Koncerz

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A koncerz with a conventional cutting edge

A koncerz (Polish pronunciation: [ˈkɔn.t͡sɛʂ]) is a type of sword used by Polish-Lithuanian hussars in the Renaissance period. It is a narrow and long thrusting sword, generally used by a type of heavy cavalry (husaria, the famed Polish hussars) and optimized to defeat body armor (either by piercing directly through mail links, or by thrusting between the plates of plate armor), but not used to cut or slash.^[1]

The koncerz originated from a medieval sword and appeared at the end of the 15th century when it was about 1.3 metres (51 in) long, and relatively unwieldy compared to single-handed thrusting swords designed for use by infantry. By the late 16th century it had increased in length to a typical 1.6 metres (63 in) overall—1.4 metres (55 in) blade—and had a more optimized weight distribution and balance. The koncerz was used more like a lance while on horseback; it provided a rider with a very long reach in a relatively compact format suitable for a sidearm (the typical primary weapon of hussars was a very long lance).^[1] As it was used primarily for thrusting, the koncerz often had no cutting edge, only a very sharp point; the blade itself was triangular or square in cross section in order to be more rigid.

The closest western European equivalent is the estoc, or "tuck".

References[]

External links[]

• Polish Renaissance Warfare by S. A. Jasinski
• Illustration of a Koncerz sword
• Description of Koncerz
• Winged Hussars, Radoslaw Sikora, Bartosz Musialowicz, BUM Magazine, 2016.

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