An early rapier or "side-sword" on exhibit in the Castle of Chillon.
The spada da lato (Italian) or side-sword is a type of sword popular during the late 15th and early 16th centuries.
It is a continuation of the medieval knightly sword, and the immediate predecessor of the rapier (espada ropera) of the early modern period.
Side-swords were sometimes used concurrently with rapiers for military applications. Its use was taught in the Dardi school of Italian fencing, and was influential on the classical fencing of the 17th century.[1]
Italian antiquarians use the term spada da lato for side-swords typical of the period of c. 1560–1630.
The Italian term for the side-sword of the late 17th century is spada da lato striscia, or just spada striscia "strip-sword".
Although this particular type of sword is referred to in modern times as a side-sword, the name was not used contemporaneously to the sword in question (according to the current research of ancient fighting manuals). Although some early Italian sources use the term spada da lato, they are only talking about the sword that is at one's side, and not just this particular type of sword.[dubious – discuss][2][3]
