Medieval swords generally refer to weapons from the Middle Ages that were developed out of earlier swords that may have been around for centuries before their creation.

1. An Interesting Introduction to
Medieval Swords!
Medieval swords generally refer to weapons from the Middle Ages that were developed out of
earlier swords that may have been around for centuries before their creation.
They started to appear in the seventh century, and are generally considered to have died out
sometime in the fifteenth or sixteenth century, although there is a lot of debate about this. The
term "medieval" can also be used as an adjective to describe something from that period in
history or something which is done in a medieval style.
Medieval Swords - Weapons of War?
The sword remained a weapon of war throughout the medieval period. The high Middle Ages
(1000-1300) saw many products, and they remained popular even after this time. However,

2. other weapons started to become more important, especially by the fourteenth century when
firearms had been invented and started to come into use.
While their role as weapons of war continued in the later medieval period, there were also
many different aspects to how they were used. Swords were used in tournaments and for
ceremonial purposes, including protection on trips and processions.
They could be used in religious ceremonies, such as being buried with the dead or given to the
ruling monarch by a vassal or allodial lord. Sword owners would often have their own private
rituals which would include prayers and blessings.
Medieval Swords - The Technology Used
In order to make a sword in the medieval period, pretty much anything that you could use to
make a hammer was taken and made into a sword using whichever machine was available at
the time.
Air hammers were used to shape the separate pieces of metal that make up a sword, stone and
wooden mallets were used to hammer out the details of the design, and later hammers became
available which could be powered by water so that they could be used on a continuous basis
instead.
Some swords were made from different types of steel. Iron was often used for some earlier
swords, but laminating different kinds of iron together produced a sword that was more
resistant to rusting. This allowed iron swords to survive in water for more extended periods than
iron alone would have. Steel is harder than iron, and it became more widely used for weapons
as iron started to be more difficult to obtain.
Later in the medieval period, the technique of pattern welding was invented. This involved two
or thinner sheets of steel that were hammered together before being shaped into a sword. This
produced a far stronger blade and was widely used across Europe until the late medieval period.
How Were Medieval Swords Made?
The process used to create a sword changed throughout the medieval period, although there
wasn't really any standard process that was followed across Europe. It generally started with
different pieces of metal being melted down in order to make one piece of metal. The metal
would then be hammered into rectangular bars which were given slits to make the grip.

3. A "blank" of metal is usually created and this would then be used as the core of the sword and
could be made in different parts. Sometimes the two sides of the blade were welded together in
a very solid, strong sword. However, other swords were made which included a groove or fuller
which was located in the center and made it lighter while still being very strong.
There are even some more decorative medieval swords that use this technology with a
decorative pattern on one side of the blade, making it look slightly different from both sides.
The sword was shaped using a grinding wheel made out of stone or wood.
This was powered by hand, although they could be made to spin more quickly and faster than a
person could move the sword around. The edge of the blade that was going to be used for
fighting was generally more pointed, while the other side had remnants of the fuller and would
not have been sharpened.
Status and Symbol of Swords!
The sword is one of the most important weapons in European martial arts. In general, swords
were usually worn by cavalrymen. Often, on the battlefields, people wore a hilt that was
attached to their armor through a waist belt or over their shoulder.
Medieval Swords are also connected with other signs and symbols like crosses carved on them
or placed near them for special ceremonies and winter solstice celebrations, etc., The status of
being a knight required that one should possess an honorable sword with a cross to represent
one's vows as a Christian knight.