Get shield skill, but don't force yourself to always carry/use one. They are fantastic against ranged, and not being able to hold up a shield in strat is a huge mistake.
But, speed is the key to winning 1v1 or small group fights with a 1H weapon. Like others have said, shields are slower than manual blocks. Blocking manually makes it easier to drop your block and do some fancy footwork. You need to be able to move in and out of range, sidestep, etc. when you play 1H in small fights.
In big blob teamfights, use your shield. There are too many attacks to react to all of them manually. Helps your allies too.
My favorite 1H weapons are those with high speed and a strong thrust attack. Side sword, Scottish sword, Milanese sword, long espada eslavona. Being able to attack faster than your opponent is the best attribute of 1H, so push that advantage as much as you can with item stats. Good thrust damage is vital for fighting tincans. You can beat them with swings, but you are handicapping yourself.
