Basket Hilt Sword

The basket-hilted sword is a the name of a group of sword types characterized by a basket-shaped guard that protects the hand. It could be considered a development of the complex hilts used on rapiers and "side-swords". These complex hilts gained popularity as civilian weapons, and as armor was becoming obsolete, meaning a guard capable of covering the hand was needed. At first the wire guard was a simple design but as time passed it became increasingly sculpted and ornate.