What do you think?
Rate this book
Two Handed Sword: History, Design and Use
The two-handed swords found in modern museums are often so large and elaborately decorated that the onlooker might question whether such an apparently impractical weapon could ever have been a serious weapon of war. Yet during the Late Middle Ages, although never numerous, such weapons could instil dread in those that faced them on the battlefield and in skilled hands posed a very real danger, being capable of inflicting fearsome wounds.
Neil Melville explains how, from the late-13th century, technological advances made the development of larger swords requiring both hands both possible and desirable. From their origins in Germany he traces their development and divergence into regional variations. He examines the evidence for their use on the battlefield over 300 years, most notably in the hands of the Swiss, the German landsknechts and the Scottish clans, before considering their later use in fencing and as ceremonial weapons. Practical advice on fighting with the two-handed sword is also given, drawing on contemporary fencing manuals. The detailed and informative text is beautifully enhanced by dozens of illustrations.
Neil Melville explains how, from the late-13th century, technological advances made the development of larger swords requiring both hands both possible and desirable. From their origins in Germany he traces their development and divergence into regional variations. He examines the evidence for their use on the battlefield over 300 years, most notably in the hands of the Swiss, the German landsknechts and the Scottish clans, before considering their later use in fencing and as ceremonial weapons. Practical advice on fighting with the two-handed sword is also given, drawing on contemporary fencing manuals. The detailed and informative text is beautifully enhanced by dozens of illustrations.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published April 5, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 21, 2025
While fuck huge swords are a trope of fiction from Dungeons and Dragons to Final Fantasy, what always struck me was that at some point in the fifteenth century, they actually became a reality. Often I found myself in a museum looking at a sword bigger than I am, and asking myself, what the hell is this and what the hell are you supposed to do with it. Well, it seems like Neil Melville asked himself the same question, because he decided to write a book about it.
The Two-Handed Sword is a collection of historical facts about the European use of two-handed swords, which the author defines as a sword over 140 cm in length, designed to be wielded by two hands; although the concept is a fuzzy one, especially on the lower end of the scale. Around half the book is spent on looking at where the things were made, which armouries they appear in, and describing ad nauseum the form of a dozen or so examples that the author found interesting enough to mention. It makes for very dull reading, but I guess it's hard to avoid in a book like this, given that we really don't have that much information on the subject, and we must use what we have. The other half looks at how the sword was actually used, both in duels and on the battlefield. This is more interesting, but again, it is frustrating how little we actually know. Still, I feel like I have a better understanding of the role of this weapon in history, and until I find a better source on the subject, this is one I would recommend.
The Two-Handed Sword is a collection of historical facts about the European use of two-handed swords, which the author defines as a sword over 140 cm in length, designed to be wielded by two hands; although the concept is a fuzzy one, especially on the lower end of the scale. Around half the book is spent on looking at where the things were made, which armouries they appear in, and describing ad nauseum the form of a dozen or so examples that the author found interesting enough to mention. It makes for very dull reading, but I guess it's hard to avoid in a book like this, given that we really don't have that much information on the subject, and we must use what we have. The other half looks at how the sword was actually used, both in duels and on the battlefield. This is more interesting, but again, it is frustrating how little we actually know. Still, I feel like I have a better understanding of the role of this weapon in history, and until I find a better source on the subject, this is one I would recommend.
Displaying 1 of 1 review