Help with an essay. Timelines of military swords.

[Alexander Birch]

Basically, I’m an amateur (very amateur) historian interested in a timeline of European military weapons from about the 11th century through to the 20th to help with an essay I’m writing. It’s all for fun really, and most of it, like all aspects of my knowledge (Expelled from school early, mostly self taught) is somewhat DIY, so there are quite a few gaps where I'm not sure about things. Especially since my local library doesn’t seem to have any of the books that might help, so it’s been online Encyclopaedias, Google Searches and assorted Essays as well as that knowledge that I’ve already picked up over the years.

It’s about 2 thirds done, and although I’m fairly happy with my story of the evolution of Duelling weaponry and styles, from the mid 15th through the mid 18th century, with a mention of the later Epee and the like. As well as my so far rough overview on the medieval Knight. But i’m still unsure about certain things, in particular the exact, or indeed rough timelines of those primarily military blades. I have some info, but still a lot of holes.
Like was the Rapier used in military as well as civilian roles?
And if so, for how long?
When did the medieval style Bastard, Long, and Great swords finally die out? Heck, when did they really appear in the first place? Cos I think they were still being used during the Tudor age at least.
What is the timeline for the Renaissance Two Handed Sword and the Sabre?
What about the Cutlass and the Scramasax?

I mean, I look at 17th century weapons, and all I can find are what look like chunky cut-and-thrust Rapiers, or possibly Broadswords, but I thought they were an 18th century Scottish thing… So I’m kinda confused.

Any help would be appreciated.
Cheers.

[Ryan Ricks]

try to read some stuff by oakeshot. beware of online sources. i would expect it's hard to know which internet sources are good or bad until you've done a good bit of research.

[Craig Peters]

Like was the Rapier used in military as well as civilian roles?

The rapier was never used in military roles. It is far to easily broken by the impact of heavier blades and other weapons, and the inability to cut and strike with it severly hinders its usefulness as a military weapon.

As for the other weapons, I don't know the century they appeared in. A useful resource on the subject is John Clement's book on Medieval Swordsmanship

[Alexander Birch]

So, the weapons seen on English Civil War were not Rapiers?

So what were they? Broadswords?

Would I be right in guessing that Sabres appeared in the 18th century? And that Medievel Arming and Two Handed Swords dissapeared in the 16th century?

And next time I can get to the Library I'll try to have em order those books in for me.

Cheers.

[Craig Peters]

As I said before, rapiers were never used in war. You cannot cut effectively with a rapier, contrary to some of the Hollywood depictions. At best, you might get a skin laceration from a rapier, enough to distract and harass, but not to maim or kill.

Are you referring to broadswords in the Victorian sense of the term, or not? Given that there are references to it in Shakespeare, I would suggest that weapons such as the long sword and sword and buckler were used in the English Civil War, but you might want to check a history book on the subject.

Two-handed swords had not disappeared in the 16th century, nor had arming swords either. Remember that the 16th century is the 1500s, which is a period when swords still saw use on the field of war. But again, check a book, since I am not a particularly good authority on the subject.

[Stacy Clifford]

For a great deal more information about rapiers, check this article:

Questions and Answers About the Rapier

[Alexander Birch]

So, guessing by the previous link, the weapons of the Civil War and probably other times before the Sabre and the Bayonet and all turned up, were Arming Swords, albiet with 'Rapier like' hilts?
Oh, and by Broadswords, I meant later affairs.
Ok. I didn't know that there were so few real lines in sword development... It makes it a lot more difficult to write up any paper on it...

Anyway, cheers for the help.

[Stacy Clifford]

The compound hilt really started developing in the 1400s before the advent of the rapier, with side rings and knuckle bars and such, but rapiers are better known for taking this style to the extreme. Basically I think you're right though, that any single-hand sword used on the battlefield was essentially a form of arming sword, perhaps more slender and quick than they were a couple hundred years earlier, but still quite capable of making good cuts and more effective at close quarters than any long skinny frog poker.