What Makes a Sword? Short Sword or Long Dagger?

betzner said:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=725317
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Swords mostly have blades longer than 12", Bob.

Going back to the Bronze age swords, then to the Roman Spatha and Arming sword of medieval Europe, the OAL was at least 24", blades maybe 16"-18".

Wakizashi can have blades as short as 12", but this is quite uncommon, running more to the length of 14", and the average blade is 20".

The way to look at your main guache is in the context of use with a rapier or similar longer one-handed sword. It would be referred to as a hand-held weapon from the European late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. These weapons were used as off-hand weapons in conjunction with a single-handed sword.

BUT....if you want to think of your main guache as a sword, there is certainly enough room for discussion that you could.:)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
STeven-

I actually kinda knew the answer, it's just I saw this sword forum for the first time and thought I would find a much better explanation than any I might come up with (what I would call a "Bobism", lol).

When I knew I was getting close to acquiring the Main Gauche, I did my research. Thanks for the added info to complete it. I never even considered that you would be my responder here, but if I had a brain, I would have known. Incidentally, I hit you with a hotmail, prior to this. Check it out, if you would, please.

Best,

Bob
 
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