Hi Jim,
I posted this question on this forum where they are more interested in the martial arts aspect of swords.
http://www.fioredeiliberi.org/phpBB2...=215693#215693 . I think they have it right, that the term break in the sword fighting treatises means to tie up, slow down or 'render useless' , ie: these are sword brake(r)s rather then sword breakers.
All the best
Jeff