The basket-hilted broadsword and the military sabre were popular weapons in the gunpowder-era of warfare during the 18th and 19th centuries. Both types of sword are held in one hand and have a significant amount of metalwork protecting the fingers and wrist – very useful when that one hand is your only means of attack and defence!
The broadsword typically had a blade around 30 inches (75 cm) long and double edged to allow cuts with both edges, with a sharp and rigid point for making thrusts. These swords were rarely as heavy as people tend to expect, with many examples weighing just 1.0 to 1.5 kg, and they were usually very well balanced.
The blade of a sabre was often of a similar kind of length, but the sword was usually much lighter at around 800-900 grams, and generally had less protection for the hand. The blade was often curved, requiring a different method of use to achieve a functional cut.
We mainly study the 18th and early 19th century Scottish and English sources for both broadsword and sabre, but on occasion we investigate European (or even North American!) sabre sources for comparative purposes, to help round out our skills.
The broadsword and sabre are weapons that are easy to begin with, and allow easy expansion into intricate systems in which your skill and athleticism combine with your individual approach to style.
If you like the idea of fighting a dramatic duel and looking good while doing so, then this is the class for you!
| Class | HEMA: Broadsword & Sabre |
| Day | Wednesday evenings |
| Time | 19:30 – 21:00 |
| Booking | Book online |
Send us an email or give us a call if you would like to ask any questions beforehand.