Flamberge
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A flamberge is a sword (typically a rapier though there were longswords as well) which had a "wavy" blade meant to aid in parrying.
Also, a Flamberge is a large claymore-like sword of either germanic or Swedish descent. It, too, has a wavy blade, however its purpose was mostly for chopping up an enemy pike or spear. There is an area between the hilt and blade that would be used for thrusting the enormous weapon much like a spear.
Flamberge was also the name of a sword borne by Charlemagne and Rinaldo (also known as Renaut de Montauban). It was forged by the smith Galas, and was one of nine blades shattered by Olivier's sword, Hauteclere.
Strictly speaking, only the third definition is an accurate use of this name (the wavy-bladed swords being more properly called "flambards" or "flammards"), but this distinction is rarely kept.
External Links
- Illustration of a flambard (http://members.aol.com/dargolyt/TheForge/2heflamb.htm)de:Flamberge