Question: Why are longswords one handed?

[RyD]

This game is definitely one of my all time faves, only, why are longswords one handed? For Honor, and a bunch HEMA videos and practitioners showcase it as two handed.

https://youtu.be/xruM1DylSZE

It's not just this game either, Dragon Age shows it one handed, WOW shows it one handed. Even shows like Game Of Thrones shows it one handed. Why?

[RyD]

As a side note, if you like that video, Blood and Iron Martial Arts has more where came from. ;)

https://youtu.be/Cn36Pb8z3yI

Here's another cool video. Different channel, but still.

[Call The Banners]

Because it's a fantasy RPG. There's a huge disconnect between medieval fantasy and historical middle ages. For example, a broadsword in most games is a one handed sword, not as long as the typical broadsword, and sometimes similar to what a Roman would have carried. In our own history, a broadsword is a basket hilted sword.

[RyD]

Originally posted by Call The Banners:

Because it's a fantasy RPG. There's a huge disconnect between medieval fantasy and historical middle ages. For example, a broadsword in most games is a one handed sword, not as long as the typical broadsword, and sometimes similar to what a Roman would have carried. In our own history, a broadsword is a basket hilted sword.

Huh. How do you think this came about?

[Valden21]

Originally posted by rndunham:

Originally posted by Call The Banners:

Because it's a fantasy RPG. There's a huge disconnect between medieval fantasy and historical middle ages. For example, a broadsword in most games is a one handed sword, not as long as the typical broadsword, and sometimes similar to what a Roman would have carried. In our own history, a broadsword is a basket hilted sword.

Huh. How do you think this came about?

D&D, most likely. Longswords in all editions of that game are single-handed, even though they were two-handed weapons historically. Since most modern-day fantasy RPGs are partially inspired by D&D, including the TES series, we get one-handed longswords.

[RyD]

Originally posted by Valden21:

Originally posted by rndunham:

Huh. How do you think this came about?

D&D, most likely. Longswords in all editions of that game are single-handed, even though they were two-handed weapons historically. Since most modern-day fantasy RPGs are partially inspired by D&D, including the TES series, we get one-handed longswords.

That would make sense.

[Nillacniel]

Longswords are determined by the length of the blade, not the number of hands required to hold it. Most of them are actually hand-and-a-half swords, aka Bastard swords. This would allow for the weapon to be used with a shield or without, given your combat scenario and location.

[RyD]

Originally posted by Nillacniel:

Longswords are determined by the length of the blade, not the number of hands required to hold it. Most of them are actually hand-and-a-half swords, aka Bastard swords. This would allow for the weapon to be used with a shield or without, given your combat scenario and location.

Oh. Okay, it's just all the videos I could find are two handed.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by rndunham:

Originally posted by Nillacniel:

Longswords are determined by the length of the blade, not the number of hands required to hold it. Most of them are actually hand-and-a-half swords, aka Bastard swords. This would allow for the weapon to be used with a shield or without, given your combat scenario and location.

Oh. Okay, it's just all the videos I could find are two handed.

That's because the people in those videos are using bastard swords in the two-handed grip. You COULD use them one-handed if the situation required it and you had the training. However, they were designed for two-hands, and that's generally how they were used.

Generally speaking, a true two-handed sword is longer than that. Take the Zweihander, for example: the name literally means "two-hander", and that's the only way to use one unless you're really strong. The blade alone of one of these things can be up to 7 FEET in length, and they average a little bit over 4.5 feet. Again, that's JUST the blade. The total length of the sword would be more.

[RyD]

Originally posted by Valden21:

Originally posted by rndunham:

Oh. Okay, it's just all the videos I could find are two handed.

That's because the people in those videos are using bastard swords in the two-handed grip. You COULD use them one-handed if the situation required it and you had the training. However, they were designed for two-hands, and that's generally how they were used.

Generally speaking, a true two-handed sword is longer than that. Take the Zweihander, for example: the name literally means "two-hander", and that's the only way to use one unless you're really strong. The blade alone of one of these things can be up to 7 FEET in length, and they average a little bit over 4.5 feet. Again, that's JUST the blade. The total length of the sword would be more.

That's interesting! Well, do we know how they were used in the one handed grip? Manuscripts on shield use are pretty much lost to time.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by rndunham:

Originally posted by Valden21:

That's because the people in those videos are using bastard swords in the two-handed grip. You COULD use them one-handed if the situation required it and you had the training. However, they were designed for two-hands, and that's generally how they were used.

Generally speaking, a true two-handed sword is longer than that. Take the Zweihander, for example: the name literally means "two-hander", and that's the only way to use one unless you're really strong. The blade alone of one of these things can be up to 7 FEET in length, and they average a little bit over 4.5 feet. Again, that's JUST the blade. The total length of the sword would be more.

That's interesting! Well, do we know how they were used in the one handed grip? Manuscripts on shield use are pretty much lost to time.

Well, there were manuals on how to fight this way, but considering the educational nature of medieval Europe, nobles were most likely the only ones who had access to these manuals. Most of those manuals are gone now, and the only ones that still exist were the ones published since Guttenberg's time. So most of the ones still around were written back in the 18th century.

However, if I had to guess, I'd say that the shield was held close to the body at an angle. It's easier to block attacks that way, as the attack will just slide off the shield instead of the shield taking the full force. As for the sword, it was probably used to chop rather than slash. Most individuals using a bastard sword in one hand would be knights on horseback or soldiers within the halls/stairwells of a castle. Those are closed conditions, and getting in the full force of a bastard sword's slash requires more room than those situations allow. A knight probably wouldn't use two hands on a bastard sword unless they were on foot and didn't have their shield. Mind you, my knowledge of IRL medieval combat is rudimentary, AT BEST.

[RyD]

Originally posted by ;2260186248419861932:

Originally posted by rndunham:

That's interesting! Well, do we know how they were used in the one handed grip? Manuscripts on shield use are pretty much lost to time.

Well, there were manuals on how to fight this way, but considering the educational nature of medieval Europe, nobles were most likely the only ones who had access to these manuals. Most of those manuals are gone now, and the only ones that still exist were the ones published since Guttenberg's time. So most of the ones still around were written back in the 18th century.

However, if I had to guess, I'd say that the shield was held close to the body at an angle. It's easier to block attacks that way, as the attack will just slide off the shield instead of the shield taking the full force. As for the sword, it was probably used to chop rather than slash. Most individuals using a bastard sword in one hand would be knights on horseback or soldiers within the halls/stairwells of a castle. Those are closed conditions, and getting in the full force of a bastard sword's slash requires more room than those situations allow. A knight probably wouldn't use two hands on a bastard sword unless they were on foot and didn't have their shield. Mind you, my knowledge of IRL medieval combat is rudimentary, AT BEST.

You're fine! I would have guessed they would use the half sword technique. But this makes sense too, especially if you're in something like a shield wall.