Hanwei Practical Bastard Sword

The Swiss and Germans originally carried these early swords, although they soon became popular in other regions such as the British Isles and Europe. The term bastard undoubtedly comes from the fact that the sword, because of its design, has no legitimate claim to being classified as either a single-handed or two-handed piece. The bastard sword was developed for use by the foot soldier and had become quite common by the early 1500s. The blade has been forged out of 5160 high carbon steel to minimise burring and provides adequate strength for re-enactment use. Additionally, the transverse thickness of the guard has been increased to present a safer profile at its ends. Another innovation is the all-leather scabbard instead of the rigid scabbards normally provided with the Hanwei practical swords. This is designed to provide an extra margin of safety in case of a fall on the scabbard in use and to minimise the need for replacement scabbards. The sword is supplied with the grip and scabbard in a neutral-coloured leather to allow customisation to your own taste.