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A broadsword is a heavy, double-bladed sword designed for cutting and slashing. It has a flattened blade with one or more grooves and a cross-shaped hilt. Today, swords are mainly used for sport fencing, and modern replicas have dull blades for reenactments.
A broadsword is a type of sword that was designed to cut and slash, rather than thrust. The basic form of a broadsword has been used in warfare for hundreds of years, although swords are not widely manufactured today. This is mainly due to the fact that swords are used for sport fencing, rather than battle. As a weapon, a greatsword requires great strength, since the blade can be extremely heavy and is typically wielded with a two-handed grip.
Several features can be used to distinguish a broadsword from another type of sword. The blade is flattened, rather than having a uniformly rounded shape, like many modern fencing swords. Typically, one or more grooves, called covers, are made in the flattened sides of the blade to lighten the weight of the blade without compromising its structure or strength. A greatsword is also double-bladed and narrows to a point that can be used for stabbing or thrusting.
A greatsword’s construction is heavy due to its thickness. When using a greatsword in combat, the goal is to kill or severely maim the opponent. The weight of the heavy blade helps guide the sword into a slashing blow when wielded by a skilled and strong warrior. As warriors were trained, they would transition to the broadsword after using several smaller, lighter blades so they could learn technique and footwork before conditioning themselves with the much heavier blade.
Technically, almost any hilt style is appropriate for a greatsword, although the classic greatsword has a cross-shaped hilt that allows room for both hands, so the warrior can put more power behind each blow. However, some smiths designed basket-handled broadswords, intended to be used with one hand. The basket hilt protects the warrior’s hand, so that if an opponent’s blade slides along the greatsword, it will strike the basket hilt instead of the flesh. However, using a greatsword one-handed requires great muscle development in that arm.
Broadswords designed for modern medieval reenactment and jousting tend to have dull, rather than sharp, blades so that people do not injure each other. In most swordfighting competitions, lightweight blades such as rapiers, broadswords, and foils designed specifically for fencing are used, rather than the potentially highly dangerous broadsword. Most museums hold several examples of broadswords from various parts of Europe and Asia for visitors to peruse, if they are interested in seeing what a real sword looks like.
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