The Use of Half Swording in Bloßfechten

Half-Swording has a special place in my heart. When done correctly, it can be incredibly effective (especially against an opponent who has a tendency to step too close when attacking) - and not to mention it looks awesome. 


This post is a collection of a few examples of Half Swording being used in Bloßfechten from historical sources. The translations used in this article are all from Wiktenauer.


Ringeck's gloss on Lichtenauer's zettel has a nice, simple play.

MS E.1939.65.341 012r

[71] This is the text and the gloss of yet another play against the parrying

74	Set-upon four ends;  Learn to remain thereupon if you wish to finish.

Gloss. This is when you cleave-in from your right shoulder: if you wish to quickly finish with him, so note when he parries [and] strike quickly around with the thwart, and with the strike grasp your sword in the middle of the blade with the left hand, and set the point into the face (as stands pictured next), or set-upon him to the four openings to whichever you can best come.

The start of this play is fairly vanilla in German longsword. You cut with a Zornhau, which your opponent parries, and you immediately follow up with a Zwerchau from the left (based on the illustration, I assume your opponent will successfully parry this - the defender's left leg is forward which suggests he is parrying on the right). What is different here, is that while you strike with your Zwerchau, you transition into a Half-Sword position, allowing you to very easily push your point past your opponent's parry.

Ringeck also suggests that if this is defended (likely by a wide parry with a step), you can strike them in the head with your pommel from the right, or move in to grapple.

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The gloss of Lichtenauer's zettel within the Codex 44.A.8 contains the following image, but without associated text.

MS Germ.Quart.2020 073v

It appears to be used here as a response to an Oberhau, though without text it's hard to interpret exactly what is going on. A possibility could be if your opponent strikes with an Oberhau while you are in a low guard (such as Alber) with your right leg forward, you quickly step to the left and raise your blade into half sword, forcing your opponents blade high to the right, and finishing with a thrust.

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Talhoffer's Codex Icononografico 394a features many examples of Half Swording - interestingly many show both sides using Half Sword - a situation which I have not often seen in the context of Bloßfechten.

Cod.icon. 394a 21r

The burn-shears (fire-tongs).    

Or the binding-on with the shortened sword.

Several of Talhoffer's plays come from the "fire tongs", which is a typical half sword bind. As to be expected from Talhoffer, the accompanying text is very terse.

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Falkner's treatise shows an example of half sword being used to facilitate a throw.

Ms. KK5012 14v

Point to the sun 

With the sword if you wish to tilt him. 

To break through him, 

Press against his neck if you wish yourself vengeance.

The illustration shows that you should place your pommel in between your opponents right wrist and their sword grip, while stepping so that your left foot is behind their right foot. From here, in a half sword position, you will have leverage to throw your opponent over your left leg, or can simply cut their throat.

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Meyer suggests using half sword to defeat a Buffel.

Meyer 1570 Longsword N - top left fencers 

If one cuts a powerful Buffel at you, so that you may not come at him with such subtle work, then cut the first at the same time as him and mark now when he pulls his arms back toward him, then drive at him from underneath with horizontal blade on both his arms and in driving under, let go with your left hand from the pommel and grip your blade in the middle, how this figure here after shows. Wrench out besides you both his arms with your shield and cross and as you shove or wrench release your left hand and quickly cut after, either short or long.

Meyer, verbose as always, describes here that you should parry your opponents attacks and wait until he raises his arms high and close to himself. You should then quickly push the strong of your blade against his arms, with your point to the left, and take a half sword position. You can then force his arms out to the left, and quickly make a cut of your own while stepping to the right. It is important in this play to ensure you keep yourself safe by staying behind your blade while you make your attack, to prevent an afterblow/double.

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This is not by any means an exhaustive list, just a few examples of different situations where half swording can be used in Bloßfechten. It's not an easy thing to pull off with an uncooperative opponent, but with practise it can be a very useful skill to have in your repertoire.