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17th Century German Swords

Germans were masters at swordplay, and after the medieval era, swords became longer and heavier. The styles of swordplay were changed from slashing to thrusting. The spatha was the first long sword of its kind and quickly replaced bulkier models. The 17th century further refined the sword into a lighter shorter shape that could be hidden in clothing while still being a formidable weapon; this was called the small sword. Other popular 17th century swords included the rapier and the basket hilt sword.

Small Sword
- This was the most popular sword in the 17th century and evolved from the rapier. The small sword's blade length typically ranged between 24 and 33 inches and tapered to a sharp point. The sword guard had a shell style, meaning the lobes had shell-like oval disks. Small swords were used in Germany up until World War II.
The Rapier
- The rapier has many different styles, and Germany had a vibrant collection of rapiers due to the many sword makers who vied for attention from the wealthy and the courts. German rapier hilts were delicate, with long winding spindles and full lobes at the top. The spindles often made the most distinction between swords and were decorative, but they also had a practical use to protect the fighter's hand.
Basket Hilt
- The basket hilt sword was typically longer than the small sword but shorter than the rapier; the blade ran between 30 and 35 inches. It could be single- or double-edged and the basket hilt protected the users hand more fully than the rapier hilt.
Waloon
- The waloon is native to Germany and was used around the mid-17th century. The waloon sword featured a basket like hilt, while also including extra protection for the thumb and knuckles that could poke out over the basket hilt. The handle was covered in iron wire and, while having a fuller base than the rapier, the waloon was still light and flexible.

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