I'll admit it does bug me that shields are not used; out of all the forms of armour the shield has the most use and versitility. The shield was dropped from combat in our world as it was impractical with the rise of firearms - something which has not happened in this world.

One-handed fighting has its place - in fact it is more based on movement and speed than its two-handed counterpart and in many cases is superior although less likely to land a killing blow - especially against an armoured foe. I'm guessing the main reason the 2hander was prefered was simply due to trollocs where you would need the extra strength using two-hands will give.

Whatever form(s) rand ends up with I'll wager it would be extremly interesting to see... I mean who would win between a master europen fencer or an master samuria - two completly different methods of fighting but both even RJ put on a pedastal of the "ultimate in swordfighting".

Whether Justice is suitable and balanced correctly for consistant 1handed work remains to be seen... but swords in this world are designed to be used in both 1handed and 2handed forms.

All sword fights we have seen rely on two hands on the sword. Only the Aiel and pikemen use shields. Even Perrin with his axe small enough to go on his belt doesn't use a shield, so it can be deduced that they aren't all that common. If one handed swords were common, shields would be because you don't go into battle with an empty hand for no reason.

 

You also have the fact that after Rand lost his hand he said he would have to relearn the sword because most forms required both, and every place we have seen, even Seanchan, use essentially the same forms.

 

It is pretty simple reasoning to get that bastard sword is the average length, or more likely the Japanese katana that everyone loves nowadays, and is seemingly the description of every sword we have seen. The size where it is possible to use with one hand, but is more effective with two.

Most stances use two hands but it can be weilded with one. Whilst I admit that some sword fighting techniques use two hands (Kendo for one) there is an entire genre of sword fighting which not only uses only one hand - but keeps the other hand empty, Fencing with rapier or sabre are the most common.

The sword in question is often lighter; but more importantly more balanced when used with only one hand; and speaking of Perin you'll notice he uses only one hand when weidling his hammer; even his great hammer.

My query was that there is no reference to Justice being a short sword - in fact it says it is a long blade. There is obviously going to be a lot of practice and training to relearn the forms with only one hand - makes me wonder now Rand has all LTTs memories he'll know this already (given Mat's proficiency with his spear from other men's memories and LTT and Bel'al designed the first forms together)

He relaxed his hand on his sword, though he did not release it. He fingered the cloth-tied hilt. The weapon was long, slightly curved, and the lacquered scabbard was painted with a long, sinuous dragon of red and gold. It looked as if it had been designed specifically for Rand— and yet it was centuries old, unearthed only recently. How odd, that they should find this now, he thought, and make a gift of it to me, completely unaware of what they were holding. . .

 

He had taken to wearing the sword immediately. It felt right beneath his fingers. He had told no one, not even Min, that he had recognized the weapon. And not, oddly, from Lews Therin's memories—but Rand's own.

He knew the man who rode at their head, too. Tall and hook-nosed, with dark, deep-set eyes, his great sword Justice at his side. Artur Hawkwing.

Where does it say the sword is short? All mentions I've seen of sword have been able to use in 1 or 2 hands (hilt long enough for 2 hands though). The only obviously pure 2handed swords were the swords used by shinarians.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the sword is Rand/LTT knows what it is and what its name is.but he hasn't told anyone - and the fact it has Dragon's painted on it from Hawkwing's time. (outside the Aiel Waste and the Dragon banner there are no other references to the dragons)

This makes very interesting reading concerning economic stagnation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_demography

Do you think I would run away? he had said when Perrin suggested he could slip off into the night after Faile. His ears had dropped with weariness and hurt. I came with you, Perrin, and I will stay until you go. And then he had laughed suddenly, a deep booming sound that almost rattled the dishes. Perhaps someone will even tell a story of me, one day. We do not go in for such things, but there could be an Ogier hero, I suppose. A joke, Perrin. I made a joke. Laugh. Come, we will tell each other jokes, and laugh, and think of Faile flying free.

Ignoring the Faile/Perin hate that came later that part in the book still brings a tear to my eye.