While most people associate the term broadsword with the wide-bladed, cross hilted swords carried by the likes of the crusaders
and knights of medieval Europe, technically speaking, the broadsword is a 17th century sword with a straight, single-edged
blade and basket hilt. The broadsword proper has its roots in the highlands of Scotland where the baskethilt first became popular
(basket hilted swords were manufactured throughout England and certain parts of Europe as well, but the basket hilt and
Scotland go hand in hand in most weapon aficionado’s minds).
With a blade rarely wider than two inches, the broadsword seems rather narrow compared to the longswords and warswords
carried by the knights and crusaders of earlier years. The “broad” in broadsword is a reference not to the actual width of the
blade relative to swords in general, but rather specifically to the width of rapier and smallsword blades which had become popular
during the late 16th century. With the rise of firearms in combat, and most of Europe deciding finesse in sword fighting was
superior to brute strength, most of the sword blades narrowed. The Scots, true to their nature, placed more trust in the strength
of a blade than the lightness of their feet or suppleness of their wrists and would go only so far in shrinking their swords. Thus,
while the broadsword proper was significantly more narrow-bladed than the claymore or longsword, it was broad bladed compared
to the rapier and was accurately described as a broad sword.