A Military Rapier REVIEWED & TESTED: LK Chen Saxony German Rapier
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- The LK Chen Saxony German Rapier ( lkchensword.co... ) and an overview of military cut and thrust rapiers. With test cutting.
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Why do rapiers have to be so pretty.
Cuz those are for men of culture.
Cos they are bling
because they're expensive so you might as well
Because the deadliest have to be the prettiest. Also all the answers above!
The origin of the name literally translated to Dress Sword
My god, it looks like a longsword blade fit onto a one-handed hilt. It's beautiful.
Great video, as per the usual. Your candor is always so gratifying when you're speaking on a subject; feel like the temptation to gloss over issues gets to a lot of folks.
Also, thanks very much for introducing the company a few years back, Matt! This reminded me to check order tracking; my Scarlet Sunrise just left Ningbo Airport, today! I'm very excited to practice my form with it (hopefully my neighbors won't be too upset).
Also, they're an absolute pleasure to deal with.
This is my default understanding of battle-ready rapiers. I don’t want a glorified foil.
This isn't supposed to be a replica of any one specific example of German rapier, it's meant to be inspired by the Met's collection. A historically plausible piece rather than a faithful reproduction.
I found this rapier its in the Rüstkammer in Dresden. The original swordsmith is Peter Tesche.
When you said the metal finish of the hilt looked like bathroom furniture, I had just came back form the bathroom in my Grandmas house, and I have been laughing for the past fifteen minutes
It's a sword crafted specifically for bathroom duels, where it provides a nice added bonus in the form of camouflage.
I bought this one some months ago. Reasonably happy with it. Just a small point is they promise delivery in about 6 weeks but mine arrived 13 weeks after placing the order. The frustrating part is they didn’t communicate or offer any reassurances that it was running later than their promised timeframe. There is a slight crack in one weld on the swept hilt that’s only visible from the underside, but it’s not a deal breaker. Other than that it’s a lovely sword and I’m more than content with it. Cheers.
If the hilt construction was better on this, it'd be a no-brainer for me. I'm not the biggest fan of conventional rapiers, but sideswords and other complex-hilted cutting swords are some of my favorites. It's a shame they seem to have cut-corners when it comes to the integrity of the build. I have confidence that LK Chen will remedy this eventually, but for now I'll have to pass.
This is why I respect Matt so much, his reviews are always so fair and without bias. I'm impressed by LK Chen doing swords from all over the world, most of his I've seen so far have been Asian styles. It looks like a lovely sword with some great constructive criticisms from Matt, and I'm sure LK appreciates the comments. Also a great demonstration of what even light cuts with such a blade can do
I always rely on Matt for an informative unbiased review. Superb at his job. I'm also impressed with LK Chen's branching out into different cultures. Understandably there will be a learning curve on their part but from my experience they do well with listening to customer feedback to improve their product lines. Rapiers also seem to be a decent fit as far as a western style sword to be made by a primarily Asian focused manufacturer. There are some fascinating similarities between many Asian swords and European rapiers and it seems to me that many Asian cultures have an admiration or at least a fascination with them. (Look at how many times you see rapiers in anime lol)
LK Chen started put solely with Chinese swords, and have gradually branched out from there.
@@scottmacgregor3444 Also why I think Rapiers are a nice choice. Many forms of Jian can be rather slender and thrust centric. More than a few look a lot like a rapier without the swept hilt. A lot of the techniques have striking similarities too.
Have you done a video on what would be a "typical" Dumas style "Musketeer" type sword? or a fight choreography video on the 1970s Michael York/Oliver Read films?
Giving swords to you, someone who suffers from Stahlsucht, is like giving a beer to an alcoholic :D :D
Matt: Good value for $500, decent replica.
(25 min later): So the 37th thing I think is wrong with this is
“I don’t like the Finnish” - Mat
Ouch. Coming out against a whole country. Harsh. 😮
How many subscribers do I need to get myself a promotional LK CHEN?
I think its this ability which makes it the king of swords, sure it excels in thrusting but in capable hands it would even slash with a whip like movement, that is scary.
If it's a military rapier it's probably designed for use with gloves or gauntlets, so the guard would be unusually large.
Kult of Athena is asking $558, or about 442 Pound.
Thickness tapers from 7.5mm to 2mm and the Blade length is 40.375 inch with a width of 34mm.
It looks very tempting.
Disappointed to hear about the rattle, and twist as on paper it looks like my ideal sword, except for the days when I fancy being a Viking. As to finding things in museums, I've never been able to find the Munich town guard in the Wallace.
This looks like a Munich Town Guard Sword. I swear you just did a comparison video a couple of months ago.
This video had me thinking about the pros and cons of wire grips vs leather grips, and other types, especially when it came to stuff like comfort, prolonged usage, etc.
Thanks for the review it looks nice. The Rapier it's not my style however I will take a military over a traditional one.
I quite like the idea of a more modern approach, aesthetically it looks lovely to me, I like the matt finish, guard, grip detailing etc.
Nice... I wish there was a lefty option on those. (Yes, I am aware that the grip can be used by lefthanded people, but it somehow bugs me to have to use it the wrong way around)
Ask lkchen, they might do you one
I’d like a case of rapiers. Arguably I have one anyway in the first place.
@@thekaxmax I might do that. First I'll wait for the second batch of the Windlass Royal Armoury line, though. :)
@@Waggadudewagga email them now; can't hurt to just ask.
@@thekaxmax True.
Yeah you can defo see its cast dont like the satin finish .Id like to see it polished and a tiny bit aged so it wil still look new but more authentic looking .Im sure they can have options on the hilt
Thank you for the video! I'm still hoping to get myself a military rapier sometime...
With some kind of thicker gauntlet the grip size would be about right, right?
A very interstin topic would be an examination of George Silver's discussion of the faults of rapier thrusting oriented fencing and the problem he identifies in "short swords" employed in military affairs. The notable aspect regarding "short swords" being that he say they lack a "hilt." It is a period specific view of the use of swords in England.
Try wrapping some Teflon tape around the threads and then try putting some loctite on the end of the nut before you screw it on the thread that should help with some of the sloppy play, hope it works.
One could certainly make a comparative argument that it is a broadsword.
Yes, so beatiful. Love rapiers.
Fought 5 sharp Mensuren and know The Duelling Codex of Busson and Bolgar which i Live for. Yes, I am German. Our weapons of use are very crude, compared to a rapier. Even the Mensursäbel, the weapon of Choice for Heavy duelling.
It looks like a sword plausibly carried by one of Cromwell's Ironsides, or Rupert's Bluecoats in the Civil War. The thick leather gauntlets the cavalry wore would have fit the larger guard.
I'm been debating getting this sword or the darksword armory duke sword for my first sword.
I would recommend LK Chen above Darksword Armoury every time.
99% of us only know "rapier" from the movies, and so think long, thin and pointy.
11:44 Thus, carried in the 30 Years War?
13:32 In period, wouldn't men have worn gloves?
Praise with faint damns.
What a beautiful weapon, but did you say cast iron on the handle guard 😮 oof. I’d say buy it for the blade but 500 bucks for a blade… eh buy a weapon that is a fixer upper for 500.. I mean maybe as a training weapon but oof yea I agree with another comment that maybe for 200.. 250 is stretching it .. I don’t know the process of making it enough to gage if it’s worth it. With recent inflation maybe tack on an extra 50-100 and your still at max 350.. and that’s stretching it to the point of not really wanting a fixer upper.. at 350 if the fixes suggested in this video we’re done and the hand guard was carbon steel I wouldn’t be able to say no it’s a beautiful weapon and wow if that handle was colored 😅 maybe that kind of fix would be worth fixing up
after watching your videos for a while im somewhat saddened that i dont have one of these beautiful swords, or a longsword. i grew up using a katana (for yardwork) and i still keep it stashed with my gardening equipment where it sees frequent use. im afraid im set in my ways in using an inferior sword. :( it works a treat on bananas though.
Cut-centric rapier is an oxymoron imho. It's just a single-handed sword with fancy hilt.
That sword night have ended up in the Philadelphia museum if it had been part of the Kienbusch collection.
In my opinion epoxy in swords is unavoidable in modern times. Even the high end makers use it as glue. Different kinds of glues were used in originals, but no modern makers I know are using pitch, fish glue or other historically accurate glues. If anyone knows someone who does feel free to tell me.
Mechanically there is no problem witg glue as long as it's not the only thing that's keeping the sword together.
Seriously, how much do you think Matt’s collection would appraise for?
I would think that a man relying on that particular weapon, in matters of life and death. Would probably have a problem with there being a " rattle " to the handle. After all said rattle is likely to turn into a lose handle. Bear in mind I am no expert on swords. I do look at this from a practical point of view. What is more likely to work more often than not and has less chance of breaking down at the absolute worst possible time.
Would it be fair to say that a rapier can be identified by the fact that its blade is lighter, longer and has a complex hand guard? Keeping in mind that I am no expert, I can point out some things that I have observed to be common to the swords I have seen that were identified as rapiers by people who know better.
"Cut is cut. [In combat] it doesn't matter if its clean or breaks off; if it's in 2 pieces the job is done." Someone said that to me at a sword event in 2001. In relation to the branch you tried to cut that broke off partly.. well if that were an armed it would still be destroyed & likely severed if not close to it.
So yes it's not as heavy a cutting weapon as many swords are but it is quite capable of doing enough damage to stop the opponent with a cut.
The only two counterpoints can think is it looks like that blood and iron was refering basically ramning the edge into someone and matt did a wrist cut. Also, the effectiveness of the depends on sharpness and the clothing the target is wearing. I would be curious to see how little travel in takes to cut through and would through thick clothing.
@@PJDAltamirus0425 I wasn't referring to Blood & Iron. But while obviously those points apply to a cut I'm referring to after a cut. Is someone's arm is removed it is irrelevant if the bone is cut perfectly smooth or snapped off it's not attached either way. In either case the objective was met; remove arm.
Respectfully I disagree about the color of the wire. A silvery steel looks amazing.
Besides Arms and Armor who else would be regarded as a go-to high end rapier reproduction maker in people's opinion?
Отлично. И навыки, и прямые руки, и хороший клинок творят чудеса.
To me this is the real John Carter of Mars sword ...used by the Red martians and green alike.
I really dislike the finish. It looks really fake to me and is why I immediately decided I wasnt interested.
Reminds me of the Munich sword I've been considering. Rapier-style, beefier blade. 👍
I’ve seen heavier British trooper swords that an impact has warped the blade 😮
Please review LK Chen's new Long Quan Jian!
Doesn't it all come down to the people of the time having another name for a sword at their time? 🤔
I want 1 but plan too gun blue it. reasons maintenence and a dark weapon almost disappears in motion
Zboncak Path
A cut and thrust rapier for people with large hands.
Great review......you've got to love a properly functional cut and thrust rapier.
Pretty much the best kind of sword there is.
I do enjoy your instruction and insights on these subjects.
Thank you.
ya that metal finish is what stopped me from buying them
Winfield Loaf
Matt did you see the rapier found by youtube magnet fishers in the Netherlands a few weeks ago?
I didn't - I saw some (fake) early medieval swords 'found' that way recently, but a real rapier sounds much more interesting!
@@scholagladiatoria in the thumbnail they show a fake sword with straight cross guard but that is not the sword they pull out . They were just hiding the surprise in the thumbnail for those who watched. The channel is called Bondi treasure hunter.
he cutty choppy, but he also pokey stabby. 😮
Gay Shores
Hyatt Extension
10:44 Is it broad enough for a broad sword? : >
I would love to pay 1,000 for an LK chen sword with all the bugs fixed. Full tang, proper finishing on the hilt better scabbard. The blades and the handling of his work is fantastic, I have told him more than once to start a premium line, charge double, still be well below Albion prices, and fix all the niggles.
Import it, pimp it, resell it.
Rhett Prairie
Eliseo Mountains
A glued pommel sword for $500 seems... really unfortunate, and kind of surprising for LK Chen.
Military rapier - the pinnacle of sword designs perhaps? Beautiful, versatile and effective.
Eh, there is still the length, which is a big plus when it is drawn out, but can be a issue at other points in time. Things that make great offensive features make it hard to defend yourself. Harder to get and use if someone jumps you in a alleyway.
@PJDAltamirus0425 that's why you carry a left hand dagger as well
@@Kinetic.44 True, but rapiers overlap with the of matchlock and wheelock and at the very lastet, flintlocks and a bullet makes better penetrating than a sword and everyone had a knife, just not specilized blade grabbing one. That is a difference between Hema fencing and today. The dude that parried, rushed in and body slamed the fencer would have been stabbed to death.
Thank you very much for this very educational video and nice sword please have a good day.😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊.
Those thrusts, I'd almost say Matt has been picking up rapiers during practice more and more.
Imagine, 2026, Matt Easton chooses rapiers over sabres.
What steel is the blade material ?
Good review. Knowing almost nothing about swords, it does seem to be like 15% oversized all the way around. Shame to since there doesn’t seem to be much around of that era as far as I know. 👍🏼👍🏼
Camren Motorway
These type of Rapier was the primary cavallry sword in the 30years war. During the battle of Breitenfelde in 1631 Swedish and Saxony cavallry used these Rapiers succesfull to charge imperal pikesquares and turning the battle in their favor
Keon Route
Those were some excellent cuts! The milk bottle with little cuts was very impressive! Much more of a cutting sword than I would have guessed.
From now on we can officially rate all sword blades on the "Thrusty-Cutty" scale.
Bashirian Trail
Looks like a XVIIIb slightly on the slimmer side with a rapier hilt. Of course rapiers used on the battlefield were no fencing foils.
So a "battle-ready" blade is stuck on a 'wall-hanger' hilt. Not worth 500 Pounds nor Dollars. Maybe nock off 2 hundred from offering price. A really good blade deserves an authentic hilt.
Bednar Centers
Okay, when does a rapier stop and complex jilted longsword begins? Kinda get that rapier sorta blurr the lines. The hilt allows two hands and there are long swords that could cut worse and that this .
Howell Street
I'd probably want to try heating the hilt & getting the glue to soften to remove it. Then clean the threads, blacken the pommel & guard, apply some anti-seize to the threads, and put it back on. The pommel almost certainly *is* the nut. Worst case the threads cause the tang to bottom out in the pommel, in that case if I needed to tighten it I'd drill it out at the tap size a bit deeper, then tap it further in. Shouldn't need much if that happens.
Remove the pommel, file the threaded bit down a bit, clean out all the glue, and thread it back on.
The additional space from a very slightly shortened threaded bit should give the clearance necessary to get it good and tight without bottoming out.
I want to watch all of this. But from what is said, I do not like this sword. I would not buy a sword that I could not take to war if needed. I would rather have a photograph.
at first glance the hilt already looked too large, proportionally wrong. if that's what the original was actually like, then i wonder if it was for someone with huge hands or wearing a very thick glove
Someday, Matt will change his name, and end the video with "I have been Matt Easton, I won't be again…"
Could the slight twist in the blade be the reason for breaking pieces of the wood rather than completely cutting clean?
19:43 Prepare to be halved and halved again... and again, and again, and again, and again.
Wow. Incredible cutting. That takes an excellent sword and an excellent swordsman.
Manuela Fort
Excellent video, the pommel reminded me of Hernán Cortés's sword, the one in the video is very nice.
Dare Lake
OH yeah, here we goooooo😁
Thank you. Saved for later for when I have the budget for a sharp. Maybe by then they'll have adopted your idea for a longer tang and a real nut.
You are agile.
if i were to say be wanting to put that blade on a Mortuary Hilt would the ricasso the same width as the tang? not that you've taken it apart but does it look like it would be
Matt, you should help LK out a bit with R&D by 3D scanning some of your collection.
The PRC doesn't allow for the importation of swords, so it limits the speed at which they can expand their inventory variety.
Can you buy swords in PRC in their shops?
@@LandersWorkshop Seemingly, yes, but you just can't import them. More "wisdom" from the CCP.
Interesting.