Lansknet (B) - Historical swords and armors, The Time Seller.

Not all of the "double pay" soldiers carried the large two hander with the parrying hooks on the blade. Some opted for smaller, quicker two-handers. Most all of the officers carried these swords, and the great Landsnecht Captain, George Frundsberg, is known to have carried one on his last campaign (at the tender age of 82). These swords are larger than the standard hand-and-a-half swords, and are intended for two hands. In the wild melee after the initial clash of the pikes, there was little room for any fancy sword work, just brutal chopping, and these swords were quite good for that! Strong, wide blades were capable of denting and crushing the toughest armor. This was the period of the infantry, when the armored knight was being replaced, and the firearm had not yet shown its fearsome abilities. The foot soldier, wearing armor, but not fully encased in steel, was vulnerable to the sword and axe. We have selected two swords that represent the type carried by these fearsome mercenaries. Both are of high carbon steel. Wood grips are covered with leather.