What Is a Bastard Sword? Hand-and-a-Half Sword Guide
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A bastard sword is a straight, double-edged European sword of the late Middle Ages and Renaissance with a grip long enough to use in one hand or two. Collectors today often call it a hand-and-a-half sword. It sits between the one-handed arming sword and the full two-handed longsword, and the name most likely reflects exactly that in-between status: neither fully a one-handed sword nor fully a two-handed one.
The name sounds like an insult, and in a way it is one. A bastard sword was a sword that did not fit neatly into either established category. That ambiguity is precisely what made it useful. One weapon could be handled single-handed on horseback, then gripped with both hands once its owner was fighting on foot.
Below we explain where the name came from, what separates a bastard sword from its close relatives, how big it actually was, and how to judge one today.
What Is a Bastard Sword?
A bastard sword is defined mostly by its grip. The blade is straight, double-edged and typically a little longer than a one-handed arming sword's. The grip, however, is long enough for one full hand plus two or three fingers of the other, or for the second hand to wrap around the pommel.
That extra length changes everything about how the sword handles. In one hand it behaves like a slightly long arming sword. With a second hand added, it gains power, control and leverage, especially in thrusts and binds against another blade.
Museum curators and modern collectors often treat the bastard sword as a subset of the broader long sword family. The dividing line is blurry, and period sources did not always use the terms consistently.
Why Is It Called a Bastard Sword?
Forms of the name appear in fifteenth and sixteenth-century French and English sources, such as the French épée bâtarde. No period writer explained the term, so historians rely on context. Three explanations are commonly offered.
- Neither one thing nor the other. The most widely accepted view is that "bastard" meant a hybrid: a sword too long for comfortable one-handed use and too short to count as a true two-handed sword.
- A blend of styles. Some writers suggest the name described swords combining features from different regional traditions, such as a particular blade type fitted with a foreign-style hilt.
- A second-class sword. A less common reading holds that the name reflected lower status compared with established sword types, though surviving examples include high-quality pieces.
"Hand-and-a-half sword" is a much later term, popularized by nineteenth and twentieth-century collectors and writers. It describes the grip precisely and avoids the awkward name, which is why modern catalogues often prefer it.
Bastard Sword Size and Weight
Surviving examples vary widely, so the figures below are typical ranges rather than rules.
| Measurement | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Overall length | 105 to 120 cm (41 to 47 in) |
| Blade length | 80 to 95 cm (31 to 37 in) |
| Grip length | 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in), including room on the pommel |
| Weight | 1.2 to 1.8 kg (2.6 to 4 lb) |
Those weights surprise most people. A bastard sword weighs roughly as much as a laptop, and the pommel is shaped and weighted to bring the balance back toward the hand. A well-made example feels lively rather than heavy.
How the Hand-and-a-Half Grip Works
Several design features make one-or-two-handed use practical.
- A waisted grip. Many hilts narrow in the middle, giving each hand a clear seat and letting the grip index naturally in either configuration.
- A shaped pommel. Pear-shaped, faceted and "scent-stopper" pommels, common in the fifteenth century, give the second hand something to hold and add counterweight.
- A long crossguard. The straight guard protects the hand in binds, where two blades press against each other.
- A tapering blade. Many examples narrow to an acute point, suited to thrusting at gaps in plate armour.
On horseback, a rider held the reins in one hand and used the sword in the other. On foot, the same rider could add the second hand for greater power and control. One sword covered both situations, which mattered when a single blade represented a serious investment.
Where the Bastard Sword Came From
The bastard sword belongs to the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries, the era when plate armour spread across Europe. Better armour reduced the need for a shield, freeing the second hand. Swords grew longer in the grip to take advantage of it, and blades grew stiffer and more pointed to deal with plate.
Historian Ewart Oakeshott's typology of medieval swords includes several long-gripped forms, such as types XIIIa and XVa, covering the range from large hand-and-a-half swords to full two-handed weapons. The lines between them are drawn by blade shape and proportion, which is another reason period and modern terms overlap so much.
Bastard Sword vs Longsword, Arming Sword and Broadsword
| Sword | Era | Grip | Typical blade | Main use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arming sword | 11th to 16th c. | One hand | 70 to 80 cm (28 to 32 in) | With a shield, mounted or on foot |
| Bastard sword | 14th to 16th c. | One or two hands | 80 to 95 cm (31 to 37 in) | Flexible between mounted and foot combat |
| Longsword | 14th to 16th c. | Two hands | 90 to 110 cm (35 to 43 in) | Foot combat, recorded fencing systems |
| Basket-hilted broadsword | 17th to 18th c. | One hand | 75 to 85 cm (30 to 33 in) | Military cut and thrust |
The broadsword is the one most often confused with the bastard sword, yet the two are centuries and a whole hilt design apart. A broadsword is a one-handed sword with a steel basket protecting the hand, dating from after the bastard sword had fallen out of use. Our broadsword guide explains how it differs from a broadsword in full.
How Bastard Swords Were Used
Fifteenth and sixteenth-century fighting manuals, especially those of the German Liechtenauer tradition, show swords of this size used in two hands for powerful cuts, precise thrusts and binds. One notable technique was half-swording: the fighter gripped the middle of the blade with the second hand and used the sword almost like a short spear, driving the point into gaps in armour.
Mounted, the same sword served one-handed. Its extra length gave reach from the saddle, and its point made it effective against armoured opponents.
Common Myths About Bastard Swords
"Bastard swords were heavy and slow." At 1.2 to 1.8 kg, they were light enough for fast, skilled fencing. The heavy-sword myth comes from fiction and badly made reproductions, not surviving originals.
"Only exceptionally strong fighters could use them one-handed." Balance, not raw strength, made one-handed use practical. A well-balanced blade feels far lighter than its weight suggests.
"The bastard sword was an exotic weapon." Tabletop games popularized that idea, but historically these swords were a familiar part of the late medieval armoury, not a rare specialty.
Buying a Modern Bastard Sword: What to Check
- Measure the grip. A true hand-and-a-half grip accommodates one full hand plus part of the second. A short grip means an arming sword; a very long grip means a longsword.
- Check the balance. The point of balance should sit within a hand's width or two of the guard. A tip-heavy blade suggests poor distal taper.
- Look at the tang. The tang should be forged as part of the blade and secured through the pommel, not welded on as a thin threaded rod.
- Ask about the steel. A named grade and a clear heat treatment matter more than marketing. Our guide to high carbon steel in swords explains what to look for.
- Be clear on purpose. A display piece and a sword meant to be handled need different construction. Ask the maker which one you are buying.
Our Swords
Our workshop currently forges one-handed swords rather than hand-and-a-half blades. The closest in proportion is our longest one-handed blade, a medieval battle sword with a 25-inch blade, which shows how the knightly sword looked before grips lengthened for a second hand. The full range of Damascus steel swords covers Viking and medieval arming patterns, each forged in layered steel with a hand-stitched leather sheath.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bastard sword?
A late medieval and Renaissance European sword with a straight, double-edged blade and a grip long enough for one or two hands. It is also called a hand-and-a-half sword.
Why is it called a bastard sword?
The most widely accepted explanation is that the sword was a hybrid, neither a true one-handed sword nor a true two-handed sword. Period writers never defined the term, so its exact origin remains uncertain.
Is a bastard sword the same as a longsword?
They overlap. Many historians treat the bastard sword as a shorter-gripped member of the longsword family, usable in one hand. A longsword proper is designed primarily for two hands.
How heavy is a bastard sword?
Most historical examples weigh between 1.2 and 1.8 kg (2.6 to 4 lb), with a pommel that brings the balance close to the hand.
Can a bastard sword be used with one hand?
Yes. One-handed use, especially on horseback, was one of its main advantages. A second hand added power and control when fighting on foot.
Is a bastard sword the same as a broadsword?
No. A broadsword is a one-handed seventeenth and eighteenth-century sword with a basket hilt. The bastard sword is earlier, has a longer grip for two-handed use, and uses a simple crossguard.
