Zweihander:  the Montante and the Spadone:  Nothing says 'sword' like these.  Now the largest sword I make.  I worked with many people in the WMA community to design a sword that has such an interesting place in history.   

The Renaissance saw the development of impressively large swords, often over 5 feet in length, which are often seen in period depictions of the Landsknecht. However, the surviving sources come from Italy and Iberia. The Italians referred to this weapon as the Spada da due mani (‘Sword for two hands’) or the Spadone (’great sword’), while the Iberians called it the Montante.

These large weapons saw use on the battlefields of 16^th century Europe alongside the pike, musket, and crossbow. However, they were used in many other situations including maintaining crowd control, defending against boarding actions on galleons, defending important persons, controlling a square or alley, and in the judicial duel. Many of these techniques still survive in the material of such authors as Achille Marozzo, Diogo Gomes de Figueyredo, and Pablo de Paredes of Madrid (among others). In addition to martial actions, solo training with the Spadone was used as a method to increase strength, agility, and general fitness well into the 1800s, as can be seen in the short treatise written by Italian Rapier master Francesco Alfieri. Ironically, while we tend to think of this weapon as typically German, we have not (yet) found any surviving German sources which speak specifically to its use.

Here is one with a straight long grip and straight quillions from 1520-1530

Another with the second small

guard about 5" from the main guard.  Dated 1520-1530

Many thanks to various people on this one, Steve Hick, Steven Reich, Scott Brown and Sword to Sword, the Chicago Swordplay Guild from way back when, and of course Matt Galas.

"I am proud to have been involved in the development of these wasters which Purpleheart Armoury has designed specifically for use as trainers for the Italian Spadone and the Iberian Montante. These weapons are weighty enough to force you to wield them with your body, but balanced so that they move like the large swords they are designed to simulate. Whether you want to practice on your own or begin a program at your school, these wasters are an excellent (and affordable) training option."  Steve Reich