Medieval Swords - Fuller

The fuller on a blade is the groove that runs lengthwise down the blade. Some call this a "blood groove". The thought was that when you stabbed someone with your sword, this nifty groove would let all the blood run out of the body, sort of like the spigot they put into maple trees. Of course the down side of this story is that most impaled people would not sit there calmly letting their blood flow out. I find it more likely that the other books I own are more accurate - that this was to help the sword be drawn quickly out of the body for another strike rather than being stuck in-body a la Excalibur (the classic John Boorman version). It helped prevent suction from "sticking" the sword in place.

Not all swords have a fuller.



My hand forged sword does not have a fuller on it. Its center line is simply the raised part where each side tapers down to the edge.



The Charles V sword does not have a fuller. It is flat across the center area.



Interestingly out of the swords I grabbed to photograph only my wooden training sword has a fuller, which is of course (hopefully) non-functional. Still, it lets you see how a fuller looked.



Parts of a Sword
Medieval Swords and Swordfighting

Medieval Conflict
Medieval Bows and Arrows
Medieval Keeps and Castles
Medieval Weapons

Life in Medieval Days

Academy of Knightly Arts - Live Sword Training School in New England


Lisa's Medieval Romances
Seeking the Truth
Knowing Yourself
A Sense of Duty


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