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Italian, first half of the XVIth century Wallace Collection (Laking Catalogue, No. 258)

Italian, first half of the XVIth century

Collection: Mr. F. Joubert

the shoulder at the slope, like a halberd or partisan. It must not be imagined that the exercise of the two-hander at this period consisted any longer in haphazard hewing and cutting: it was based on the soundest principles of swordsmanship. The chief requisite for this sword was great muscular strength combined with suppleness of wrist. The point was rarely used and the cuts were sweeping, and the parries were counterblows across the adversary's line of attack (E. Castle, "Schools and Masters of Fence," p. 76). Dummy swords of the proportions of the great swords themselves are occasionally come across, known as "wifles"; we illustrate one which was formerly in the Londesborough Collection (Fig. 1334). These were employed for practice in acquiring the use of the two-hander, and have blunted, pointless blades called "waster" blades. Of two-handed swords extant, those of Italian and