Backsword
Backsword is a term used by collectors from England for early modern military swords that are equipped with comparatively wide, straight blades that are only sharp on one side, i.e. suitable for cutting. Although occasionally used for other weapons, the term usually refers to basket swords such as the Scottish highland swords or the Italian Schiavona , provided that these are only sharpened on one side. The decision to sharpen only one side of the sword was often an economic one. It also allowed a broad back of the blade and influenced the style of fencing. Backswords are therefore not simply neglected double-edged weapons, but those that are designed for this use from the start.
See also
literature
- Gerhard Seifert: Technical terms of edged weapons. German ABC of the European naked defensive weapons. (Cut, thrust, hit and hand thrown weapons). Verlag Seifert, Haig 1981.