The closest (but still not exact) replicas of the Two-Handed Maciejowski Bible Chopper Crusader Sword/Falchion that I've been able to find so far are available at: www.bytheswordinc.com/p-4666-two-hand-functional-medieval-chopper-sword-sg-2213.aspx www.outfit4events.com/eur/product/5729-two-handed-falchion-maciejowski/ I wish the presenter would have included a link to where he obtained it from, as it's a really neat weapon.
The best advice I've heard is to get two knives and tie them to your arms. That way when you are turned into a zombie, you can mindlessly hack at the living more efficiently.
I think my favorite part about this video is that you don't have multiple edits per sentence. Your flow and comfort on video is refreshing and engaging and your lack of "um"s and "er"s is likewise very respectable and adds to the confidence the audience can have in what you have to say on the topic. Not to mention your obvious background and expertise. Well done.
Interesting, I've been thinking of buying an upholstered couch like that but I've been wondering about the maintenance. The other day I was checking out a few designs, there's just something about the retro aesthetic that I kind of like.
I'd go with something that goes with a shield. You can make a light, transparent, hell even bulletproof plastic shield today convenient enough to carry around.
Exactly. Modern police riot shields are stronger and lighter than medieval wooden shields and also transparent, giving you full visibility. Ideal for a zombie apocalypse!
Idk the scariest part of zombies is their relentless determination and when their are mobbing under mobbing conditions shield kinda just acts like a giant handle for a few zombies to grab onto to slow you down.
If you have a group of people, shields are great. The Romans held off much higher numbers of armed and clever humans with shield formations. A dozen+ people ranked up and turtled behind shields could do serious work against a mass of zombies. Use a light short sword or dagger to stab zombies over time without wearing yourself out. Spears in the back ranks. It’s what I would do in a group.
Many modifications on a bat do weaken it or make it more heavy then its worth, best thing to do is get a cheap but effective modification, ie knife blade into a wooden bat, not likely to get stuck, it’s got the range of a bat and effectiveness of a knife but is inherently weaker, you get the pattern
"Falchion sucks, its 2 handed and only does 2d4 pff" My Half-Orc Cleric/Fighter used a Falchion. He had the Destruction and Murder domains, I believe. Murder gives you Keen Edge at level 7. You have to understand that once you reach a certain point in the game your damage dice matter a lot less than your criticals and your overall bonus damage. 15-20 crit range is very useful in Pathfinder where critical rules are take maximum possible damage roll and roll again. His crowning moment was blending a purple worm to pieces from the inside out after he was swallowed. It was looking like a fairly real possibility that the worm was going to wipe the party as well.
Why Falchions are good at the zombie apocalypse 1) Durable 2) Will still kill even when blunt 3) You can use it to break windows and doord 4) Your can use it to chop wood
Most falchions have a relatively thin blade made for chopping squishy targets. Not so good for chopping wood, the blade would likely be damaged quickly. For the all-around tool/weapon, a messer, machete or thick edged falchion would be awesome : )
I know it isn't a sword but a poleaxe is a bad ass weapon against zombies. Get armored up and have two bible choppers and shields guys to funnel the zombies into your death zone and you can mow them down. I am always surprised that people don't at the very least make duct tape armor during a zombie apocalypse even if it is just your forearms and wear some sort of gloves. Heh.
Hello. I have my grandsons train with a gladius in one hand AND a tomahawk in the other, against 'the woods giant', which is an oak log, with crossarms attached, swinging from a rope. This site is on a slight slope with lots of trip hazards. I expect 3 whacks per log swing. Tomahawk chops, pulls, pushes, and blocks... the sword chops, cuts, stabs, and blocks. Why the Gladius? Hallway, doorway, close quarters limit the arc of longer swords. Run a long sword into a rib age, body drops twisting. You are open at that moment to the pressing horde of zombies! Mundane weapon: ballpeen hammer. Less gore. Cheers.
The first sword i thought of for a zombie apocalypse was the Gladius, since i was following the same train of thought as you were with the "better machete, close quarters fighting" etc. But what would work even better in my opinion, are a Falchion or even more a Falcata. Especially a Falcata would have the necessary impact power but retain a higher speed than an axe. But i must say, i would probably prefer your final choice over mine, awesome video! :D
How about a boar spear and cutlass? I know its not a sword, but seems like using something designed to keep something at a distance would be a good start. And much better point control on spears.
Spears keep people at a distance because they don't want to be stabbed. Zombies don't care. They'll keep advancing even if you skewer them and if there are several (they usually swarm in numbers) you won't have time to extract the spear to stab again...
@Re nato I agree regarding cutting swords like falchions and axes, especially when used with a shield to protect your left side and hands. Maille armour would also be helpful to prevent bites and cuts/stratches. If you're rich enough to afford some kind of plate armor you could opt to use a polearm instead but the plate would slow you down when trying to run away. I suspect there might be modern combat mesh materials which are as strong as chainmail but lighter, so could me fashioned into a modern, lighter form of mail, but modern military body armor obviously focuses on stopping bullets or shrapnel instead, so I don't think it would be useful against zombie bites.
Perfect anti-zombie blade: The ginunting Thank you for the video! However, we should not forget that a) zombies are terminated for good by destroying the brain/chopping of the head b) often show up in huge masses. The perfect blade form for the zombie apocalypse needs to address these two issues. Backward curved blades, like the beautiful 1796 LCS, deal devastating cuts, but severing a head remains a hard thing to do, as you rightfully pointed out. Cutting into a skull with enough depth of penetration to destroy the brain is not easy, either. On the other hand, cutting into a skull or smashing it in (with a pick or axe) always carries the danger of getting one's weapon stuck, which can become a severe problem, if more than one zombie is faced. The perfect blade form against zombies therefore is the Filipino ginunting. The ginunting (many don't know this) was developed during a smaller zombie plague in Northern Luzon in the early 19th century. Its forward curved tip turns the slash into a stab, thus allowing for maximum skull penetration, while at the same time solving the problem of weapon retention. It is short enough to be used one-handedly, allowing for the use of a gun in the second hand, and to be carried as an EDC item. No weapon is of use if you don't have it on your body when the undead rise. panabas.de/blades.html
History teaches everything you want to know. The legionaries had to march incredible distances, carrying all of their fighting and surviving equipment and still be able to engage in a fight at any time. Being so, one can infer that the tower shield, with a gladius hispaniensis and 3 pila would be the way to go. The pilum can work as a javelin or as a medium spear, if you need distance. The gladius and the shield speak for themselves. And, if you manage to get a motorcycle helmet, legs and arms protection, you become the threat to zombies and people alike. Not the opposite.
I'd like to point out that is a maintz gladius, which in my opinion was the most practical and useful gladius the roman empire ever issued. don't get a pompeii gladius, you will die. I would still rather get a kopis or falcata, but I would sooooo carry a shield. in the immortal words of Gobber the Belch, "If you must make a choice between a sword or a shield, take the shield."
I will be honest, the bible cutter took me by surprise. I didnt expect you to pull out such a fitting weapon for a zombie apocalypse. That is a sword that any sword newbie can swing it and chop limbs and heads, it is Tough (odds are you will break before it) and you can carry it around quite comfortabily. 9/10 Really liked your pacing and choises, seems I will subscribe hah
Falcata gets my vote. Blade design just screams power cuts and its length seems perfect for the distance you'd likely be in. Plus I wouldn't have qualms using it as a utility tool either.
Actually quite surprised that the Chinese Dao was not mentioned, allot of the broad variants are not unlike an in-between of the beefiest falchions and cutlasses.
Personally I am really surprised that I have never seen people mention Viking short axe or tomahawk as a zombie weapon. It is short, light, agile, reliable and easy to maintain. You can even forge one yourself from a railroad spike. On top of that, use a small shield, doesn't need to be the huge Viking shield, even something as small as a buckler is really good. Good thing about shield is you can bash and stun the zombies with it without much danger, and then land an easy kill blow. Or when you are trying to run past lots of zombies, you can just power push them to the side, without a lot of danger of getting gabbed. I am surprised how seldom people think shields when it comes to fighting zombies, it's a remarkably good piece of weapon and really easy to obtain too.
LOL!!! Fuck having a sword in a zombie apocalypse!! Give me a 4 foot length of 3/4" rebar. I don't need to worry about maintaining a cutting edge or blade warpage. And the rebar will literally smash through any walking corpse with ease.
True that being said an aluminum baseball bat will do that good a bit better! But ofc useing something like a Saber and a Pistol on off hand is some scary shit and has some style points!
Want an overlooked antizombie weapon? Grab a 4-5 foot broom handle, put a nail on the point and sharpen it into a small spear. You can effortlessly stab through fences, gates, small windows, etc, for base defence.
(Without having seen the video yet) Personally, I'd go with some kind of a saber or arming sword and a buckler. They're kinda best all-around weapons - not too long, but still with a decent reach; not too heavy, but still very capable. Apart from blocking, the buckler can also be used for punching. As for the protection, I'd use chainmail (doesn't impede mobility too much, yet resistant to biting and scratching even if very thin wire is used) and maybe a visored sallet.
Just pick up a hammer. Pointy end for armors, blunt end for bashing skulls. Affordable (chances are, you already have one or two at home), versatile, and no maintenance nor sharpening needed.
The only problem I have with swords in this zombie apocalypse scenario is practicality and efficience! A sword, mace or spear would add weight that is only useful if you are in combat - remember that you need to carry all your stuff! Axes however are good enough weapons while still usable as tools. Therefor my weapon of choice would be a shepherd's axe!
In all honesty, I think a sword would not be the best weapon at all for the zombie apocalypse. It has an edge which has to be maintained, and which, once lost, seriously impairs the effectiveness of the sword. You have to get through the skull, and repeatedly cutting through bone is going to take its toll. A mace or a warhammer would be a better weapon for that use. They're not actually heavy at all, there's no edge to maintain, and since they were designed to injure men in armor, they'll crush skulls like eggshells. They'll be effective against living people (and you can target, and break, arms, legs, ribs, etc.) as well, and while you can't fence with them, lets face it, you're not going to be meeting many skilled swordsmen that would require you to do so anyway, even if you had a sword.
That bible chopper, or really any thick blade, doesn't need a sharp edge to get the job done. You could cut someones head off with the edge of a road sign if swung hard enough. And if you're going with a smasher like a warmace, a tire iron or just a steel pipe would do the same job against unarmored people. With the bonus of you can find either at any hardware store, autoparts store/garage, or big department stores like Walmart.
In the military, we quickly learned that a sharpened entrenching tool make a very effective hand-to-hand weapon. It is short, durable, and can cause deep slashes if not sever limbs. Decapitation may be required to kill a zombie, but if you can't get to the head or neck in the first swing, a good chop to the limbs can weaken or cripple a zombie, giving you a better opportunity to dispatch it at a lower risk.
I have added ZomPoc to my Christmas wish list, and I certainly hope that some of your discussion was taken directly from the book! This has got to be your most quotable video made yet. “The rapier just sucks…it does look cool though.” “Fear is a factor; and Zombies have no fear.” “But the Zombie does not actually stay at distance. They charge right at you.” “How many people get bitten in the hands by Zombies? A lot.” “…you could dual-wield, because that’s the kind of thing that gets you going.” “The zombies, hopefully, aren’t armed.” “It might look the way an Orc would build a Katana” -Nick Thomas, 2016 I fully expect your citation count to triple following this. =)
i love listening to these videos while i work. great background noise and its kind of fascinating to listen to someone who knows what they're talking about
Monosteel Katana. Easier to carry than long sword. Tougher than long sword. Less issue with edge alignment and getting stuck. More mass behind the cut.
I think in this case ts more abot the ability of weapon maintenance so imo an axe or a knife or a spear would be good. I mean mankind has forged the wheels, the carts, the campfires, the houses, and all those things and we started with the axe, knife, and spear. And to be honest you dont NEED a metal weapon to crack a skull, this is a walking corpse you're talking. So i suggest ya'll take the time to learn how to make a stone axe. Trust me this skill will come in real handy.
The best melee weapon would probably be a war pick with a meter or so long handle. Can be used as a short polearm, keeping you at enough distance to be safe, but short enough not to get in the way. The most important part would be the fact that picks can easily pierce the skull.
I've actually been wanting to get a Maciejowski Bible falchion for a while but I don't know where the best ones are since there's hardly any reviews for them. The Baltimore Knife And Sword Godenak looks pretty decent but are there better options?
I haven't seen those models sorry. It was so long ago that I cannot remember the smith that made my one, but this reseller seems to sell them. They are cheap and robust, through there are prettier examples out there. www.outfit4events.com/eur/product/5729-two-handed-falchion-maciejowski/
These all look fantastic, I'll have to wait a while, though, because I recently bought the Medici falchion from Arms & Armor, but as soon as I have the money I'll be getting one of these.
What about a Katana made with a softer mono steel construction instead of the tradition construction? I feel like the handling and other characteristics of a katana, outside of the long term durability issues, are fantastically suited for a zombie apocalypse. You could get around the durability issues by getting a modern mono steel katana made with something like 1060 or 6150 steel.
If I was going to go with a katana I would choose go with a through-hardened spring steel in a specialized goza cutter configuration, and probably a ko-katana at that. You would end up with a durable weapon, optimized for heavy cutting, and proportioned for close quarter combat. I think it may out perform a gladius in a zombie apocalypse circumstance.
katana arent that great they are deisgned with the poor steel of japan in mind, a tachi has more cutting power and less resistance due to a thinner blade. the best for the zombie apocalypse would probably be a conyer style falchion, shadiversity has a video series on them check it out. they are extremely thin razor sharp blades.
I don't know what you are basing your assessment on, but I actually have a couple of these swords and can attest that they are about as tough as you can make a length of sharp steel and amazingly capable of cutting flesh and bone. I have done destructive cutting tests against steel oil drums, old SCA helmets and shields, and a variety of pig, cow, and deer remains. In my experience the profile of the specialized goza cutter is superior to the more traditional katana, and optimally heat-treated 9260 spring steel is more resistant to damage than any other steel alloy I have tested.
I would argue a good equipment set up would be a Polish saber that is much like the 1796 cavalry saber, paired with a kindjal/quama for the offhand or to be used as more of a tool; kindjals are very much like the gladius, and were used in the south like seaxes were in the north. Past this having a nice solid fighting knife as well as a viking style bearded hand axe, which are actually very lively and easy to use, not like other axes. Assuming I have a horse i would probably also have a composite bow for shooting and either a Naginata or Dane axe as a chopping polearm. That would prbably be my ideal equipment.
Wait wait wait. Why do we assume that short is good? Wouldn't you want to keep a safe distance at all costs? Their body fluids are their weapon. And it's not like finding the best weapon against a dagger, because a human selecting a dagger would attempt to rush you immediately and cross the perimeter where he's out ranged in a dash. Zombies not so much. Just pick a halberd, poke them back to safety, trip them with the hook, spike them to the skull, next one.
JakotaDelk Delk A weapon that can thrust effectively can be much more useful in a closed space than some cutlass that you actually couldn't use in a hallway. Enclosed space just ensure that you don't get surrounded, a situation which makes thrust oriented weapon inadequate.
I don't agree with the cutlass, or a halberd. If they happen to get to close a halberd becomes useless. An arming sword or something similar would be a better choice, in my opinion. You can thrust effectively, slash, hold by the blade and bash with the handguard, and break skulls with the pommel if your real close. All the halberd has on that is it's better at thrusting and it's range, which can become useless fast.
JakotaDelk Delk I have a feeling like the real most efficient weapon against zombies is antiseptics and several layers of clothing and face protection. And maybe a pickaxe.
a short poleaxe would probably be better because 1, you get a bit of distance between you and an undead body (think of the fluids and spatter -- not healthy to be exposed to up close -- something most people don't think about with zombies) 2, an axe head, thrusting blade and spike would be at your disposal depending on the threat. Probably close quarters, a kukri would be great as well.
Best weapon in a damn zombie apocalypse is a bow. Arrows are easy to make. With training you get a decent rate of fire. Good for hunting, good for PvP, good for Zombies. Zero noise, arrows can be made somewhat easily if you know how to do it. And a good bow can certainly kill a zombie.
Rui Lourenço A bow!? that the worst weapon you can choose. You only got just about 30 arrows as much, so you should be centain that there is less than 30 zombies around and you can't go picking the arrow every time you shoot, for that reason use a melee weapon, and if you don't want to miss all the time or broke arrows you will need a good arrow and those aren't so easy to make, keep in mind that the arrow need to penetrate the cranial cavity to kill a zombie. Also you have to prepare the arrow then aim before shoot, if you are surounded by two zombies youre dead, bows are useless for close combat. For secondary weapon I would choose a powerful slingshot with heavy bullets made of lead, metal balls that you can find on any vehicle or just rocks.
yomauser Why would I be fighting more than 30 zombies. That's dumb. If my plan in a zombie apocalypse involves 1v30 a zombie horde, then it is a bad plan. I'd rather be sneaky about it. Avoid crowds, use the bow as a silent handgun to help clear rooms if I need to forage. I'd rely on traps and warnings to detect large incursions on my shelter and get the hell out of dodge.
Rui Lourenço Of course you can always know and choose with how many zombies you will encounter... (sacarsm) _..to help clear rooms if I need to forage.._ And that is exactly the worse use that you can do with a bow. You have restricted movements and escape routes. It probably would take only one zombie, behind a forniture that you didn't saw, to kill you ;)
Among bladed weapons I vote for a stout bowl guard naval cutlass. Convenient to carry, head splitting power, punching ability, and excellent hand protection to avoid bites. I'd carry a buckler for the off-hand. Offensive ability is important to put down the zombie, but fending-off is almost more important. I'd raid a sporting goods store for hockey leg and arm pads, and gloves. Anything of the sort to make it more difficult for them to bite me. And clearly, the hand weapons are backup. Ten 40-round magazines of .223 ammunition and an AR-15 would help keep zombies at a much safer distance, so that a cutlass didn't need to come out.
As soon as you brought up the gladius I gave this video a thumbs up. Clearing modern buildings doesn't offer up alot of space which would make the gladius shine. If I had to choose melee weapons for a zompoc my first choice is a spear for out in the open, as combat closes in a gladius and shield. A smaller viking type axe as backup and for survival. And lastly a rugged survival belt knife, mostly just for day to day living but in extreme desperation can be used in combat. Enjoyed the video. Good synopsis.
I'd go with either a Gladius, khopesh or even a sivkle sword. Good chopper and turn it around and you have a point you can swing with instead of stab. More power to get through a skull.
I was surprised that you didn't mention a monosteel katana - it has all the physical advantages of a katana while being just as durable (possibly moreso due to being extra thick) as any other sword.
It would be a lot cooler if you didn't contradict your own points by saying that fighting against other swords is a disadvantage for one, but doesn't matter for another...
Considering the lack of armour in zombies and the need to cut heads probably a scimitar, curved saber or any curved broad dao would be a good choice. However depending on where you are in the world, during a zombie apocalipse no one had predicted you would need to take whats nearby or easy to make. Probably axes would be the norm or try to make a simple sword by putting an edge into some piece of metal as a kind of han-dao like sword or the swords in the series The 100 that are pretty much recycling of other things that were sharpened. The best scenario would be to have a long rage and short range weapon. A spear, sword and knife if the monsters aproach too much.
the most common useful weapons you're going to find in a ZA are machetes and axes. and better yet, you can take these tools/weapons and practice using them right away...because nothing sucks more than having the greatest weapon in the world and not knowing which end to hold it.
I would recommend A thick bastard sword myself. It's got optional one or two handed capabilities, less likely to break and large enough to deal some decent damage.
@Academy of Historical Fencing Very good video! My guess is that for an overall "Book of Eli", "The Walking Dead" scenario, I would imagine that among the best choices are a kind of Bolo machete/short sword like Denzel Washington had/used, and/or a Chinese Dao, or a Roman style Gladius or Greek Xiphos. These are all shorter swords, so you are sacrificing a bit of reach - but, you gain A LOT of maneurvability. All of these weapons are great at slashing and you can easily thrust with all of these short sword options as well - plus, you can easily pickup modern tactical versions as well. One or more of those babies would be my personal pick!
2 handed spike tipped hammer or mace. No getting the blade stuck in a skull, able to poke (through fences etc...), good for cracking nuts and opening beer bottles. I think you get the idea.
A long Cleaver to split the skull is the only purpose in the zombie apocalypse situation. Therefore you are right in one point about that katana it is a back swept blade and thereby meant for slicing and chopping a chopper is all that is necessary as you are not looking at slicing through flesh you are looking at chopok through bone
Yatagan possibly best zombi apocalypse sword imho. Perfect chopper, can take out any limb with a swing, even head, easy to carry, quicks, very very light, modeately sized generally around 60-70cm.
I'd prefer a "ginunting". It's light., Easy to build shelter with can be used to thrust due to a pointy blade , curved enough to make wood cutting and neck chopping easier. Even if you don't have enough force the curve will push zombies aside. Not to mention how easy it is to use in tight quarters. It's designed for quick movements . Oh and there did occur a zombie outbreak sporadically in the Philippines but they were mostly rabies outbreaks as old native inhabitants believed that drinking fresh blood from a black dog will cure ailments. So it wasn't rare that entire villages would drink fresh dog blood during epidemics.
clay quenching doesnt mean it wont be springy. chinese record of late ming dynasty mentions that springy spine with a hard edge can be produced from a double quenching. first quench the whole blade then temper it until the steel color turns blue. this produce a whole springy blade. second quench is done by using clay to protect the spine. heat the blade in liquid cast iron very fast. then water quench. liquid cast iron heat the edge very fast to 800 C. because the spine is protect by clay and the heating time is very short, it barely reach 300~400c still within the springy range. thus produce a hard edge with springy spine.
My plan is to use my folded T-10, 13" blade chokuto for zombies because it will be an indestructable brawler for those SHTF times. For the living, I'll use my clay tempered, folded 1095, 17" blade, reverse-edge wakizashi. The blade is significantly more prone to damage, but it will cut down a man with ease.
the best weapon is the big throwing axe not because you are killing a lot with one of these but because some other unnarmed survivor might come around with no weapon and kill a many more zombies with it, 1 throw 51 kills, plus another fellow living human with his own set of skills that will aid you with much worse foes like hunger and disease.
A rapier. Ideally, a titanium one, since it'd be extra lightweight but durable, and it doesn't need to hold an edge anyway. It's basically a one-handed pike.
Nice overview of edged weapons with a bit of a humorous angle. Well done forkeeping a straight face throughout. I'll stick with my Knights Templar Accolade sword and a crossbow or two to keep the zombies at bay.
If I were organizing a group, I would use Roman shield and gladius tactics as the base. They held up well against larger numbers and the crush of close fighting. Add spears to the back ranks so they can contribute to zombie killing. Handguns dispersed among frontline troops, rifle/bow equipped skirmishers ready to hide within formations. I’d keep swords light, maybe even daggers, to keep from tiring out when fighting large hordes. If you are on your own though, the video has all the right advice.
Machetes are usually straight and only curved at the very tip a Cutlass is made for slicing and stabbing it would work excellent against somebody who was alive and did not have more than a machete however for a zombie you're going to swing harder because that their Cutlass was not designed to split skulls
Maybe, a weapon in two hands does have some major advantages too. Reduction of fatigue and leverage significantly. A lot of smaller swords with a two handed grip can be used one handed, like the bible chopper the katana, and this can be a good compromise.
Academy of Historical Fencing id say the one handed weapons hold more advantages. being able to hold a pistol or some other weapon in your free hand is a huge advantage.
kind of fitting that the bible chopper works well with undead creatures
Where did you get that flachen?
Hahahaha!
The closest (but still not exact) replicas of the Two-Handed Maciejowski Bible Chopper Crusader Sword/Falchion that I've been able to find so far are available at:
www.bytheswordinc.com/p-4666-two-hand-functional-medieval-chopper-sword-sg-2213.aspx
www.outfit4events.com/eur/product/5729-two-handed-falchion-maciejowski/
I wish the presenter would have included a link to where he obtained it from, as it's a really neat weapon.
Either that or the next best thing: Kangxi Dao: ruclips.net/video/uTclUGCOpHA/видео.html
@@JSharap because you posted. I just saw my post over 3 years ago. I completely forgot about it
The best advice I've heard is to get two knives and tie them to your arms.
That way when you are turned into a zombie, you can mindlessly hack at the living more efficiently.
this gets me every time.
Ha lol ☺😂
Don't forget to wear a helmet!
Finally, a legit reason to DUAL WIELD!
So basically just turn yourself into Galvarino. Minus getting your hands chopped off by Conquistadors and all that.
Spears spears spears wall of short spears. Easy to make. Absolute versatility
SPARTANS
*H A L B E R D*
I hear ya!
Why not a nagamaki or a naginata
Hard to destroy the brain though
"bible chopper" - cool name
A viking sword would be a real bible chopper
And a Dane axe is an everything chopper.
That other weapon would be Quar 'an chopper. Chop all the religious books. Which other religions have books?
Buddhism has a lot of books. Lot's of different sects. I should really remember this, I just learned it a month ago in global studies XD.
I think my favorite part about this video is that you don't have multiple edits per sentence. Your flow and comfort on video is refreshing and engaging and your lack of "um"s and "er"s is likewise very respectable and adds to the confidence the audience can have in what you have to say on the topic.
Not to mention your obvious background and expertise.
Well done.
LOL you published a survival zombie book AND run a historical fencing club HAHAHAHA that's one like and one sub from me buddy.
Interesting, I've been thinking of buying an upholstered couch like that but I've been wondering about the maintenance. The other day I was checking out a few designs, there's just something about the retro aesthetic that I kind of like.
@moggykirby But hell, 100000 dollars or even more, you'll go bankrupt
I'd go with something that goes with a shield. You can make a light, transparent, hell even bulletproof plastic shield today convenient enough to carry around.
Exactly. Modern police riot shields are stronger and lighter than medieval wooden shields and also transparent, giving you full visibility. Ideal for a zombie apocalypse!
Why no spear and a couple of javelins, or just the spear, if you're good with HEMA, go with the mace
Idk the scariest part of zombies is their relentless determination and when their are mobbing under mobbing conditions shield kinda just acts like a giant handle for a few zombies to grab onto to slow you down.
If you have a group of people, shields are great. The Romans held off much higher numbers of armed and clever humans with shield formations. A dozen+ people ranked up and turtled behind shields could do serious work against a mass of zombies. Use a light short sword or dagger to stab zombies over time without wearing yourself out. Spears in the back ranks. It’s what I would do in a group.
Yes indeed. Shields would become more important than weapons.
Wouldn't putting nails in a bat just reduce the integrity of the wood making it a worse weapon? The nails could also get stuck in a person/zombie.
Many modifications on a bat do weaken it or make it more heavy then its worth, best thing to do is get a cheap but effective modification, ie knife blade into a wooden bat, not likely to get stuck, it’s got the range of a bat and effectiveness of a knife but is inherently weaker, you get the pattern
Based on wide usage in Ww1, this isn't a real issue. He called it a trench club for a reason...
I find that wrapping it in barbed wire is more effective.
Oh, that's what the barbed wire is for... 😆
Were there ever a zombie apocalypse my kendo would suddenly have a practical use.
"MEN MEN MEN MEN MEN MEN MEN MEN MEN MEN"
*F A L C H I O N !*
or a messer, same thing really
Falchion sucks, its 2 handed and only does 2d4 pff
2d4 > 1d8
"Falchion sucks, its 2 handed and only does 2d4 pff"
My Half-Orc Cleric/Fighter used a Falchion. He had the Destruction and Murder domains, I believe. Murder gives you Keen Edge at level 7. You have to understand that once you reach a certain point in the game your damage dice matter a lot less than your criticals and your overall bonus damage. 15-20 crit range is very useful in Pathfinder where critical rules are take maximum possible damage roll and roll again. His crowning moment was blending a purple worm to pieces from the inside out after he was swallowed. It was looking like a fairly real possibility that the worm was going to wipe the party as well.
Why Falchions are good at the zombie apocalypse
1) Durable
2) Will still kill even when blunt
3) You can use it to break windows and doord
4) Your can use it to chop wood
Most falchions have a relatively thin blade made for chopping squishy targets. Not so good for chopping wood, the blade would likely be damaged quickly.
For the all-around tool/weapon, a messer, machete or thick edged falchion would be awesome : )
I know it isn't a sword but a poleaxe is a bad ass weapon against zombies. Get armored up and have two bible choppers and shields guys to funnel the zombies into your death zone and you can mow them down.
I am always surprised that people don't at the very least make duct tape armor during a zombie apocalypse even if it is just your forearms and wear some sort of gloves. Heh.
Poleaxe will exhaust you, if theres a horde
Hello. I have my grandsons train with a gladius in one hand AND a tomahawk in the other, against 'the woods giant', which is an oak log, with crossarms attached, swinging from a rope. This site is on a slight slope with lots of trip hazards. I expect 3 whacks per log swing. Tomahawk chops, pulls, pushes, and blocks... the sword chops, cuts, stabs, and blocks. Why the Gladius? Hallway, doorway, close quarters limit the arc of longer swords. Run a long sword into a rib age, body drops twisting. You are open at that moment to the pressing horde of zombies! Mundane weapon: ballpeen hammer. Less gore. Cheers.
You're damn right that's how an orc would build a katana! That's a monster of a sword fit for a beast!
This is the most important youtube algorithm output of 2020
Gladius, back sword and buckler is best, it was not difficult to carry 2 one handed swords on a belt.
The first sword i thought of for a zombie apocalypse was the Gladius, since i was following the same train of thought as you were with the "better machete, close quarters fighting" etc. But what would work even better in my opinion, are a Falchion or even more a Falcata. Especially a Falcata would have the necessary impact power but retain a higher speed than an axe. But i must say, i would probably prefer your final choice over mine, awesome video! :D
I love falcatas
How about a boar spear and cutlass? I know its not a sword, but seems like using something designed to keep something at a distance would be a good start. And much better point control on spears.
Spears keep people at a distance because they don't want to be stabbed. Zombies don't care. They'll keep advancing even if you skewer them and if there are several (they usually swarm in numbers) you won't have time to extract the spear to stab again...
@Re nato I agree regarding cutting swords like falchions and axes, especially when used with a shield to protect your left side and hands. Maille armour would also be helpful to prevent bites and cuts/stratches. If you're rich enough to afford some kind of plate armor you could opt to use a polearm instead but the plate would slow you down when trying to run away.
I suspect there might be modern combat mesh materials which are as strong as chainmail but lighter, so could me fashioned into a modern, lighter form of mail, but modern military body armor obviously focuses on stopping bullets or shrapnel instead, so I don't think it would be useful against zombie bites.
Perfect anti-zombie blade: The ginunting
Thank you for the video! However, we should not forget that
a) zombies are terminated for good by destroying the brain/chopping of the head
b) often show up in huge masses.
The perfect blade form for the zombie apocalypse needs to address these two issues.
Backward curved blades, like the beautiful 1796 LCS, deal devastating cuts, but severing a head remains a hard thing to do, as you rightfully pointed out. Cutting into a skull with enough depth of penetration to destroy the brain is not easy, either. On the other hand, cutting into a skull or smashing it in (with a pick or axe) always carries the danger of getting one's weapon stuck, which can become a severe problem, if more than one zombie is faced.
The perfect blade form against zombies therefore is the Filipino ginunting. The ginunting (many don't know this) was developed during a smaller zombie plague in Northern Luzon in the early 19th century. Its forward curved tip turns the slash into a stab, thus allowing for maximum skull penetration, while at the same time solving the problem of weapon retention. It is short enough to be used one-handedly, allowing for the use of a gun in the second hand, and to be carried as an EDC item. No weapon is of use if you don't have it on your body when the undead rise.
panabas.de/blades.html
History teaches everything you want to know. The legionaries had to march incredible distances, carrying all of their fighting and surviving equipment and still be able to engage in a fight at any time. Being so, one can infer that the tower shield, with a gladius hispaniensis and 3 pila would be the way to go. The pilum can work as a javelin or as a medium spear, if you need distance. The gladius and the shield speak for themselves. And, if you manage to get a motorcycle helmet, legs and arms protection, you become the threat to zombies and people alike. Not the opposite.
Gengkhis khan army : am i joke to u?
"it's not subtle, it is awesome" I love it
I'd like to point out that is a maintz gladius, which in my opinion was the most practical and useful gladius the roman empire ever issued. don't get a pompeii gladius, you will die. I would still rather get a kopis or falcata, but I would sooooo carry a shield. in the immortal words of Gobber the Belch, "If you must make a choice between a sword or a shield, take the shield."
I wonder if you could end a zombie rightly by unscrewing the pommel from the blade and throwing it at their skull
Naruto Uzumaki nope
It's a poor tactic against non humans to be honest.
Haha you have been watching that Scandinavian guy who talks about swords and weapons .
Haha end everyone rightly do what ever it takes .if it works use it .just win .take care everyone .
I will be honest, the bible cutter took me by surprise. I didnt expect you to pull out such a fitting weapon for a zombie apocalypse.
That is a sword that any sword newbie can swing it and chop limbs and heads, it is Tough (odds are you will break before it) and you can carry it around quite comfortabily.
9/10 Really liked your pacing and choises, seems I will subscribe hah
Falcata gets my vote. Blade design just screams power cuts and its length seems perfect for the distance you'd likely be in. Plus I wouldn't have qualms using it as a utility tool either.
Actually quite surprised that the Chinese Dao was not mentioned, allot of the broad variants are not unlike an in-between of the beefiest falchions and cutlasses.
Personally I am really surprised that I have never seen people mention Viking short axe or tomahawk as a zombie weapon. It is short, light, agile, reliable and easy to maintain. You can even forge one yourself from a railroad spike. On top of that, use a small shield, doesn't need to be the huge Viking shield, even something as small as a buckler is really good. Good thing about shield is you can bash and stun the zombies with it without much danger, and then land an easy kill blow. Or when you are trying to run past lots of zombies, you can just power push them to the side, without a lot of danger of getting gabbed. I am surprised how seldom people think shields when it comes to fighting zombies, it's a remarkably good piece of weapon and really easy to obtain too.
LOL!!! Fuck having a sword in a zombie apocalypse!! Give me a 4 foot length of 3/4" rebar. I don't need to worry about maintaining a cutting edge or blade warpage. And the rebar will literally smash through any walking corpse with ease.
True that being said an aluminum baseball bat will do that good a bit better! But ofc useing something like a Saber and a Pistol on off hand is some scary shit and has some style points!
You have down to earth practical videos/ideas. Very useful👍.
Chinese war sword would be a good choice.
The Gladiator sword was already my fav, powerful and fast, but I’m impressed with that Bible Chopper, very handy
11:11 I thought that a zombie was about to enter the room. Fortunately you have many swords to choose :)
Want an overlooked antizombie weapon? Grab a 4-5 foot broom handle, put a nail on the point and sharpen it into a small spear. You can effortlessly stab through fences, gates, small windows, etc, for base defence.
(Without having seen the video yet) Personally, I'd go with some kind of a saber or arming sword and a buckler. They're kinda best all-around weapons - not too long, but still with a decent reach; not too heavy, but still very capable. Apart from blocking, the buckler can also be used for punching. As for the protection, I'd use chainmail (doesn't impede mobility too much, yet resistant to biting and scratching even if very thin wire is used) and maybe a visored sallet.
Just pick up a hammer. Pointy end for armors, blunt end for bashing skulls. Affordable (chances are, you already have one or two at home), versatile, and no maintenance nor sharpening needed.
The only problem I have with swords in this zombie apocalypse scenario is practicality and efficience!
A sword, mace or spear would add weight that is only useful if you are in combat - remember that you need to carry all your stuff!
Axes however are good enough weapons while still usable as tools.
Therefor my weapon of choice would be a shepherd's axe!
Dani F True but if you're in an urban environment a hammer may be a more practical tool.
A good hatchet and machete are probably the most versatile tools to carry.
Axes have the hazard of lodging in the zombie skull!
Bardiche
BardicheBardiche
Machete is hands down the best for the simple fact you can find them every where and can replace broken ones often.
In all honesty, I think a sword would not be the best weapon at all for the zombie apocalypse. It has an edge which has to be maintained, and which, once lost, seriously impairs the effectiveness of the sword. You have to get through the skull, and repeatedly cutting through bone is going to take its toll. A mace or a warhammer would be a better weapon for that use. They're not actually heavy at all, there's no edge to maintain, and since they were designed to injure men in armor, they'll crush skulls like eggshells. They'll be effective against living people (and you can target, and break, arms, legs, ribs, etc.) as well, and while you can't fence with them, lets face it, you're not going to be meeting many skilled swordsmen that would require you to do so anyway, even if you had a sword.
That bible chopper, or really any thick blade, doesn't need a sharp edge to get the job done. You could cut someones head off with the edge of a road sign if swung hard enough.
And if you're going with a smasher like a warmace, a tire iron or just a steel pipe would do the same job against unarmored people. With the bonus of you can find either at any hardware store, autoparts store/garage, or big department stores like Walmart.
Span a rope in a narrow path + lure zombies to trip over it + Finish them of with sharp pole-weapon = Profit
In the military, we quickly learned that a sharpened entrenching tool make a very effective hand-to-hand weapon. It is short, durable, and can cause deep slashes if not sever limbs.
Decapitation may be required to kill a zombie, but if you can't get to the head or neck in the first swing, a good chop to the limbs can weaken or cripple a zombie, giving you a better opportunity to dispatch it at a lower risk.
I have added ZomPoc to my Christmas wish list, and I certainly hope that some of your discussion was taken directly from the book! This has got to be your most quotable video made yet.
“The rapier just sucks…it does look cool though.”
“Fear is a factor; and Zombies have no fear.”
“But the Zombie does not actually stay at distance. They charge right at you.”
“How many people get bitten in the hands by Zombies? A lot.”
“…you could dual-wield, because that’s the kind of thing that gets you going.”
“The zombies, hopefully, aren’t armed.”
“It might look the way an Orc would build a Katana”
-Nick Thomas, 2016
I fully expect your citation count to triple following this. =)
Realistically you wouldn't want to use a sword you would want some sort of war hammer like a Indian war club or maybe a Viking axe
And here I was expecting a sabre to be your final recommendation!
Bible Chopper!!!!!! or a 1796 for style
i love listening to these videos while i work. great background noise and its kind of fascinating to listen to someone who knows what they're talking about
Gonna have to go with a Scottish Baskethilt Broadsword.
I would go with a sgian dubh
@Colin Cleveland no fucking clue, I don't even remember what that is
Monosteel Katana. Easier to carry than long sword. Tougher than long sword. Less issue with edge alignment and getting stuck. More mass behind the cut.
I think in this case ts more abot the ability of weapon maintenance so imo an axe or a knife or a spear would be good. I mean mankind has forged the wheels, the carts, the campfires, the houses, and all those things and we started with the axe, knife, and spear. And to be honest you dont NEED a metal weapon to crack a skull, this is a walking corpse you're talking. So i suggest ya'll take the time to learn how to make a stone axe. Trust me this skill will come in real handy.
이치고 an axe is a good weapon for use against any ones head there light fast and cut deep .
This is awesome! Very well thought out!!
kilij or the falcuta?????
grosse or lange messer
Monty Bigbore I suggest both well if it's your opinion
The best melee weapon would probably be a war pick with a meter or so long handle. Can be used as a short polearm, keeping you at enough distance to be safe, but short enough not to get in the way. The most important part would be the fact that picks can easily pierce the skull.
Also it could be carried around as a walking stick, using it to poke bodies to make sure they're actually dead and shit.
I've actually been wanting to get a Maciejowski Bible falchion for a while but I don't know where the best ones are since there's hardly any reviews for them. The Baltimore Knife And Sword Godenak looks pretty decent but are there better options?
I haven't seen those models sorry. It was so long ago that I cannot remember the smith that made my one, but this reseller seems to sell them. They are cheap and robust, through there are prettier examples out there.
www.outfit4events.com/eur/product/5729-two-handed-falchion-maciejowski/
Try this guy, he has a very good reputation: artofswordmaking.com/
Academy of Historical Fencing made by fabri-armorum.com/english/?id=tesaky.php
These all look fantastic, I'll have to wait a while, though, because I recently bought the Medici falchion from Arms & Armor, but as soon as I have the money I'll be getting one of these.
Ah yes, I should have remembered that. They mostly make heavy re-enactment beaters, but that makes them well suited to constructing a falcion :-)
I would think a short cutlass would be idea. It seems like the most versatile weapon/tool.
What about a Katana made with a softer mono steel construction instead of the tradition construction? I feel like the handling and other characteristics of a katana, outside of the long term durability issues, are fantastically suited for a zombie apocalypse. You could get around the durability issues by getting a modern mono steel katana made with something like 1060 or 6150 steel.
double post
If I was going to go with a katana I would choose go with a through-hardened spring steel in a specialized goza cutter configuration, and probably a ko-katana at that. You would end up with a durable weapon, optimized for heavy cutting, and proportioned for close quarter combat. I think it may out perform a gladius in a zombie apocalypse circumstance.
katana arent that great they are deisgned with the poor steel of japan in mind, a tachi has more cutting power and less resistance due to a thinner blade. the best for the zombie apocalypse would probably be a conyer style falchion, shadiversity has a video series on them check it out. they are extremely thin razor sharp blades.
Zen Hydra the specialized goza cutter wouldn't be very good against flesh and if you came up against other humans with swords you'd have an issue.
I don't know what you are basing your assessment on, but I actually have a couple of these swords and can attest that they are about as tough as you can make a length of sharp steel and amazingly capable of cutting flesh and bone. I have done destructive cutting tests against steel oil drums, old SCA helmets and shields, and a variety of pig, cow, and deer remains. In my experience the profile of the specialized goza cutter is superior to the more traditional katana, and optimally heat-treated 9260 spring steel is more resistant to damage than any other steel alloy I have tested.
I would argue a good equipment set up would be a Polish saber that is much like the 1796 cavalry saber, paired with a kindjal/quama for the offhand or to be used as more of a tool; kindjals are very much like the gladius, and were used in the south like seaxes were in the north. Past this having a nice solid fighting knife as well as a viking style bearded hand axe, which are actually very lively and easy to use, not like other axes. Assuming I have a horse i would probably also have a composite bow for shooting and either a Naginata or Dane axe as a chopping polearm. That would prbably be my ideal equipment.
Wait wait wait.
Why do we assume that short is good? Wouldn't you want to keep a safe distance at all costs? Their body fluids are their weapon. And it's not like finding the best weapon against a dagger, because a human selecting a dagger would attempt to rush you immediately and cross the perimeter where he's out ranged in a dash. Zombies not so much. Just pick a halberd, poke them back to safety, trip them with the hook, spike them to the skull, next one.
GregTom2 until you are in a closed space
JakotaDelk Delk A weapon that can thrust effectively can be much more useful in a closed space than some cutlass that you actually couldn't use in a hallway.
Enclosed space just ensure that you don't get surrounded, a situation which makes thrust oriented weapon inadequate.
I don't agree with the cutlass, or a halberd. If they happen to get to close a halberd becomes useless. An arming sword or something similar would be a better choice, in my opinion. You can thrust effectively, slash, hold by the blade and bash with the handguard, and break skulls with the pommel if your real close. All the halberd has on that is it's better at thrusting and it's range, which can become useless fast.
JakotaDelk Delk I have a feeling like the real most efficient weapon against zombies is antiseptics and several layers of clothing and face protection.
And maybe a pickaxe.
GregTom2 and guns
"It's not subtle, it is awesome
what about sword for Trump Apocalypse?
Just invoke his name, it makes people break out in a case of "the literal shakes".
You don't.
You want to use a hammer in the Trumpocalypse. That way you can break through the ludicrous number of walls everywhere.
Sean Peery HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!
a short poleaxe would probably be better because 1, you get a bit of distance between you and an undead body (think of the fluids and spatter -- not healthy to be exposed to up close -- something most people don't think about with zombies) 2, an axe head, thrusting blade and spike would be at your disposal depending on the threat. Probably close quarters, a kukri would be great as well.
I wouldn`t choose a sword in an apocalypse, but the video is about swords, only.
Best weapon in a damn zombie apocalypse is a bow. Arrows are easy to make. With training you get a decent rate of fire. Good for hunting, good for PvP, good for Zombies. Zero noise, arrows can be made somewhat easily if you know how to do it. And a good bow can certainly kill a zombie.
Rui Lourenço
A bow!? that the worst weapon you can choose. You only got just about 30 arrows as much, so you should be centain that there is less than 30 zombies around and you can't go picking the arrow every time you shoot, for that reason use a melee weapon, and if you don't want to miss all the time or broke arrows you will need a good arrow and those aren't so easy to make, keep in mind that the arrow need to penetrate the cranial cavity to kill a zombie. Also you have to prepare the arrow then aim before shoot, if you are surounded by two zombies youre dead, bows are useless for close combat.
For secondary weapon I would choose a powerful slingshot with heavy bullets made of lead, metal balls that you can find on any vehicle or just rocks.
yomauser Why would I be fighting more than 30 zombies. That's dumb. If my plan in a zombie apocalypse involves 1v30 a zombie horde, then it is a bad plan. I'd rather be sneaky about it. Avoid crowds, use the bow as a silent handgun to help clear rooms if I need to forage. I'd rely on traps and warnings to detect large incursions on my shelter and get the hell out of dodge.
Rui Lourenço Of course you can always know and choose with how many zombies you will encounter... (sacarsm)
_..to help clear rooms if I need to forage.._ And that is exactly the worse use that you can do with a bow. You have restricted movements and escape routes. It probably would take only one zombie, behind a forniture that you didn't saw, to kill you ;)
Among bladed weapons I vote for a stout bowl guard naval cutlass. Convenient to carry, head splitting power, punching ability, and excellent hand protection to avoid bites. I'd carry a buckler for the off-hand. Offensive ability is important to put down the zombie, but fending-off is almost more important. I'd raid a sporting goods store for hockey leg and arm pads, and gloves. Anything of the sort to make it more difficult for them to bite me. And clearly, the hand weapons are backup. Ten 40-round magazines of .223 ammunition and an AR-15 would help keep zombies at a much safer distance, so that a cutlass didn't need to come out.
I will agree with the back sword for the basket Hilt on it and you are functional for both living and dead opponents
A montante would be a huge pain to carry, but it would be quite fun to watch in action.
That falchion was a badass
As soon as you brought up the gladius I gave this video a thumbs up. Clearing modern buildings doesn't offer up alot of space which would make the gladius shine. If I had to choose melee weapons for a zompoc my first choice is a spear for out in the open, as combat closes in a gladius and shield. A smaller viking type axe as backup and for survival. And lastly a rugged survival belt knife, mostly just for day to day living but in extreme desperation can be used in combat.
Enjoyed the video. Good synopsis.
I'd go with either a Gladius, khopesh or even a sivkle sword. Good chopper and turn it around and you have a point you can swing with instead of stab. More power to get through a skull.
I was surprised that you didn't mention a monosteel katana - it has all the physical advantages of a katana while being just as durable (possibly moreso due to being extra thick) as any other sword.
A briquet or a cutlass,all the advantages of a sword,the control of a saber,and the uses of a machete.
Come on Nick, we all know that the best sword for a zombie apocalypse is the spadroon.
It would be a lot cooler if you didn't contradict your own points by saying that fighting against other swords is a disadvantage for one, but doesn't matter for another...
Considering the lack of armour in zombies and the need to cut heads probably a scimitar, curved saber or any curved broad dao would be a good choice. However depending on where you are in the world, during a zombie apocalipse no one had predicted you would need to take whats nearby or easy to make. Probably axes would be the norm or try to make a simple sword by putting an edge into some piece of metal as a kind of han-dao like sword or the swords in the series The 100 that are pretty much recycling of other things that were sharpened.
The best scenario would be to have a long rage and short range weapon. A spear, sword and knife if the monsters aproach too much.
the most common useful weapons you're going to find in a ZA are machetes and axes. and better yet, you can take these tools/weapons and practice using them right away...because nothing sucks more than having the greatest weapon in the world and not knowing which end to hold it.
I would recommend A thick bastard sword myself. It's got optional one or two handed capabilities, less likely to break and large enough to deal some decent damage.
@Academy of Historical Fencing Very good video! My guess is that for an overall "Book of Eli", "The Walking Dead" scenario, I would imagine that among the best choices are a kind of Bolo machete/short sword like Denzel Washington had/used, and/or a Chinese Dao, or a Roman style Gladius or Greek Xiphos. These are all shorter swords, so you are sacrificing a bit of reach - but, you gain A LOT of maneurvability. All of these weapons are great at slashing and you can easily thrust with all of these short sword options as well - plus, you can easily pickup modern tactical versions as well. One or more of those babies would be my personal pick!
The problem with the zombie apocalypse isn't the dead but the living.
Orc Katana is perfect, I instantly thought an Uruk master craftsman would make that blade
2 handed spike tipped hammer or mace. No getting the blade stuck in a skull, able to poke (through fences etc...), good for cracking nuts and opening beer bottles. I think you get the idea.
A long Cleaver to split the skull is the only purpose in the zombie apocalypse situation. Therefore you are right in one point about that katana it is a back swept blade and thereby meant for slicing and chopping a chopper is all that is necessary as you are not looking at slicing through flesh you are looking at chopok through bone
What about a basket-hilted backsword? I'd choose that; hand protection + cutting capacity + melee range.
Tomahawk, knife, staff and sling... not only are they all quite effective weapons but they're all useful tools as well.
Yatagan possibly best zombi apocalypse sword imho. Perfect chopper, can take out any limb with a swing, even head, easy to carry, quicks, very very light, modeately sized generally around 60-70cm.
I'd prefer a "ginunting". It's light., Easy to build shelter with can be used to thrust due to a pointy blade , curved enough to make wood cutting and neck chopping easier. Even if you don't have enough force the curve will push zombies aside. Not to mention how easy it is to use in tight quarters. It's designed for quick movements . Oh and there did occur a zombie outbreak sporadically in the Philippines but they were mostly rabies outbreaks as old native inhabitants believed that drinking fresh blood from a black dog will cure ailments. So it wasn't rare that entire villages would drink fresh dog blood during epidemics.
I'd pick a Polish szabla. When you master the the rolling cuts you can get very up close and personal.
“I use a greatsword because I’d like to keep my opponent far enough from me where I can strike him and he can not strike me”
so Gladius + a gun would be a great all roud setup XD
clay quenching doesnt mean it wont be springy. chinese record of late ming dynasty mentions that springy spine with a hard edge can be produced from a double quenching. first quench the whole blade then temper it until the steel color turns blue. this produce a whole springy blade. second quench is done by using clay to protect the spine. heat the blade in liquid cast iron very fast. then water quench. liquid cast iron heat the edge very fast to 800 C. because the spine is protect by clay and the heating time is very short, it barely reach 300~400c still within the springy range. thus produce a hard edge with springy spine.
My plan is to use my folded T-10, 13" blade chokuto for zombies because it will be an indestructable brawler for those SHTF times. For the living, I'll use my clay tempered, folded 1095, 17" blade, reverse-edge wakizashi. The blade is significantly more prone to damage, but it will cut down a man with ease.
Very intelligent and thorough analysis. I agree. Great presentation.
The "Bible Chopper" is indeed interesting.
I would take a lightsaber on a zombie apocalypse.
the best weapon is the big throwing axe not because you are killing a lot with one of these but because some other unnarmed survivor might come around with no weapon and kill a many more zombies with it, 1 throw 51 kills, plus another fellow living human with his own set of skills that will aid you with much worse foes like hunger and disease.
yes, finally someone has given the bible chopper it's props
A rapier.
Ideally, a titanium one, since it'd be extra lightweight but durable, and it doesn't need to hold an edge anyway.
It's basically a one-handed pike.
'Bible Chopper' ...yes!
Nice overview of edged weapons with a bit of a humorous angle. Well done forkeeping a straight face throughout. I'll stick with my Knights Templar Accolade sword and a crossbow or two to keep the zombies at bay.
If I were organizing a group, I would use Roman shield and gladius tactics as the base. They held up well against larger numbers and the crush of close fighting. Add spears to the back ranks so they can contribute to zombie killing. Handguns dispersed among frontline troops, rifle/bow equipped skirmishers ready to hide within formations. I’d keep swords light, maybe even daggers, to keep from tiring out when fighting large hordes. If you are on your own though, the video has all the right advice.
i would say a seax or a falchion, short but heavy blades with excellent cutting power.
Machetes are usually straight and only curved at the very tip a Cutlass is made for slicing and stabbing it would work excellent against somebody who was alive and did not have more than a machete however for a zombie you're going to swing harder because that their Cutlass was not designed to split skulls
I'm halfway through and I think a Gladius would be the winner
During a zombie apocalypse, someone would be lucky to break into a museum and loot a meteorite blade? Where can I even buy those?
I love this video for ALL of the reasons, and so very British! Cheers from the states mate!
I feel as though a Falcata or a Yataghan could deliver some decent blows as well, given their forward-curved nature.
one important thing to keep in mind is that it should be one handed. having a free hand to hold a pistol, knife etc can be a big advantage.
Maybe, a weapon in two hands does have some major advantages too. Reduction of fatigue and leverage significantly. A lot of smaller swords with a two handed grip can be used one handed, like the bible chopper the katana, and this can be a good compromise.
Academy of Historical Fencing id say the one handed weapons hold more advantages. being able to hold a pistol or some other weapon in your free hand is a huge advantage.
Yeah, I'm not one-handing a pistol. That's an excellent way to not hit anything.
a nice selection, and while i was missing the swordspear, overall it was a good selection and conclusion imo ^^ well done =)