Schiavona

The schiavona (Italian: "Slavic" or "of the Schiavoni") is a basket-hilted broadsword popular in Italy during the 16th and 16th century. Of Venetian make, these were initially used by the bodyguard of the Doge of Venice - Istrian and Dalmatian Slavic mercenaries known as the schiavoni (whence the name of the blade).

Characteristics include a rather wide, double-edged blade (a clue that many of these were actually cut down from earlier two-handed schiavonesca), a "cat's-head pommel", and a distinctive, elaborate handguard of leaf-shaped brass or iron bars that was attached to the cross-bar and knucklebar rather than the pommel.

These swords were far more widespread and popular than their two-handed forebears, becoming a popular heavy cavalry weapon beyond Venetian and Italian theaters of operation, and possibly influening the design of other European basket-hilts such as the mortuary sword and basket-hilted claymore.

Originals
Replicas:
 * 1 steel, Venetian, Venice, Italy
 * 2 (University of Cleveland) steel, Venetian, Venice, Italy
 * 1 review of Deepeeka Schiavona
 * 2 review of Del Tin 5173 Schiavona
 * 3 review of Windlass Steelcrafts Type 1 Schiavona
 * 4 review of Windlass Steelcrafts Type 2 Schiavona

Video Games

 * A highly accurately rendered schiavona is the second-best sword that can be equipped by Ezio Auditore da Firenze in Assassin's Creed II, just a hair less powerful than his ultimate weapon, the Sword of Altair. It then reappears in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, but is considerably less powerful in the sequel.
 * The schiavona appears in Final Fantasy XI as a straight-bladed long sword, albeit without the distinctive basket hilt or pommel (and therefore a schiavona in name only).