What is a longsword?
A longsword is a two-handed straight sword of the late medieval and early Renaissance period, roughly 1350 to 1550. The defining feature is the grip: long enough for two hands, but with a blade light enough (usually 1.2 to 1.6kg for the whole sword) to be used in one hand from horseback. That versatility is why it displaced the arming sword. Blades were double-edged and, as armour improved, increasingly tapered to a stiff thrusting point that could find the gaps in plate.
The names overlap. A bastard sword or hand-and-a-half sword is a longsword with a slightly shorter grip, usable either way. A great sword or zweihänder is bigger again, a specialist infantry weapon rather than a knight's sidearm; those are on our greatswords page. And the katana, the other famous two-hander, is a different design solving a different problem: our katana vs longsword guide covers the comparison.
Hand-forged longswords
Cold Steel Italian Long Sword and German Long Sword. Two interpretations of the same weapon. The Italian pattern is the more refined blade, tapered for the thrust-heavy Fiore tradition; the German is the broader, more cutting-oriented blade of the Liechtenauer schools. Both are forged carbon steel with leather grips and scabbards.
Cold Steel Man at Arms Italian Long Sword. The Man at Arms line is Cold Steel's more affordable historical range: the same Italian longsword profile with simpler fittings. The best entry point to a hand-forged longsword.
Honshu Historic Forge Italian Longsword. A recreation of a 14th-century Italian longsword in 1080 carbon steel, with a 34.5-inch blade, leather-wrapped handle and leather scabbard. Honshu's historical line, as opposed to their tactical range, and it shows in the fittings.
Hanwei Practical Bastard Sword. The hand-and-a-half sword: not quite one-handed, not fully two-handed. Hanwei's Practical series is built for re-enactors, so it is tougher and plainer than a display piece.
HEMA feders and trainers
Kingston Arms Club Sport Federschwert. A feder is the longsword training sword of the 16th-century fencing schools, with a flexible blade, a rolled tip and a flared ricasso (the "schilt") to protect the hands. The Club Sport is Kingston Arms' answer to clubs that need a light, fast, affordable sparring sword, and it is the one we recommend to anyone starting HEMA.
Kingston Arms Historical Federschwert and Atrim I-Beam Longsword Trainer. Two more serious training swords: the Historical feder is closer in weight and balance to a sharp, and the Atrim trainer is a Gus Trim design with a rigid I-beam blade section for drilling. Both are restocked periodically; use the notify button.
A note on HEMA: sparring swords sold for use in organised historical fencing are a legitimate purpose in UK law, but they are still sold to adults only and we ask for age verification. Our training swords collection has the rest of the range.
Cosplay-safe longsword
A wooden longsword, plain or painted, for conventions and LARP. Check your event's weapons policy before you go. See the full cosplay weapons range for foam and rubber options.
About The Sword Stall
UK-based, UK-stocked. Everything here is in our warehouse in Bacup, Lancashire: no dropshipping, no customs, no import delays. Free delivery on orders over £200. The hand-forged longswords are traditionally forged pieces supplied with a sharpened edge, sold to over-18s only and intended for collection and display, not use. Feders and trainers are blunt training swords, also sold to over-18s. New customers provide age verification once before their first order is dispatched.
