Ask ten sword fans to define a broadsword and you'll get ten answers. Movies, games and retailers have stretched the word until it means almost any big sword. This guide sorts out the terms so you know exactly what you're looking at before you buy.
The short answer
A longsword is a straight, double-edged sword with a grip long enough for two hands, used across Europe from roughly 1350 to 1550. A broadsword, in the strict historical sense, is a later sword (1600s–1700s) with a wide blade and a basket-shaped hand guard, most famously the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword. In everyday collector use, "broadsword" usually just means any wide-bladed medieval sword.
Side-by-side comparison
| Longsword | Arming sword | Broadsword (historical) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Era | c. 1350–1550 | c. 1000–1400 | c. 1600–1800 |
| Grip | Two hands | One hand | One hand |
| Overall length | About 40–48 in. | About 30–36 in. | About 35–40 in. |
| Guard | Simple cross guard | Simple cross guard | Enclosed basket hilt |
| Typical use | Unarmored and armored fencing, cuts and thrusts | Sidearm used with a shield | Military cutting sword |
The longsword
The longsword is the classic "knight's sword" most people picture. Its long handle let the fighter switch between one and two hands, giving leverage for powerful cuts and precise thrusts. Historical fencing manuals from Germany and Italy are built around it, which is why it remains the centerpiece of modern HEMA (historical European martial arts) clubs. Related names you'll see: bastard sword or hand-and-a-half sword for slightly shorter versions.
The arming sword
Before the longsword took over, the knight's everyday weapon was the one-handed arming sword, carried with a shield. Crusader and Templar-style swords usually follow this pattern: a straight blade, a plain cross guard and a disc or wheel pommel.
The broadsword and the claymore
Historians use "broadsword" for the basket-hilted swords of the 17th and 18th centuries, whose blades looked broad next to the slim rapiers of the time. Confusingly, the Scottish claymore can mean two different swords: the huge two-handed sword of the 1400s–1500s, or the later basket-hilted broadsword. Collectors today often use "broadsword" for any wide, heavy medieval blade, and that's how most shops label them.
Which should you buy?
- For a wall display or office: a crusader or arming sword is compact and instantly recognizable.
- For the full knightly look: a longsword, ideally with a scabbard, makes the bigger statement.
- For Scottish heritage: look for a claymore or basket-hilted sword.
- For a collector's piece: Damascus or high-carbon steel blades show real forging work and hold value better than stainless.
Care basics
Wipe the blade after handling, since fingerprints cause rust spots on carbon steel. Apply a light coat of mineral oil or sword oil every few months, and store it out of the scabbard in humid climates so moisture doesn't get trapped against the steel.
Browse our medieval longswords and broadswords to see each style up close.
All swords are sold as collectibles and display pieces to buyers 18 and over.
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