What way was side sword be used in RENAISSANCE?

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Griffion Lau
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What way was side sword be used in RENAISSANCE?

Postby Griffion Lau » Tue May 31, 2011 3:54 am

I have never found the way of using with a side sword.

In RENAISSANCE of european, What way was the side sword be used with?

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JeremyDillon
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Re: What way was side sword be used in RENAISSANCE?

Postby JeremyDillon » Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:46 pm

Griffion Lau wrote:I have never found the way of using with a side sword.

In RENAISSANCE of european, What way was the side sword be used with?


The short answer is, of course... as a weapon! The term side sword, as used nowadays, refers to a pretty broad class of blade/hilt styles, but, generally, a side sword was a broad-bladed, single handed sword suitable for military or civilian use. In other words, side swords saw combat both on the streets of cities in duels, ambushes and streetfights, as well as on the battlefield, often accompanied by a buckler (shield) or dagger. That's a pretty broad description, and I'm sure others will have more to add.

Griffion Lau
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Postby Griffion Lau » Wed Jun 01, 2011 11:07 pm

Was cut and thrust sword to be only used with medieval arming swords way?

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Stacy Clifford
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Postby Stacy Clifford » Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:39 am

Griffion Lau wrote:Was cut and thrust sword to be only used with medieval arming swords way?


No, not exclusively. Cut & thrust is a pretty broad definition and some Renaissance single handers were still excellent cutters on the battlefield, but a lot of them were also more tapered and better suited for thrusting as the primary style of attack. Di Grassi's side sword style in 1570 was almost rapier-like with heavy emphasis on thrusting, but still allowing for a good cut where circumstances warranted it. Di Grassi was quite a minimalist though, and some other masters of the time were more liberal about cutting. In general, swords for civilian self defense tended toward more thrusting, and swords for military use tended toward more cutting, but the manuals of the 1500s-1600s seem geared a little more toward civilian use overall. Basically any way the sword could get used, it did get used, but what got written down was more selective.
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