Even in the medieval times, the need for a safe longsword simulator arose, which bought the historical practice sword or “federschwert” to life. The archaic feder, resembles a longsword only crudely, but the handling characteristics are almost the same, while it is flexible, unsharpened, has no piercing tip and protects the fingers with the so-called “schilt”.
As it wasn’t considered a real weapon in medieval law, citizens were allowed to keep and use it. According to Wassmanssdorf (in the end of the 19. century), the original name for this tool was Paratschwert (parade sword) and the name “feder” was given by later generations.