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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Azul" data-source="post: 1073930" data-attributes="member: 11779">After some googling, I've come across several references to a technique called "half-swording" which apparently is a two handed (one hand on the hilt and one partway up the blade - I presume a glove or gauntlet is worn to protect the hand) technique used with longswords, bastards and (according to some sites) with rapiers.  The purpose of the technique appears to be to facilitate a powerful and well-aimed thrusting attack.   Essentially, the sword is briefly used much like a spear.Obviously, this technique isn't used exclusively, but rather is used as part of a fighting style.  To my mind, it could provide a good rationalization of how a rapier could be used two-handed (at least occasionally).As for two-handed rapiers, I too have seen references (in books) to two-handed rapiers (although the ones I saw were European rather than Indian).  The ones I saw were pretty much 5-6 foot long steel rods (no sharp edges on the blade) that were purely thrusting weapons.  I seem to remember at least one book making reference to these monstrosities actually being used in combat by some schools of fencing in either Germany or Italy, but to my mind, they looked far more ceremonial than practical.  Perhaps with that half-swording technique, they might be useful (kind of like a sword/spear hybrid I guess).I can easily imagine that a long thrusting sword (i.e. a two-handed rapier) evolved in India since that subcontinent seems to have experimented with an astonishing array of bladed weapon forms.Personally, I'd rather have a smallsword (the short rapier that historically replaced the longer, more cumbersome "true" rapier).</blockquote>

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