Zweihander

Trivia
Zweihander is the English spelling of the German word that simply means "two handed (sword)". This type of sword was the hallmark of the German "Landsknechte", a kind of infantry, and was very popular in the early 16th century. The protrusions at the top of the ricasso (the unsharpend part of the blade near the guard) are "Parierhaken" (parrying hooks) and thus a defensive device. They are not meant to rip larger wounds and make the weapon more cruel.