Hey fellas, I'm pretty sure this is my first post. I need some help identifying a sword. Anything you might know would help.

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It's the one on the right.

Hi, Welcome to myArmoury! :D
As far as that sword goes, a lot has to do with that blade. I'm having trouble telling weather it is blade have the wavy pattern of the left one (to a lesser degree) or if thats the camera and my bad eyes.
Wavy blade=early/mid 16th century, stereotypical Zweihander, made famous my Landsknecht doppelsoldners.

If blade is straight, It could be dated as early as late 15th century, as thats when side rings and simple compound hilts such as that start surfacing (and big swords were in fashion also)

The use in both periods was strictly infantry (but you probably knew that) and (obviously) two handed use was required. These were big swords used by big guys. Lots of armour would be preferable, as you are gonna attract a lot of attention with these things, and the enormous length and wavy blade pattern (works hell on your distal taper I'd think) would make the sword somewhat slow (not to be translated as cumbersome or unwieldy). Although that reach in itself is also a defense.

In a Landsknecht's hands, this thing would be an anti-pike weapon. used to push big gaps in a pike wall to disrupt the enemy formation and allow your own soldiers past their pike wall defense. It was also said to be able to chop the pike tips off. if it's dated to the earlier period, It probably wouldn't be so specialized in use, but the tactics would still apply, as pike tactics were widespread then too.

Well I hope that can hold you over until a more educated forumite can get to you.

Thanks guys, sorry that's the only picture I could find. I don't really expect to get much info, but it's worth a try.

Geez, thats not waves? does anyone have a good image for more accurate information about the piece?
I don't mean to dispute (the other) Nathan, but I think such a sword could be an earlier specimen, as the hilt is relatively simple. Side rings are cropping up by the late 15th cent, and it wouldn't look out of place in some of Landsknecht illustrations from earlier years in the 16th cent.
However, It's cataloging with the other sword, which is SCREAMING mid late 16th cent, means that you are probably correct on the dating.

Look at those almost similar shaped rings on the guards. I suspect these two are later repros done by the same swordmaker. But as Nathan said: the picture is badly resized.

Think I found the source of the photos (or another reproduction thereof):

http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html scroll down a little

unfortunately, I didn't notice any pic. credits herein, but some other interesting data.

Greetings Justin!

Have you attempted to contact Mr. John Clements? He is the ARMA Director and the author of the article "The Weighty Issue of Two-Handed Greatswords". I'm sure that either he or someone else within ARMA would be able to help you source the photograph.

There is a picture of a sword similar to this in Weapon, A Visual History of Arms and Armour by DK Publishing which shows a parade zweihander or doppelsoddner sword quite similar to this. Most swords of this type for practical use had a straight edge as the the book says about the 16th century.

Regards,

Harry