| The medieval sword owes its development to the | | | | when using the sword. This type of sword |
| Roman Spatha which was a long sword, not | | | | became known as the longsword. The longsword |
| meant to be affective against armor (since there | | | | was renowned for its reach and cutting or |
| was little armor then). Medieval swords developed | | | | thrusting abilities. It was double-edged (sharp on |
| in connection with armor as well as new fighting | | | | both sides), wide and about 4-4.5 feet long. This |
| techniques which involved slashing. Making a sword | | | | was the ultimate battle sword. Also during this |
| in the medieval period might involve the labor of | | | | period the Estoc or English Tuck type of sword |
| several men. It might involve a forger, a person | | | | was used and known for its amour piercing |
| who shaped the blade, a person who finished the | | | | capabilities. Estoc is French for point. It was a |
| blade, a polisher and also a person who made the | | | | nearly edgeless sword and meant for thrusting. |
| hilt of the sword. A very talented maker could do | | | | For more gripping power the Estoc sword's handle |
| all of the jobs himself. Yet a sword maker's | | | | was sometimes wrapped in wire or animal leather. |
| product many times varied in quality. The | | | | Similar to a rapier, it has a long, thin, straight rigid |
| chemistry of metals was not well known or | | | | blade and was used to thrust in between gaps in |
| understood. Usually the best, meaning most | | | | amour. |
| consistent, sword makers were popular. In the | | | | Swords were either for war or for every day |
| medieval period Germany, Italy, Spain and France | | | | use. Swords with Christian symbols were popular |
| were the major sword making areas. Some | | | | and worn as part of typical medieval garb. |
| towns became sword making centers and | | | | Rapiers, originating in Spain were the most popular |
| remained so for decades, such as Solingen | | | | sword of civilians. Rapiers had long thin flexible |
| Germany. | | | | blades good for dueling with one hand. Rapiers |
| In the 11th century the Norman type of sword | | | | stayed in vogue until the 17th century. |
| was developed with a cross guard or quillions, | | | | In the 16th century large swords requiring two |
| which protected the hand from being cut as well | | | | handed use were popular for war. In Germany |
| as trapped the sword of the opponent. This was | | | | this was the Dopplehander and for the Scots this |
| one of the main types of swords used | | | | was the Claymore. Other swords of this type |
| throughout the 12th and 13th centuries and | | | | were the Flamberge and Great Sword. These |
| became the stable. Many times the pommel area | | | | large swords were not good for close fighting and |
| was different but the cruciform shape was | | | | required strength to master. The blades were |
| always the same. This sword was used in a | | | | either flat and wide or hexagonal and narrower. |
| cutting fashion as opposed to stabbing. Most of | | | | Some were diamond shaped. The blade could be |
| the time a sword was designed to be most | | | | 50 inches long with a 12 inch grip length. |
| affective against armor. As armor changed so did | | | | The metal of a good blade was free of flaws. |
| swords. | | | | Most sword makers of the medieval period used |
| From the 14th through the 15th centuries there | | | | intuition in forging a good steel sword. They had |
| were more innovative sword making designs, to | | | | little knowledge of metallurgy, carbon contents or |
| keep up with the types of amour. The grip area | | | | the exact temperature needs. Consistent sword |
| was lengthened as was the blade. This allowed for | | | | making required considerable talent. |
| two handed use and thus stronger momentum | | | | |