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WABUKAN Arsenal · Swords · Europe

Montante

The great two-handed sword of Portugal and Spain (15th–17th c.). Masters used it to break up fights, and Diogo Gomes de Figueyredo wrote its rules in 1651.

Also known as

montante; espadon

Origin and history

The montante is the Iberian great two-handed sword of the 16th and 17th centuries. The Portuguese masters Domingos Luís Godinho (1599) and Diogo Gomes de Figueiredo (1651) wrote rules for it, designed to fight several opponents and to protect a person or a street.

Martial arts that use it

HEMA

Construction

A long blade of about 1.2–1.4 m and a total length of 1.6–1.9 m, with a long grip and a simple cross-guard, sometimes with lugs.

Basic techniques

Training

Beginners learn grip, posture and footwork first, then cutting and thrusting lines in solo forms or drills, usually with a wooden or blunt trainer. Paired drills with a partner come next, at slow speed, before any free sparring with protective gear.

Safety

Train with wooden, blunt or club-approved trainers; keep live blades for experienced practitioners under supervision. Check the blade, handle and fittings before every session, keep a clear space of at least two weapon lengths and never cut towards people.

Legality (general information)

Swords, knives and other edged weapons are regulated very differently from country to country (and sometimes from region to region): owning one at home is often allowed, while carrying it in public, buying it under a certain age or importing it may be restricted or banned. Practitioners usually transport them cased, out of reach and straight between home and dojo. This is general information, not legal advice: check the law where you live.

Did you know?

Figueiredo’s Memorial of the Practice of the Montante (1651) is one of the main Portuguese fencing texts.

More weapons

Falcata Katana Wakizashi Jian Dao Hook swords

Sources

Original WABUKAN text, written from these cross-checked sources (facts, not sentences).

  1. Wikipedia — Montante
  2. Wikipedia — Zweih%C3%A4nder