Description
The age of the long sword spanned nearly three centuries, from around 1350 to 1650. Its enduring popularity was due to its remarkable effectiveness. Featuring a distinctive cruciform hilt and a lengthy, double-edged blade, it excelled against both lightly and heavily armored adversaries. The extended blade provided the necessary reach and leverage for powerful cutting and chopping motions, while its long cross guard and substantial pommel facilitated hooking, striking, and smashing maneuvers. When confronted with heavy plate armor, direct edge blows proved less effective, prompting the adoption of a technique known as “Half-Swording.” This method involved gripping the hilt with one hand and the blade with the other, allowing for precise thrusts aimed at the vulnerable gaps and joints in armor. Inspired by S.M. Stirling’s “Change” series, which explores a world suddenly stripped of centuries of technological progress, Cold Steel’s President Lynn C. Thompson developed a variation of the Long Sword, captivated by its numerous virtues.
