A question that I, and most people who teach others how to use swords, get asked frequently is, “what is the best kind of sword?” or, and I do prefer this one, “what is your favorite sword?” Even then, this question is nearly impossible for me to answer. Do they mean my favorite sword that I own? That I have ever used? Favorite type of sword from history? Favorite sword to fence with? Favorite sword to cut targets with? The answers to these questions are all different, and even within each of those more specific questions my answer may change or be hard to pin down specifically. So while each of those questions may deserve its own answer at some point in the future, I think instead of trying to answer each exhaustively at this point I will focus one one question and create a list. Everybody loves lists, right? And this list will be of my favorite types of swords from around the world throughout history. So I will not be talking about specific examples of specific swords, nor will I be looking at the modern reproductions of those swords. Instead I will be looking at historical weapons as categories or classifications, and discussing why I like them. This, of course, means that I have not handled most of these in their historical original, though I have had the opportunity to try modern reproductions of many of them. Therefore I will mainly be speaking to aesthetics of the type of sword as well as looking at how they were likely used and whether I would want to wield one in a more general sense. So, without further ado or rambling introductions from me, here is a list of my five favorite swords in no particular order (that is just asking too much), as well as some honorable mentions.

Beidhänder

Up first is the mighty Beidhänder, also known as a Bidenhänder or in more modern language as a Zweihänder. These are some of the largest practical swords ever made, and while size isn’t always better, anyone who has spent some time fencing can tell you the advantage found in reach. A Beidhänder has a lot of things in common with other large swords, such as the montante or spadone, and some would even argue that these are all offshoots of the same weapons, what is essentially an upsized longsword used for specialized troops or bodyguards. A lot of what we know about the actual usage of the Beidhänder is extrapolation from sources dealing with montante and spadone, as well as from looking at German treatises dealing with the longsword. They appear to have been mostly used during the 16th century, and primarily in Germany.

So why do I like them? Well, for one, they are a ton of fun to swing around and to figure out how to use them most effectively. Figuring out which longsword techniques work translated to one of these giants is a blast, as well as exploring the sources left for other large two handed swords. Also, they just look really cool with their design often incorporating parrying hooks (Parierhaken in German), sometimes a wavy or flamberge style blade, and, of course, their large size. I was fortunate enough to have a modern reproduction of one at one point, before it was tragically stolen.

**Longsword**

The second sword on this list is the venerable longsword. This is the weapon with which I spend the most time, the one with which I have taught the most students, and the one with which I am most comfortable and competent, so I may be biased. The biggest problem with this particular category of sword is just how big it is. Some longswords have very wide blades that lend themselves well to the cut, some are narrow and rigid for fighting against armored opponents using the point, and many fall somewhere between these two extremes. In fact, the wide variety of designs and specializations within the umbrella term of “longsword” almost makes the category itself moot.

However, for the purpose of this list, I would consider any European sword from the medieval period to the renaissance, with most occurrences being between the 14th to the 16th centuries, designed to be used primarily with two hands and featuring a double edged blade to be a longsword. Yes this excludes the Kriegsmesser and the Swiss saber, though those are both super cool too. The typical longsword, if such a thing can be said to exist, is a cut and thrust sword. The large amount of leverage from a two-handed grip on the weapon enables it to move in really interesting and creative ways, it is a fast and nimble weapon, and an absolute joy to fence with. They also look great, and can be as utilitarian or as decorative as a person can imagine. The wide variety of grip styles, blade lengths, blade shapes, etc. means that these swords were very versatile.

I do actually have a favorite type of longsword as well, though it is more an aesthetic preference than anything else. My favorite type is the so-called Irish ring-hilted sword where the pommel is often an open wheel or ring through which the tang is visible. There are many historical depictions of these, as well as many reproductions of them, but the interesting thing is that this appears to be a uniquely Irish design of sword, and we see it both on things that could be categorized as a longsword, as well as on arming swords.

**Basket Hilted Broadsword**

Broadsword, much like longsword, is a term that is often used by laypeople to describe something other than what sword scholars often use to describe the term.

When I say broadsword I am referring to the basket-hilted, double edged sword common to the British Isles in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are very similar to schiavona found in Italy and other types of swords with a basket hilt. They are differentiated from backswords, also often basket-hilted, by the fact that they had edges on both sides of the blade, where the backsword does not. The mere presence of a basket does not, therefore, make something a broadsword. That being said, backswords are also fantastic, and I pretty much like them as much as I do their double edged cousin.

The basket hilted broadsword is indelibly linked to the Scottish Highlanders due to the widespread use of the weapon in their many various conflicts with the English. English soldiers fighting against the Scots also frequently used these weapons, however, as did soldiers on both sides of the English Civil War.

The hilts of these swords were often lavishly decorated, and often in ways that would tell you of their wielders’ loyalties. Jacobites, for instance, frequently had the letter “S” incorporated into the basket to denote their support for the Stewarts. I like them because of their connection to the Scottish Highlands and for their aesthetics. Fencing with them is also fun, but they tend to be on the heavier side of things due to the large protective basket.

Sidesword

Sidesword is a modern term, and one that you can certainly find debates about what it means or what counts as a sidesword. For my purposes, I consider a sidesword anything with a blade that resembles a knightly arming sword, but with the additions of an increasingly complex hilt consisting of more than a simple cruciform guard, but not as fully enclosed as a basket-hilted sword. Another, less helpful, definition is any sword that you wear at your side. This, of course, would include most swords, so we don’t really use that definition. The earliest examples of what I would term a sidesword essentially appear to be a medieval arming sword, but sports an additional finger ring on the guard, suggesting they were to be used by someone who was not wearing protective gauntlets. This corresponds in history with the increased popularity of carrying a sword in civilian settings, both for the traditional knightly classes as well as for the emerging “middle class” of the late medieval and renaissance periods. This, too, corresponds with the increasingly common existence of fencing schools and treatises, as well as with the beginnings of what would eventually become dueling culture.

I like sideswords because of their versatility and practicality. They are much easier to wear than a typical rapier because they are not as long as often have a hilt that doesn’t poke you in the belly quite as much, though there are some seriously offensive options in that regard. They also can be used to deliver much more effective cuts than most rapiers, though this is a bit of an oversimplification as there are many different styles of both sidesword and rapier blade. Many, especially moving into the renaissance, were also works of art in their own right, with designs increasingly being a way to show off the skill of the maker and the wealth of the owner. The weapon that Joachim Meyer refers to as a “rappier” in his 1570 treatise Thorough Descriptions of the Art of Fencing is what I would often consider a sidesword.

**Langes Messer**

Ah, the messer. Is it a knife? Is it a sword? The answer is yes. Messer literally means knife in German, and *langes* just means long. So a long knife. It is used, however, much more like a sword than like a typical knife, though in construction it closely resembles the way knives are typically made much more than the method of construction most commonly seen in swords.

The typical messer, if such a thing can be said to exist, is usually a one handed weapon, though many had grips long enough to accommodate two hands. They appear first in German starting in the early 15th century. Aside from the knife-like construction of their hilts, another feature common to many messers is the nagel or nail that protrudes from the guard and partially covers the back of the hand. This is seen being utilized in many of the fencing treatises from the time to protect the hand especially during winding actions from a bind.

Messers are one of my favorites because they are giant knives that are used like swords. The fencing systems that deal with the messer are a blast to play with, and their unique construction and features gives them some interesting techniques that you don’t really see much with other weapons.

My Top 5 Favorite Swords in History

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My Top 5 Favorite Swords in History

Beginner's Gear Guide to HEMA Longsword

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