Hi all,
I am doing a school project for the coming Shakespeare Festival, my topic is on Shakespearian swords. For as much as I know, the most widely used sword during the Shakespearian time is the rapier. In my research, I've also included the German Grosse Messer, the Zweihander, Cutlass, Highland Claymore, Sabre, side sword, and the small sword ( which is not exactly shakespearian but is included in my project because of its close realationship with the rapier). I think I've got pretty much every kind of swords that were use at that age... But am I missing anything? If any of you knows about other shakespearian weapons (and by that I mean Shakespearian swords), would you please tell me about it? =]

Before a clear response can be given, we have to first define what you mean by "Shakespearian swords". This isn't a clear definition and certainly not a term used by people who study swords.

You could mean swords used during Shakespeare's life. You could mean swords described and used in the plays of William Shakespeare. Or you could mean swords used by William Shakespeare himself.

Right, I'm sorry, let me clarify:
by Shakespearian sword I meant swords that were used during his life, weapons that existed before him and no longer in use during his time but are described in his plays are also considered shakepearian by my teachers. =p
thanks =d

Here's a pretty quick rundown.

Rapier (Civilians, Courtiers, etc.)
http://www.arms-n-armor.com/images/rapier168b.jpg , http://www.arms-n-armor.com/view.html?rapier190b.jpg#

Side Sword/Cut & Thrust (Almost a compromise between the arming sword & rapier, dual purpose for military use)
http://www.arms-n-armor.com/images/rapier212a.jpg , http://www.lutel.cz/obrazky/14006.jpg

Arming Sword/Single Hand (The classic "Medieval" sword. Still popular in England. Little or no rings,etc. on hilt)
http://www.albion-swords.com/images/swords/al...htly1a.jpg
http://www.sword-buyers-guide.com/images/euro...abbard.gif

Baskethilt sword (A very English weapon, quite popular in the English military towards the end of the century +, not Scottish) http://www.darkwoodarmory.com/pix/0466.JPG

Zweihander (Still in use on the continent vs. Spain. Becoming less popular)
http://www.davenriche.com/del%20tin%20zweihander.jpg

Irish Ring Hilt (Used by Irish soldiers (whom the English were fighting)
http://www.arms-n-armor.com/images/sword085b.jpg

Falchion (Single-edge, occasionally curved blade. Still in some use in the military. Supposedly used by Sir John Smith)
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/download.php?id=2858

Tuck/Estoc (Stiff sword w/ no edge. One very sharp triangular tip. Used to pierce armor & maile, etc. A bit earlier than Shakespeare's time)
http://www.aurorahistoryboutique.com/products/A000056_L.jpg

Bastard Swords/Longswords (I believe they're mentioned in his plays, but in common usage anymore)
http://www.arms-n-armor.com/view.html?sword194a.jpg# , http://www.arms-n-armor.com/images/sword195a.jpg

(You could probably use "Claymore," as it was something of a 'broad-sword' used by Scottish mercanaries in Ireland- the Gallowglass/Redshanks) http://members.aol.com/scothist/viks/v0305.jpg

You may also wish to include things used in conjunction with a rapier or side sword...

Buckler (Small hand shield held in a fist grip. Very popular in England. Sometimes had a spike affixed to the front)
Main Gauche (Dagger for the left hand with a simple ring to protect the hand. Many times matched the rapier)
Cloak (A cape or cloak would sometimes be used with a rapier to ensnare another's sword, etc. )
Another rapier (Some mastered the use of a "Case of Rapiers" in combat. Very difficult, not very common)

If I were you, I'd get rid of Grosse Messer (Not very common anymore, plus used mainly on the continent), and the saber/cutlass ( later). I'd make it very clear that the Smallsword was not from the period, and that it evolved from the rapier.

Pretty cool, ty
question though: isn't the basket hilted-sword just a rapier or side sword with a crazy hilt? Or is it actually any different in use?

whoo thanks, that'll help me. =D
and just fyi, today, i spent around 6 hours making a pair of aluminium sparing side swords for this project I'm doing. I'm going to make a more complete post about it later, hopefully with pics, and hopefully will get some replys from some more experienced sword smiths, lol.

The danish history that gave origin to the Hamlet story by Shakespeare is set in early medieval Denmark (the story of Hamlodi - Amlethus by Saxo Gramaticus, born in 1140 or 1150).

So you can have an Hamlet in maille and late viking sword without going out of historical correctness.

I do not know if Shakespeare envisioned his hamlet in maille and spangenhelm, but a modern rendition in such armor and related weapons would not be out of question at all.

Most likely Shakespeare came to know the tale from a french early renaissance translation of Gramaticus by Belleforest (Histoires tragiques, 1570).

I wonder what weapon types were used in the original productions during Shakespeare's lifetime? For Roman plays, did they actually use swords that looked like gladii, or did they just use contemporary weapons and armor, circa 1600 AD? I suspect the latter. I don't think Elizabethan theatre was too concerned with historical accuracy.

For the most part, I believe that the Elizabethan/Jacobean acting companies dressed in exaggerated fashions of the day (cast-offs from nobility, etc.), and used weapons and armor that was fairly contemporary. For Roman/Greek themed plays, I've read that they would wear togas or something to identify them as such. As for weapons, I've really no idea, but I would assume that they used arming swords, etc.

It seems that throughout most (if not all) Medieval illustrations, artists painted what they knew. Remember that very few had traveled abroad or had any access to anything that would depict the Romans. Some artists portrayed characters in somewhat generic clothing like robes, and occasionally dressed them in "foreign clothing" like that of the Moors, Turks, etc. It seems that in the early Renaissance and into the 17th Century, artists finally began to clothe their models in attire more like that of the Ancient era. Most of the 'famous' Renaissance Artists (DaVinci, Raphael, etc.) depicted Biblical figures in "Ancient" costumes, or what they assumed they looked like.

Hm. I've just noticed that you're focusing on swords. Too bad, since Elizabethan halberds and partisans are funny. The ywere described in several plays and sometimes actually appeared on the stage, albeit in "de-lethalized" forms.

They used swords to chop firewood? LOL why didn't the queen just arm her soldiers with axes instead? =D
jk

Lafayette, wanna tell me something about it anyways? School project is just school project, enrichment of the self is far more important. =D

thanks for all your replies, btw