cutandthrust

Cut-and-thrust (also written cutandthrust) is a term used in historical European swordsmanship to describe swords and fighting methods that combine cutting with edge and thrusting with point. The phrase characterizes weapons designed to deliver both types of attacks, such as arming swords, backswords, falchions, sabres, and other dual-purpose blades, though practice often emphasizes different extents of edge or point work depending on the blade. It contrasts with primarily cutting weapons (where edge work dominates) and primarily thrusting weapons (where point work is dominant). In cut-and-thrust fighting, practitioners aim to disrupt an opponent’s guard with cuts and feints, then exploit openings to land a decisive thrust, while maintaining control of distance and line.

Historically, cut-and-thrust play appears in late medieval and early modern treatises across Western Europe. German and Italian masters discuss a mixed repertoire of cuts, binds, and thrusts adapted to the blade in use. The concept surfaces in civilian self-defense and battlefield contexts, where flexible weapon use could offer practical advantages in varied encounters.

In modern times, cut-and-thrust is a central category in historical European martial arts (HEMA). Practitioners study period sources, reconstruct a mixed repertoire, and train with swords intended for edge and point work. Contemporary equipment and safety standards influence how cutting and thrusting are practiced in different settings, with some contexts permitting both actions and others restricting one or the other. Regardless of the specific rules, the underlying principle remains: effective blade fighting often combines timely cuts to create opportunities with precise thrusts to terminate the engagement.