Classification of Swords - "Handedness"

"Handedness"

The term two-handed sword, used as a general term, may refer to any large sword designed to be used primarily with two hands:

• the European "langes Schwert" or broadsword, popular in the Late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
  • the Scottish late medieval claymore (not to be confused with the basket-hilted claymore of the 18th century)
• the Bidenhänder sword favoured by the Landsknechte of 16th-century Germany.

The term "hand-and-a-half sword" is modern (late 19th century). During the first half of the 20th century, the term "bastard sword" was used regularly to refer to this type of sword, while "long sword" or "long-sword", if used at all, referred to the rapier (in the context of Renaissance or Early Modern fencing).

The term "single-handed sword" (or "one-handed sword") is a retronym coined to disambiguate from "two-handed" or "hand-and-a-half" specimens. "Single-handed sword" is used by Sir Walter Scott. It is also used as a possible gloss of the obscure term tonsword by Nares (1822); "one-handed sword" is somewhat later, recorded from c. 1850.

Apparently, some swords were designed for left-hand use ("southpaws"), although left-handed swords have been described as "a rarity".