Not being able to handle a sword before buying has always sucked cause looks isn't everything. Doesn't help if there's no information on specifications but channels like yours are super helpful!

@johnedgar7956

Жыл бұрын

I agree!

@I_Willenbrock_I

Жыл бұрын

I agree too. I brought my fencing longsword from my instructor. He buys them in "bulk" from a well known swordsmith from Czech Republic. Several types and more than one each type. My preferred sword type was there two times. Same type of sword, same swordsmith, same steel - apart from the leather on the handle, they looked exactly the same. And they handled quite differently from each other. One of them was an instant click and the other one didn't want to work for me. I'll probably never buy a sword from the Internet again. I want to feel the sword.

@DETHMOKIL

Жыл бұрын

adding to that, handling originals is just plain impossible for 99% of people. I mean, ive been to some great museums, but never held one...

@MildarValsik

Жыл бұрын

I will never buy a blade I can't touch unless the construction of it I'm familiar with. Also if it's not made right I will use it until it fails and rework the failure point.

This is the positive escapism we need sometimes.

@andrewprice4171

Жыл бұрын

How depressingly true

@danielarroyo233

Жыл бұрын

True

Yeah, I'd love to see examples of Japanese swords with this topic in mind! Often people don't realize Japanese swords differed depending on the time period and school of swordsmithing, etc.

@kaltaron1284

Жыл бұрын

You could even do this with Bokutou, the wooden training swords. There are quite some differences in preferred shape, wood (and therefore wheight), Tsuba etc.

I once had the fortune to swing about a collection of highland basket hilt swords from Jacobite uprisings, all apparently custom pieces but all of theoretically the same broad type. The most astounding thing was the range of weights and balances on display, and how little you could predict from appearance alone. Sometimes a broad blade was actually narrow in cross-section and heavily tapered and was actually very light and nimble, and a narrow sword might feel very choppy 'cos it had very little taper.

@mariaconcepcionrodriguezhe2850

Жыл бұрын

✨thin✨

Well said. In my cavalry clinics, I always bring my 1820s era pattern 1811 Prussian for comparison to the reenactors' swords so they can feel what a real saber feels like. They are usually surprised at how much steel they might need to grind away if they want proper distal taper and correct handling.

I had this exact experience the first time I got to handle a rapier. You look at it, see the slender blade, and figure "oh yeah this must be a light and flimsy thing!". Then you pick it up and it's actually downright massive. It's still nimble and offers good point control, but it turns out when you want a blade that long with enough counterweight at the hilt, it's gonna have to be fairly heavy overall.

In Denmark, we say 'Don't view the dog by the hairs', meaning the same thing as the warning not to judge a book by its cover. Good point Matt, as usual!

On the point about Japanese swords I did in fact hear similar things about a sword having varying properties from actual katana practicioners in japan. Pretty interesting how a sword's purpose can change without changing the silhouette much.

@yurikhromov2905

Жыл бұрын

That's absolutely true. Two identically looking katanas can feel drastically different because of slight differences in blade thickness, distal taper and nakago (tang) size.

I remember seeing a video, I think its from Lindybiege, where he was interviewing a guy who collected, among other things, historical katanas. Something he found was that, while all of them look almost identical, there were differences in other metrics like weight, probably to deal with which styles were prominent at the time.

Very interesting and quite counterintuitive. So it basically comes down to design, materials and the skills of the designer/smith. That falchion does look quite smart! I should like to own a sword like that!

Definetly i would like to see more antique japanese swords. I really like the antique sword videos, and the japanese ones makes nice variety for the european ones. Also the other swords from other cultures

Really hope to see the Osborn Gunby 1796 Light Cavalry sword with the clipped point in the second batch you do with Windlass. Love that damn thing.

I'd love to learn more about the differences in katanas!

@Kiezkollege

Жыл бұрын

Weeb

I think you make a good point that the profile of the blade is often misleading. Blades with broad, enlarged tip and belly profiles could be swelling the profile there to push the weight forward. However they may be doing that to compensate for a naturally rearward weight bias due to the handle or guard construction- the final blade will feel more neutral than anticipated. After all there are plenty of blades with straight profiles that are quite intense choppers. Another, more relevant reason in my mind is that blades with broader profiles in the cutting area allow for high performance cutting geometry. Wide, full flat ground blades cut extremely well through targets. The wider you make the profile the more acute those bevels become, or it can allow for a thicker spine for added stiffness with the same general bevel angle. Depending on the tapering involved this doesn't necessarily need to push the balance forward at all. Take care, Andrew and the team at Kailash

Matt, I enjoy all of your videos - always interesting and informative. I would like a few more videos on the katana. I'm an iaido practitioner and enjoy your comments and insights into the Japanese sword. I enjoy your comments and videos more than anyone else on KZread - thoughtful and respectful to the sword and the art. Keep up the good work.

looking at antique examples of japanese swords would be SUPER cool especially in this specific topic as one of the things i hear people say is that "japanese swords all look the same" and then there's an implication that they all handle the same as well because of that

Hello Matt! Thank you for another excellent video. And if I may say, you sure know how to make a person jealous with those superb swords in your collection! That Windlass hanger really speaks to me. 🙂Thank you!

I must say i do love it when you’re doing all the cool moves with the antique sabres! 😊 ⚔️

Thank you as always for the information in your videos ⚔️

I love the blade of that falchion, it's one of my favorite type of blades for falchions/messers! I always liked the slimmer and stabbier versions better, they can still cut well, but they are also good thrusters, and I just like the look. I'm so glad to see that replicas of that type are also starting to be made, most replicas seem to be of choppy blades...

That's been implecit in a lot of your and others videos. But it's nice to see it talked about specifically.

Swords of all cultures are greatly appreciated. As others have said, given the crowning this weekend, a rundown of the swords used would be awesome.

very cool to think about! thank you! I'm in for further discussions about this with eastern sword.

Matt can you please do a video on thrust centric non regulation officers swords of the 1850s and how they function compared to later stabby patterns of the 1890s ?

Wonderful discussion, Matt, and some great examples to showcase the point! There is certainly no substitute for exposure to original Swords, and every chance I have to pick up an antique is a new learning experience. I am as guilty as anyone falling into the trap of looking at silhouettes in books, and mistakingly, drawing comparisons between similar outlines, when, in fact, if we could look at them in 3-D, or even better as dynamic graphs, we could see exactly how distinct each sword is, despite its superficial profile. I never to continue to use the weapons dynamics computer from Vincent le Chevalier to catalogue original and repo swords in the hopes that we will be able to better understand how different types of swords behave, and be able to compare swords across the world to one another.

Great vid, very interesting - the nuances of sword making make it a huge topic really, but it was very well covered as usual. That's a large part of the fun isn't it? how they all handle differently - some are lively and others dull.

In addition to the video on Japanese swords, could you please also try reviewing Korean swords? Yes, they weren’t a main sidearm and a lot of the original antiques were destroyed in the Japanese occupation during around the 19th and 20th centuries, but if you had an opportunity to look into Hwando’s and maybe compare it to the Japanese Katana and speculate how one influenced the other it would be very much appreciated. Thank you, and I’ve learned a lot watching your videos since 2019!

Mad excited for the second batch lineup!

I had similar experience with a sashka. I always disliked them until it happened to hold an original one years ago and I can tell you I still remember how nicely fit my grip and how the blade felt so light.

Ah video of you doing a show and tell about antique Japanese swords? Yes please

I completely agree. A sword is a 3-dimensional object, so you have to look at it in all 3 dimensions to get a true view of it. Looking at several swords in 2 dimensions (e.g. in a book) will only give you part of the information. I love being able to handle swords at the couple of annual events near me. Nice 1803, btw! I have a reproduction and have been looking for an antique for a couple years. I check your site regularly in the hopes of finding one I like.

Awesome content as always

I would love to see some more information about antique katana. Must say that I really like the look of that falchion.

That reminds me of the smith I got my sword and armour from: If possible, he wants you to come in and handle the swords he made. Because even if he made three swords of similar construction, they might even look the same. But they feel just slightly different and you should choose the one that feels best in your hand.

Yes ! Would love a similar video on japanese swords ! Especially comparing the hanger you used in this video with wakizashi "hangers"

This is a positive lesson for me. Very useful

This is very good advice and I do this whole my life... whenewer I can get a sword into my hands, I won't miss that opportunity.

Japanese swords would be something I want to see you talk about. I love the variety

Yes to more content on differences between japanese blades!

As a practioner of Asian martial arts though I come to your channel to learn stuff I don't normally use I always appreciate more information on Asian weapons.

This is kind of familiar to me because I am a carpenter and I am used to swinging a hammer all day long, now a inexperienced person would say that all hammers are the same, when in reality they all have a totally different feel to each of them in use. even so that if you where to blind fold me and place 2 of the same make and model of my hammer next to each other I would be able to feel the weight and tell you which one is mine.

@CrimeVid

Жыл бұрын

For sure, if you don’t do it you can’t know. For instance if nogging out studwork by toenailing, some hammers can get in there some can’t ( plus a bit of practice !)

The way that broadsword is i only see it for thrusting if the target is armored. That pommel looks like it's made to best put the palm of the off hand on to produce a more forceful thrust.

I would definitely like to see a video on Antique Japanese Swords and the Japanese style swords made in China that are Antique, because I believe I may have a few. They may be Chinese or Korean Pirate swords, or something else, I'm not sure, but they are Kitana Style and very old, but Strange. Also, I have a real Tachi, but These other Ones are really nice and sturdy, but balanced as well. I'm going to take them to an East Asian Festival in my city, and They will have a Japanese Sword Master there that can tell you about where the sword was made and if its legitimate or made elsewhere. Itll be fantastic. Hope you are well.

I got to see Matt swing at me with cool swords... Win! 👍

Mr. Easton, what do you know about the State Sword, used at coronation of your new King?

Hello outlaw samurai here I would very much like to know when the next you guys will be getting around to making a replica of the Swiss saber

I would certainly be interested in seeing more about Japanese swords, and especially comparison and contrasting with European swords. Because from what I've seen, they had a lot of design principles in common, metallurgically and even to some extent in terms of design. But I don't know much about Japanese swords.

Hi Matt, can you do a Penny Mordaunt/Sword of Destiny review?

@kholui

Жыл бұрын

Seconded... I thought Matt missed a trick this weekend by not doing a coronation special, covering all of the swords used in the ceremony. There's... The Sword of Temporal Justice, The Sword of Spiritual Justice, The Sword of Mercy, The Sword of Offering, The Sword of State

Matt, can you maybe cover a topic of hunting weapons? And maybe why armor wasnt used for hunting boars and bears, which were often hunted with a spear?

@CrimeVid

Жыл бұрын

Because you would be seen as gutless, to have no faith in yourself, to not be better than a mere animal !

I would definitely like to see more Japanese swords. Great vid Matt

Handling is of course everything with every tool, weapon, or instrument. I find your comments on the weight contrasted to the distal taper fascinating. There is always a fascination with Japanese swords (real made in Japan swords) and similar Asian weapons. Incidentally, over the years in the US I've seen many of the swords acquired In the aftermath of war were not particularly antique. I understand that many of the best were left at home and substitute weapons were carried on campaign.

@tommeakin1732

Жыл бұрын

The US absolutely ransacked as much things of value as they could, including a lot of more valuable historic pieces, though it's fair to say far more effort went into hiding the more valuable historic pieces of course, and the valuable historic pieces are far less numerous. It's important to say that with the resurgence of nationalism in Japan in the 20th century, huge numbers of traditional Japanese form, but modern manufacture blades were made for military use (largely just for nationalist symbolic reasons) and they were still making them relatively late into the war, and as far as I know many of those were made at very low cost and were pretty poor quality.

I've been wondering if Windlass will be making another run of the first batch of Royal Armouries swords, and if so, would they have any changes from the first run? Seems we can still order them on their site, but some pieces seem in stock and some with a reservation period.

The thing with papered Japanese blades is that they are described in extensive detail, so the details are more transparent. Because saber shapes dominated all others, they became very particular about the differences like a connoisseur might be. That fact that common people call all japanese sabers "katana" might just indicate that it's a matter of ignorance or discernment. The balance and heft of a katana is quirky though. The hilt/tsuka is constructed to be as light as possible and eliminate all counterweight, so it balances further forward than if it were a bare bar. I'm interested in your (anyone here lucky enough to have worked with multiple styles, really) impression on winding different blades. My VERY limited impression of a friend's ~$300 katana was underwhelming everall, but the balance made it feel like an agitated snake that wanted to twist and writhe in the hand. It made me think of Muramasa and those demon swords with a mind of their own; though i don't want to feed more into the mysticism by attributing animated properties to that particular piece of garbage. It was honestly a shock after having eaten up so much of the standard lore up to that point though, because it certainly didn’t feel like anything I'd touched before, but not exactly in a good way. Cheers again.

What I can't ever see enough of is Falchions. Just letting you know! 😁

Are there any examples of swords with a folding guard? One that you can fold "upwards" towards the blade, so the guard is smaller and less in the way, when wearing it, but can fold out to be a full guard=

Great video! And yes, please show us those new Japanese swords.

Spot on!

All the width and taper aside, this Royal Armoury sword clearly has quite massive, chonky pommel with those lobes protruding a lot, undoubtedly adds a lot of weight, and changes the dynamics of the sword in motion. Would be interesting to compare how much the weigh of the blades themselves only differ between the longsword and the saber, because the pommel alone certainly looks heavier than entire sabre hilt. EDIT: Kind of nevermind, should have waited till the end. XD But still point stands.

I am a chef, have been for a long time. There are In my world different blades to do their specific jobs and are good. Mass and balance for the specific jobs makes a great deal of difference. I want my heavy knives for carrots; I want my Japanese knife for proteins

This topic reminded me of a Twitter thread that I read a few years ago of someone critizising a Falchion vs Katana video of some sort. I have no proof nor doubt that the video was likely bull but regardless, something that picked my interest on the thread was that the author called the Falchion "axe or mace-like" Of course, they also posted a photo of one of those falchions with very flared tips to ilustrate their point but of course, that only proofed that person had never handled a falchion

14:48 "my recommendation to you is: get your hands on as many swords as possible!" Sir, yes sir!

Always awesome content. More Japanese swords please.

Yes please on the Japanese swords. Might it include a survey of the different types as well as polearms?

Any chance of a video on Mensur?

More stuff about japanese swords please!

I'd love to see more about japanese swords!!

Yes I want to see more about Japanese swords!

Matt, I am sorry to go off-topic, but, is there ANY chance of getting the distal measurements of your particular 1788 trooper's sword, just to complete the picture on that? Pretty Please :)

Yes, I would like to see more about Japanese swords.

Does anyone know the longsword in the thumbnail? It looks beautiful.

Is there a descent side sword which people have found is well constructed and are quite accurate to the original pieces?

Yes, please make a video about Japanese swords as well. To my untrained eye, all katanas look the same - so one would expect them to feel the same.

Sadly many sword manufacturers are guilty of giving minimal or no specs for swords. Even specs can be misleading but they definitely help more than no information.

Falchion= the single edge version of the typical medieval arming sword

So that last one you talked about was a light saber?

when you say hollow ground for the falchion, do you mean the edge or the point? as the hollow ground is not the strongest edge geometry (as i understand it and have experience with cutting with knifes however i have not tested hollow ground things much), and hitting bone and with how thin, i have heard a lot of falchions are hollow ground the edge geometry they would roll do to not having enough support. So you would want a concave edge like the 'apple seed edge' on the primary blade. But the clip i can see not matter as much. Is there a book i can use to learn a bit more about falchions in? i like the look of them and want to try my hand at forging a few.

Nothing educates like experience.

Would you agree that anti armor swords often are quite adept at 1v1 dueling ? Often longer, thinner in profile, with nimble tips, weighed closer to the hand making them quicker, cut "good enough" to have an effect on unarmored opponents, stiffer for thrusts etc.

Yes please to more on Japanese blades. And - Kukris/Kukhuris if you feel so inclined.

Would love more antique swords (including the Japanese ones)!

Yes, the more variety the better

I ordered a custom katana last year. It's beautiful, perfectly made, silicon manganese spring steel, perfect finish, all the details just right. It handles like a 4 foot long, 1/2 drive breaker bar. Feel is everything.

Any chance of a vid on the "riding sword". I can't find much info on them but it seems to be a cruciform shortsword. Sort of a short arming sword/long quillon dagger. The one piece of info I've found called them a self-defence weapon for knights in civilian life. But I'm not sure of any of those details and I've never seen a vid discussing them at all. Could all cruciform shortswords be rightfully called a riding sword? Making it a classification like arming sword? Or is it more specific? If that isn’t the general term for a cruciform shortsword, is there one?

@lalli8152

Жыл бұрын

How i have seen the term been used its not necessarily even short sword. Even something like just regular arming sword could be riding sword. How i have seen the term is kinda like knights or some person like that sword that they carry in their regular life sort of is often called riding sword, but i have no idea if thats actually true

@RainMakeR_Workshop

Жыл бұрын

@@lalli8152 That's why I'd like someone like Matt to give their input. As someone educated and experiences with swords and their history, I figure he might be able to clear things up a bit. I know most sword classifications are modern, but even so it would be nice to know what defines a riding sword and why the term even exists if its just an arming sword. I also kinda hope it is the term for a cruciform shortsword as it bugs me that we jump from dagger to arming sword. It just feels like there should be a more widely used categorical term for the inbetween shortswords.

@lalli8152

Жыл бұрын

@@RainMakeR_Workshop I have seen though the later period swords also called that with the more complex hilts not just the cruciform type called that. Like now as i was Googlin this it took to some museum that has labeled their sword riding sword (reitschwert) reitschwert is just riding sword in german its german sword originally. Looks like fancy decorated sword with complex hilt. I really hope as well to hear what Matt would say what it is

@superrobotmonkeyhyperteamf3194

Жыл бұрын

Riding swords in short are for the most party just longswords or "bastard swords". Riding swords because their grip is shorter "one and half" so it doesnt get in the way of using the horse. And often especially in the renaissance they tend to get quite heavy up to 2 kg with a broad blade probably for better cutting against footsoldiers. Its possible that later on the term means something different but riding sword is at least in two sources cited to belong to the group of longswords.

@RainMakeR_Workshop

Жыл бұрын

And these comments alone prove why I want Matt's input. So far a riding sword is a shortsword, an arming sword, a complex hilt sword and a bastard sword lol.

Oh this sabre is pretty light You could call it a lightsabre

Cool.

If that falchion is a replica, anyone knows who made it?

yes more Japanese swords content please!

Yes please more about Japanese swords

What's the sword in the thumbnail? Cause, damn, it looks nice

the stats says more then. how anything looks. their is some cars that got a sportscar look. but with that engine, weight and that point of balance. it´s not going to go anywhere fast and arn´t going to be nible.. then you got the sleepers. for those who don´t know what to look for. It kind of looks like your avrage car. but they have brutal stats.

Might be that I haven't used headphones for a while, but with that thick collar clip microphone there seems to leave a lot of background noise in there. Lovely bird noises, but would rather not have that and the passive low rumble in the background!

@beepboop204

Жыл бұрын

first world problems at its finest

He talks pretty expressively with his hands. If I held swords and talked about them as much as he does, I would at times forget I was holding a sword or misjudge it's position relative to my other arm and I would probably be missing several fingers and my wrists would have scars all over them.

More Japanese swords too please !

Yes to japanese sword videos 😊

Instead of katanas, how about "civilian arms" in Asia? Thinking about medival Europe and how wide spread was the dagger, does anyone have any good materials about how this looked in East and Southeast Asia?

Yes, really looking forward to a talk about variety in handling of Japanese swords.

It’s largely the same with machetes. I have bought a couple without being able to hold them first, and regretted it. They looked great, but handled like a hammer.

I would love to see more about Japanese swords. And African swords. And Indian swords. And Chinese swords. And European swords. And-

This straight, pointy Falchion is simply a beautiful sword. Oh, Japanese, yes please! ⚔

Yeah I'd like to see the Japanese swords or Indian or Philippine or smallswords