Advanced longsword

Analysis of the “Advanced Longsword”

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to state the historicity of the sword design in question, to classify it accordingly to the major typology systems which deal with medieval European swords, and to establish the possible compatible combinations of arms and armor.

About “Longswords”

The term “longsword” generally refers to the double-edged sword design endowed with a handle and blade longer than most swords. The first bibliographic mention in historical sources about long two-handed swords is recorded in the Novel of Alexander from around 1180, however, the physical evidence for such weapons first appears only in the 13th century.

The weapon becomes very prominent between the late medieval and Renaissance periods, in which it varies in function, from the tool of war to self-defense implement, and even as a fashion and judicial resource, as in the “trials by combat”. It varies a lot in shape, both the blade and the hilt components such as guards, handles, and pommels. This happens, at least in part, due to the nature of the sword production activity, in the late middle ages, which involved rarely only a single artisan: instead, the sword manufacture process was composed of a series of different stages, with generally a “swordsmith” making solely the blades, and jewelers and other artisans (like wood and leatherworkers) making other parts of the weapons.

All these individual parts were then combined by the professional known as “cutler”, who assembled and effectively “sold” the sword to the final client. This complex process leads to an enormous variety of “longswords”, where some were even reshaped through the years, having pieces modified or replaced, even the entire blades. 

In modern times, the term became synonymous with swords longer than the “arming sword” (the classical “knightly” one-handed sword) and shorter than true “two-handed swords”, like the german Zeinhanders, Italian “spadones” and the Spanish/Portuguese “espadon”/“montante”.

About the design’s classification according to the Typology of Oakeshott

Ronald Ewart Oakeshott (1916 – 2002) was a British collector, and amateur historian who is considered as one of the most preeminent scholars in the research of medieval European arms and armor, being one of the first to systematically classify these objects.  Inspired by  Jan Petersen’s work on weapons from the “Viking Age”,  Oakeshott classified the swords which shared the same basic characteristics into “types”, including a classification of hilt components.

This culminated in the most popular sword classification: the so-called “Oakeshott Typology”.

The exemplar in question, despite being a sportive adaptation, can still be classified according to Oakeshott:

Accordingly to blade type:  The blade, with a central fuller towards almost all, is an extension, its most similar to that of type XIIa (accordingly with the revision of Oakeshott’s typology, where he re-classified this sword blade as “sub type XIIa”. The overall shape is seen in various examples from the 14th and 15th-century examples as follows:

[caption id="attachment_14572" align="alignnone" width="300"] Figure 1 – Object Number IX.915 in Royal Armouries Museum. Probably Italian (ca 1350-1400).[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_14571" align="alignnone" width="300"] Figure 2 – Object from the Burrell Collection, Glasgow. Find-place unknown (ca. 1350).[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_14574" align="alignnone" width="300"] Figure 3 – This object is listed as from a private collection in Oakeshott’s work, and his location is unknown (ca. 1350-1400).[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_14573" align="alignnone" width="300"] Figure 4 – Item sold at auction from Bonhams, in 2009.Provenance: The Late Mrs. G.E.P. How Collection, UK. (ca. 1350). This object has a vagally similar guard to the one present in the Medieval Extreme reproduction.[/caption]

Accordingly to crossguard style:  

The distinct trumpet-shaped terminals in the handguard are classified as “style 6”, with some resemblance also to “style 5”. It’s important to highlight the length of the hand-guard was shortened due to HMBIA safety regulations, however, the general shape is still similar to that of historical analogs, being this a necessary adaptation to comply with the sports rules. 

A similar crossguard design appears in various examples:

[caption id="attachment_14569" align="alignnone" width="300"] Figure 5 – Object Number IX.1084 in Royal Armouries Museum. Probably Italian (ca 1350-1400).[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_14568" align="alignnone" width="300"] Figure 6 – Item sold at auction from Bonhams, in 2013.Provenance: Unknown (ca. 1350). This object has a similar guard to the one present in the Medieval Extreme reproduction[/caption]

Accordingly to pommel type:  

The “pear” shape of the pommel can be easily fitted in the “Type T”, subtype 5. 

[caption id="attachment_14570" align="alignnone" width="300"] Figure 7 – Item sold at auction from Bonhams, in 2008.Provenance: Viktor Monetti Collection – Galerie Fischer, Lucerne, 17 June 1993, lot 8087(ca. 1300-1450). This object has also a similar guard to the one present in Medieval Extreme reproduction.[/caption]

Conclusion about Advanced Longsword by MedievalExtreme

Considering all the extant examples here presented, the reproduction in question can be classified as a “longsword type XIIa, with cross guard style 6 and pommel type T5” according to Oakeshott’s sword typology.

Even with all the adaptations and safety modifications, the Advanced longsword in question is still similar enough to historical examples from the 14th to the first half of the 15th century, being adequate to be used in congruence with European armor from the period. It is valid to highlight as well that the sword, as a sportive implement, meets all the standards established in both HMBIA and IMCF ruleset.

Bibliographic References

MUKSEN, M.J. Julgamentos por Combate: Uma Análise do Pensamento Jurídico Medieval Europeu. Faculdade de Educação Superior do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. 2019.

OAKESHOTT, R.E.  The Archaeology of Weapons: Arms and Armour from Pre-history to the Age of Chivalry. Lutterworth Press, London. 1960.

OAKESHOTT, R.E.  Records of the Medieval Sword. Boydell Press, London. 1991.

Sword (1350-1400). Royal Armouries – National museums of arms and armour, Leeds, Uk. Accessed on: October 29th. 2020.

A Medieval Sword. Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers, London, April 24, 2013. Accessed on: October 29th. 2020.

A Medieval Sword. Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers, London, December 1st, 2009. Accessed on: October 29th. 2020.

A Late Medieval Thrusting Sword. Bonhams Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers, London, November 26, 2008. Accessed on: October 29th. 2020.