The TRUTH about SWORD names and terminology

[@andrews3199]

Shad fact: Shad seemingly collects a lot of swords. This is because in the past, he actually owned almost 100% of all swords in Australia, but he kept on lending them to people from all over the world. So he is really just getting his swords back.

[@urielgrey]

This is now cannon!

[@Killjoy888]

If you're not a a.i. bot then you're just a idiot

[@johntime8330]

So shad is a highlander?

[@christianraymond9966]

Aah Shad lore...yes we need more of this.

[@Trotton2]

Glad to see this type of content again. Just Shad eloquently educating us on swords.

[@LuxFerre4242]

Those short swords lined up so neatly, held up by their tips, are impressive.

[@ccelik97]

On the top side of that wooden plank, *there's an about 2cm deep, narrow line cut* that runs along the whole length if I remember correctly. They usually use it to stick a curved sword by its curve's outwards part _(from the edge of the sword, yes.)_ But, sometimes they stick a sword, knife, etc. from the tip for displaying purposes, too. *_S c i e n c e (o f) F (r) i c t i o n ._*

[@KohakuRyuKazes]

You get this phrase a lot in the historical clothes community but I think it applies here: ‘historically accurate’ is an impossibility. Strive for ‘historically plausible.’

[@linkouf8171]

Drinking game : take a shot every time Shad says the word "sword"

[@holycow666]

dont

[@ZttackFrmBhind]

*Dies

[@ToaCody1]

Glad I don't drink.

[@katathoombs]

NOES!

[@Hacker_rex04yt]

No thank you. I like living

[@lankymcswanky2176]

I someday hope for a sword collection as glorious and diverse as this

[@ccelik97]

There're -two- *one* type of people: - Guitar collectors - Sword collectors

[@fettmaneiii4439]

I'm torn. There's some truth in the saying that the more swords you own, the less you train with one. But if you have just one, it will become an extension of your soul.

[@SebaztienHawke-ci5hm]

Thou must becometh a KZbinr, then, young Squire! Only then will your scabbard runneth over!

[@RyuuKageDesu]

Part one of four, where Shad goes into a deep dive of all sword terms, from across the whole world, leading to a feature film super cut.

[@comlitbeta7532]

Dose it chap? It's a chappa Dose it stab ? It's a staba

[@rockinHurley777]

Does*

[@Toaster_crumbs69420]

you call out "dose" but not "chappa" or "staba"?

[@MosEisleyCantinaStories]

That's part of the joke ​@@Toaster_crumbs69420

[@emperoramp9305]

Orks

[@RainMakeR_Workshop]

@@emperoramp9305 Dat weedy git ain’t no proper Ork! E’z zoggin’ clueless. Don’t even kno wot a propa Choppa iz! Prolly finkz it’z a humie spanna or summat!

[@DoomGoy88]

Just want to say this one DID show up in my recommended. I hope that's a good sign for the future of the channel, lads! Also, we need some video games with multiple blade profiles of the falchion. And I'd like to see the messer make more of an appearance in games. It's my favorite medieval sword.

[@philipbaker5386]

This is how I always made distinctions: Dagger: One handed blade with a blade shorter than the forearm. Short sword: One handed blade with a blade length between forearm and arm length. Arming Sword: One handed blade with a blade longer than arm length. Bastard sword / hand and a half sword: blade longer than Arm length and hilt can accompany two hands with little to no gap while grasping in two hands. Long Sword: similar to Bastard but Hilt is longer (can accompany three + hands). War Sword: Blade is between wait High and Chest High. Hilt can accompany 3 or more hands. Single handed wielding extremely limited. I like your distinctions parameters between the war sword and great swords and will employ that going forward.

[@Jigglysaint]

I'd love to see an RPG where the focus is on sword accuracy. Different fighting styles for different types of swords, each with their own strengths and drawbacks. I played one game a long time ago where the weapons for the main character had both a slash and stab attribute. Some weapons featured greater slash damage while others focused on piercing damage.

[@Epsilonsama]

Amazing video Shad. Looking at sword categories from a historical context as a history nerd myself is very cool.

[@tomgerlach4489]

Having learned so many incorrect terms and descriptions from games, I found this very educational. Thank you.

[@PeregrinTintenfish]

Terminology is not the same as typology. Sometimes one type has several names or one name is used for several types. It could be very contextual.

[@mcalsip]

Fun fact, keyboard warriors didn't exist in the middle ages, just regular warriors. There is very little evidence that anyone in a sword fight ever attempted to correct their opponent on terminology of their sword while getting stuck with the pokey bits.

[@draleks9112]

Shads ancestors definitely did tho, tbh.

[@BillRoyMcBill]

Yes, if it's mine, I call it what I want...check out my Magnum Solar Blazer, some people would call it a rusty cutlass, but not to my face.

[@christophpoll784]

Well in that case it is not wrong if I call my Iaito a "Chinese piece of flat iron, properly polished" 😂

[@mcalsip]

@@christophpoll784 "Uh ackshually, based on the hilt length and width of the blade it is better identified as a...ahhhggg!"

[@Lilliathi]

@@mcalsip "Look at this stab wound in my abdomen and tell me that's not a broadsword."

[@walkir2662]

Ever since the 80s, Germany's (fromerly?) biggest RPG system also had the threehanded sword (Dreihänder). Namely an absurdly large two handed one. *looks it up* 2 meters long overall.

[@zwenkwiel816]

Best used with a friend😂 Though if the user is 2 meters tall would it be considered a zweihander? (Cuz some of those were as long as the user was tall)

[@walkir2662]

@@zwenkwiel816 It uses the two-handed swords skill. It's a cool way to say how absurd it is, though. Especially if you've mastered the thing.

[@urielgrey]

This just makes me grin ear to ear and make me happy

[@Ekzanimus]

Is it about Das Schwarze Auge? Is it not biggest RPG system in Germany now?

[@sakikhakihaki1267]

13:03 as a layman, breaking down longsword into bastard, long, war swords would clear up my own confusion of a subject. So I lean towards "yes". 28:04 "One last final *point*." I see what you did there

[@kennykinsey3815]

I like hearing Shads pauldrons clicking during the vids.

[@mrblack5145]

THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT BUT THIS ONE IS MINE!

[@kodys2087]

You could make 5 very broad categories of bladed weapons with generic descriptions in regards to blade length; Knife - single edged, designed as a tool for cutting Dagger - double edged, designed as a weapon for stabbing, single hand only, can stab in reverse grip Short Sword - single hand only, cannot stab in reverse grip Long Sword - single or two hand, can draw from side sheath Great Sword - two hand only, cannot draw from side sheath Everything else like hilt construction, blade profile, etc. are secondary descriptors and can account for all the differences in sword characteristics. If you wanted to use exact dimensions instead, maybe reference ergonomics and anthropometry, with the 25th and 75th percentiles for human height, arm length, etc. The "can stab in reserve grip" qualification is a clear delineator where a dagger becomes a sword, to the extent that reverse grip or ice-pick grip can be referred to "dagger grip." Obviously a longer blade could be used to stab in reverse grip but you lose a lot of mechanical advantage due to the angle of the blade with your forearm. To remove the subjectivity of "effectively stab in reverse grip" it could be be quantified to a blade length using the aforementioned human dimensions, maybe something like 300 mm?

[@wojszach4443]

im proponent of this naming convention: how you hold it+how it looks like ofcouse we are skipping on knifes and daggers

[@magnemoe1]

Some daggers was stabbing only but agree that is an dagger. But some knives has an blade over an foot long.

[@JustTooDamnHonest]

The language of the sword is very complex and yet so fun to learn.

[@danieledwards2149]

I agree with using the scale "bastard, hand & a half, longsword, war sword, great sword". A bastard sword to me is like a katana, ie one handed blade length, but a 2 handed grip. H&H is more a longsword blade with a slightly shorter grip. That lets the bastard sword occupy that middle/hybrid space between arming swords and 2 handed. Great work, Shad!

[@mufinsp0]

3:30 Could call it a Frankish sword as well. It is pretty much a re-designed Roman Spatha

[@Ekzanimus]

I am really glad to see videos like this on this channel. No AI slop, no reactions or comedy. Just a very interesting and educational content about medieval equipment.

[@wojszach4443]

i got yelled cuz i called longsword two handed sword because official sources had to cope to fit zweihander in, not like swords were called "john the smith, make me sword about that long with place for 3 palms" like if you must create names follow by how do you grab it+how it looks like

[@alexeydolzhenkov7424]

The last one was Swiss sabre (German, Schweizersäbel) but example with rare simple hilt more often they were made with more elaborate hilts comparable to the earlier rapiers :)

[@alexeydolzhenkov7424]

PS: Strange is that maker has dropped "Swiss" from the sword name not the "sabre" part :)

[@jchart]

I have that Hanwei antiqued "bastard" sword. It's pretty nice, but is definitely a dedicated two handed sword. I'd call it a war sword, honestly. Fun fact: the bastard sword in Dark Souls 1-3 and Elden Ring is based on it and the in game model is pretty much identical to the real one. In DS1 it even has the same ridged crossguard if you look at it closely. ...Or it's possible Hanwei made theirs based on the one in the game. I haven't been able to find out which came first, but either way it's clearly the same sword.

[@ThomasNing]

I already know this'll be a good one.

[@Hyacin]

I loved this video, I'd love to see more historical breakdowns on swords, maybe a series of swords around the world and go region by region ect.

[@Schlumpsha]

All European swords are called Bob and all Japanese swords are called Tanaka

[@nathanbeverley247]

Robert and Tanaka-kun, if you're feeling formal.

[@alanmichaelbourdon]

My favorite kind of video, talking facts about steel. Thanks Shad.

[@MurphyMuller]

This is exactly the type of video I love this channel for! And it was so good! And as long as we got enough context, I for one would love some dedicated videos on some of those "rabbit holes"!

[@ROMANTIKILLER2]

It gets even funnier once one considers more languages. Rapiers were hugely popular in Italy, but the Italian word "spada da lato" refers to both rapiers and sideswords (literal translations). And what about sabres? In English, a sabre is a curved single edged sword, while in French a sabre can have straight blade as long as the hilt retains a certain shape.

[@gregfam6250]

Feels like old times. Thanks Shad!😊

[@thecolliecrusader]

Great video going over different types of swords. If I'm writing and have a character who uses a sword, I like to use certain terms to better describe what kind of sword they're using. A video like this is helpful in that endeavor. I'm also fan of hand-and-a-half swords, and the one with the gold hilt and blue grip is a fine addition to your collection.

[@toxicity787]

Bro I love this video, I like how shad explains this I hope to see another video like this one.

[@TheHornedKing]

I actually feel nostalgic watching this.

[@jamesleatherwood5125]

Great updated video! Keep up the good work!

[@jierdareisa4313]

I do really love ALL Shadiversity videos!!!! ❤

[@simontmn]

Great Sword - ironically(?) I tend to think of the Clay More (Great Sword) when I think Greatsword, ie a War Sword, 55" or so, not a 6' Zweihander.

[@Robobagpiper]

Except, historically, the term refers to the basket-hilted broadswords of the 17th & 18th centuries. Its usage to refer to war swords is quite modern; it looks like that change happened somewhere in the 20th century. We really don't have much data on what the Scots called the V-shaped crossguarded two-hander of the 16th century during its period of contemporary use. Part of the problem is that "mòr" in the name is deceptively translated as "great", causing people to incorrectly connect it with what's called a "great sword" in English, when it's more honestly translated as "big" in most usages. In Gaelic, "claidheamh mòr" is just a "big sword", probably in contrast to the "claidheamh beag", which refers to the Gentleman's small sword Shad talks about in this video.

[@nightshadegames7357]

One of my favorite types of swords that I'd love to see your take on is the estoc or tuck. Would probably be tough to get one as I (in my admittedly limited efforts) haven't been able to find any goods ones on the market. Definitely a good example of a highly specific /purpose built weapon.

[@NajemnyVT]

Another excellent one, though I would like to mention one thing you did not in regards to the Bastard Sword: as a term, it can also refer to a sword that escapes basic clasification, such as a shorter sword with an extended two-handed grip.

[@tylerrobbins8311]

I'm in favor of having more clear defined terms for swords. Given there is always the transitional kinds.

[@rockinHurley777]

Well, that answers my question from yesterday about why it's called a bastardsword. lol, thanks, Shad

[@ZttackFrmBhind]

Wrote up this video just for you :D

[@katathoombs]

Well as we just learned it is • a sword not-quite-adequate for the use of a Lord, • thus mostly given to their children from unwed circumstances • who are a teeeny wee bit too rural and tend to throw insults at their opponents during the _most solemn_ practice of dueling. Evidently.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

Sometimes arming swords were referred to as short swords because they were shorter than longswords.

[@Lungorthin666]

24:30 Hanger is usually a shorter version of a saber, not typically a falchion.

[@Failurebydesign7]

Fencing isn’t just about thrusts and parries-it’s a whole language of steel, where a ‘foil’ isn’t a budgeting tactic, a ‘rapier’ isn’t for shaving, and a ‘hilt’ isn’t a tool for holding snacks.

[@zwenkwiel816]

Rapey rapier rapiest 😂

[@ApfelJohannisbeere]

That was such a great explanation video. I for one would have the bastard swords only as a separate category.

[@m.h.6470]

As a German: Große Messer (great knives) were typically curved blades and a bit wider near the tip of the blade while Lange Messer or Langmesser (long knives) were typically straight blades, but with a curved edge AND a small 'back cutting edge' near the tip of the blade Also: Both versions had/have the so called 'Nagel' (nail) or a ring-like structure called a Kuhfuß (cow's foot) to protect the wielders hand They were generally the weapons of the poorer people and rarely 'fancy'.

[@gooseguyfilms4460]

I love the videos where he just talks about swords. I know that’s like every video, but I mean something like this. Where he literally JUST talks about them. No testing, no criticism towards modern interpretations, just talking about swords. It’s great (I like the other videos too, but this is my favorite format).

[@moimoi73000]

Look at shad using the 'sword classification' excuse to show off his sword collection! Half of his collection shown is not even useful for the purpose of the video!! I joke about it, but I seriously love videos like that, going in a lot of details on a particular sword subject.

[@hermannhinterhauser1227]

This is my sword, there are many of them, but this one is mine!

[@walkir2662]

I would be extremely surprised if there was no definition where a dagger becomes a sword. The problem I expect there is having way too many of them for legal purposes. Or is that just me being too used to the HRE?

[@Roland3ld]

Here's the usual full support.

[@wonderpotato1234]

It would be incredible to see you go into a deep dive explaining every specific sword category and type across the entire world. Loved the video and I cant wait to see more!

[@lestatstaton7856]

The original Terminology video where you define the War Sword is probably my favorite video of yours and I think how I found your channel so many years ago. Next would be everything and anything that can relate back to Giant Swords.

[@tobybellend6508]

Your knowledge is outstanding

[@Dr.Kenobi264]

There is something charming about Shad’s ADHD-fueled rants explaining a topic that he is passionate about.

[@khodexus4963]

For the sake of mechanical simplicity, the game I'm working on uses a few less terms for swords, but does allow for some variation within a single category. I use the term short sword for one-handed cruciform swords, and long sword for two-handed swords, though some can be balanced to be versatile, for one or two handed use. I do use great sword for blades that are almost more polearm length. Then I use falchion and war falchion for the single edged blades. I don't really use messer, even though I know some people love those, but for the purposes of game mechanics it's redundant. I do include the term rapier, and I even use it slightly more broadly than the modern usage. It is basically a straight blade with the reach of a long sword, but with a handle construction that balances it for one-handed use, and more or less precludes being able to grip it with two hands. In fact, one of my favorite aesthetic designs I've drawn up has a blade which is broader at the base, and tapers quite finely towards the tip. Thought you might find that interesting.

[@Blindy_Sama]

So I watched Matthew Jensen's reply video to shad the other day in the video was good however in the comment section there are a lot of people who really hate shad seemingly mostly for the book he wrote in his political standpoints which I think should be kept separate totally from his sword stuff they're making some not very nice allegations I don't know why people just can't appreciate sword content and get along

[@gameragodzilla]

One day, Shad needs to do an “every sword in my collection” video like Matt did for his guns on Demolition Ranch. Just put them all out and cut something with them as he goes down the line. lol

[@seigatron]

Shad, I would like to make the argument that daggers are swords and not their completely own category of weapon. They're just a particularly small short sword. To help make my argument, I'm to lean on my knowledge of Japanese (not that we necessarily should categorize things based on how others do). Tantō are often as small as 6". If we translate the Kanji for tantō into English, they mean "small" and "katana". (Katana is a more generic term for a single edge sword in Japanese than it is often used in English.) I think its time that the dagger was showed some love and let into the sword club as its own category of short sword. Bonus fact: the Kanji for Tachi mean "big katana".

[@Kentchangar]

Maybe you should do some sword shopping guides.: - Swords to get for defense if you're a newb, - Swords to get if you're big/small/ whatever.

[@KonladVDragon]

Shad, I remember you made a video about the best sword in modern days for self defense. Can you make a similar video but this time about armor? And I mean real armor, not the "cut proof jacket" etc.

[@ModernDayKnight03]

That would be cool! It'd probably be a compromise between protection, mobility, and subtlety, as a full suit of armor would be tough to do everyday life in... And could attract some unwanted attention.

[@YtheTie]

Weird...I always classified Bastard Swords as being one and a half handers. So not quite a one hander but also not a full two handed sword. Really interesting.

[@DangerSquad]

I'd standardize them by blade length regardless of the user's height. Daggers are dual-edged and up to a foot in blade length, Shortswords are one-handed swords with blades between one and three feet, Longsword blades are between three and five feet, and Greatsword blades are between five and seven feet. Longswords can be used in one or two hands, though outliers exist, such as the rapier.

[@scootergsp]

Can we all appreciate that the man just made a thirty plus minute video, outdoors in the middle of the Australian summer, while wearing armor...👏

[@izzyoddzy6556]

Back to your roots. Loving it.

[@MrErtwer]

Well slap my ass and call me slugbar the strong, this was very informative. Good job.

[@Zylo1111]

A sword is a sword is a sword... or is it? Sharp stabbity thing.

[@Vyrlokar]

Shad, on my honor as a Spaniard, I find you barely mentioning cup hilted rapiers slightly annoying. Yes, swept hilts and basket hilts are way more common in France and the British islands, but cup hilts were very much a thing in Spain and Italy

[@madmoe4]

Thanks for the clarifications.

[@pce0]

very interesting and instructive video

[@Necroscat]

I think, just for initial description, describe the Longsword hilt. Start with Hand-and-a-Half or Two-Handed. Then describe the blade by if you can walk around with it Sheathed it's just a Longsword, or if the blade can't be carried easily shealthed then it's a War Sword. So you put a Longsword in a catagory by describing the Hilt then Blade type. So that's 3 catagories: Hand-and-a-Half/Longsword, Two-Handed/Longsword, Two-Handed/War Sword. Well I've guess you could have a Hand-and-a-Half/War Sword, but I've never seen one.

[@Perceval777]

Thank you for going into detail about this. Classification of Japanese swords is very tricky too - lots of the terms there are modern, too, like tanto. The word "katana" during the Middle Ages used to simply mean a one-edged dagger, often also referred to as koshigatana, which is now called a tanto.

[@ZttackFrmBhind]

*Shad buys a sword because he doesn't have that one yet That sword: "Am I a diversity hire?"

[@SirPraiseSun]

solid video as always Shad, a lot of good stuff to learn.

[@kegy-grisha]

I was always wondering what are these swords called in my language

[@brightlord-ov7cm]

The Trump dance with the Saber should be broken-down.

[@level98bearhuntingarmor]

Honestly in a different world a Type II "reverse edge" Falchion would be classified as a totally different weapon than a regular Falchion as well as the opposite ends of the Oakeshot typology. Funnily enough, the identification conundrum arguably still exists in Tank, Firearm, and Warship circles such as "is the Swedish S tank a Tank Destroyer?", "is the Russian Federov 1916 an Assault Rifle?" And "are the Japanese Kongo class Battlecruisers now Battleships because they improved the armor protection?" Not a one to one comparison, but goes to show people still don't know what to call things

[@GerbyMcGerbs]

In the First Law book series they talk about long steel and short steel and the way they talk about the blades and the fighting style makes me think of them as rapiers. Which I find interesting because they never mention the shapes or guard design in the book that I can remember.

[@outerlast]

i'm used to: straight, usually double-edged = sword; single-edged, usually curved = saber. there are single-edged sword and straight saber.

[@urielgrey]

Awesomeness thanks guys!!!

[@A_Medieval_Shadow]

Usually I would range "dedicated twohanded swords" in a range from 145 and upwards. But yes, they range from longer Longsword, to beefier Longsword till they reach a nice lenght of "Hit you before you reach me". "The Spadone Project" do research about greatswords and doing good work while at it. They measure them in museums, they read contemporary literature and lists from Armories and release some of their finds from time to time. They are also fabtastic people, check em out

[@ZttackFrmBhind]

Some of the tips of the falchions, at 19:44 remind me of the Bat'leth. I'd love a video describing why they would want it like that.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

For an analog think of how the term gun is used. If one has a pistol on their hip or is carrying a rifle hunting one usually just says it's their gun. Now if someone were picking out a specific gun from a group of guns one might get more specific and say the rifle instead of the shotgun, or the Winchester 1894 if choosing from a group of rifles; but generally one just carries a gun.

[@GGBlaster]

This kinda parallels with modern mobile devices, though our distinction is usually brand based

[@ulfhedtyrsson]

Excellent presentation

[@jacktheomnithere2127]

this is my take on categorizing swords; and i'll try my best. (i'll be partially ignoring the time split between the Iron Age, the Medieval period, and the periods after like the Renaissance) *category:* one-handed swords groups: - Shortswords. must be 60 to 85 cm long to be called that. - Arming Swords. must be 90cm to 1m long to be called that. - Single-edged Swords subgroups: - Falchions - Messers - Cutlasses - Sabres *note:* one of the only 2 subgroups here; i used them as examples, don't expect more. - Scimitars *note:* this is from the perspective of a European; and as you said, non-European single-edged swords are called Scimitars. *category:* Bastard swords groups: - Transitional Bastard Swords. named because of the length of the sword in question. to use my measurements for one-handed swords as an example: a sword that's between 86 and 89 cm long is a Transitional Bastard Sword. - Hybrid Bastard Swords. named because, be it effectively, or literally (the latter in the Scimitana's case), they're made from 2 swords; like the Bastard Sword we all know and love. (speaking of, the "Classic Bastard Sword" must be 120 to 130 cm long to be called that) *category:* two-handed swords *note:* measurements are based on the height of an average man. groups: - Longswords. must be 1.40m to 1.50m tall to be called that. subgroup: - "True" Longswords - two-handed Falchions - two-handed Messers - War Swords. must reach the base of the neck to be called that. subgroup: - Claymores - Great Swords. must be head-height or taller to be called that. *category:* Renaissance swords groups: - Rapiers - Side-swords *note:* a Side-sword, to me, is exactly as you described it. - Smallswords - Hunting Swords *category:* Pseudo-categoric Swords (because they aren't actual categories. DO NOT USE) groups: - Broad Swords

[@RATLANTIS]

I'd love to see a video about some of the first ones in the lineup around 19:40. The weird boxy ones, or the ones that have an inward swoop.

[@Franimus]

Next we need deep dive videos on falchions and sabers! ⚔️

[@GaiusIncognitus]

Great title!

[@RainMakeR_Workshop]

Sorry Shad, but you have your Messer terms a little off. You are correct that the Langes Messer (Long Knife), is a one-handed Messer and the Kreigsmessers (War Knife), is a two-handed Messer. But the Grosse Messer (Big Knife) is a hand-and-a-half Messer, which is much like saying Bastard Sword and Longsword. In that all Grosse Messer are Kriegsmesser, but not all Kriegsmesser are Grosse Messer. There is also the Bruegel Messer (Knife from Bruegel), which is a Short Sword Messer. And the Kleine Messer, which is a Dagger, or rather... an actual Knife.

[@axelschwei9934]

so cool! It would be so nice to have more in depht vodeos about this, with épée (or degen?), "stoßschwert" (short thrusting swords) and so on

[@DBinitiate]

The point about how some swords would move up in size category based on the user's height is something that I remember Pathfinder and AD&D (2e D&D) doing. Pathfinder would have weapon stats be set to the user being in the Medium (man-sized) category. If the user is Small (about half the size of a man), they'd have to wield the weapon as though it's a heavier category (Light weapons being small, one-handed being the regular combat size, and two-handed being particularly large or cumbersome). Similarly, a Large creature (about twice the size of a man) would wield them as though they're a lighter category. This also means that you cannot wield certain types of weapons that're not made for your size due to them being too small or too large for you. AD&D did it slightly different, in that each weapon was assigned a size category, much like how creatures had size categories. You would be able to wield weapons up to one size larger than you just fine, but unable to wield something two sizes or more larger than you. For example, the player's handbook specifically states that Halflings, being a Small creature, wouldn't be able to wield a Two-handed Sword, being a Large-sized weapon.

[@171QA]

Great video.

[@taleg1]

Many years ago I knew this girl who had a sword, she was tiny yet scarily quick with her sword and the funny thing was that most could not keep up with her speed and to make it worse, she was one of 10 people that might be called a sword master to booth, so she was very good with that sword. The funny thing was that to me, her sword was basically a short sword, My sword was almost a two handed sword to her, so the size of a person matters a lot when it comes to swords. The basic rule is the right sword for you, should just barely miss the ground while you are standing straight up holding the sword down to wards the ground. You should be able to swing it back and fort without the blade being stopped A sword that length, would in most cases be a good length sword for a person.

[@mariusreinecker1556]

I tought a broadsword was a sword owned by a woman.

[@JPGotrokkits]

You can thank/blame the Victorians for their obsessive classification of things. Its why there are so many things to consider when trying to decide what to call a sword. Tabletop game designers further exacerbated that in their works.

[@samuelpalardy1269]

I think the Longsword conversation is best summed up as a specific group of swords that are versatile in the way that you can wield it 1-handed or 2-handed. Then you have the specifics of Bastard, Standard, and War sword. One person's Bastard Sword is another person's War Sword. Trying to throw em all into Longsword feels silly. Kinda like trying to compare a Battle Rifle and a Carbine. Yes they can both be considered Rifles, but they are certainly different.