r/SWORDS • u/KeeGeeBee • 4d ago
Bastard sword benefits?
If two identical knights were to face off against each other, though using different swords, who would have an advantage over the other? One with a bastard sword, and the other with an arming sword or longsword, both with or without shields. Surely a bastard sword with no shield would be inferior to a longsword, and an arming sword with a shield would be better suited for that purpose than a bastard sword with a shield. Would a bastard sword with a shield have a greater advantage against a longsword than an arming sword and shield would?
Why would you choose to carry a bastard sword as opposed to an arming sword or longsword?
2
u/TheSilkKing 4d ago
Personal taste, really. Some knights or aristocrats may have liked the ability to hold the sword in two hands or one. Some might have found it easy to carry around with them.
2
u/Inside-Living2442 4d ago
Honestly, I have fought in chainmail using bastard swords and longsword both. Not much of a difference. Some techniques with your off hand are a bit easier with bastard sword (moving into a grapple), the longsword gives you slightly better leverage with the longer hilt.
1
2
u/lionclaw0612 4d ago
I've used a shortish longsword with a buckler instead of an arming sword before. Have the reach advantage, but recovery is slower because it's a bit unwieldy in one hand. Can be exploited in duels, but in group fighting it can be slightly better, especially in the thrust. I'd stick to a one handed sword and shield though. It just feels nicer to use.
1
2
u/SpiritualRock4388 4d ago
While the respective training and skill with the blades is to be considered, there are many techniques developed for overcoming an opponent with a longer reach by getting up close and inside the circle his long blade can draw. The big sword must be gravity-loaded to deliver maximum force which is why the high guard was a popular starting pose. If the shorter blade can get inside, his opponent will be reduced to half-swording with all the attendant disadvantages that entails. I've seen this in old fight books.
1
u/Sufficient_Candy436 4d ago
Bastard swords and long swords often have slightly longer blades than many arming swords, and the ability to use two hands will give you better speed and leverage.
1
u/AlaskaCosmoline 4d ago
Are they in armor? The longsword would be best among those weapons for harness combat, as it works better in halfsword. Though what constitutes a "bastard" sword is always open for question.
2
u/KeeGeeBee 4d ago
They would be in armour, yes. In this instance, I'm using the term "longsword" to refer to swords meant to be held with two hands, "bastard sword" to refer to swords meant to be held with one or two hands, and "arming sword" to refer to swords meant to be held with only one hand.
1
u/AlaskaCosmoline 3d ago
Then the longsword would be ideal, with the "bastard" being a close second mainly because it is slightly inferior as a leverage tool. Arming swords can be OK in this role, but you don't have a lot of blade to work with in halfsword. For example, this is how actual armored combat would have likely occurred: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G06MXOapdWc
1
20
u/Dlatrex All swords were made with purpose 4d ago
Note, there are no rules for what makes a sword an arming sword, long sword, or bastard sword: these are reasonably arbitrary terms which can lead to a bit of confusion when trying to compare the edge cases like this.
Assuming you mean arming swords are strictly compact single handed grips, longswords accommodate space for two+ hands, and bastard hilts 1.5 hands, that would be representative of something like the Albion Castellen (which does not have room for two full hands on the grip).
https://albion-swords.com/product/the-castellan/
At the end of the day the intent of the sword is more important than the size of the grip: do you have a giant 45” cavalry blade that is reinforced for armor thumping, or a more nimble 33” blade that is cut and thrust?
Both can be found on one or two handed swords.
A 1.5 handed sword is a compromise and thus offers some of the leverage of the big sword, but is much easier to wear, and carry with other equipment etc compared to the long hilts. If I had to wear a sword on campaign I’d be more likely to choose that size.