A German duelling or 'academic fencing' sword (Schläger)

A German duelling or 'academic fencing' sword (Schläger), slender blade 33.5 in., iron hilt with basket guard formed of a convex oval plate and a series of five bars, the rearmost on each side looping forward to unite the adjacent pair with the pommel; contoured wooden grip with thumb rest. Associated with a type of fencing peculiar to Germany and Eastern Europe, in which the antagonists must stand at a set distance, and strike at one another's faces; the aim being as much to endure as to defend oneself.