A term used in in the late 17th and early 18th century, here we look at what it meant and why it was so short lived. This is part of an ongoing video series on Sword terminology.
I didn't realize that the backsword would be lighter in the blade than a broadsword (With an equivalent hilt) but it makes sense. Not the sort of thing you can see in pictures, and videos. Thanks for the bonus comparison!
What's the guard on your Shearing Sword called? That one specifically. I have that guard on my 1800-20 British Heavy Cavalry Officer's Spadroon Dress Sword. It's far better than just a shell guard .Would it be a Heart Guard?
They are typically called a boatshell guard and can be found on a mix of spadroon/sheering swords, smallswords and even on some rare sabre examples. Absolutely a beautiful and functional design.
Thanks. I have not done a video specifically abput them though I have often shown an antique I own and talked about it. I will make a video in this series about smallswords and colichemardes specifically in the near future.
Thanks Nick! I have some questions about whether the Shearing Sword may have been a combination of light broadsword and a hilt with thumb ring, providing more leverage over the blade. I assume that your point would be that there would have been a variety of hilts on Shearing Swords, and the hilts didn't define the weapon. Likewise, I've wondered if the late 17th C "Shearing Sword", or Spadroon, may have been on average a more robust weapon than the late 18th C Spadroon, similar to how the transitional small swords of the late 17th C compared to late 18th C swords by the same name
The various swords with thumbrings like walloon type swords are usually more broadswords than sheering swords, though some lighter examples are sheering swords. As to comparing sheering swords to spadroons in terms of robustness, it's very hard to say, though I'd be inclined to say no. There are good and bad examples of every sword, and people like Hope and McBane are clearly picking good examples of the type, whereas later disgust over the 1796 comes from the really bad examples. In fact Hope says a sheering sword blade should be as light as posasible so long as it is stiff and strong, so I'd be inclined to say no. Though the mass production and large scale war of the Napoleonic period did lead to some large scale production and very varied quality.
Hilts are sometimes used to identify the weapon, but that's generally earlier period than mas production military swords, and sabers. This series is generally dealing with the later (Than roughly the Prussian standardization) mass production military pattern swords, and other sidearms. Those are defined by the Pattern. If the Army calls it a Cavalry Saber, and the Navy calls it an Officer's Sword, that's what it is, with slight variations for the different services. So, it really depends for Collectors to Identify (Not define) the particular model. However, in earlier period swords, which were for the most part hand fitted individually, the hilt may define the sword. (Or quite often the Pommel design.)
A question: whilst Walloons sometimes have thumb rings in the hilt, are there any spadroons similarly equipped. Nice video, cleared up this shearing sword malarkey for me nicely. Cheers, Gus
One difficulty in answering that is that Walloon sword is a modern collectors one to describe either one particular type of hilt, or a wider selection of similar ones depending on who you talk to, whereas spadroon is a historical term for mostly a type of blade. So some light walloon swords would be considering sheering swords or spadroons. However, genewrally speaking thumb rings are very rare to find on British swords, and so British made swords we would call sheering or spadroon are not found with thumb rings. I have seen on highly unusual exception to that rule which was a 1780s form of infantry officer spadroon which did indeed have a thumb ring. Overall thumb rings are usually found on large quite heavy cutters such as tessacks, Schiavona, Polish sabres etc. They help leverage the hefty blade (with some trade offs), whereas a spadroon doesn't have that kind of blade heft.
I discuss the Walloon at the end of video. The walloon and other swords similar to it like tbe Mortuary are kind of the origin of the spadroon, though seeing as there was a general trend towards similar hilts its isn't a clear path, and they overlapped. Walloon swords can be defined as sheering swords or broadswords depending on their blade length and weight.
This is something I've wondered an about for a long time, The Swedish 1685 Värja both cavalry and infantry swords a have a Walloon stile hilt, but I've never been able to track down what they would be called outside of Sweden, following various Swedish to English links on Wikipedia is useless at according to Wikipedia Värja can be a rapier, broadsword, smallsword etc etc. But I guess they would be called shearing swords in English for that period 1785/1720? the cavalry 1685 is some times described in Swedish as a hugg(chop/cut) värja probably just describing that's it has a heavier blade making it more effective to cut with than I guess lighter types.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing The one reproduction I've seen is well over 2 pounds. I'm not sure what the surviving ones are like. I think most of them were cut down for naval use.
I'm curious, Hope lists in his "cut and thrust" list the backsword, shearing sword, and "wide three-cornered blade.". What do you feel is the distinction between the wide three cornered blade and the backsword? Is that an instance where, in Hope's mind, hilts do matter, with the backsword being a basket holy and the three cornered blade being a more open holy with maybe just a knucklebow and double shells?
Hope doesn't describe the backsword as having a basket hilt. He describes the three cut and thrust type blades, and then at the end of the paragraph after describing the backsword blade, he says that with combined with a good point and close hilt, is the best sword for war. The three cut and thrust blades are simply defined by how many edges they have. The three cornered is a transgular blade like many smallswords, but with a broader and sharp foible which can cut. Then the sheering is double edged and backsword single. In Hope's time for example, you can find sheering and backswords with identical hilts.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing very interesting and informative as usual.. I have a question about movement in different fencing schools/Styles..what do you think about predominantly linear movement as in British military saber fencing and a more "3d" movement like It seems to me in bolognese sidesword ( Marozzo for saying one) and cross steps straight forward or 45° forward? I'm italian so if there are mistakes I do apologise..
I didn't realize that the backsword would be lighter in the blade than a broadsword (With an equivalent hilt) but it makes sense. Not the sort of thing you can see in pictures, and videos. Thanks for the bonus comparison!
Excellent video thanks Nick!
Great video!
Nick has ascended to the point of looking like Matt Berry
What's the guard on your Shearing Sword called? That one specifically.
I have that guard on my 1800-20 British Heavy Cavalry Officer's Spadroon Dress Sword. It's far better than just a shell guard .Would it be a Heart Guard?
They are typically called a boatshell guard and can be found on a mix of spadroon/sheering swords, smallswords and even on some rare sabre examples. Absolutely a beautiful and functional design.
Make a video on the mortuary hilt sword. Its my favorite type of cut and thrust sword and also in my favorite part of english history.
Thank you again for sharing these definitions with us. I do love this series. Cheers!
"for shearing these definitions"
I'll be here all week.
try the the steak.
I love your content. Have u spoken on colichemarde blades? Its fascinating width at the strong is so cool looking.
Thanks. I have not done a video specifically abput them though I have often shown an antique I own and talked about it. I will make a video in this series about smallswords and colichemardes specifically in the near future.
Thanks Nick! I have some questions about whether the Shearing Sword may have been a combination of light broadsword and a hilt with thumb ring, providing more leverage over the blade. I assume that your point would be that there would have been a variety of hilts on Shearing Swords, and the hilts didn't define the weapon. Likewise, I've wondered if the late 17th C "Shearing Sword", or Spadroon, may have been on average a more robust weapon than the late 18th C Spadroon, similar to how the transitional small swords of the late 17th C compared to late 18th C swords by the same name
The various swords with thumbrings like walloon type swords are usually more broadswords than sheering swords, though some lighter examples are sheering swords. As to comparing sheering swords to spadroons in terms of robustness, it's very hard to say, though I'd be inclined to say no. There are good and bad examples of every sword, and people like Hope and McBane are clearly picking good examples of the type, whereas later disgust over the 1796 comes from the really bad examples. In fact Hope says a sheering sword blade should be as light as posasible so long as it is stiff and strong, so I'd be inclined to say no. Though the mass production and large scale war of the Napoleonic period did lead to some large scale production and very varied quality.
Hilts are sometimes used to identify the weapon, but that's generally earlier period than mas production military swords, and sabers. This series is generally dealing with the later (Than roughly the Prussian standardization) mass production military pattern swords, and other sidearms. Those are defined by the Pattern. If the Army calls it a Cavalry Saber, and the Navy calls it an Officer's Sword, that's what it is, with slight variations for the different services. So, it really depends for Collectors to Identify (Not define) the particular model. However, in earlier period swords, which were for the most part hand fitted individually, the hilt may define the sword. (Or quite often the Pommel design.)
A question: whilst Walloons sometimes have thumb rings in the hilt, are there any spadroons similarly equipped. Nice video, cleared up this shearing sword malarkey for me nicely. Cheers, Gus
One difficulty in answering that is that Walloon sword is a modern collectors one to describe either one particular type of hilt, or a wider selection of similar ones depending on who you talk to, whereas spadroon is a historical term for mostly a type of blade. So some light walloon swords would be considering sheering swords or spadroons. However, genewrally speaking thumb rings are very rare to find on British swords, and so British made swords we would call sheering or spadroon are not found with thumb rings. I have seen on highly unusual exception to that rule which was a 1780s form of infantry officer spadroon which did indeed have a thumb ring. Overall thumb rings are usually found on large quite heavy cutters such as tessacks, Schiavona, Polish sabres etc. They help leverage the hefty blade (with some trade offs), whereas a spadroon doesn't have that kind of blade heft.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing thanks very much for the rapid yet detailed and considered response, much appreciated
but if it has finger rings is it a tapier or a side sword
In your opinion where dose the walloon sword fit since they seem to be realy simular to the sheering sword and are used threwout the 17th century
I discuss the Walloon at the end of video. The walloon and other swords similar to it like tbe Mortuary are kind of the origin of the spadroon, though seeing as there was a general trend towards similar hilts its isn't a clear path, and they overlapped. Walloon swords can be defined as sheering swords or broadswords depending on their blade length and weight.
Do you use any RUclips alternatives? Bitchute, Odysee, Rumble, etc. would benefit from your presence.
Seconded, this sites been on a downward spiral since the first adpocalypse
This is something I've wondered an about for a long time, The Swedish 1685 Värja both cavalry and infantry swords a have a Walloon stile hilt, but I've never been able to track down what they would be called outside of Sweden, following various Swedish to English links on Wikipedia is useless at according to Wikipedia Värja can be a rapier, broadsword, smallsword etc etc.
But I guess they would be called shearing swords in English for that period 1785/1720? the cavalry 1685 is some times described in Swedish as a hugg(chop/cut) värja probably just describing that's it has a heavier blade making it more effective to cut with than I guess lighter types.
They would definitely be called sheering sword or broadsword depending on the length and mass of the blade.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing The one reproduction I've seen is well over 2 pounds. I'm not sure what the surviving ones are like. I think most of them were cut down for naval use.
How is this shearing sword dimensions ?
I'm curious, Hope lists in his "cut and thrust" list the backsword, shearing sword, and "wide three-cornered blade.". What do you feel is the distinction between the wide three cornered blade and the backsword? Is that an instance where, in Hope's mind, hilts do matter, with the backsword being a basket holy and the three cornered blade being a more open holy with maybe just a knucklebow and double shells?
Hope doesn't describe the backsword as having a basket hilt. He describes the three cut and thrust type blades, and then at the end of the paragraph after describing the backsword blade, he says that with combined with a good point and close hilt, is the best sword for war.
The three cut and thrust blades are simply defined by how many edges they have. The three cornered is a transgular blade like many smallswords, but with a broader and sharp foible which can cut. Then the sheering is double edged and backsword single. In Hope's time for example, you can find sheering and backswords with identical hilts.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing very interesting and informative as usual.. I have a question about movement in different fencing schools/Styles..what do you think about predominantly linear movement as in British military saber fencing and a more "3d" movement like It seems to me in bolognese sidesword ( Marozzo for saying one) and cross steps straight forward or 45° forward? I'm italian so if there are mistakes I do apologise..
Is a characteristic of the shearing sword a straight blade?
Yep.
Thanks i know what go look for on scholargladiatoria
Rip. He hasnt done this one yet
I'm here because my dog has to poo. get on lbry