double edged and single edged swords

[Guest]

I have a question about swords that have asymmetrical hilts(with knukle bar etc...): why the double edged C & T was prevalent over the back sword? With such an hilt you can't shift blade.
If single edged swords can cut better then double edged ones, coeteris paribus, or cut just as well and be lighter, there must be a reason, which I'm missing, why the double edged blade was more common.
Other then the coup of Jarnac, I do not know any effective use of the back edge. On the other hand, if most, if not all, cuts are performed with the true edge, it would seem logical to assist the function of the true edge with a blade shape dedicated to it, this should give a light sword that cuts well or an average sword that cuts very well. Swordmen and swordmakers were not stupid, so I think I'm missing a good point.

[Guest]

As far as weight is concerned, you'll find double edged swords are lighter than single edged ones. If you look at a cavalry saber or even the japanese katana, and compare them to a true C&T or double edged bastard sword you will see a big weight difference. I've handled cutlasses that are much heavier than my double edged C&T sword. This is mostly due to the construction of the blade itself. Less metal is present in a double edged weapon versus a single edged weapon of comparable length. Picture a sqaure on top of the base of a triangle versus two triangles base to base.

Use of the back edge of the sword is an art of its own. It can be very deceptive and gets quickly overlooked as the melee ensues. I have used my back edge in performing draw cuts on my opponents neck tricep and forearm upon CQC when grappling begins. I've also found cutting upwards with back edge after missing with a number 1 or 2 cut to be quite unnerving to my opponents as they expect me to bring my weapon back around or perform some undercut with the true edge.

I see a double edged sword as being more versatile than a backsword just by the virtue that I have two edges to work with in taking down my opponent.

[Guest]

As to the weight, many relatively modern infantry sabres, the pallash and other single edged blades are not heavier then a C & T, while it' certainly true that many single edged weapons are heavy, I think they were made heavy to give them a devasting cutting ability, far superior to that of common swords.
Rising cuts with the back edge never worked for me, this doesn't mean you didn't come out with a good reason for the popularity of the double edge. But it does mean that if I can have a 0,7 kg single edged weapon that cuts like a 0,9 kg double edged one, I'd go with it, but this is a point to ascertain via experiments.
thanks for the reply

[Shane Smith]

Carlo,

While you couldn't just flip around an assymetrically-hilted sword to use the false edge as the true,you COULD make many cuts with the false edge as a follow-up to your initial true edge attack as you suggest. This type of true-edge cut on initial attack,false-edge cut on return is very common in swordsmanship of the period(especially with the longsword).I find it highly effective with both the Longsword and the Sword and Shield combination.

At ARMA VAB we do a good amount of test cutting with the false edge and I assure you that good work can be done with this method once you are accustomed to the mechanics involved.

It's good to see you on the forum.I look forward to hearing more of your thoughts in the future on this issue and others.Welcome aboard. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

I think you relly got the point with test cutting, you can do it, in Italy it's illegal to sharpen a sword, I think it's a relic of the Austrian domination. My liking of the cutting potential of single edged blades comes from test cutting with long, light kitchen knives, applied to the few light single edged swords it's just theory (those I handled were a joy to handle,I don't know more about them). Maybe you could tell me how things are really. As to the use of the false edge, I do cut with it because my "opponent" counters this action with strong descending blows, and he's a whole lot bigger then I am... I do not like to be disarmed