Side-sword

Side-sword is a weapon, which was popular in northern Italy ( not only in Bologna ), in the XVI-XVII centuries. This is next stage of arming sword evolution, when sword is used not only during war, but also in peace time, as self-defence weapon and part of dress.

Special features of side-sword are:
•Very short handle, the weapon is being held by the overguard, It’s difficult to take the sword with a usual grip.
• Quite big and heavy pommel for better balance.
• Complicated hilt with rings for finger protection at overguard grip. But at the same time «cup» type hilts usual for the Spanish rapiers wasn’t used in side-swords.
•Quite short blade comfortable for both thrusts and strikes.
• Quite small weight.

Standart model of a bolognese side-sword made by HF-Armory is a modern stylization of the medieval bolognese side-sword for historical fencing practice and tournaments.

Unlike light side-sword, this model is a stylization of more earlier versions of bolognese side-sword with a wider blade, much more comfortable for cuts than to thrusts.