Why Such LONG Handles on SINGLE-Handed Swords?

Have you ever wondered why they would put an unnecessarily(?) long handle on a sword that was used in one hand only? Or did you think they were really intended for two-handed use?

Well, there are actually good, practical reasons to make them like this in certain cases. It's obviously not the only way to do it, but it's not arbitray. Here are some explanations as to why.

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The swords shown here (affiliate links):

"Gustav" and "Adorian" messer by Landsknecht Emporium

"Flying Phoenix" Han jian by LK Chen

Practice messer and shortsword, Oakshott Type 14, I.33 by Viktor Berbekucz

"The Knecht" kriegsmesser by Albion
(discontinued)

Relevant videos:

Can You Use a Single-Handed Sword with TWO Hands?

Knife or Sword?

Longsword and Saber/Messer Sparring With Commentary

Test cutting with Swordsage

*** Sources ***

Hand-and-a-half sword, 15th century
Chinese mounted sword with Japanese blade
Daishō (Katana & wakizashi)
Qing Dynasty military sword
Burmese dha
Swiss hand-and-a-half sword
Hand-and-a-half saber
Fighting manuscript by Fiore de’i Liberi, around 1400
Messer manuscripts
Pommel
Lóngquán jiàn

*** Music credits ***

"Winds of Stories" by Horror Pen
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)

"Medieval Town" by Syncopika
CC BY 3.0

Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
Used with artist's permission

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[rc]

"There are no solutions, only trade-offs." - a great man.

[schonnj]

The off screen yoink at 5:18 made my day.

[danjohnston]

For those of you with an attention span,
hang in there
he calms down after a while

[quantumtwig]

Lmao i loved the "im just messing with you" while holding a messer

[gunner]

I always figured the "hand and a half" were single handed that had the option for double handed when more leverage was needed. It just feels that way to me.

[jlan]

That little trick where you suddenly slide your hand down a long hilt for more reach was a favorite trick of one of my professors in college. He was part of a HEMA group that had no problem with mixing styles from all over the world, and that professor used the traditional katana/wakizashi duo for his close ranged options (though he preferred either a 9-foot spear or a glaive when arena space allowed).

[Akbar_and_Shaa]

5:15 that was genuinly hilarious kudos

[SteveGBD]

it's funny for me to see one of the channels that i watch frequently for the longest turning the editing style more into the gen z attention retaining, i mean, it works, and the video is better than ever, it's just funny thing i've noticed, keep up the good work, love the content :)

[avalancheeddington]

Your content is refreshingly authentic, keeps me coming back for more!

[Crangaso]

Love the historical context in medieval documents for reference

[timbarth]

Never thought about that topic. I allways thought that the handle corresponds to the fencing style (1H vs 2H). Thank you I've learned something new.

[JanetStarChild]

Love the SwordSage cameo.
Also, I really like the music played during the supporters/sword display segment; beautiful and calming.

[alinkinthechain]

1:24 What's interesting about this example is that around the time of the crusades, Oakeshott type XIIIs started popping up that allowed for both single and double handed use. It was short lived but it's one of my favorite types. I wonder if the sword was born out of examples like depicted in this artwork, or if it already existed and this is just a limitation of the artist?

4:13 and beefier too! Some historical examples of messer have a thicker tang that some times tapered as well. This changes the harmonics and handling of the weapon. If the Cold Steel kriegsmesser had a thicker tang, It would very easily be usable in one hand!

[no_nameyouknow]

I just want to say I haven't owned a sword in many years I haven't swung a sword in many many years but I still love watching your videos, thank you.

[MaedhrosBajar]

2:23 true, my Langmesser is a onehander primarily. But I can wield it with two hands if I want to, even wearing my HEMA gloves. The handle is not actually that much shorter than that of my Kriegsmesser

[AlleonoriCat]

Each time you show that Chinese straight sword I find myself in awe of how sexy it is. Something about minimal guard and decorations really speaks to me

[nilsw.]

Hi, that was one of the best Edits, I have ever seen on your channel! Greetings from Germany, the home of the Messer ;-)

[irrelevantfish]

Two other aspects of this topic that I think might be worth mentioning:
(1) A longer handle is a slightly more weight-efficient means of adjusting the balance than a heavier pommel, as it puts counterweight at the end of a longer lever.
(2) A longer handle can reduce the range of wrist motion possible when used one-handed, as it will collide with the forearm.

However, I'm not sure of the significance of either of those things. While I've never seen a hilt with the indicators that would prove that the mass-efficiency of a longer handle was more than a happy/insignificant accident, and I can't think of any fencing techniques that would be significantly impeded by a bit of extra grip except for wrist-powered moulinets that are (at least AFAIK) virtually exclusive to 19th-century European swordsmanship, I'm very far from an expert.

[butwhataboutdragons]

Scholagladiatoria showed a Burmese dha with a very long handle and mentioned how odd it felt. I think it'd take some getting used to for sure. However it was VERY nimble, and like you mentioned if you needed more reach instead it's an instant option, and room for two hands if power is required. Overall it seemed like a pretty neat all-round package, just requiring some practice.

[daemonharper]

Great vid as usual.
Counter weight, balance, extra gripping of the above.