I've got almost no formal training in saber, being mostly a Fiore student, but I have a hell of a lot of fun every time I spar with one. There's something pleasantly intuitive about them, and it's gotten me motivated to explore more single hand sword work.
Great to hear, and I'd agree. It's far easier to teach sabre to new and existing fencers than most other styles I've seen. I think it's simple and methodical approach due to military discipline does it a lot of good. Doesn't mean it's a superior system to others, but it is very good from a teaching/learning perspective.
Excellent video, I'm really enjoying this series and am looking forward to hearing about back swords, broad swords, side swords and basket hilted claymores.
Fun fact: in French, double edged artillery and infantry gladii were often called "sabres", even by people extremely in the know (such as general Gassendi, who is the one responsible for the rationalization of the An XI system). Fun fact 2: in Italian, before the spelling "sciabola" (SHIAbol') became the norm, the alternative version "sciabla" existed, and it pretty much exactly pronounces like "szabla" in Polish
I once made a presentation about swords in class , I just had a simple script and made it up as I went and as for images I used the class smart board , it was a bit weird when I googled saber and instead of the sword I got Arturia.
@@Fish2049 it was in PE class , the teacher wanted us to give a presentation of a type of sport as an exam , everybody got something to research and make a presentation about and because of my school number I was last and didn't have anything to get so off the top of my head I said "I'll do one about Hema". So I made a basic script using my knowledge about Hema at the time about the different types of Hema sparring (like longsword , sabre and stuff) and the equipment used in such branches. It wasn't so much as about swords as it was like a surface look at Hema but as Hema is about fighting with swords...
@@Fish2049 I *did* google saber in front of the class to give them an idea of what it looked like as describing swords by words isn't very easy and when I went into Google images there stood Arturia. Glad you like the story tho.
The name originates from the Hungarian word szab (Hungarian sz is English s, the equivalent for the Hungairan a doesn't exist in English alphabet, and, b is just b), that is the verb to cut something up. The Hungarian word for tailor is szabó, literally a person who cuts/tailors cloth. Since it's a profession, it is also a family name, quite common.
Fencing sabres aren't dead straight. They don't curve like regular sabres, but they do have a required flexibility of 5 or so cm, so it curves on the other axis.
To add to the fun, English dragoons in the 18th century and the Napoleonic Wars called their sabers broadswords or Hungarian broadswords as in the Ballad of Sahagun.
Yep, this will be discussed in the broadsword video. It actually makes a lot of sense as broadsword in the 18th century refered to a heavy cutting sword, so it fits. As some sword bayonets were also called broadswords too.
A wealth of information! Thankyou for this informative video. I'm learning to make blades as a hobby. This is very helpful for future projects. You clearly posses well grounded, genuine, in depth knowledge on this subject. I'm soo subscribing !!!!
Is there a historical statistic on severed fingers with swords of basic hilts vs complex hilts? I see some people go saber and such with hopes of not needing huge gloves.
There isn't no, and it's not realistic to achieve as sources rarely ever mention the exact sword being used in accounts of combat. Though it should be said there are plenty of mentions of hand injuries not just in open hilts but also more eomplex ones such as gothic hilts and basket hilts, where the hilt caves in on the hand, sometimes disabling it for life.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing I can very much see that happening. On the ship we are allowed only composite safety toe boots for a similar unfortunate reason.
I know the 1897 has come up in the Spadroon circles a few times, but man I really must have one in hand at some point: I still find it hard to believe it is light/nimble enough to qualify! Awesome condensation of Sabre
The key is all in the mass distribution. The 1897 has a very broad and thick forte which ups the total weight, but that mass at the forte and the narrow foible make it handle like a lot of 1796 spadroons.
I have an 1863 US Calvary Sabre that I want to get good at using (in the style of that country in that time period), do you have any tips? I’ve done the 6 part drill from your video on that but I need to practice more.
I can't say I am familiar with US sources, though Roworth was marketed in the US and printed in New York in 1824 and so feel free to make use of our videos. See the HEMA at Home series with 20 lessons. I know there were some US cavalry manuals and some focused on infantry sabre usage, but the US cavalry sabres are quite handful for use on foot. Ask around at one of the FB groups like Military and Classical Sabre and they will point you to US sources.
Academy of Historical Fencing Thank you for the advice! I have been doing some of the home lessons but it is indeed a heavy swinger. Thank you for the other leads I will look into them
Yes you can, although it's certainly heavily optimaised as a thruster.Ultimately there is still a fair bit of mass in the tip and its a very rigid blade, so as long as it's sharpened it will cut reasonably well.
Sometimes. It's more that we're looking back at huge swathes of history and trying to use a particular term for it all. In their time and place the terms were often very precise.
Yes they did exist, in varous forms of weapon from Bowie knives to certain sabre types and Chinese and Persian swords. Some British sources reference seeing them in India in the 19th century. Clearly they existed, but they were extremely rare.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing my pop told me about them 50 years ago! I seam to recall he told me they were popular with mounted troops, the bownwards slash from horseback added weight to the blow/cut ,thus giving a more sinister wound? Not bad for a Fleet Air arm mechanic! Thanks for the reply
Which manual do you recommend as a starting point for someone new to 19th century military sabre who so far has only studied German longsword from 15th/16th century sources? With no experience in sidesword / rapier /smallsword fencing to bridge the gap all the way up to 19th century military sabre?
I am a big proponent for Roworth. I am biased in that regard, but then I chose it for a reason. It is an easy one to work from. Also freely availalbe on our website (1824 4th edition is best). And see our HEMA at Home series which has 20 video lessons for this.
You give a lot of interesting info on a saber curvage, but have You ever heard about curved pallasch? I occassionaly encounter such a term referring to a heavy hussar sabre, but never really found any source confirming if it was actually called that way back in the 17th/18th century. I'd like to know if that's a correct term or rather something that should be debunked.
I've never seen the term pallasch applied to a curved blade no. Though it wasn't a term used in English anyway. The exact origin of the term is unclear but many believe it to derive from the Turkish Pala, which is curved and so that might lead to some confusion.
I don't know what's the case in Poland, or elswhere, but in Hungary a "pallos" is definitly straight. If we stick to the definition the pallos is a onehanded, straightbladed, single edged sword (sometimes with a short false edge), with a sabregrip. Or in english, it's a backsword. In more wide terms, used by common language (especially in 19th century romantic literature - or in current fantasy ;) ) it simply means straight sword - so you can frequently hear twohanded "pallos", when referring to a montante/zweihander XD.
I will do a video on the scimitar at a later date, but in short the scimitar is a term applied to curved blades such as the Shamshir and Tulwar among others. It is basically a catch all term used for foreign or exotic sabres form the middle east, North Africa and parts of Asia.
Pendant Blade I don’t have a lot of knowledge in this area, but if I remember the old Scholagladiatora videos correctly, they are pretty similar functionally, though there are often fairly different techniques for using those kinds of blades.
A lot of what we talk about on this channel is infantry combat, including the sabre, and before the era of sabres. But when it comes to mounted combat, you should see some of the research on sabre vs pistol during the US civil war, as there were some fascinating encounters.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing most of the american sabres used in the civil war were blunt or almost blunt as you can see today by antique examples.. finding a properly sharpened one is exceptionally rare and some appear to have been combat issue blunt, most common youll see some with rude sharpening for about 1/3 of the blade.. ! i beleive swordsmanship was almost dead in america by the civil war.. a great contrast from only 65 years earlier.
Yes. I discussed this in the 'what is a sabre' video. Sabre has not been applied to straight blades in British English until very recent history. It is a result of some sabres evolving into straight swords, as was the case with the 1845 infantry sword late in its service, and then the straight 1892 which replaced it, coupled with the effects of sport fencing having a weapon called sabre which is actually straight. In British English a straight blade was never called a sabre in the time sabres were actually used as weapons. However, this is not the case in other languages and even in American English.
Yes n deed. Saber is a Hunic invention. Derives from a word Szabo which means Taylor. The original Hungarian word for Saber is Szabja. This word also could mean somebody cutting something. Just like the old school button, ( Hunic invention) which looks like a mushroom with a split end stem, in Hungarian it's called gomb and mushroom called gomba. Artificial objects named after previously existing nature provided shape, or so on. The stagecoach also Hungarian invention. (Not by Wells Fargo) It was invented in the late 14 hundreds in the Hungarian town Kocs. Look up on utube Coach World History.
no.... sabres originate in western mongolia and the altai, sabres were well established weapons before the magyars arrived in europe. AND themagyars sabres are EXACTLY THE SAME as sabres foubf in the altai, mongolia, and the steppe inhabited by the turkic peoples in whats now kazakhstan.. the magyars brought this weapon with them when the invaded europe.. the magyar sabre gifted to the holy roman emperor looks just as a mongol sword of the time
@@loczfrank2027 Stop lying mate. The sabre is a Turco-Mongol invention, look it up on the internet. And why are you claiming that Hungarians are coming from the Huns? The Hungarians are Magyars and the Huns were Turkic
Yes and no depending on perspective. As far as western terminology goes no, because sabres were one handed swords, though even then there are exceptions like the swiss sabre. Curiously some British sources who experienced the Japanese in the 19th century describe the katana as a two handed cutlass, due to its short blade and two handed grip. In European terminology the katana has most in common with the bastard sword, a small two handed sword that is small enough to be used in one or two hands.
This is a very basic overview for those who don't know anything about the weapon type. I go in depth on a lot of these swords in various videos, especially the Sword Studies playlist.
I've got almost no formal training in saber, being mostly a Fiore student, but I have a hell of a lot of fun every time I spar with one. There's something pleasantly intuitive about them, and it's gotten me motivated to explore more single hand sword work.
Great to hear, and I'd agree. It's far easier to teach sabre to new and existing fencers than most other styles I've seen. I think it's simple and methodical approach due to military discipline does it a lot of good. Doesn't mean it's a superior system to others, but it is very good from a teaching/learning perspective.
Excellent video, I'm really enjoying this series and am looking forward to hearing about back swords, broad swords, side swords and basket hilted claymores.
Fun fact: in French, double edged artillery and infantry gladii were often called "sabres", even by people extremely in the know (such as general Gassendi, who is the one responsible for the rationalization of the An XI system).
Fun fact 2: in Italian, before the spelling "sciabola" (SHIAbol') became the norm, the alternative version "sciabla" existed, and it pretty much exactly pronounces like "szabla" in Polish
Curved. Swords.
Sexy
Which has more sweeping area
I once made a presentation about swords in class , I just had a simple script and made it up as I went and as for images I used the class smart board , it was a bit weird when I googled saber and instead of the sword I got Arturia.
What topic were you covering about swords?
@@Fish2049 it was in PE class , the teacher wanted us to give a presentation of a type of sport as an exam , everybody got something to research and make a presentation about and because of my school number I was last and didn't have anything to get so off the top of my head I said "I'll do one about Hema". So I made a basic script using my knowledge about Hema at the time about the different types of Hema sparring (like longsword , sabre and stuff) and the equipment used in such branches.
It wasn't so much as about swords as it was like a surface look at Hema but as Hema is about fighting with swords...
Shizu -chan Haha I thought you googled saber in front of the class
Anyway what a cool story xD
@@Fish2049 I *did* google saber in front of the class to give them an idea of what it looked like as describing swords by words isn't very easy and when I went into Google images there stood Arturia.
Glad you like the story tho.
Shizu -chan Haha that makes the story a 100% better
Do you practice Hema?
The name originates from the Hungarian word szab (Hungarian sz is English s, the equivalent for the Hungairan a doesn't exist in English alphabet, and, b is just b), that is the verb to cut something up. The Hungarian word for tailor is szabó, literally a person who cuts/tailors cloth. Since it's a profession, it is also a family name, quite common.
Fencing sabres aren't dead straight. They don't curve like regular sabres, but they do have a required flexibility of 5 or so cm, so it curves on the other axis.
To add to the fun, English dragoons in the 18th century and the Napoleonic Wars called their sabers broadswords or Hungarian broadswords as in the Ballad of Sahagun.
Yep, this will be discussed in the broadsword video. It actually makes a lot of sense as broadsword in the 18th century refered to a heavy cutting sword, so it fits. As some sword bayonets were also called broadswords too.
"Gride"
Buried Axblade That’s pretty hardcore!
A wealth of information! Thankyou for this informative video. I'm learning to make blades as a hobby. This is very helpful for future projects. You clearly posses well grounded, genuine, in depth knowledge on this subject. I'm soo subscribing !!!!
My second favorite type of sword... good video. Very informative.
Thanks. What is your favourite?
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing welcome. Katana. (Most likely cuz im a child of the 80s, lol.)
I like your definition.. it seems to fit the books I’m currently reading..
Is there a historical statistic on severed fingers with swords of basic hilts vs complex hilts? I see some people go saber and such with hopes of not needing huge gloves.
There isn't no, and it's not realistic to achieve as sources rarely ever mention the exact sword being used in accounts of combat. Though it should be said there are plenty of mentions of hand injuries not just in open hilts but also more eomplex ones such as gothic hilts and basket hilts, where the hilt caves in on the hand, sometimes disabling it for life.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing I can very much see that happening. On the ship we are allowed only composite safety toe boots for a similar unfortunate reason.
I know the 1897 has come up in the Spadroon circles a few times, but man I really must have one in hand at some point: I still find it hard to believe it is light/nimble enough to qualify! Awesome condensation of Sabre
The key is all in the mass distribution. The 1897 has a very broad and thick forte which ups the total weight, but that mass at the forte and the narrow foible make it handle like a lot of 1796 spadroons.
I have an 1863 US Calvary Sabre that I want to get good at using (in the style of that country in that time period), do you have any tips? I’ve done the 6 part drill from your video on that but I need to practice more.
I can't say I am familiar with US sources, though Roworth was marketed in the US and printed in New York in 1824 and so feel free to make use of our videos. See the HEMA at Home series with 20 lessons. I know there were some US cavalry manuals and some focused on infantry sabre usage, but the US cavalry sabres are quite handful for use on foot. Ask around at one of the FB groups like Military and Classical Sabre and they will point you to US sources.
Academy of Historical Fencing Thank you for the advice! I have been doing some of the home lessons but it is indeed a heavy swinger. Thank you for the other leads I will look into them
Cogdons's Calvery Compendium might be worth looking at. It was a calvery guidebook from the American Civil War and might have some info.
Joseph Durant Good idea, thanks for the lead!
@@Tariko The eleventh ovc just posted a video a Union saber training during the civil war.
Can you cut with the 1908 Pattern Cavalry Sword? I was under the impression it was essentially a spike with a sword hilt?
Yes you can, although it's certainly heavily optimaised as a thruster.Ultimately there is still a fair bit of mass in the tip and its a very rigid blade, so as long as it's sharpened it will cut reasonably well.
Some of these Sabres remind me of the wonkey sword drawings I drew in the second grade 😂
Talking about sabres, have you guys seen Hellish Quart yet? Demo is out right now and there's nothing quite like it!
They provided a featured element in our recent This Month in HEMA and a few of our people have early access, we are watching it closely!
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing Cool! Guess I missed it, will check out soon!
to sum up: modern terminology is a lot more specific than historical ones.
Sometimes. It's more that we're looking back at huge swathes of history and trying to use a particular term for it all. In their time and place the terms were often very precise.
Was there such a thing as a weighted sabre? With a sliding weight on the backside? So on the down cut the weight added to the strike?
Yes they did exist, in varous forms of weapon from Bowie knives to certain sabre types and Chinese and Persian swords. Some British sources reference seeing them in India in the 19th century. Clearly they existed, but they were extremely rare.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing my pop told me about them 50 years ago! I seam to recall he told me they were popular with mounted troops, the bownwards slash from horseback added weight to the blow/cut ,thus giving a more sinister wound? Not bad for a Fleet Air arm mechanic! Thanks for the reply
were sabres used as anti cavalry weapons (horse killers)?
I've never seen reference to that no, though there were horse slaying swords in some cultures of course.
I'm glad my father named me after this sword
This was great thank you
Which manual do you recommend as a starting point for someone new to 19th century military sabre who so far has only studied German longsword from 15th/16th century sources? With no experience in sidesword / rapier /smallsword fencing to bridge the gap all the way up to 19th century military sabre?
I am a big proponent for Roworth. I am biased in that regard, but then I chose it for a reason. It is an easy one to work from. Also freely availalbe on our website (1824 4th edition is best). And see our HEMA at Home series which has 20 video lessons for this.
A sabre is the weapon of a Jedi.
I have a feeling there will be some Fate references here...also, first~
Eksu....KARIBA!!!
You give a lot of interesting info on a saber curvage, but have You ever heard about curved pallasch? I occassionaly encounter such a term referring to a heavy hussar sabre, but never really found any source confirming if it was actually called that way back in the 17th/18th century. I'd like to know if that's a correct term or rather something that should be debunked.
I've never seen the term pallasch applied to a curved blade no. Though it wasn't a term used in English anyway. The exact origin of the term is unclear but many believe it to derive from the Turkish Pala, which is curved and so that might lead to some confusion.
I don't know what's the case in Poland, or elswhere, but in Hungary a "pallos" is definitly straight. If we stick to the definition the pallos is a onehanded, straightbladed, single edged sword (sometimes with a short false edge), with a sabregrip. Or in english, it's a backsword.
In more wide terms, used by common language (especially in 19th century romantic literature - or in current fantasy ;) ) it simply means straight sword - so you can frequently hear twohanded "pallos", when referring to a montante/zweihander XD.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing Thanks!
@@birocsabal Thanks!
POLISH REFERENCE MY HEART BITS STROGER :')
for me a sabre is more for slicing
Where is the rattle?
What is the difference between a saber and a scimitar?
I will do a video on the scimitar at a later date, but in short the scimitar is a term applied to curved blades such as the Shamshir and Tulwar among others. It is basically a catch all term used for foreign or exotic sabres form the middle east, North Africa and parts of Asia.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing Are they functionally the same?
Pendant Blade I don’t have a lot of knowledge in this area, but if I remember the old Scholagladiatora videos correctly, they are pretty similar functionally, though there are often fairly different techniques for using those kinds of blades.
rather the 'to cut' you could just call it a 'cutter' :P
My ancestors were American cavalry, they never used swords they kept a handful of revolvers strapped to the saddle
A lot of what we talk about on this channel is infantry combat, including the sabre, and before the era of sabres. But when it comes to mounted combat, you should see some of the research on sabre vs pistol during the US civil war, as there were some fascinating encounters.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing most of the american sabres used in the civil war were blunt or almost blunt as you can see today by antique examples.. finding a properly sharpened one is exceptionally rare and some appear to have been combat issue blunt, most common youll see some with rude sharpening for about 1/3 of the blade.. ! i beleive swordsmanship was almost dead in america by the civil war.. a great contrast from only 65 years earlier.
Is it wrong to say that calling a straight single edge sword a sabre is incorrect usage of the term, even if it's been in common use for centuries.
Yes. I discussed this in the 'what is a sabre' video. Sabre has not been applied to straight blades in British English until very recent history. It is a result of some sabres evolving into straight swords, as was the case with the 1845 infantry sword late in its service, and then the straight 1892 which replaced it, coupled with the effects of sport fencing having a weapon called sabre which is actually straight. In British English a straight blade was never called a sabre in the time sabres were actually used as weapons. However, this is not the case in other languages and even in American English.
"If you want to know a man, put a Saber in his hand"
gay
@@rickx5361you got it tho rite?
Hungary is the birthplace of a sabre. Sabre appears in Hungary in the 9th century and then spreads to the Middle East. Not the other way around.
Sabres originate from east Asia
Yes n deed. Saber is a Hunic invention. Derives from a word Szabo which means Taylor. The original Hungarian word for Saber is Szabja. This word also could mean somebody cutting something. Just like the old school button, ( Hunic invention) which looks like a mushroom with a split end stem, in Hungarian it's called gomb and mushroom called gomba. Artificial objects named after previously existing nature provided shape, or so on. The stagecoach also Hungarian invention. (Not by Wells Fargo) It was invented in the late 14 hundreds in the Hungarian town Kocs. Look up on utube Coach World History.
@@loczfrank2027 lol no the Turks and mongols invented it and introduced it to Europe
no.... sabres originate in western mongolia and the altai, sabres were well established weapons before the magyars arrived in europe. AND themagyars sabres are EXACTLY THE SAME as sabres foubf in the altai, mongolia, and the steppe inhabited by the turkic peoples in whats now kazakhstan.. the magyars brought this weapon with them when the invaded europe.. the magyar sabre gifted to the holy roman emperor looks just as a mongol sword of the time
@@loczfrank2027 Stop lying mate. The sabre is a Turco-Mongol invention, look it up on the internet. And why are you claiming that Hungarians are coming from the Huns? The Hungarians are Magyars and the Huns were Turkic
Waiting on broadswords Nick. 😁
Coming very soon!
Is a Katana a Saber?
Yes and no depending on perspective. As far as western terminology goes no, because sabres were one handed swords, though even then there are exceptions like the swiss sabre. Curiously some British sources who experienced the Japanese in the 19th century describe the katana as a two handed cutlass, due to its short blade and two handed grip. In European terminology the katana has most in common with the bastard sword, a small two handed sword that is small enough to be used in one or two hands.
@@AcademyofHistoricalFencing Thank you.
Narrow thrusting blade, "Americans would sometimes call it a broadsword" Just found that amusing.
Morning 😳
There is English.
And there are spelling mistakes.
You talked a lot but didn't show the handles at all...
This is a very basic overview for those who don't know anything about the weapon type. I go in depth on a lot of these swords in various videos, especially the Sword Studies playlist.
That is what did not make sense to me. the fact americans call straight swords sabers kinda males the term useless.
Buffalo Sabres!!!!
Kilo's, grams? I'm American 😆.
I think sabruh is pretty nice too...
olympic fencing is bs anyway