There’s a misconception that the smallsword is the “apex of the dueling sword”. It wasn’t. It anything it pales in comparison to the Rapier, saber, and other weapons with larger guards, longer blades, and better designs. However the smallsword is great for a sword you wouldn’t use often, and would be great against OTHER smallswords. A lot of love for a pretty standard sword no?
welll… it is the apex of the DUELING sword as in it was the sword used during the apex of sword dueling culture. I think you are talking about shear advantage rather than contextual apex. if people said it was the BEST DUELING SWORD i would disagree too, but the smallsword being the apex (meaning the hight) of the dueling swords, thats not necessarily wrong.
Have you ever handled one...I didn't think so! Just another clown with no idea what you're talking about! I have four antique Sabres with 30 to 36 inch blades, one well-made reproduction 43 inch bladed Rapier, an original 31.5 inch bladed Spadroon, a well-made 29 inch reproduction Katana and an original antique French military Smallsword from 1756 with a 34 inch blade. If I were in an enclosed space, such as a tavern or cramped alley way...I'd take the Smallsword every time! It is twice as fast in the hand as every other sword I own. Perfect for the increasingly cramped European cities of the day. If you don't have much room to move around the Smallsword wielder will get inside the reach of your longer or slower blade and kill you! As far as the duel is concerned...it doesn't really matter what weapons you use as long as both participants use the same weapons. It might as well be the lightest, fastest sword you can get. Do you really think the Smallsword would've been almost universally adopted as the sidearm of the day if it put you at a disadvantage in a life or death situation? As the preeminent sidearm of the 18th century...the Smallsword would actually have been the sword MOST often used!
So you say the sword is efficient not by quoting real life documents, but by quoting choreographed movies? Sorry, but that does not fly. Movies are not real life even if they are retelling something that happened in the past. Also Longswords and Rapiers were longer than smallswords. thats why they were called SMALLswords.
Rob Roy won that fight because stabbing someone, while generally more lethal, is not necessarily the most efficient way to stop an attacker. Mortally stabbing someone generally doesn't stop someone dead in their tracks, unless it's direct to the heart or brain or something. For example, boar spears have wings on them to stop overpenetration. A dying boar can still run up the shaft of a wingless spear and maul you. It's not deception, or trickery, or cheating. It's just raw brutality. The smallsword was not an evolution in deadliness. It was an evolution in convenience and comfort of wear.
What is being taught here is the correct form for stage fencing. In all the parries, guards and thrusts the point is never directed towards the partner's body. This is so actors can stay safe even if one makes a mistake. If you want to fence against an opponent then taking foil lessons is a good place to start as the foil is the practice weapon for the small sword. No matter which one you do it'll be a lot of fun. Note: There are good foil lessons on RUclips but it is much better if you take some lessons at your local fencing club. Same goes for stage fencing. Find a theatre or local drama club with a fight certified director or actor combatant. Hope this helps.
I don't understand the need for different guard and parry positions. By withdrawing the arm so much in the parry you'll have further to go for a riposte. Surely the only reason for withdrawing would be if the opponent is particularly strong and you need to parry nearer the end of the foible? A guard position aught to leave one quarter of you covered so if you get a thrust in that line you don't ned to move to protect yourself.
The fact that you call it a "smallsword" in the final duel of Rob Roy when it's CLEARLY a rapier killed it for me. Boys and girls, don't watch this channel for historically accurate sword accounts or descriptions. Also, I'd like to know where you got your data on how many people died from smallsword duels as opposed to other weapons. The rapier wiped out a significant portion of the French nobility. You can read about it in Francois Villicois (apologies if i misspelled it) "The Duel". You should really read a bit more before you make videos. There are a lot of us that actually know something about these weapons.
I'd have to correct that before that there were treatises of full and completely developed systems for many weapons and swords, the earliest that has been found is approximately from the year 1300, with parries and all that, just not with the universal names/numbers, cartes or tierces etc. This is a kind of historical misconception when looking at the earlier times, that their systems would be more crude, or the most athletic man wins etc., when they were systems developed for a certain weapon type, and the weapons changed, but the systems didn't really evolve like we tend to think. As the system designed for longsword is still superior to use with a longsword, instead of using some system developed in later times for a later, different sword type. This view of evolving swordsmanship and evolving weapons is kind of like thinking that barbarians didn't have any tactics at war or fighting, but came berzerking towards as one mass or something, like in the movies. Which never ever happened in real history. War tactics and martial systems for weapons are really old stuff. I think older or as old as war tactics would be hunting methods and tactics. But anyway, otherwise a great video, and I came to learn the garde positions, so, please continue...
Wow i really like your channel im very happy to found it ! I will see all your rapier and smallsword videos. A lot of thanks for your work!
There’s a misconception that the smallsword is the “apex of the dueling sword”. It wasn’t. It anything it pales in comparison to the Rapier, saber, and other weapons with larger guards, longer blades, and better designs. However the smallsword is great for a sword you wouldn’t use often, and would be great against OTHER smallswords. A lot of love for a pretty standard sword no?
welll… it is the apex of the DUELING sword as in it was the sword used during the apex of sword dueling culture. I think you are talking about shear advantage rather than contextual apex. if people said it was the BEST DUELING SWORD i would disagree too, but the smallsword being the apex (meaning the hight) of the dueling swords, thats not necessarily wrong.
Have you ever handled one...I didn't think so! Just another clown with no idea what you're talking about! I have four antique Sabres with 30 to 36 inch blades, one well-made reproduction 43 inch bladed Rapier, an original 31.5 inch bladed Spadroon, a well-made 29 inch reproduction Katana and an original antique French military Smallsword from 1756 with a 34 inch blade. If I were in an enclosed space, such as a tavern or cramped alley way...I'd take the Smallsword every time! It is twice as fast in the hand as every other sword I own. Perfect for the increasingly cramped European cities of the day. If you don't have much room to move around the Smallsword wielder will get inside the reach of your longer or slower blade and kill you! As far as the duel is concerned...it doesn't really matter what weapons you use as long as both participants use the same weapons. It might as well be the lightest, fastest sword you can get. Do you really think the Smallsword would've been almost universally adopted as the sidearm of the day if it put you at a disadvantage in a life or death situation? As the preeminent sidearm of the 18th century...the Smallsword would actually have been the sword MOST often used!
His comments about no codified systems for broadsword shows his lack of research, and his ignorance on the subject.
In theatrical fencing terminology, "broadsword" is what we call an arming sword.
That said I.33 is a thing...
From which historical treatise are your teachings?
So you say the sword is efficient not by quoting real life documents, but by quoting choreographed movies? Sorry, but that does not fly. Movies are not real life even if they are retelling something that happened in the past.
Also Longswords and Rapiers were longer than smallswords. thats why they were called SMALLswords.
did he say small swords were longer than rapiers or longswords?
@@midshipman8654 I think he said they are the same size. But its a month since I watched it, so...
Great. Thats what I was looking for.Thanks for Sharing
I love how the sword becomes a lightsaber for a split-second at 7:29
Great demonstration, thank you!
OMG THIS SMALLSWORD IS AWESOME. WHERE CAN I BUY SUCH???
Rob Roy won that fight because stabbing someone, while generally more lethal, is not necessarily the most efficient way to stop an attacker. Mortally stabbing someone generally doesn't stop someone dead in their tracks, unless it's direct to the heart or brain or something. For example, boar spears have wings on them to stop overpenetration. A dying boar can still run up the shaft of a wingless spear and maul you. It's not deception, or trickery, or cheating. It's just raw brutality.
The smallsword was not an evolution in deadliness. It was an evolution in convenience and comfort of wear.
Thanks for the lesson. This is way harder for me than wielding/parrying/guarding/striking with a katana, hahaha
Maybe I’m missing something, but what is the point of the rings on the ricasso exactly? Just a stylistic holdover from rapier?
Some are actually useful, however most are artistic looks from the rapier. The Cold Steel Colichemarde Smallsword has functional rings.
I will be getting a small sword real soon, so I am a novice. If not held with a pistol finger, what are the finger holes for?
What is being taught here is the correct form for stage fencing. In all the parries, guards and thrusts the point is never directed towards the partner's body. This is so actors can stay safe even if one makes a mistake. If you want to fence against an opponent then taking foil lessons is a good place to start as the foil is the practice weapon for the small sword. No matter which one you do it'll be a lot of fun. Note: There are good foil lessons on RUclips but it is much better if you take some lessons at your local fencing club. Same goes for stage fencing. Find a theatre or local drama club with a fight certified director or actor combatant. Hope this helps.
What manual/source are you using for this?
I'd check out MacArthur's guide. Can't speak for this instructor though, but it's a good manual as far as I know.
I've actually checked out his New Method previous to this comment. I really like it! Just need to save up for another foil.
>no parries before smallsword
wut
I don't understand the need for different guard and parry positions. By withdrawing the arm so much in the parry you'll have further to go for a riposte. Surely the only reason for withdrawing would be if the opponent is particularly strong and you need to parry nearer the end of the foible? A guard position aught to leave one quarter of you covered so if you get a thrust in that line you don't ned to move to protect yourself.
The fact that you call it a "smallsword" in the final duel of Rob Roy when it's CLEARLY a rapier killed it for me. Boys and girls, don't watch this channel for historically accurate sword accounts or descriptions. Also, I'd like to know where you got your data on how many people died from smallsword duels as opposed to other weapons. The rapier wiped out a significant portion of the French nobility. You can read about it in Francois Villicois (apologies if i misspelled it) "The Duel". You should really read a bit more before you make videos. There are a lot of us that actually know something about these weapons.
how much should a hema smallsword cost on average ???
A few hundred dollars
Where did you get that overnight Smallsword?
excellent
Yeah I’ll be filing this one under “poorly researched and deeply suspicious” lmao
I'd have to correct that before that there were treatises of full and completely developed systems for many weapons and swords, the earliest that has been found is approximately from the year 1300, with parries and all that, just not with the universal names/numbers, cartes or tierces etc.
This is a kind of historical misconception when looking at the earlier times, that their systems would be more crude, or the most athletic man wins etc., when they were systems developed for a certain weapon type, and the weapons changed, but the systems didn't really evolve like we tend to think. As the system designed for longsword is still superior to use with a longsword, instead of using some system developed in later times for a later, different sword type.
This view of evolving swordsmanship and evolving weapons is kind of like thinking that barbarians didn't have any tactics at war or fighting, but came berzerking towards as one mass or something, like in the movies. Which never ever happened in real history. War tactics and martial systems for weapons are really old stuff. I think older or as old as war tactics would be hunting methods and tactics.
But anyway, otherwise a great video, and I came to learn the garde positions, so, please continue...