What is a Bastard Sword?
A bastard sword is a type of European sword characterized by its twisted or wavy blade, though the term also encompasses other types of swords with similar blade construction. These swords are often used in pairs. The name is derived from the fact that they were made by joining two blades of different shapes and sizes into one weapon. 

This resulted in a long, slim blade with an entwined double-edge pattern and a heavy cross-guard, which was sometimes dubbed "the grand cross". The grip and pommel were generally long to allow for cutting and stabbing techniques. This sword is closely related to the longsword, from which it eventually evolved, and so the two terms are used interchangeably.

One of the characteristics of this sword was its long grip length, giving it superior handling characteristics. In addition, the long haft allowed a wide variety of grips to be used for one-handed or two-handed use. The longer grip and blade enabled using a more powerful and effective thrusting technique, which was especially useful when fighting in tight spaces such as an indoor stairwell or chamber.

In addition to providing better-handling characteristics, the longer hilt and grip also provided better protection. The short cross-guard was often narrower than that of a longsword, which made it easier to parry an opponent's cut while delivering a powerful thrust.

Production of Bastard Swords

The production of these real swords began around the 15th century and continued through to the early 16th century, at which point they fell out of use in favor of other types of swords such as the bayonet, rapier, and longsword. Techniques for holding and fighting with them evolved over time as well; this was due in part to knowledge reaching Europe from Japan during the time period when both weapons were popular across Asia. 

One of the most famous exponents of the use of these full tang swords was Henry VIII, who was portrayed wielding such weapons in several paintings. The term "bastard" or "two-handed sword" was used in the Middle Ages to describe the long, hand-and-a-half sword. In contrast to the single-handed longsword, which is optimized for a stabbing action, the bastard sword's characteristic twist was designed for a powerful cutting attack. 

Its use is described in two German fencing manuals of around 1480 and as early as 1279 by Pseudo-Peter von Danzig and Peter Falkner in his book (c. 1396), where he describes how to wield it cut & thrust style. Until around 1560, the term "bastard sword" referred to all types of curved swords. Starting in 1560, however, the term was used to refer specifically to large-bladed single-handed swords, often with a long grip and long hilt (the "grand cross"). 

These weapons were sometimes described with reference to their construction as a variation on "petit bastard" ("little bastard"), again by French authors. The word "bastard" carries two meanings. One is an illegitimate child or descendant of an illegitimate child, while the other is to forge or copy another's work without permission; hence a "poor" imitation of something originally by another person or organization.


Famous Historical Weapons for Sword-Fighting

The bastard sword is a historical European martial melee weapon, which was used primarily during the late medieval and Renaissance periods. Today, it is mainly treated as an antique weapon. With its large blade and weight towards the point of balance, this sword has the excellent cutting ability with tremendous power behind its blows; at best it can be used to brutally smash armor or cut through mail links. 

It is one of the most popular and practical weapons for close combat. The only dueling-worthy cool swords that have been produced in modern times are the so-called "bastard" swords due to their rather large size and weight, with a better balance towards the point of credit, which makes them suitable for fencing. These later developed into other more popular fencing swords during the late medieval to the early renaissance period. 

Thus they became known as common swords or greatswords (Grosse Messer) in English. Many people have the habit of swinging their swords wildly, which is the first rule of fighting with a two-handed sword: DO NOT SWING! A common mistake is to choke up on the sword with your hand near the "belly" of the blade. This will cause you to hit high, which is bad for blocking and worse for your wrists. 

First, remember that you want to attack YOUR OPPONENT, not his weapon. You must train so that you will instinctively want to strike his face or upper body whenever possible. The best way to do this is to practice with a full-size steel longsword.

What Does a Bastard Sword Look Like?

The bastard sword has a longer later blade than true swords and is not as clean a profile. The grip is long, thin, and slightly curved over to the right. The pommel is long and narrow with an even more pronounced curvature at the rear that gradually flattens out. This curvature helps prevent it from slipping through your hand during use. 

The crossguard typically has lobes or quillons that are proportionally sized like arabesque knots. This is usually forged, unlike true swords. Forged blades have a distinct flex and spring when bent. This can be forged or welded with the hilt or pommel being welded to the blade, rather than directly to it. This allows for a wider variety of shapes and designs at a much greater cost. 

Their hilts are often highly decorated in gold (gold foil is often used for decorative purposes) and may contain precious stones like emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. This is often forged with wide (usually 7.25 mm or more), thick, and short (generally 6.5 mm) blades roughly triangular in cross-section in their raw state. It is commonly forged with a double-edged blade similar to a Cusack or a claymore or samurai katana swords.

This sword is usually hammered and folded to form an overall triangular shape when soldered together but can be welded as well. The forge welding generally creates a solid, single-piece hilt that does not have any splits or cracks. It is typically very heavy for its size compared to true swords and other edged weapons.


Bastard Sword: Uses and Applications

The bastard sword is the bastardization of a longer blade and shorter hilt. This gives the wielder more reach than a traditional sword. This weapon has served as far back as the Roman Empire, where it was seen on many banners and shields. It also has been seen in many films such as Braveheart.

These swords are popular for their versatility but are not often used in combat due to their weightiness when unsheathed. The use of this blade is used more often for domestic purposes such as chopping wood or opening bottles with its pommel. Also, they are used to fight bears, as the blade can be made longer.

It is important to note that a sword with a hilt shorter than the blade is not bastardized, but it is called a "tw-5." A cloverleaf-shaped crossguard with an indentation in the middle of the backside and a "large" pommel are all distinguishing characteristics of this style. These swords gained much popularity during the renaissance period. 

Many different types of these swords were forged and used for different reasons, but primarily for cutting through many types of materials such as wood, rope, or leather. There are also many other uses for this type of sword, but these are mainly considered for domestic purposes.

Dangers of a Bastard Sword

A bastard sword, also known as a hand-and-a-half sword, is a type of European sword characterized by its long ricasso, or unsharpened length. It was originally designed for use on horseback and later adapted for close combat. Originally more common in central Europe it also became popular in Scotland where it was made until the mid-18th century. 

This sword is typically too heavy to be used in one hand without tiring but not quite heavy enough to be considered an actual two-handed weapon—making it the perfect size and weight to use on horseback. The bastard sword is one of the most iconic weapons in the world. They first gained notoriety as an effective weapon against plate armor, a shield, and even as a cavalry weapon. 

The popularity of this sword can be attributed to its brutal power, quickness, and flexibility in combat. If you are looking for a quality piece of historical weaponry, this might be the right purchase for you. However, it is important to know that this sword is not like other swords. In addition, a typical bastard sword from Asia will be quite different from the European one.