Would you consider a new design of sword along the lines of the Lady Vivamus?

http://www.albion-swords.com/swords-limited.htm

It doesn't sound like historical accuracy is going to be an issue, so why not just design what you see as being the perfect sword. Something that can do most all of the jobs that are required of it. If you need fantasy sword ideas, can I suggest Fable Blades.

http://www.fableblades.com/index.html

Have a look and use a combination of whatever you like to make something new. If you do end up designing your own, can you send me a description of it? I like original designs, if it's ok with you I'll probably have it made.

People carried sword/rapier and dagger for civilian self-defense. The combination was everywhere in the sixteenth century. While wearing and drawing two weapons might be a little cumbersome for an assassin, it's quite plausible in that context.

Fable Blades huh? Interesting work, though I sort of wonder about his pricing scheme. If it is under 20 inches it is around $200, but bigger stuff is all over $1000? I guess forging a bigger blade really is harder than it looks. I had heard the effort went up exponentially, which makes sense.

If I recall correctly, Brenno uses stock removal for his blades... that's a heck of a lot of metal to remove for a longsword!

Lady Vivamus- funny you mention that- I keep looking at that recreation- simple and elegant.

I'm also debating creating my own. Maybe even a short polearm of some sort.

i agree on the weapon needing to be versatile as she needs to move about if going on adventures if i recall the only reason conan carried a big sword was because he carried nothing else.
as for assains not being well armoured the actual ninja armour that remains offers great protection from head to toe as its a mix of maille and lam style bits of leather and plate.
plus we need to remember this character ma have grown up with an affinity with a certain style or type of weapon which many of us have and that can influence you lots.
most western combatants rarely used dual weapons although they did just not hugely mainly due to the armour of the day that being said in Asia it was very common even in a battlefield context.
as for fantasy swords its nice to keep it a bit real so you can picture it and so can your readers.
also my advice get onto the folks over at arma or the hema alliance they will give you good advice on weapon use as well as there being a good many women fighters there to and many of whom use longswords for some reason the myth of them being stupidly heavy still prevails.
and will this woman have set attire and armour etc?
also you taking a liking to anything yet would be nice to see what direction your leaning so we can help more.

Dan, we have been over this before.
With Ninja, lack of evidence is the BEST evidence.

BTW, in the R.E. Joward Conan books, the big guy is most often armed with a knife. That being said, he changes equipment and armour quite readily, in "Beyond Thunder River" (title is an aproxamition, my books are stored away atm) he is running around in a maille shirt and using a hatchet, mostly for scrub clearing duties. In other stories he tends to use whatever weapon is in common usage in the area, though he did seem fond of the "khyber knife". Not 100% sure that was what it was called in the stories, but I seem to remember a recent thread on this forum about similar, real word equivalent weapons (long knife, "T" section spine to re-enforce, popular in the 'stans, one of the images posted was of Tristrums sword from "Starlight")
Worth remembering that with Conan the ethos was "wear bugger all armour and rely on yourself, if you are a true Cimmerian, you will survive. If not...Good riddnce!"

that was a pretty exceptionally cool movie!

As far as historical assassins go, I just read Special Operations in the Age of Chivalry, 1100-1550 by Yuval Noah Harari. He provides a fascinating account of the Nizari and the success of their strategy. They used daggers exclusively, managing to kill even armored leaders protected by bodyguards.

This whole discussion about wanting a sword that has length,as well as both cutting and thrusting power totally makes me think of my Hanwei Dark Sentinel sword.It actually is fantasy in design and seems taylor made for this purpose.Have you considered a sword like that?

I went with am Oakeshott Type XVII hand-and-a-half sword, but I did look at the Hanwei sword, and two-handed sabres.