In all fairness, he already has one video taking about a spadroon that doesn't suck from October 2015. watch?v=w1jhBfE5QiI ...That's when things started going wrong.
I know you don't usually do cutting videos, but it would be interesting to see the cutting and thrusting power of various swords shown in example/comparison. Cheers!
So in short, spadroons are good when they're arguably not spadroons. It's good to have CONTEXT for these titles that make me wonder if Matt's evil twin took over without us knowing.
I think you'd like the CSA model. It's more like a broadsword, but a bit lighter with a spadroon style hilt. My grandfather has one that has a blade that (if the story is true) came from a "Scottish broadsword" and was ground down to make it shorter and lighter before retempering. Stiffer and heavier than the Union models I've handled but definitely lighter than a cavalry sabre or a Highland broadsword/backsword. I have minimal fencing education, but it feels nice in the hand to me and I can move the point around quite nicely. I used to steel it and go to the barn and poke apples that I hung from the ceiling. lol
Matt, I don't care what anyone else says, your editing skills are *on point*. Someone should nominate you for a BAFTA or a webby or something for best editing.
The Academy of Historical Fencing also made a custom 1796 pattern Spadroon trainer. They found it was a fun sword to spar with, as you didn't have to worry about the disadvantages of the actual blade.
This seems more like the sword which McBane and Hope called a spadroon or shearing sword, and the Germans called a Haudegen (shearing sword), which others would call a Walloon sword. The one you're holding seems to line up with what Nick from AHF says about infantry Walloon swords, in that they had solid shell guards instead of pierced, lacked the thumb-ring, and had a slightly shorter blade than other Walloon swords.
I believe that in the French military, all ranks got training in fencing for sport and exercise, but also for combat. Jean-Louis Michel, a famous master, served in the ranks and in fact refused a commission. So the NCO carrying these swords would very likely be quite skilled in using them.
Edges are good for more than just cutting. Edges can be used to help block and parry blows from wooden weapons like polearms and muskets. The edge will bite into the wood aiding blocks and paries. Just a theory about why spadroons needed an edge for military use.
They're pretty terrible, at least the officers ones. The ergonomics and hand protection are really really good though. It's like they took the ergonomics of a fencing epee, and forgot to give it a stiff blade.
Some people would hate me for saying this, but my impression is that they were overly concerned with salle fencing, and not having to use swords very often in combat (no colonies in Asia or suchlike) they just forgot what proper blades need to function.
I think you're probably right. I even did a video comparing it to a fencing smallsword I have from castille armoury, and its more flexible than a training smallsword. It's nuts. It really does look like the just had no idea how to make a functional blade
What an interesting channel and knowledgeable host. I went looking for a form of sword to make out of wood for my two young grandsons and ended up here. They both will receive a replica medieval arming sword (correct term?) for Christmas after viewing the two boys doing sword battle with sticks against bushes and occasionally each other.
Hello Matt -- thanks for the videos as always -- As an American Revolutionary War Re-enactor in a Loyalist Unit (Officer King's Royal Regiment of New York) do you have any suggestions for what sword I should be carrying -- our Battalion was raised from the loyal farmers and tenants of Sir John Johnson - 2nd Baronet of New York and more specifically my company was made up of 50 Scottish men Loyal to John Scotus (Spanish John) McDonnell. The rolls are not overly specific.. for Provincial Battalions so any insight would be helpful. Cheers, Loyally Yours Scott
It's assumed you have access to pizza if you have access to a pizza cutter. I'd suggest sharing the pizza and not being such a greedy bugger trying to keep it all for yourself. Unless of course it's anchovies, then you can have the whole damned thing, you crazy person!
If you said a spadroon is a "smallsword which can cut" most people would probably get the idea. Since spadroon more or less refers to a whole family of similar light infantry swords, it's an apt description. But it doesn't deal with the huge variety that would still fall under that descriptions. In my experience, the best "smallsword which can cut" would be single-edged, relatively stiff and have a somewhat broad blade. It's not an infantry sabre. It's not a smallsword. It's somewhere between the two and carries the advantages and disadvantages of both. To call it a shorter, straighter infantry saber would also get the point across. EDIT: Okay, so the French 1816 pattern is pretty much what I was describing. Huh...
Thanks for the video. "If a blade is only as wide as this, you can't make it into a good cutter so why try?" I'll give you this is nearly true. You didn't give the dimensions but it looks like at the base it'll be a bit wider than the khopesh which was certainly a good cutting design (and according to Thegn Thrand a good thruster as well, though that's hard to believe.) But it's not really just the edge-to-edge narrowness but also the length and weight and the property of having a good stiff thrusting point... that thrusting blade is a robust design resulting from millennia of trial and error as well as focused analytical thought. It's very difficult to add anything without taking something else away. The one you show here, it looks like they added a little weight to the basic design which allowed them to bring functional cutting edges out, but you still don't seem to think it can cut, I assume because of balance? What do you think about the khopesh? Why did that design fall so completely out of use?
Hey Matt, ever had a chance to play around with an albertina? ( Sardinian officers sword from the 1830s) I've got one with a nearly identical blade to the one you're showing there, but they have a really interesting hilt.
A sharpened edge is still of importance on thrusting swords because it assists in cutting its way into the target during penetration. A sharp-edged thrusting sword is much less likely to be stopped up by heavy fabrics, for instance, as the sharp edges progressively slice their way through the material as the wound channel is enlarged.
This is certainly true with wider blades. With a smallsword it really makes little difference, as the blade is so narrow. That's why most smallswords are triangular in cross-section and not sharp at all on the edges. In that case stiffness is far more important than an edge (a big difference against knives, which are all very stiff anyway because they are short).
Rigidity definitely trumps sharpness, but triangular smallswords would still see their penetrating ability improved by the use of sharp edges. See hollow triangular machinist's scrapers for a good example of a sharpened triangular cross section that manages to make the total geometry of the flanges thin compared to a solid triangle.
Arguably that really depends on the blade profile. If the blade is mostly parallel-sided then only the very tip would need to be sharp on account of the rest of the blade being in the umbra of that tip geometry. However, because you don't want to over-penetrate, either, it would be sensible to only have the region of the blade intended to enter the target sharpened. Only the last 8" or so would really see any benefit, but all the same when dealing with heavy fabrics that advantage can really be pretty significant. Especially given that the stopping power of a thrust is improved if the section of the wound channel is larger and withdrawing the blade will also be easier if it can "cut" its way back out .
If you watch the first episode of The Civil War by Ken Burns, at time mark 1:06:52, you'll see two soldiers posing for a picture with swords crossed. Guy on the left has a saber, guy on the right has what looks like a spadroon. What's so interesting is how far back they hold their guard position. Maybe they're just amateurs or needed to squeeze in to make the photo work, but it's very different from the "modern" saber guards you often talk about. Much closer to your description of medieval and Renaissance guard positions. Wish I could share a screenshot in the comments here!
I do expect good spadroons can be found on the continent, partly because Mc Bane said we used the a lot, partly because samples I've seen have the right cross section, although I couldn't handle them to verify.
I like that Sword, I have no idea like you. Said why they went back to a model like the 1796. However, concerning the edge on a thruster. There is only OnePlus that I would have some sort of an edge on a thruster. And that would be to keep somebody from grabbing a whole lot of it and yanking it out of your hand because when they grab it, you would be able to pull it back out of their hand and lacerate. Then pretty severely
Hey Matt - I appreciate what you've tried to do with the cuts back to previous videos about spadroons, but I think the transition you've used is a bit long and clunky. A simple fade might be more effective. Also, instead of overlapping the two clips, you might want to put them side by side in order to eliminate the period in which you talk over yourself, or fade out/in the audio.
I did feel like I recognized that sword, but not from American history - I recognize it because it's very nearly the spitting image of the model of 1701 "drabantvärja", used by Swedish life-guard household troops who served and protected members of the aristocracy. The 1701 has a few cosmetic differences like a slightly more curved guard and a less pronounced central ridge, but is otherwise very, very similar.
I've been looking at and wondering about that leaf-bladed spear (partizan?) in the background for a long time. It may not be able to carry a video on its own, but I'd be interested to learn more about it (assuming he hasn't already made a video about it).
Excuse me Mr. Easton, but, what sword is the one at your right, the first beetween the flag and the cabinet? Nice videos, I really enjoy your knowledge!
Even if a thin sword can't cut well you can still use it as a iron rod to bash and bruise. As recent tests by Matt, Skallagrim and Thegn Thrand have shown thick clothing, like some military uniforms, is better at cutting defense then commonly thought (movies, CRPGs, RPGs). Adding that to what Matt says here a poor cutter Spadroon is even less effective. As Matt says might as well have gone for the thrust.
Great video as always, Matt! I know it's not in your usual line of swords but could you do a video on kampilans? I understand completely if this request gets ignored but I figured hey, it's worth a shot.
I need a shirt covered with Matt-isms, with hits such as "It's better to be good at something, than to be good at nothing" and obviously something about penetration. Keep doing what you do, Matt!
The blade on this "spadroon" looks intimidating and more robust indeed ! Matt Could you please talk more about mounted combat ! This topic is not well covered by HEMA instructors on youtube . Thanks in advance :)
What's the narrowest blade that achieves decent cutting? Single edged is certainly at an advantage here. However, I was really surprised what the AWE-ME channel achieves with their "revolutionary sword". It looks to me like a spadroon, but I guess the blade is too thick (in tapering) and heavy.
As a Yank, I gotta ask, are you ever gonna do any American swords (I know you did the cold steel marines but I mean "real" i.e. historical swords. Just a thought. Would be curious as I know so many of ours are as you say ripoff of the French but in your opinion do we have any original designs? Maybe the Patton "sabre"?
Nice video Matt, you left me wanting to hear more about this type of "smallswordish spadroon". Could it be compared to McBane's or Wylde's smallswords? I mean, with the smallswords of that time.
I would love to see the 1882 blade with a more traditional hilt. Both nice looking weapons though. Speaking of smallswords and spadroons, does anyone make good practice versions these days? Also are there any translated manuals for them? I would love to get into that sort of practice.
It may not be a great cutter, but surely some cutting ability is better than none in a military sidearm? And wouldn't some sacrifice of thrusting ability be worth some gain in cutting ability? In a close quarters fight with a boarding party of Barbary corsairs, I'd be more likely to slash that pirate across the face than bury my sword up to the hilt in his chest.
The same happens in the civilian world: some kid's daddy pays for him to go to Oxford for four years and his first job he's put higher on the chain than the old guy who's worked his way up from the bottom with 40 years experience. *Noncommissioned Officer* = Old guy who has worked up to middle management: even with his vast experience in the industry will never make anything higher than middle management. *Commissioned Officer* = kid right out of business school, starting in middle management all the way up to CEO.
Cutting edges on a thrusting sword will make it difficult to grab the blade and wrenching th e blade around in the wound after penetration will do more immediately lethal damage. So in my view it does not have to chop off limbs to be useful.
I'm Spanish and i've got a problem naming the spadroon, we call espadín the triangular bladed smallsword, florete is a foil and the fencing sword is basically the sport item that don't cut. What I'm most inclined to call that a ropera/rapier even if it's small for rapiers and it don't have the hild of rapiers. Can I if in Spanish don't have a single word for that? Some people call florete all strongly trusting centered swords even if they have blade witch i considere it wrong.
Is that a question? The answer is: Never! Tip: When you move something close to the camera, try putting piece of card behind the object to let the auto-focus have a closer background to focus on.
I'm curious why that sword having an edge is unique? Estocs also make me question this. I get it's meant to primarily thrust, if you can put an edge on it to give it some cutting ability, even if it's poor at cutting, doesn't the versatility make it worth doing? Assuming of course it doesn't detract from the swords primary focus of thrusting, Which i'm assuming it wouldn't, but maybe i'm wrong?
I have a sword very much like this one! I bought it from an antique seller, the only difference is that the hilt is slightly tilted upwards (and a little loose) and had a grenade symbol etched on it. Some people have said it might've belonged to an artillery officer, would that make sense?
Matt, with what technique does one fence with a Schiavona? Saber? (As it was mainly a cavalry sword) Rapier? (Seems unlikely... But I've once heard of such a description as a "Heavy cavalry rapier", describing the swords rhe Carolean cavalry, which appeared, to only have a slíghtly narrower blade than schiavonas. So it isn't unthinkable, I suppose?) Or broadsword? (As it is a relatively broad, double edged sword. And has a basket hilt, therefore being sóme sort of basket-hilted broadsword? No?)
Using it as a basket-hilted broadsword would make sense, yes. But at the same time, considering when and where they were mainly used (17th century Central Europe, stretching from Venice (where they próbably were msde first) all the way to the Dutch Republic,), it seems unlikely that cavalrymen would've used them like... For example a Scottish basket-hilted broadsword. (Which came into "fashion" about half a century later than when the Schiavona's first appeared.) Or am I thinking weirdly here?
is that sword at least sharp enough to do a push / draw cut if need be . or is the edge only slightly sharpened to reduce blade profile to add in the thrust
Hi matt! Can you do a video on yataghan bayonets and their spread in the third quarter of the XIX century in europe? Why they had so much success an then they where abandoned so fast?
Hi Matt, I recently wondered why the halberd was such a common weapon for guards. I mean they were not fighting against people in armor so much. So I thought that a spear would probably is a better weapon in a civilian context because it's lighter and got more reach in general. So is there any practical reason for guards using halberds, or is it because it looks more dangerous or something?
So, couldn’t someone take a blade off of something like an LK Chen Jian, mount it on a hilt similar to the spadroon one that you’re holding, and create a sword that both cuts and thrusts excellently? Looking at the blade widths and weights, they seem very similar.
what was the typical tactics used when heavy cavalry would fight heavy cavalry? If they simply charged in and hacked att eachother they would lose the speed advantage of the horse but some famous cavalry forces like hussars and templars was famous for beating much greater mounted forces. I have been trying to find out but som far I have had no succes, please anyone help me out.
"When is a spadroon good? When it's not really a spadroon!"
That is the goodest spadroon you have shown us so far.
Of all of the good ones, I do think it is the most gooder.
*most goodest
Better keep the language correctest here. ;-)
The Bester
@@Aeiouuoiea777that's actually a really good name for one
Matt likes a spadroon! The end is nigh!
In all fairness, he already has one video taking about a spadroon that doesn't suck from October 2015.
watch?v=w1jhBfE5QiI
...That's when things started going wrong.
Run away! Run away!
Lakewood Ed yes let us follow Brave sir Robin who chickened out And buggered off
Quick, somebody call Mett Euston from scoalacafeteria. He needs to see this video and give his expert opinion.
Matt Easton is now more Mett Euston than Mett Euston... sheeeyt jus gott reel yo
I fel yor pen, m8.
biro end tin off baked beans r stil eh bettr wepon since teh british armee usis dem innit
Quick release Mett Euston ! oh wait I'll summon him *Spodroon, Spodroon, Spodroon!*
Fuk sayke, whaaaat??
huv ye sen dat gluttery shurt?????
Who are you and what have you done with Matt Easton?!
context :P
Truly it must be the evil twin Mett. Matt would absolutely have poked the sword through his palm without noticing 'til there was blood everywhere.
its been awhile since ive seen mett in the comments.
Likes a spadroon, and used bad English (gooder), I think that's a good sign that he's being taken over by Mett Euston.
dat ist actoolee mett euston eeen dis viddya not matt easton
"Yet again"? Yataghan!
I know you don't usually do cutting videos, but it would be interesting to see the cutting and thrusting power of various swords shown in example/comparison. Cheers!
"I can flex it, but it's stiff." - Matt Easton, 2017
"Spadroon" sounds like the name of a cake one serves with afternoon tea.
Always look forward to your videos, they only get gooder and gooder.
Where's Mett Euston? He'll love this.
So in short, spadroons are good when they're arguably not spadroons. It's good to have CONTEXT for these titles that make me wonder if Matt's evil twin took over without us knowing.
I never thought I'd see this title on your channel.
Matt, if you are being held hostage, say "onion" in the next video!
Great channel Matt. I always enjoy watching the videos and I usually learn something.
"why is heavier gooder?" yes. how to engrish
vhat r u talkin aboot? dat ist pefctlee fine english m8
stfu spdnau prfect wepan. da shurshil wourst thank een ww2
I think you'd like the CSA model. It's more like a broadsword, but a bit lighter with a spadroon style hilt. My grandfather has one that has a blade that (if the story is true) came from a "Scottish broadsword" and was ground down to make it shorter and lighter before retempering. Stiffer and heavier than the Union models I've handled but definitely lighter than a cavalry sabre or a Highland broadsword/backsword. I have minimal fencing education, but it feels nice in the hand to me and I can move the point around quite nicely. I used to steel it and go to the barn and poke apples that I hung from the ceiling. lol
"Why is heavier gooder?" Really? Really? I know Engsoc is trying to take over Airstrip One, but calm down with the Newspeak.
Why do you adhere to language goodthink? ;)
Gooders gonna good.
1984
Ingsoc
Matt, I don't care what anyone else says, your editing skills are *on point*. Someone should nominate you for a BAFTA or a webby or something for best editing.
The Academy of Historical Fencing also made a custom 1796 pattern Spadroon trainer. They found it was a fun sword to spar with, as you didn't have to worry about the disadvantages of the actual blade.
Anyone else waiting for Mett Euston to have a field day?
I half expected you to follow up that "When spadroons are awesome" with "...never."
This seems more like the sword which McBane and Hope called a spadroon or shearing sword, and the Germans called a Haudegen (shearing sword), which others would call a Walloon sword. The one you're holding seems to line up with what Nick from AHF says about infantry Walloon swords, in that they had solid shell guards instead of pierced, lacked the thumb-ring, and had a slightly shorter blade than other Walloon swords.
I believe that in the French military, all ranks got training in fencing for sport and exercise, but also for combat. Jean-Louis Michel, a famous master, served in the ranks and in fact refused a commission. So the NCO carrying these swords would very likely be quite skilled in using them.
This is the best meme channel on RUclips.
Edges are good for more than just cutting. Edges can be used to help block and parry blows from wooden weapons like polearms and muskets. The edge will bite into the wood aiding blocks and paries. Just a theory about why spadroons needed an edge for military use.
The blade of the 1871 Italian Cavalry sword is worse than the 1796. It's honestly so flexible it's insane. But the hand guard is good.
I have to say that I am rather unimpressed with most 19th century Italian swords.
They're pretty terrible, at least the officers ones. The ergonomics and hand protection are really really good though. It's like they took the ergonomics of a fencing epee, and forgot to give it a stiff blade.
Some people would hate me for saying this, but my impression is that they were overly concerned with salle fencing, and not having to use swords very often in combat (no colonies in Asia or suchlike) they just forgot what proper blades need to function.
I think you're probably right. I even did a video comparing it to a fencing smallsword I have from castille armoury, and its more flexible than a training smallsword. It's nuts.
It really does look like the just had no idea how to make a functional blade
I think it says a lot that they moved to pipe-backed blades after the British Army had abandoned them as useless for warfare!
Mett Euston! How did you get into Matt's house?!
Hi Matt, could you do a video on the most common guard positions for different sword types?
Man, seeing the side by side shows how much livelier you are in the more recent years.
"There is no fingerings....."
Never thought I would live to see the day.
#notallspadroons
third, yet to watch, always informative
p.s. siege tactics and logn/close combat weaponry, if you have time and patience fot it, up to you really
Do you think zorro used a spadroon
I got my Matt on at 06:00, it's gonna be a good day.
What an interesting channel and knowledgeable host. I went looking for a form of sword to make out of wood for my two young grandsons and ended up here. They both will receive a replica medieval arming sword (correct term?) for Christmas after viewing the two boys doing sword battle with sticks against bushes and occasionally each other.
Fabulous t-shirt, Matt
Hello Matt -- thanks for the videos as always -- As an American Revolutionary War
Re-enactor in a Loyalist Unit (Officer King's Royal Regiment of New York) do you have any suggestions for what sword I should be carrying -- our Battalion was raised from the loyal farmers and tenants of Sir John Johnson - 2nd Baronet of New York and more specifically my company was made up of 50 Scottish men Loyal to John Scotus (Spanish John) McDonnell. The rolls are not overly specific.. for Provincial Battalions so any insight would be helpful.
Cheers,
Loyally Yours
Scott
fun question, how would one defend themselves with a pizza cutter?
It's assumed you have access to pizza if you have access to a pizza cutter. I'd suggest sharing the pizza and not being such a greedy bugger trying to keep it all for yourself. Unless of course it's anchovies, then you can have the whole damned thing, you crazy person!
If you said a spadroon is a "smallsword which can cut" most people would probably get the idea. Since spadroon more or less refers to a whole family of similar light infantry swords, it's an apt description. But it doesn't deal with the huge variety that would still fall under that descriptions. In my experience, the best "smallsword which can cut" would be single-edged, relatively stiff and have a somewhat broad blade.
It's not an infantry sabre. It's not a smallsword. It's somewhere between the two and carries the advantages and disadvantages of both. To call it a shorter, straighter infantry saber would also get the point across.
EDIT: Okay, so the French 1816 pattern is pretty much what I was describing. Huh...
Neat pictures at the end!
"Gooder"
- Matt Easton
Thanks for the video. "If a blade is only as wide as this, you can't make it into a good cutter so why try?" I'll give you this is nearly true. You didn't give the dimensions but it looks like at the base it'll be a bit wider than the khopesh which was certainly a good cutting design (and according to Thegn Thrand a good thruster as well, though that's hard to believe.) But it's not really just the edge-to-edge narrowness but also the length and weight and the property of having a good stiff thrusting point... that thrusting blade is a robust design resulting from millennia of trial and error as well as focused analytical thought. It's very difficult to add anything without taking something else away. The one you show here, it looks like they added a little weight to the basic design which allowed them to bring functional cutting edges out, but you still don't seem to think it can cut, I assume because of balance? What do you think about the khopesh? Why did that design fall so completely out of use?
Never forget that on the battlefield, a basic weapon will get you an upgrade if the skills of the individual concerned are above par !
Hey Matt, ever had a chance to play around with an albertina? ( Sardinian officers sword from the 1830s) I've got one with a nearly identical blade to the one you're showing there, but they have a really interesting hilt.
A sharpened edge is still of importance on thrusting swords because it assists in cutting its way into the target during penetration. A sharp-edged thrusting sword is much less likely to be stopped up by heavy fabrics, for instance, as the sharp edges progressively slice their way through the material as the wound channel is enlarged.
This is certainly true with wider blades. With a smallsword it really makes little difference, as the blade is so narrow. That's why most smallswords are triangular in cross-section and not sharp at all on the edges. In that case stiffness is far more important than an edge (a big difference against knives, which are all very stiff anyway because they are short).
Rigidity definitely trumps sharpness, but triangular smallswords would still see their penetrating ability improved by the use of sharp edges. See hollow triangular machinist's scrapers for a good example of a sharpened triangular cross section that manages to make the total geometry of the flanges thin compared to a solid triangle.
for 2-3 inches, yeah. Not really the rest.
I think the main point was ability to make pull or push cuts to weak parts of the body.
Arguably that really depends on the blade profile. If the blade is mostly parallel-sided then only the very tip would need to be sharp on account of the rest of the blade being in the umbra of that tip geometry. However, because you don't want to over-penetrate, either, it would be sensible to only have the region of the blade intended to enter the target sharpened. Only the last 8" or so would really see any benefit, but all the same when dealing with heavy fabrics that advantage can really be pretty significant. Especially given that the stopping power of a thrust is improved if the section of the wound channel is larger and withdrawing the blade will also be easier if it can "cut" its way back out .
Yeah, that is very true. I had the spadroons and smallswords in mind.
If you watch the first episode of The Civil War by Ken Burns, at time mark 1:06:52, you'll see two soldiers posing for a picture with swords crossed. Guy on the left has a saber, guy on the right has what looks like a spadroon. What's so interesting is how far back they hold their guard position. Maybe they're just amateurs or needed to squeeze in to make the photo work, but it's very different from the "modern" saber guards you often talk about. Much closer to your description of medieval and Renaissance guard positions. Wish I could share a screenshot in the comments here!
Sam Sapirstein with simple hilts such as Stirrup or Walloon hilts, it becomes a necessity to use held-back guards.
I do expect good spadroons can be found on the continent, partly because Mc Bane said we used the a lot, partly because samples I've seen have the right cross section, although I couldn't handle them to verify.
difference in length between a smallsword and a spadroon ? or difference in general , anyone know?
I like that Sword, I have no idea like you. Said why they went back to a model like the 1796. However, concerning the edge on a thruster. There is only OnePlus that I would have some sort of an edge on a thruster. And that would be to keep somebody from grabbing a whole lot of it and yanking it out of your hand because when they grab it, you would be able to pull it back out of their hand and lacerate. Then pretty severely
Hey Matt - I appreciate what you've tried to do with the cuts back to previous videos about spadroons, but I think the transition you've used is a bit long and clunky. A simple fade might be more effective. Also, instead of overlapping the two clips, you might want to put them side by side in order to eliminate the period in which you talk over yourself, or fade out/in the audio.
Anyone else assume this was a Mett Euston video from the thumbnail?
I did feel like I recognized that sword, but not from American history - I recognize it because it's very nearly the spitting image of the model of 1701 "drabantvärja", used by Swedish life-guard household troops who served and protected members of the aristocracy. The 1701 has a few cosmetic differences like a slightly more curved guard and a less pronounced central ridge, but is otherwise very, very similar.
I've been looking at and wondering about that leaf-bladed spear (partizan?) in the background for a long time. It may not be able to carry a video on its own, but I'd be interested to learn more about it (assuming he hasn't already made a video about it).
Excuse me Mr. Easton, but, what sword is the one at your right, the first beetween the flag and the cabinet?
Nice videos, I really enjoy your knowledge!
Even if a thin sword can't cut well you can still use it as a iron rod to bash and bruise.
As recent tests by Matt, Skallagrim and Thegn Thrand have shown thick clothing, like some military uniforms, is better at cutting defense then commonly thought (movies, CRPGs, RPGs). Adding that to what Matt says here a poor cutter Spadroon is even less effective. As Matt says might as well have gone for the thrust.
Great video as always, Matt! I know it's not in your usual line of swords but could you do a video on kampilans? I understand completely if this request gets ignored but I figured hey, it's worth a shot.
"NCOs? Soldier, NCOs aren't born. They reproduce by fission." A soldier in a book I read
It's actually a nice looking design.
thats a cool t-shirt, Matt
I need a shirt covered with Matt-isms, with hits such as "It's better to be good at something, than to be good at nothing" and obviously something about penetration.
Keep doing what you do, Matt!
The blade on this "spadroon" looks intimidating and more robust indeed !
Matt Could you please talk more about mounted combat !
This topic is not well covered by HEMA instructors on youtube .
Thanks in advance :)
do you have a fever
What's the narrowest blade that achieves decent cutting? Single edged is certainly at an advantage here. However, I was really surprised what the AWE-ME channel achieves with their "revolutionary sword". It looks to me like a spadroon, but I guess the blade is too thick (in tapering) and heavy.
From what I saw, the cutting falchion is very thin but also very wide in profile. To cut through thick gambeson
As a Yank, I gotta ask, are you ever gonna do any American swords (I know you did the cold steel marines but I mean "real" i.e. historical swords. Just a thought. Would be curious as I know so many of ours are as you say ripoff of the French but in your opinion do we have any original designs? Maybe the Patton "sabre"?
How could you not like a weapon with a name like that?
I had to look outside to see if the end of the world has come when I saw the name of this video.
Could you talk about Pickaxes as a weapon for combat?
Great video. I cannot see the blade cross section; is it triangular like a small sword? Thanks!
Nice video Matt, you left me wanting to hear more about this type of "smallswordish spadroon". Could it be compared to McBane's or Wylde's smallswords? I mean, with the smallswords of that time.
Gooder?
Yep, gooder.
When you name it needle and train as a faceless man.
Matt is the first SPADROONPHOBIC
Would explain why a sidesword is about twice as thick as a spadroon, being a legitimate balance between cut and thrust.
I would love to see the 1882 blade with a more traditional hilt. Both nice looking weapons though.
Speaking of smallswords and spadroons, does anyone make good practice versions these days? Also are there any translated manuals for them? I would love to get into that sort of practice.
It may not be a great cutter, but surely some cutting ability is better than none in a military sidearm? And wouldn't some sacrifice of thrusting ability be worth some gain in cutting ability? In a close quarters fight with a boarding party of Barbary corsairs, I'd be more likely to slash that pirate across the face than bury my sword up to the hilt in his chest.
The same happens in the civilian world: some kid's daddy pays for him to go to Oxford for four years and his first job he's put higher on the chain than the old guy who's worked his way up from the bottom with 40 years experience.
*Noncommissioned Officer* = Old guy who has worked up to middle management: even with his vast experience in the industry will never make anything higher than middle management.
*Commissioned Officer* = kid right out of business school, starting in middle management all the way up to CEO.
that spadroon guard is kind of disc guard with a knuckle bow
Cutting edges on a thrusting sword will make it difficult to grab the blade and wrenching th e blade around in the wound after penetration will do more immediately lethal damage. So in my view it does not have to chop off limbs to be useful.
Mett Euston, where are you?!
I'm Spanish and i've got a problem naming the spadroon, we call espadín the triangular bladed smallsword, florete is a foil and the fencing sword is basically the sport item that don't cut. What I'm most inclined to call that a ropera/rapier even if it's small for rapiers and it don't have the hild of rapiers. Can I if in Spanish don't have a single word for that?
Some people call florete all strongly trusting centered swords even if they have blade witch i considere it wrong.
Never thought i'd ever hear a native english speaker use the word "gooder". 2:53
Matt stop ruining my exam revision!
Is that a question? The answer is: Never!
Tip: When you move something close to the camera, try putting piece of card behind the object to let the auto-focus have a closer background to focus on.
Matt
what do you think of the 1905 French nco sword? looks to have a duel fuller on both sides ,perhaps a slight weaker guard ???
I'm curious why that sword having an edge is unique? Estocs also make me question this. I get it's meant to primarily thrust, if you can put an edge on it to give it some cutting ability, even if it's poor at cutting, doesn't the versatility make it worth doing? Assuming of course it doesn't detract from the swords primary focus of thrusting, Which i'm assuming it wouldn't, but maybe i'm wrong?
I have a sword very much like this one! I bought it from an antique seller, the only difference is that the hilt is slightly tilted upwards (and a little loose) and had a grenade symbol etched on it. Some people have said it might've belonged to an artillery officer, would that make sense?
Grenadiers probably.
How would you compare something like a spadroon with a colichemarde?
Hey Matt. Here is a question. Why do some swords have slightly curved blades if slight curves doesn't add anything to the cutting ability?
Matt, with what technique does one fence with a Schiavona?
Saber? (As it was mainly a cavalry sword)
Rapier? (Seems unlikely... But I've once heard of such a description as a "Heavy cavalry rapier", describing the swords rhe Carolean cavalry, which appeared, to only have a slíghtly narrower blade than schiavonas. So it isn't unthinkable, I suppose?)
Or broadsword? (As it is a relatively broad, double edged sword. And has a basket hilt, therefore being sóme sort of basket-hilted broadsword? No?)
If anyone else knows... Feel free to tell me of course.
It seems most similar to a broadsword. probably your best bet
It is a basket-hilted broadsword, so you should use it like a basket-hilted broadsword.
Using it as a basket-hilted broadsword would make sense, yes.
But at the same time, considering when and where they were mainly used (17th century Central Europe, stretching from Venice (where they próbably were msde first) all the way to the Dutch Republic,), it seems unlikely that cavalrymen would've used them like... For example a Scottish basket-hilted broadsword. (Which came into "fashion" about half a century later than when the Schiavona's first appeared.)
Or am I thinking weirdly here?
If you think it woul be to early for broadsword-techniques they could also handled them like sideswords.
We want to see spadroons in fencing class, yeh!?
You said officers would sometimes buy their rank, that interesting, could you talk about it some more?
is that sword at least sharp enough to do a push / draw cut if need be . or is the edge only slightly sharpened to reduce blade profile to add in the thrust
Hi matt! Can you do a video on yataghan bayonets and their spread in the third quarter of the XIX century in europe? Why they had so much success an then they where abandoned so fast?
Hi Matt, I recently wondered why the halberd was such a common weapon for guards. I mean they were not fighting against people in armor so much. So I thought that a spear would probably is a better weapon in a civilian context because it's lighter and got more reach in general. So is there any practical reason for guards using halberds, or is it because it looks more dangerous or something?
So, couldn’t someone take a blade off of something like an LK Chen Jian, mount it on a hilt similar to the spadroon one that you’re holding, and create a sword that both cuts and thrusts excellently?
Looking at the blade widths and weights, they seem very similar.
Any boffins know how deep a blade of this length and width would need to be to reach a similar weight to the lighter chopsters?
what was the typical tactics used when heavy cavalry would fight heavy cavalry? If they simply charged in and hacked att eachother they would lose the speed advantage of the horse but some famous cavalry forces like hussars and templars was famous for beating much greater mounted forces. I have been trying to find out but som far I have had no succes, please anyone help me out.