This question's been bothering me for a while. When the Spanish were killing, pillaging and looting in the New World in the 1500's, they had steel swords to go with their cannons, guns, horses, armor etc. I saw a documentary about these swords; they were long, narrow, straight and had a cage like guard around the hilt made of thick bars of metal formed into a protective spherical shape. They appear to have been primarily thrusting swords.
What do you call these things? "Longswords" and "broadswords" I thought usually referred to knightly cavalry swords that were made for battering plate armor through sheer slashing mass and strength of arm. These often had a straight crossbar for a guard. "Rapiers" I thought were not battlefield weapons, but rather backalley city streetfighting swords that rich men carried.
These things seem to be fairly sturdy cavalry usable swords, but more graceful and lighter than the heavy knightly slashing swords, and primarily intended for thrusting rather than slashing - I imagine used more as a sort of one handed spear when used against footmen instead of used in powerhouse slashes.
Anyone into this stuff who can help me out?
Originally posted by RavelloAccording to this site, Toledo refers to the place that made the best swords as well as the quality of the steel and the blade-making technique that produced the swords. The actual shape of the sword is not described by Toledo:
Toledo?
http://www.aceros-de-hispania.com/toledo-swords.htm
The swords in question were probably Toledo swords, which I didn't know; thanks. But what kind of Toledo swords? There were Toledo gladii used by Roman legionairres, Toledo sabres, etc.
I actually have two replicas, I beleive, of Toledo swords. My great grand-parents gave them to me, and they say Toledo in Spanish right on them, along the blade. I say they are replicas, because from what I gather, if they are the real thing, I'd be a millionaire for basicly finding this artifact, although I never brought them to an antique specialist, but I doubt I'm that lucky and they are likely fakes. They are replicas apparently held by a Spanish king and queen, and they came mounted with a wooden shield (I have the shield too if you are wondering). The sword the king carries, the heavier and bigger one I gather, looks like a Claymore to me, the queen's sword, a little smaller, looks like a Sabre. And yes, I have used these swords before (not on ppl of course just held them and used them), although they are big, long, and bulky looking, they feel light as a feather and I've never seen the blade bend to the slightest (and I'm not some super fitness strong dude either), I haven't sharpened them and they are blunted though, so I don't know how well they cut. So they appear to be well made replicas at that.