Longsword
| Longsword | |
|---|---|
Hand-and-a-half sword, probably German, c. 1400–1430 | |
| Type | Sword (two-handed, double-edged) |
| Place of origin | Europe |
| Service history | |
| In service | High Middle Ages, Late Middle Ages, Renaissance, c. 1050–1700 |
| Production history | |
| Produced | ~1050–1500 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | avg. 1.8–3 kg (4.0–6.6 lb) |
| Length | total: avg. 100–140 cm (39–55 in)
blade: avg. 80–110 cm (31–43 in) grip: avg. 20–30 cm (7.9–11.8 in) |
A longsword (also spelled as long sword or long-sword) is a type of European sword characterized as having a cruciform hilt with a grip for primarily two-handed use (around 15 to 30 cm or 6 to 12 in), a straight double-edged blade of around 80 to 110 cm (31 to 43 in), and weighing approximately 2 to 3 kg (4 lb 7 oz to 6 lb 10 oz).
The "longsword" type exists in a morphological continuum with the medieval knightly sword and the Renaissance-era Zweihänder. It was prevalent during the late medieval and Renaissance periods (approximately 1350 to 1550), with early and late use reaching into the 11th and 17th centuries.