see those hilt guards that kinda fan out a bit at the ends? So they could act as small axe-heads when they swing the sword by its blade?

Nah. They were called parrying hooks (or lugs) because they did just that: protect the hand while you have your hand on the ricasso.

On the issue of two-handed swords and longswords, I'm well aware of the differences. However, the post I was responding to referred to bastard swords, hence the video. It's true that the article, on the other hand, is about two-handed swords. It was simply to show that even the largest swords were light enough that they weren't used as blunt weapons. (which wouldn't make any sense since diquexes and halberds would have been better for that)

» Mon Dec 12, 2011 2:43 pm

Interestingly enough, you're partially right about the fact that swords were also used as blunt weapons. However, in this case the weapon was flipped around. You have both hands on the blade (wearing gauntlets of course), and you swing at your enemy and hit them with the pommel.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordhau

NatGeo has a special called Medieval Fightbook that does a sequence on pommeling against plate. If you can tolerate NatGeo, it isn't too bad. A decent example of the technique nonetheless, for those having a hard time picturing it.