English Swords of the 17th Century
Here are some examples of pages from my new book – The British Sword – An Illustrated History – 1600 to the Present Day. These pages cover the 17th Century and include English infantry hangers, basket hilts, rapiers, hunting swords, naval hangers and smallswords.
THE ENGLISH INFANTRY HANGER was a popular form of short sword in mid-17th Century England and carried by both civilian and soldier alike. They are also commonly described as hunting swords and served many functions, being utilised as a handy sword of defence for the civilian about town and a good, close combat sword in the field of battle. Although the short infantry or hunting hanger, was a common sword type throughout Europe, a distinctively English version began to emerge in the mid-17th Century.
THE ENGLISH MILITARY BROADSWORD of the 17th Century encompasses a wide range of styles and influences, both indigenous and foreign. During this century, we see the introduction of enclosed hilt designs that lay a stronger emphasis on the protection of the swordsman’s hand. The cross-hilted, “knightly” broadsword of the previous centuries that had been utilised by both the infantry and cavalry, had all but disappeared on the battlefield and was now only revived for ceremonial purposes, such as the carrying of bearing or executioner’s swords (although England tended to choose the axe as its preferred weapon of despatch for condemned prisoners).
THE ENGLISH HUNTING SWORD of the 17th Century is a good example of how a sword type designed primarily for one function i.e. the despatching and butchering of an animal, was subsequently adopted for use in a range of non-hunting areas, becoming a popular choice of sword for the hunter, civilian, infantry soldier and naval officer. The English huntsman carried a short sword or hanger as his primary hunting weapon well into the 17th Century, in contrast to his continental neighbours, who quickly discarded the sword in favour of the firearm. This may have been due partly to the nature of the animals pursued. In England, the deer and hare (and occasionally, the boar) were the main quarry but on the continent, the huntsman had to face wolves, bears and boars.
It is no wonder that they chose to wait in hides and take potshots from a relatively safe distance. In these countries, the hunting sword developed into an elaborate and fashionable accoutrement to their dress, rather than a practical hunting tool. The hunting sword of this period is also commonly described as a hirschfänger, or couteaux-de-chasse (anglicised into “cuttoes”). In England, the hunting hanger was used as it was originally intended and the following contemporary description is typical of the gruesome rituals involved after a deer had been caught.
THE ENGLISH RAPIER IN THE 17TH CENTURY
As England and Europe entered the 17th Century, the main sword of choice for the civilian gentleman was the rapier. Originating in the Iberian Peninsula during the mid-16th Century (the term rapier comes from the Spanish espada ropera, which translates to sword of the robes), it was an attempt by sword makers to provide more protection to the swordsman’s hand and was a direct response to the decline of armour (specifically, the armoured gauntlet) in the face of rapid technological improvements in personal firearms. The need for a heavy and wide-bladed sword that could penetrate armour had now become less important.
The introduction of the rapier also came at a time when gentlemen began to wear a sword with civilian dress as a statement of fashion and social status but also could draw on the rapier as an effective weapon of defense when required. Duelling had also become very popular and the rapier, with its long and thrusting blade, was the weapon of choice when matters had come to a settling of accounts between two gentlemen.
THE ENGLISH NAVAL SWORD of the 17th Century is not a sword type that is easy to define or categorise. During this early stage in the history of the Royal Navy, there were very few if any formal sword types carried by naval officers and seaman. In general, those who served on board an English warship were equipped with the same edged weapons as those who fought on land. It was only towards the end of the century when swords were produced or attributed to a specific naval use. The short “hanger” was the natural choice of sword for use on an English warship for obvious reasons.
The crowded and cramped confines of a man-o-war called for a practical sword that would not clatter and impede the owner when running up and down ladders, or obstruct a sword thrust or cut whilst engaged in the melee of battle. A long blade would not be particularly suitable in these circumstances and both officers and men preferred the agility and flexibility provided by a short sword.
