of defeating plate armor. Many Type XV fall within the terminology of swords commonly called "bastard" or "hand-and-a-half swords" in reference to the longer grips that allowed both one and two handed use, though swords with grips of only around 5 inches would not be considered among these. Type XVI A flat cutting blade which steadily tapers to an acute point reinforced by a clearly defined ridge, making it equally effective for thrusting. This type somewhat resembles a more slender version of type XIV. These swords appear in the contemporary artwork of San Gimignano and many other works. Blade length c.7080cm. Sub-type XVIa have a longer blade with a shorter fuller (usually running down and rarely exceeding of the blade). The grip is often extended to accommodate one and a half or two hands. Type XVII Characterized by a long, evenly tapering blade, hexagonal cross section, two-handed grip. Stiff, and suited toward thrusting. Oakeshott found some to be heavy swords, some examples weighing more than 2kg, used for combat against armored opponents. Some of these blades however were light-weight, including a sword that Oakeshott studied at the Fitzwilliam museum of Cambridge. In use c.13601420. Type XVIII Tapering blades with broad base, short grip, diamond cross-section. In distinction from type XV, these blades almost always feature a raised mid-rib that reinforces the blade for thrusting, and in the examples given in Records of the Medieval Sword, they can be seen to have a less linear and consistent taper along the edge of the blade, sometimes showing a subtle increase of the taper toward the point. Subtype XVIIIa: narrow blades with a longer grip. Subtype XVIIIb: Bastard swords with a longer blade and long grip; were in use . Subtype XVIIIc: shorter grip, broad blade; c.90. Subtype XVIIIe: Narrow, long blade with extended ricasso more narrow than the blade and very long grip. Type XIX 15th century swords which were often one-handed, though two-handed examples exist. These have relatively narrow, flat blades of hexagonal cross-section, nearly parallel edges with little profile taper, narrow fullers, and a pronounced ricasso. The ricasso often presents increased blade decoration. Additionally, several blades of this type bear Arabic inscriptions as well as finger loops below the guard. Type XX 14th to 15th century "hand and a half sword" or "two-handed" swords, often with two or more fullers, sometimes reducing to one fuller partway down the blade. The