A spadroon is essentially a smallsword with a robust blade and an edge. Gentlemen trained in smallsword would prefer a spadroon to a sabre or broadsword as it ‘acted’ like a smallsword. Most also didn’t have to get down and dirty in the fighting and actually use the sword outside dueling.
What would be the difference between a sidesword and a spadroon?
In short, hand protection, heft of blade, PoB and you hold them differently. Sideswords have a complex hilt, thus hand protection allowing more extended uses of a cut. The simple knuckle bow swords like the later officer swords are not suited to quite a few actions you would do in side sword, you must ‘change’ the technique to compensate for lack of hand protection, but you should be doing this for any blade. PoB on a cutter needs to be a bit further out than 2 inches so that you can actually have impact on a cut. Cavalry Sabres will push 6+ inches, which becomes unruly to control but devastating in a cut. These officer blades will have a PoB well back to the hilt.
As to learning to use a spadroon, it is advised first to learn smallsword, then to learn broadsword. If you wish to keep it to the 15th – 17th C weapons learn a rapier first, then move to sidesword, or learn to thrust then learn to cut. The Broadsword system and Sidesword system are very similar but you need to make corrections to your specific blade type, and use ‘fencing’ footwork. I’d recommend Taylors version of “Art of Defense on Foot” if you wish to read a bit on the blade. This is a re-publishing of Roworth with emphasis on the Spadroon, It’s readily available on-line.
I did read a text that described the most appropriate use for this type of sword. It spent many pages discussing how to draw the sword, how to salute with the sword and how to scabbard the sword. It even discussed who had the right to draw the sword, when to draw and the effect on command of whose sword was drawn. I can’t remember which one that is at the moment…It did not discuss fighting with the sword.
