Schilt on Federschwerter

[Corey Roberts]

What is the purpose of the Schilt on a Federschwert? Do we know exactly? Any ideas?

[Roger Norling]

Here is my theory:

I would like to add though that I think we should regard the feders as “sharp” swords where the edges have been folded inwards to blunt them. This gives the same feeling to the sword, which a regular blunted edge simply doesn’t.

The reasons for the flared schilt are twofold; partly to keep the bind a bit from the cross, like with the complex-hilts or the parierhaken of the Zweihänder, and partly to keep the cross-bind where it would have been with a “normal” blade. A small portion of the blade is “preserved” close to the cross to make sure you bind correctly, where you will be binding with a sharp sword…
You can read a bit more about fechtschwerte here:

http://www.hroarr.com/federschwert-or-a ... longsword/

http://www.hroarr.com/a-call-to-arms/