The Knight Sword: A Prominent Medieval Weapon

When one thinks of the term "knight" it produces images of an armor clad figure on horseback brandishing a variety of weapons. He is normally considered the symbol of chivalry, honor and prestige. But the advent of knighthood actually formed from the need for soldiers for hire by noblemen. In the early days knights were basically soldiers of fortune. They did battle for landowners all across the European countryside and accepted money and booty in return.

The Weapons of a Knight

Aside from horse used as the knight's trusty steed, the medieval soldier of fortune had a wide variety of weaponry at his disposal. The most famous tool of war would have to be the lance. This is normally how the knight is depicted in movies when entering battle. Lances were little more than a long wooden pole with a sharpened point on the tip. Sometimes the tip was actually made of metal. The lance allowed the knight to take advantage of his elevation above enemy soldiers while atop his horse. These are also the standard weapons of choice when knights are engaged in a jousting contest.

Other weapons included the battle ax and the mace, which was typically nothing more than a large club made of iron. These weapons came into use during battle once the lance broke or the knight was knocked from his horse. But the main weapon of choice for the knight is the knight sword.

Swords had been used in battle for centuries before knights evolved during medieval times. Knight swords were normally made of a low carbon grade steel and had a double edged blade. On either side of the hilt on a standard European knight sword were the crossguard and pommel. The crossguard is a bar of metal formed at right angles to the blade, and was needed to prevent the user's hand from sliding down the blade of the sword. The pommel is essentially a counterweight for the sword's blade and made wielding the weapon easier during battle. An owner took great pride in his blade because it could mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield. It was not uncommon for them to inscribe prayers or their own name on the blade itself.