Ryan Hancock's Lignitzer Sword and Buckler Interpretation

Today, we have an excellent opportunity to showcase another guest writer. Ryan Hancock heads the longsword curriculum at Vier Blössen Historical Fencing. They also actively practice Meyer's rapier system and, of course, sword and buckler. Join us today as Ryan provides a complete interpretation of the Andre Lignitzer sword and buckler techniques. We hope this interpretation helps guide you in your sword and buckler studies!

Introduction

​Lignitzer's sword and buckler is a sword-with-buckler system that consists of six short plays, each of which has one-to-one counterparts within many of the early German longsword manuscripts. I interpret these plays as sword-with-buckler plays rather than sword-and-buckler plays, meaning that a buckler isn't mandatory for the success of these actions but acts as an aide to ensure the safety of the actor.

During the time period when the Lignitzer plays were produced, arming swords were beginning to become less common as a popular sidearm and dueling weapon. In contrast, longswords and messers were becoming more and more fashionable. As such I don't think that an arming sword is mandatory to perform these actions; in fact, many of our artistic sources of the time depict messers, falchions, arming swords, and even longswords being used with bucklers.

1st Play

1. Our first play starts with a cut from above; the manuscript doesn't state what kind of cut, so for simplicity's sake, this depicts a cut going diagonally from your dominant side. It doesn't matter where the buckler is placed to start, but as soon as you throw the cut, it needs to be outstretched in front of you, and by the end of the cut, both the sword and the buckler will be together with the pommel of the sword by the thumb of your buckler hand. The right foot is stepping far off line, with the cut, dragging the left foot slightly with it so that upon landing, you end up at a 45-degree angle at your opponent.
2. Then, if they provide a defense for the buckler, rotate the long edge toward their sword.
3. Using the pressure from their defense, cut to the left side while rolling your buckler on top of their sword and buckler.

​2nd Play

Note that this play can be done from both sides regardless if you're left or right-handed, but for brevity's sake, I am just going to describe it from the right side.
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1. Here, we start with a cut from below, starting on the right side.
2. If your opponent strikes from above toward your left then rotate the long edge of your sword into the cut and with a step bring your sword and buckler together in an ox -esc position to defend the blow.
3. Then thrust or cut to their head behind their sword and buckler while your buckler covers.
4. If they move their buckler out to your right to defend themselves, then transfer your cut under their buckler and strike their leg.

3rd Play

This is another play that can be done from both sides, but in my experience, it works better when done from your non-dominant side—in my case, the left.
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1. Here we have another cut from below directed against an opponent's strike from above but this time your sword should make contact with theirs with the short edge and should direct their blow out to the side all the while making a step out off the line with your left foot.
2. Next, quickly strike from above to the opening created toward the head.
3. The aforementioned strike will most likely not land, but it does well to entice your opponent to move their sword and buckler toward your left. You can then dip your point below their weapons and thrust to the face on the opposite side while moving your buckler to cover theirs.
4. If they move their buckler to cover the thrust, the momentum from that pushing motion can be used to cut toward the right leg instead.

4th Play

1. Against an opponent who is prone to parrying with the sword and buckler together and the point of their sword pointing up I think this play is most effective.
2. Strike with a zwerchau, a cut that strikes laterally toward the temple with the thumb under the blade on its flat, with a small step of the right foot.
3. If that is parried then also strike to the left side with a zwerchau while taking a step with the left foot.
4. If that gets parried, then with your long edge push the weak of their sword down toward the ground by cutting top to bottom and thrust toward the lower opening at their groin while still covering their sword.

5th Play

This play I see as working best against a fighter who prefers to wait and react against your initial attack.
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1. You start by performing a thrust from your upper right side, with a step with the right foot, over their buckler arm.
2. Don’t commit to the thrust too hard because once they begin to respond dip the point of your sword down circle through to the otherside of their buckler. Ending with a thrust to their body with the long edge of your sword facing up and your sword a buckler arms crossed.
3. If they parry this thrust in time, then redirect it to a cut to the right leg.

6th Play

1. Grab the sword with the buckler hand at about one-third of its length from the point.
2. Wherever your opponent attacks, turn the sword of the sword against it and, let go of the sword with the right hand and grab your opponent's buckler, rotating it hard clockwise to disarm it.