This Rhinelander bastard sword is a hand forged German style medieval sword with a 352 layer Damascus steel blade, an ornate crossguard and decorative pommel, and a medium length hand-and-a-half grip sized for one or two hands. It measures 40 inches overall. The blade is folded five times from 11 pieces of carbon and high carbon steel, producing the flowing, rippled pattern that makes every Damascus blade one of a kind.
The bastard sword, also called the hand-and-a-half sword, is one of the most versatile sword designs of the European Middle Ages. Its extended grip lets the wielder add a second hand for more powerful strikes while remaining light and balanced enough for single handed handling. This example draws its styling from the swords of the medieval Rhineland, the region of Germany that produced many of Europe's finest blades.
History of the Rhinelander Bastard Sword
The Rhineland was the blade making heart of medieval Europe. From the early medieval period onward, smiths along the Rhine produced blades so prized that they were traded across the continent, from the famed Ulfberht blades carried by Viking warriors to the workshops of Passau and Solingen, a city still known as the "City of Blades" today. A Rhenish blade on a sword was a mark of quality that knights and men-at-arms paid a premium for.
The bastard sword emerged in the 13th and 14th centuries as armor improved and swordsmen needed a weapon that could deliver greater force without sacrificing agility. Its name comes from the sword's in-between character: neither a true one handed arming sword nor a full two handed greatsword, it "belonged to neither family." The extended grip and heavier pommel let a knight fight one handed with a shield or bring a second hand to the hilt for powerful two handed blows, and the design remained in service into the 16th century.
There is also a deeper historical connection in this sword's blade. Centuries before the bastard sword appeared, Rhenish smiths were masters of pattern welding, forging blades from twisted and folded rods of different steels to combine hardness with flexibility. The layered Damascus steel of this sword revives that same tradition: multiple steels folded together into a single blade that is both resilient and strikingly patterned.
Blade Materials: 352 Layer Damascus Steel
The blade is forged from 11 pieces of steel: 6 pieces of carbon steel #43 and #40 and 5 pieces of high carbon 1095 steel. The 1095 steel, with its 0.95% carbon content, gives the blade its hard, keen edge, while the alternating carbon steels contribute toughness and flexibility.
The billet is folded five times, doubling the layer count with each fold:
- 1st fold: 22 layers
- 2nd fold: 44 layers, where the early Damascus pattern begins to emerge
- 3rd fold: 88 layers
- 4th fold: 176 layers
- 5th fold: 352 layers
The finished blade carries 352 layers of steel welded into one. This layering does two things at once: it distributes hard and tough steels throughout the blade for strength and resilience, and it creates the signature flowing watered pattern on the surface. Because the pattern is formed in the steel itself, no two blades are ever identical.
Features and Design
-
352 Layer Damascus Blade: Hand forged, folded five times from 11 pieces of steel, with a unique rippled pattern running the length of the blade.
-
Hand-and-a-Half Grip: The medium length grip accommodates one or two hands, true to the historical bastard sword design.
-
Ornate Crossguard and Pommel: An elegant crossguard protects the hand while the decorative pommel counterweights the blade for proper balance.
-
Wrapped Handle: The handle is wrapped in premium materials for a secure, comfortable grip.
-
Battle-Ready Construction: Built as a fully functional sword, not a decorative wall hanger.
Sword Details
- Overall Length: 40"
- Blade Material: 352 Layer Damascus Steel (6 pieces carbon steel #43 and #40, 5 pieces high carbon 1095)
- Folds: 5 (22, 44, 88, 176, 352 layers)
- Grip: Hand-and-a-half, wrapped handle
- Guard: Ornate crossguard with decorative pommel
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a bastard sword? A bastard sword, also called a hand-and-a-half sword, is a medieval European sword with a grip long enough for two hands but light and balanced enough to wield with one. It sits between the one handed arming sword and the two handed greatsword.
What steel is this sword made from? The blade is genuine folded Damascus steel: 11 pieces of carbon and high carbon 1095 steel folded five times into 352 layers.
Is the Damascus pattern real or etched on? The pattern is real. It is formed by the folding and forge welding of the layered steels, so every blade's pattern is unique.
Is this sword battle-ready? Yes. It is a hand forged, fully functional sword with a 352 layer Damascus steel blade.
How long is this sword? The sword measures 40 inches overall.
