edi I'll think about it - it's not an easy topic to try and cover in a video. Generally speaking any sword design which was used in war for a long period of time could be taken to be successful - designs which were not used in war for long were probably less successful. But as always, it is all about context. One sword might be great for fighting one on one in the street, another might be better for fighting against multiple opponents in rough terrain etc etc.
I have a Russian (well, Soviet) padded jacket and greatcoat. I've used the padded jacket as protection for steel freeplay with longswords, and it absorbs the force from cuts cuts fairly well (though I expect sharp swords would be different). The greatcoat weights 10 pounds and feels like putting on body armour. Wearing the two garments together, I wouldn't expect to worry about any kind of sword.
Oh yeah, we still use soviet padded jackets for sword practice for a new fighters that are not sure they wanna buy a good protection. I live in Russia and this jakets (we call them "ватник", pronounce like "vatnik", from the russian word "вата" means "wool") very cheap second-hand.
What, like katanas? For the record, I *like* katanas, and have several in my collection. But after studying kenjutsu a bit and actually wielding a katana more than once... they're pretty awful in reality. I'd much rather have a rapier in my hand or a German longsword than a katana.
lakshen47 As with all things in swordsmanship, it really comes down to the skill of the swordsman. I was stating my personal preference from experience. In my hands a rapier is the superior weapon, despite having far more training with a katana than with any European blades. In my mind, that speaks volumes to which is actually the better weapon if the combatants fielding them are evenly matched.
Would you perhaps have anything to say about tucks/estocs (as in, thrusting longswords with no particular emphasis on cutting)? I've been trying to learn about them as they were apparently used on the battlefield for quite a long time, but it seems as though nobody has much to say or demonstrate.
Interesting, I do like the appearance of the spadroon though. I've always liked rapier fighting but preferred the appearance of the small sword, I'd like smalls words more if they could cut. That's what attracts me to the spadroon as it seems to be a combo or balance of the rapier and small sword.
+Stuart McDermid Well, you usually do not parry with the Foible of a Sword. The rear part of the Blade is quite stiff and the PArt normally used in parrying. If you were to parry a broadsword with the front half of the Blade, even if it were 100% unflexible, you just couldn't muster enough strength in the wrist, to actually hold up to the blow, and the swords blade would be a nice lever to just turn your wrist.
I was always wondering why in Polish language French waloon sword is called "walloon smallsword", but when I realised that the later version of the walloon swords are in fact spadroons, that makes it very clear.
It's not a bad size and actually looks quit handy. It would seem a very few changes in the design and material used would have made it a much more practical weapon.
On the topic of stiffening the blade. Would welding a panel or pipe to the back of the blade, leaving the last few inches or so do the trick? Essentially turning it into a pipe back.
A Fun little Fact is, that Officers Swords were as much a Symbol of rank and Part of the Uniform, as they awere a Tool for directing Troops. They did rarely see extensive use in Fighting. Also, the Opponents tended to be unarmoured.
I would think that spadroons might have been better adapted for dueling than fighting in rank. They seem to be highly influenced by the gentlemen's small sword which was intended to be used in open ground with a lot of forward and back movements with the legs and body. you can't do that much while one has soldiers pressed around you.
Was spadroon still a regulation sword in 1854? From what you're saying, it was replaced with saber about 20 years before that for the infantry, and the cavalry had been using sabers for a long time already at that point. But who do these accounts of spadroons failing to pierce Russian greatcoats come from then?
wouldn't the problem you described with spadroons being too flexible to thrust also be applicable to rapiers? or do rapiers have something to them that make them superior at thrusting? cause i was under the impression that rapiers also had flexible blades.
I purchaed an (I hope) original spadroon some time ago. No maker's mark or anything on it. Do you know of good resources to help me date it or possible locate its originating country?
In a lot of your videos where you voice your distaste for spadroons, you're holding what looks like that particular one earlier in the video. You mention the poor cutting and thrusting due to the weight and flex of the blade, but you never mention the point. Is the one you own a typical point for spadroons or were they usually sharper? The tip looks about as sharp as a tablespoon.
¿Hay algún motivo razonable para que usted elogie tanto el rapier y se meta de una manera tan irracional con el small sword? Yo no considero en absoluto el rapier como una gran espada, tiene muchos defectos. Su postura no es propia de una auténtico conocedor de la eficacia de las antiguas espadas europeas.
Mass produced weapons tend to suck more than when the arms makers has a chance to dedicate this skills. Even at that time swords were generally a secondary weapon. The winner of the fight generally doesn't care about the quality of his weapon and the loser generally is not alive to complain about the poor quality of his weapon.
So in short you bashed the spadroon once in a previous video and decided it wasn't enough so lets give it another wack ...not that i like the sword or anything but your title implies that there a good spadroon but you barely talked about it you mostly focused on the bad once again...
What IS your least favorite sword design? I'm sure I'm not the only one curious
Could you please make a video on the worst sword designs ? That would be quite interesting.
... and also what you consider as the best sword designs.
edi I'll think about it - it's not an easy topic to try and cover in a video. Generally speaking any sword design which was used in war for a long period of time could be taken to be successful - designs which were not used in war for long were probably less successful. But as always, it is all about context. One sword might be great for fighting one on one in the street, another might be better for fighting against multiple opponents in rough terrain etc etc.
I think you are right about the stiffness Matt. What you want is a blade strong enough to parry a broadsword and give a thrust in response.
I have a Russian (well, Soviet) padded jacket and greatcoat. I've used the padded jacket as protection for steel freeplay with longswords, and it absorbs the force from cuts cuts fairly well (though I expect sharp swords would be different). The greatcoat weights 10 pounds and feels like putting on body armour. Wearing the two garments together, I wouldn't expect to worry about any kind of sword.
Oh yeah, we still use soviet padded jackets for sword practice for a new fighters that are not sure they wanna buy a good protection. I live in Russia and this jakets (we call them "ватник", pronounce like "vatnik", from the russian word "вата" means "wool") very cheap second-hand.
You mention that Spadroons arent terrible and there are worse swords around. Can we have a video about really really awful swords?
What, like katanas?
For the record, I *like* katanas, and have several in my collection. But after studying kenjutsu a bit and actually wielding a katana more than once... they're pretty awful in reality. I'd much rather have a rapier in my hand or a German longsword than a katana.
Cj Collum As far as I remember the katana matched up pretty evenly with rapier and dagger in real life.
lakshen47
As with all things in swordsmanship, it really comes down to the skill of the swordsman. I was stating my personal preference from experience. In my hands a rapier is the superior weapon, despite having far more training with a katana than with any European blades. In my mind, that speaks volumes to which is actually the better weapon if the combatants fielding them are evenly matched.
I dont like katanas but I wouldnt say they were terrible. Theyre ait for some things, not so great at others.
***** That's a joke, right?
Would you perhaps have anything to say about tucks/estocs (as in, thrusting longswords with no particular emphasis on cutting)? I've been trying to learn about them as they were apparently used on the battlefield for quite a long time, but it seems as though nobody has much to say or demonstrate.
I don't know if you ever found a video, but Skallagrim has one you might like to check
@@danielbarnett3672 I unsubbed from him like 4 years ago.
@@HamsterPants522 Did you? What happened?
@@danielbarnett3672 Started to think he was pretty cringe
@@HamsterPants522 Yeah he kind of is, though I still enjoy his videos
Interesting, I do like the appearance of the spadroon though. I've always liked rapier fighting but preferred the appearance of the small sword, I'd like smalls words more if they could cut. That's what attracts me to the spadroon as it seems to be a combo or balance of the rapier and small sword.
+Stuart McDermid
Well, you usually do not parry with the Foible of a Sword. The rear part of the Blade is quite stiff and the PArt normally used in parrying. If you were to parry a broadsword with the front half of the Blade, even if it were 100% unflexible, you just couldn't muster enough strength in the wrist, to actually hold up to the blow, and the swords blade would be a nice lever to just turn your wrist.
I love my spadroon, and I m glad you did a more positive video on them
What would you consider to be the worst kind of sword?
What makes swords more or less forgiving when you cut/thrust with them? You alluded to that in your Center of Percussion video, too.
I was always wondering why in Polish language French waloon sword is called "walloon smallsword", but when I realised that the later version of the walloon swords are in fact spadroons, that makes it very clear.
It's not a bad size and actually looks quit handy. It would seem a very few changes in the design and material used would have made it a much more practical weapon.
On the topic of stiffening the blade. Would welding a panel or pipe to the back of the blade, leaving the last few inches or so do the trick? Essentially turning it into a pipe back.
You could always anneal the blade then reheat treat and temper it.
The term is bi-lobate rather than double shell - come on Matt, you should know all the elite terms by now! ;-)
A Fun little Fact is, that Officers Swords were as much a Symbol of rank and Part of the Uniform, as they awere a Tool for directing Troops. They did rarely see extensive use in Fighting.
Also, the Opponents tended to be unarmoured.
Really enjoying your videos. Thanks :-)
I would think that spadroons might have been better adapted for dueling than fighting in rank. They seem to be highly influenced by the gentlemen's small sword which was intended to be used in open ground with a lot of forward and back movements with the legs and body. you can't do that much while one has soldiers pressed around you.
1:58 Why were cavalry troopers issued with spadroons in the Crimean war?
Sooooo... Spadroons would be better weapons if they could just... Get it up?
#notallspadroons #yesallspadroons
Was spadroon still a regulation sword in 1854? From what you're saying, it was replaced with saber about 20 years before that for the infantry, and the cavalry had been using sabers for a long time already at that point. But who do these accounts of spadroons failing to pierce Russian greatcoats come from then?
wouldn't the problem you described with spadroons being too flexible to thrust also be applicable to rapiers? or do rapiers have something to them that make them superior at thrusting? cause i was under the impression that rapiers also had flexible blades.
Rapiers tend to be stiffer, with more acute points.
What's your opinion on colichemardes? I find the design rather peculiar and it must have a logical purpose.
This is one of humanities creations, don't get your hopes up.
Poke poke pokepokepoke poke
I purchaed an (I hope) original spadroon some time ago. No maker's mark or anything on it. Do you know of good resources to help me date it or possible locate its originating country?
Dan True Swordforum International - the antiques part - is the best place to post pictures and ask.
what would you have to say about the swords in revolution (the TV series)?
In a lot of your videos where you voice your distaste for spadroons, you're holding what looks like that particular one earlier in the video. You mention the poor cutting and thrusting due to the weight and flex of the blade, but you never mention the point. Is the one you own a typical point for spadroons or were they usually sharper? The tip looks about as sharp as a tablespoon.
Old comment, but anyway... He mentioned in another comment that the round tip was caused by age damange, a new one would be "pointier" ^^
Tablespadroon
Is that an Irish guards hilt on the spadroon?
Aha! So what I said in your other Spadroon video did actually come to pass, that'll save my Metal Works buddy some time then.
Wow, one really did not want to be in the British Army during the Crimean War.
check out the 1819 nco spadroon
¿Hay algún motivo razonable para que usted elogie tanto el rapier y se meta de una manera tan irracional con el small sword? Yo no considero en absoluto el rapier como una gran espada, tiene muchos defectos. Su postura no es propia de una auténtico conocedor de la eficacia de las antiguas espadas europeas.
Why is the tip rounded?
***** Age damage.
Was that the last time the british really fought the russians?
I don't think they've ever had any serious lasting engagements in the 20th century...
have you never read our seen James Bond? yeah open official conflict yes.
Mass produced weapons tend to suck more than when the arms makers has a chance to dedicate this skills. Even at that time swords were generally a secondary weapon. The winner of the fight generally doesn't care about the quality of his weapon and the loser generally is not alive to complain about the poor quality of his weapon.
So in short you bashed the spadroon once in a previous video and decided it wasn't enough so lets give it another wack ...not that i like the sword or anything but your title implies that there a good spadroon but you barely talked about it you mostly focused on the bad once again...
rapiers are quite flexible aren't they? why are they never criticized?
FiisforMichael No, rapiers are pretty stiff actually. Practice rapiers are made to be flexible for safety, but real sharp ones are very stiff.
today i learnt ^. cheers mate
#Spadroonlivesmatter