further east, horsemen frquently carried a longer narrow thrusting sword for use if their lance broke or was lost, an estoc, - it was used like a shorter lance which was not carried on their person, but strapped to their horse. i wonder if the longer flyssa were also horse mounted only.
there is a point where you either cannot draw the sword, or need help. i have seen illustrations of chinese that carried long anti-horse swords who paired and the drawing shows them each drawing the other partners sword rather than their own! see
http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showpo...68&postcount=9
it also shows a man next to them gingerly palming the spine of his sword well down the blade, being careful not to put his fingers over the edge, as he removes from or reinserts into his scabbard.