Patton came up with it. I once read a story from a letter Patton wrote to his dad when he was in college. He told dad he was having a bout with a guy that wasn't acknowledging touches. Thing was they were using the fourth fencing sword, two-handed broadswords. He went on to say he smacked the guy in the fingers and said "Dad, the blood, the blood". Lol
Great video! Strangely enough, I've always thought of the 1908 as an aesthetically pleasing sword, especially with that curved grip. If the 1908 (and the 1912 officer's and 1913 Patton as well) was made of lighter material and a bit shorter, I would really consider it a more than adequate sword. I know it was designed for thrusting but have you ever tried to cut with it? I wouldn't expect it to cut like a sabre but perhaps it can cut just as well as any rapier if sharpened properly. (I'm not an expert in HEMA by any means but I'd certainly like to try destreza techniques with the 1908)
Thanks! I've hit mats with the edge and it didn't cut at all. It sure left a "dent" though. There is a youlube video of a fella sharpening a 1908 and then cutting bottles with it. It really is a bar with a flat oval bayonet tip.
@@themyrmidon2181 That is interesting. I suppose the 1908 would still indeed (and probably cut better too) if it was flesh though (having never cut either tatami or flesh, I'm not certain of course) after you mentioned it, I just watched the video you mentioned and it does seem to cut well enough under the "right" circumstances, though still risibly far from a real sabre though. Interestingly, the only depictions I've found of these later pattern cavalry swords (1908 and 1913 Patton) in film have showed them performing far above their intended purpose. The depiction of the 1908 in the film Warhorse was a bit more grounded but was still shown to function like an earlier cavalry sabre with several cuts. Perhaps more egregious (but still fun to watch) was the use of the 1913 Patton (an equally heavy, or slightly heavier, sword?) in the Chinese film Fearless. Of course it was Anthony De Longis using the sword in the film, but the way it was shown was certainly beyond anything that Patton may have envisioned. One must certainly give credit to Anthony De Longis for how smoothly and quickly he used that sword despite its weight.
The biggest? I can't think of any similarities other than functional intent. Guess the "biggest" would be that all rapiers that have come before, were designed with elegance and aesthetic considerations in an effort to display wealth and high station. The 1908 is a soldier's tool. All form & function with no decorative frills. It was made by the military to be used against another military.
I love the aesthetic change you've done. It's a pure function blade.
My friend, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder 😀 I have a Patton, very similar. It is essentially a rapier. Cheers
Patton came up with it. I once read a story from a letter Patton wrote to his dad when he was in college. He told dad he was having a bout with a guy that wasn't acknowledging touches. Thing was they were using the fourth fencing sword, two-handed broadswords. He went on to say he smacked the guy in the fingers and said "Dad, the blood, the blood". Lol
Great video!
Strangely enough, I've always thought of the 1908 as an aesthetically pleasing sword, especially with that curved grip. If the 1908 (and the 1912 officer's and 1913 Patton as well) was made of lighter material and a bit shorter, I would really consider it a more than adequate sword.
I know it was designed for thrusting but have you ever tried to cut with it? I wouldn't expect it to cut like a sabre but perhaps it can cut just as well as any rapier if sharpened properly.
(I'm not an expert in HEMA by any means but I'd certainly like to try destreza techniques with the 1908)
Thanks!
I've hit mats with the edge and it didn't cut at all. It sure left a "dent" though.
There is a youlube video of a fella sharpening a 1908 and then cutting bottles with it. It really is a bar with a flat oval bayonet tip.
@@themyrmidon2181 That is interesting. I suppose the 1908 would still indeed (and probably cut better too) if it was flesh though (having never cut either tatami or flesh, I'm not certain of course)
after you mentioned it, I just watched the video you mentioned and it does seem to cut well enough under the "right" circumstances, though still risibly far from a real sabre though.
Interestingly, the only depictions I've found of these later pattern cavalry swords (1908 and 1913 Patton) in film have showed them performing far above their intended purpose. The depiction of the 1908 in the film Warhorse was a bit more grounded but was still shown to function like an earlier cavalry sabre with several cuts.
Perhaps more egregious (but still fun to watch) was the use of the 1913 Patton (an equally heavy, or slightly heavier, sword?) in the Chinese film Fearless. Of course it was Anthony De Longis using the sword in the film, but the way it was shown was certainly beyond anything that Patton may have envisioned. One must certainly give credit to Anthony De Longis for how smoothly and quickly he used that sword despite its weight.
what's the biggest difference between this sword and earlier period rapiers?
The biggest?
I can't think of any similarities other than functional intent.
Guess the "biggest" would be that all rapiers that have come before, were designed with elegance and aesthetic considerations in an effort to display wealth and high station.
The 1908 is a soldier's tool. All form & function with no decorative frills. It was made by the military to be used against another military.