Best BR bastard sword in the $200-250 pricerange?

Swordsalot, while I would have a few recommendations for a sword, I noticed you plan to be using this against hogs, which is not recommended.

In the middle ages/renaissance, special boar swords were designed because normal swords enabled the boar to gord himself up on them, but slide down the blade and kill the wielder. Obviously that's not an ideal situation for defending yourself . The special boar swords were thrusting swords with a set of gaurds near the tip of the blade to prevent the boar from sliding down. These were always (I think) two handed weapons and generally weighed a bit more than average.

I'd recommend something like a boar spear (cold steel makes a great one) as these a much better at defending against a boar.

Swordsalot, the best bastard type sword I have in that price range is the Hanwei Hand and a Half.
This is closer to my understanding of what a "bastard sword" is. It is also quite pointy for sticking in hogs tho did need some work on the edge to make it sharp enough for cutting bottles.
That said I think any longer sword would be combersome when hunting. I'd go with a gladius type sword for personal protection in that situation, if I wasn't carrying a firearem.

Point taken, Rammy. I was just choosing from what I have handled myself.

swordsalot: if you are in Chicago and have a chance to visit the art insitute, you can get a look at a nice example of the type of sword Rammstein is talking about.

for a boar fighting tool, you are best off with a spear of some sort, also spears are sometimes cheaper than swords so you don't have to worry as much about damaging it, also if the pole breaks you can just replace it.

Interesting. With a raised cross section, I'd have expected better, but it is rather typical of windlass ;D

id suggest a spear and yes cold steel makes a great one

and its about 68$ shipped also i agree have other back up options

gen2 has some very nice blades for that price and my lucrne sword has some real power behind it

yeah that would work

WARNING: Graphic Content.

Swordsalot,

This advice is offered to help you actually succeed. As such, it isn't idle speculation, but based on actual experience. To anyone who doesn't like the topic, please don't read further.

Since you stated you're primary hunting weapon is the bow-n-arrow, I'd go with a medium-heavy cutting blade with at least a decent point for thrusting in a pinch. Single hand or hand-n-a-half will work. The single-hander will be more convenient and be less likely to get in your way during the hunt. The hand-n-a-half will give you more powerful cuts, but at the price of getting in the way a lot more. It's your choice.

Your most likely need will be to finish a downed animal in a humane fashion. That will likely mean a thrust through the ribs or shoulder to reach the heart. But it's also likely that you'll reach a wounded hog that is still up and moving, though very slowly, otherwise you'll never catch him.

The only way you are likely to catch up to him is after he's bled out enough to be extremely weakened. What you will need is enough cutting power to sever the spine in a heavy downward cut, landed just behind the shoulders. If he's still moving fast enough you have to run to catch up, hit any part of the spine you can. That will help anchor him for the follow up blows, then a final thrust through the heart.

The easiest way to reach the heart is with a thrust from a rearward quartering angle, with the point entering just behind the ribs or between the short ribs. The tip shoud angle toward the front of the offside shoulder. This will allow you to hopefully sever the heart or the aorta. That leads to a quick and relatively painless death.

Once the point has penetrated deeply, lever it up and down quickly to open the wound and allow air to escape the lungs. This helps collapse the lungs. If you're successful with this, the hog will appear to become very groggy and just "go to sleep."

As for using a sword to stop a charge... It's rare, but it happens with wounded boar. They usually aren't really trying to catch you and kill you. The intent is to scare you so they can escape, and simultaneously get some payback with the tusks.

I have been charged with intent only once, by a very large boar. He was wounded and about to die, but he came on like a freight train. Trying to stop that with a sword thrust is a good way to loose your sword and possibly your life.

The better alternative is to use the same moves as a bull fighter. Move at 90 degrees to the hog's line of travel while delivering a fierce downward cut to the neck or shoulder blade. And keep moving after you hit him. If he is stunned by the blow, hit him as hard and as many times as you can, attempting to sever the spine. Then follow up as previously stated.

BE WARNED. This is not for the faint of heart. You will likely be injured doing this. Possibly injured severely or even killed. So know what you're getting into before deciding on this course of action.