The Zweih?nder (German for "two hander"), also zweihander, is a massive two-handed sword, designed to capitalize on brute force and shock effect, at the expense of some finesse. It is also known as "Bih?nder" or "Bidenh?nder."

While implemented in Germany in the 14th century. It gained renown during the sixteenth century as the hallmark weapon of the Swiss Confederates. It was also employed by the german Landsknechte mercenaries of Maximilian I. They were typically used by the front lines of the Landsknechte, where they would be used to hew through the opposing pikemen and spearmen whose spears presented a difficult barrier for normal weapons and calvary.

The zweih?nder could be up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long from the base of the handle to the tip of the blade, with a 4 to 5 foot (1.2 to 1.5 m) blade and 1, 1 1/2 foot (300 to 450 mm) hilt. The weight could range between 2.8 and 5 kg.

Most were shorter, though - especially earlier versions had an overall length of about 5 feet (1.5 m), weighing in at as little as 1.5 kg.

Guards could be plain or ornate - while hilts usually ended with heart or pear shaped heavy pommels. When it originally debuted, in the 14th century, the construction was very similar to that of a scaled up longsword.

Occasionally a blunted portion of the forte, the ricasso (often covered with leather) at the base of the blade allowed a hand to be placed above the upper guard to 'shorten the grip' and make the weapon faster. By the 16th century a second smaller upper guard was forged into the blade rather than the hilt, to protect this hand hold.


Two-handed swords made for combat use are actually quite light, averaging around 2.5 to 3 kilograms (5.5 to 7 pounds), with the heaviest examples reaching 5 kilograms (11 pounds). Even so, with the mass distributed over a length of close to two metres, effective use would have required considerable strength. The swords have hilt-mounted side-rings and enlarged cross-guards of up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) across. Along the blade, some 10 to 20 centimeter (4-8 inches) from the upper guard, Parierhaken ("parrying hooks") shaped like lugs or flanges acted as a guard for the ricasso to prevent other weapons from sliding down the blade. These could be used in the attack of an opponent.

The manner of fencing with a renaissance great sword differs radically from the earlier types of two-handed swords (such as the long-sword, the bastard-sword, and great sword ). Because of the inertia of the sword and its length, use of the weapon as a spear becomes feasible, while increased inertia due to blade length renders swings much slower. Indeed, some scholars have hypothesized that the weapon was primarily used to attack pike formations, using the great weight to cleave the tips off of the long polearms. However true renaissance two-handed swords could be gripped on the ricasso to "speed up" the blade and are extensively depicted being used in juridical duels.

In a related article regarding the Two-Handed Great Sword, the myth of excessively heavy weapons and how the weapon was deployed in combat is addressed.

Application
The earlier, more practical zweih?nder types were used to break up pike formations, first by smashing the pikes and then by hitting the pikemen themselves. Wielding it effectively not only required brawn and stature but also proper training and great courage; soldiers capable of such a feat were usually fielded as shock troops. They earned twice the pay of a common footman and were called "Doppels?ldner."

Often they were used only for their shock value. Seeing a troop rushing towards you carrying six foot long swords is enough to strike terror into any army. Once the morale damage was done and the first line of spearmen dispatched the men would sheath or drop their zweih?nder's in favor of more useful weapons.

Sometimes zwieh?nders were so large that they became practically unusable, except by the strongest and most skilled warriors. The bigger, later zweih?nders were mostly used for ceremonial purposes; many do not even have proper edges. Those zweih?nders that survive in museums are typically of this variety.