What kind of sword do I have?

[Omegium]

On my vacation in Spain I was in Toledo, and I have bought a sword, and I'd like to know what kind of sword it is, and of course, how much damage it does
I could of course test that by killing random commoners in my neighbourhood, but I was looking for a less bloody way.
The sword is 103 cm long, with a blade of 84 cm, and the blade is 3.5 cm on it widest point.
I guess it's a longsword, but does anybody know for sure?

 

[kengar]

Assuming it's relatively straight and double-edged, I believe you have what in 3e would be a longsword. Historically, though, it's a broadsword. I'm saying this without actually seeing the blade, so I could be way off, but that's what I think you are describing.

 

[Maldur]

A picture would be better.

Could you describe the hilt and crossbar?

Single edge or Dual edge?

"bendiness"?

 

[Avatar_V]

As has been mentioned, assuming a double-edge, I'd guess it was a longsword, (1d8 ) just based on the dimensions you gave. Also, any idea how much it weighs? Broadswords are heavier then longswords, but my guess is that it's a longsword.

 

[Omegium]

I have made some pictures, they aren't perfect, but it was the best I could do with my scanner. The sword is quite light, 1.1 kg.

 

[kengar]

Looks like a broadsword to me. Like I said before, though; in D&D, what is called a longsword is pretty much a historic broadsword. What most people picture when they think of a broadsword is usually either a "hand-and-a-half" (bastard) sword or a greatsword. At least, this is what my historic fencing/sword instructor told us.

 

[S'mon]

Pretty...

I remember being in some place near Madrid as a boy and drooling over all the real swords they had for sale... beats bendy plastic any day!

-Simon

 

[Darklance]

Did longswords ever exist?

 

[ninthcouncil]

Nice.

I'm assuming it's a replica, seeing as it's got "Toledo Spain" stamped on it

The guard says Carlos V: presumably Emperor Charles V (1500-1558). I think that's your man in the helmet on the blade.

 

[Heap Thaumaturgist]

Well, historically there may very well not have been actual "longswords" and "broadswords" as we'd think of them, but my brother and a friend of mine both have a few swords, and there's a difference today.

Purportedly, all but one of their swords are copies of swords in museums and collections, but I haven't actually researched them or anything. The one that isn't is a copy of the sword from Conan.

My younger brother has a sword alot like the one pictured, and my friend has one that I would call a "broadsword". It has a one-handed grip but the blade is about half-again as wide as the "longsword" ... to keep it light it has two fullers down the length of the blade. I didn't measure them, but it didn't seem much shorter, if any.

The friend also has a "Hand and a Half" sword, which is overal bigger, with a longer grip.

And I've hefted a greatsword at a festival once, and it's ALOT bigger than a long sword, but not as heavy as it looks.

My call is longsword.

--HT