Zweihänder (German Two-Handed Sword)
Slashing / Thrusting weapon
Quick Facts
Martial Arts
OriginHoly Roman Empire / Germany / Switzerland (Late Middle Ages / Renaissance (15th-16th C.))
Wield TypeDouble-handed
MaterialForged steel with Parierhaken lugs and leather ricasso
Length170 - 210 cm cm
Weight2.5 - 4.0 kg kg
History
Massive sword of German Landsknecht mercenaries (Doppelsöldner). Used on the front line to chop down pike heads and break through enemy pike formations (Gassenhauer).
About
The Parierhaken lugs above the ricasso protected the hand when gripping the blade in half-sword mode to deliver precise thrusts between armor plates.