Epées and falchions and ancient katanas, Nepalese kukris, all bent like bananas, Cavalry sabres with silken hilt cords, These are a few of my favourite swords. Gladii and rapiers and naval cutlasses, Fantasy weapons equipped by young lasses, Baskethilt claymores wielded by lords, These are a few of my favourite swords.
Biggest sword I own is a steak knife... I really enjoy watching this channel for the education factor.. and seeing the passion from a true connoisseur of something I only partially understand. Sword technology goes waaaaaaaaaaaay back in history and has obviously had a bigger impact than most of us can appreciate.
"If you came and handled all of my sword collection...." Offer accepted. Seriously though, it would be interesting for other members of the sword community to do just that.
Oh hell yeah. I'd love to see the sword community doing field trips to see each others collections and chose their favorite sword from among it. bet you'd get great conversations
It sounds much like choosing a musical instruments. You can play 10 of the same make and model, and one may stand out in tone or how it feels to play. When you have hand craftsmanship especially, magic sometimes happens.
There are MANY parallels between HEMA and music, especially when it comes to the current study and performance of early/medieval classical music. I don't know what type of musician you are, but there's basically a "HEMA" equivalent in music in the form of what's known as historical performance or HP(it goes by other names as well). We even study original surviving treatises and other sources of written music. But the parallels go way beyond that as well.😁
I have a pattern 1827 Volunteer Rifles sabre , and it was my first sword. I can remember going with Dad to the UK for the first time and purchased the sword at Greys market for £120.00 back in 1996. I was so excited because now I had a authentic sword from England, and not some catalog reproduction/ wall-hanger from Marto . The sword has a lot of sentimental value to me , even more since dad is passed away couple of years ago. Here's to dads.
I have the service saber of my late father,. He was a police petty officer and he bought the regulatory saber required by his promotion to sergeant. Unfortunately, that same week, headquarter terminated the use of the saber in service, got relegated to parade and ceremonial duties. So I have a non used original Germany made Carabineros de Chile saber from the 70s. That should be my favorite one mainly for memories sake (and the fact that I don't have that gorgeous collection of yours!). For different reasons I would say that my favorite "sword" would be a Fox Italy kukri, rather a big knife but big enough to give me the sensation you describe, all feels good and right about it (for my hand). Good video as always!
Matt, I'm looking to start my own collection. A video on where to start, what can make a good first purchase for someone interested in XIX century sabers, what to avoid, etc would be very helpful!
I personally don’t have any swords (for now) but my favourite sword is the gladius, this just comes from my own preference because I know it’s kinda short for a sword but I have no idea but I love it! The Gladius is the first sword I think of when I hear the word “sword”, it’s incredibly out dated and out matched by others swords (if you only included the idea that you only using that sword alone, with a shield it’s actually good) but I love how simple it is, I love that the guard is not sticking out just a round guard plus the “hoops” that space out your fingers to give your better grip and that handle is wooden and, the blade itself it’s not bad! It is on the short side it’s not super short, it’s not like a dagger or something, it’s simply a short sword and that it’s has a good point for thrusting but has the bulk and the sharp sides to cut too! I simply love the gladius and I wish to have one for myself!
I find that the my favorite swords are the ones that inspire me to do something new. I recently found a WWII era guntō that was mounted with a traditionally made (though modern) blade. It is a beautiful sword in great condition, and it inspired me to branch out into non European Martial Arts.
I've had similar experiences with indo Persian swords. Learning both the differences and the similarities about how swords from other cultures are used is certainly a fun and educational time.
I like Irish swords with the weird open ring pommel and Scottish Lowland arming swords. Particularly some 13th century swords like the Type 13s that we sometimes see in Scotland, though the ball pommel and curved up crossguard of the 15th century swords look good. Myarmory.com has pictures of Type 13s from Glasgow. La Tène Celtic swords are another favorite of mine. They have beautiful hilts with rounded features and blades that are usually good cutters, at least the longer ones are. The la Tène short swords are also good. Urnfield swords are also another favorite.
@@konstantin.v I’m not too sure, you may be right. There probably are better options for soft target cuts; would make sense coming from an era where penetration was becoming a priority. I’m betting it still does a respectable hack & slash, but I haven’t personally handled it (or one very similar) though, so that’s a good question for @scholagladiatoria Matt. I was mostly just commenting on it aesthetically.
@5:52 yes, I would enjoying seeing a video of the Wilkinson Proved test. I've only come across to old hand drawn images of the machines with a few lines description. THANKS IN ADVANCE!
Funny how the talk of variations in production applies to a lot of things. Guitar players will talk about finding a certain guitar, the same model and run as others, that really speaks to them and feels right.
A couple notes on antique wakizashi. If you encounter one with a longer, two handed style grip, look at the length of the sheath. If that too is long, like that of a katana, you are not looking at a wakizashi. You have found a shinobi-no-gatana, . They were dressed that way to enable a quicker draw. Also, when inspecting an antique wakizashi, especially one as nice as his, again take careful note of the sheath. Specifically, the inside. They often have hidden compartments that contain money or important papers. These compartments often go unnoticed by antique dealers.
Mr. Easton, it is really refreshing how you people from behind the Channel are deeply entrenched in your blades´ terminology. Though the rest of Europe is able to clearly differentiate between various blade types (sword x seax x sabre x messer x palas...), Brits hold the tradition and don´t see any differences between, say, 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre, that is really the sabre, and the blade you´ve shown us today as the first beloved blade. Which is definitively palas (as the 1908 and 1912 models). I presume that you do know that the first sabres (šavle, szablyi) came to Europe probably with Avars and have both the curved blade and curved hilt. Palas, on the other hand, was developed in the 17th century and its main features are straight blade (often backsword-like) combined with curved (sabre´) hilt.
The improved 1917 Navy Cutlass from Cold Steel (gasp!) , is actually quite solid. Very little distal taper unfortunately, but otherwise very nice. Plus I've seen photos of U.S. Marines in WW2 landing on Pacific islands (interestingly) with identical ones sticking out of their packs, so it's a good likeness.
3) CS English Backsword 2) LK Chen Flying Phoenix 1) LK Chen Frontier Dao With an honorable mention of my Windlass actually accurate copy of a 1906 version of the US Cavalry saber.
That was mainly early La Tène Celtic swords. The mid and late La Tène swords, along with Hallstatt short swords and even Bronze Age Urnfield swords are somewhat similar in hilt shape. The antenna shape is present in many forms.
I have an original M1907 Bayonet, I cleaned up the blade, the grips and mechanism are in near perfect condition, but the size and feel of it are just spectacular. I have seen numerous other examples, but none ever felt quite the same.
My favorite is the only saber I own from windlass, mostly because I spent a lot of hours grinding it down until it had enough distal taper to feel right and then put an edge on it. Now it moves and cuts absolutely beautifully.
My three favorite swords I own. Enfield sword bayonet (recurved, extremely wide on the back of the blade). Hembrug cutlass (looks like a typical movie pirate sword, hand guard and clip tip). Small cutlass (has basic brass hand guard, compact,very basic, probably for use in a jungle or tropics before machetes became popular and commercial).
I do FMA so the ones I love are the ones that move in my hands and flow correctly. I like Barung type blades, amongst them it is the feel not the looks. I also like Kukris , again it is the feel of the movement that attracts me. Mahalo and Aloha.
My favourite sword is an 1854ish (thanks to the Easton Antique Arms website) Hawkes and Co. British infantry officer's sword. It's an 1845 blade pattern with an 1895 pattern bronze hilt.
My Del Tin Schiavona is my personal favourite, being the [For me] perfect balance between a very nimble-tipped sword and one with very, very much authority in the cut. Hand protection is great (due to being a basket grip), and the hilt still allows you to hold it in a hammergrip, handshake grip, index finger across or underneath the quilon/crossguard, thumb through the thumbring or not... It's all optional of course, but it allows for a bit of a larger range of movements that it's British (both Scottish anf English) counterparts don't allow for as easily (or pleasantly). When handeling her, it just feels "right", both cutting and thrusting, she feels about as lively as I've ever felt a sword to be, and yes... She does feel like she "wants to" cut stuff on her own... [Not to mention it just looks right and good. Unlike many other Schiavona replicas and interpretations, which are just wrong on a technical levek when compared to their historical counterparts.] On the whole, it probably will remain my favourite for quite a while.
I had a saber I loved, it had maybe 8-10" of the iron blade broken off. It was a WWI German Gunnary saber, it looked like a pirate sword actually. An Iron Backstrap, with flanges, a ribbed, partially cracked walnut grip. A very thick Iron full saber guard with two slits near the quillion and four holes on each side. I have never seen another one since I had that one in 1989.
That sounds unusual, piques my interest since none of the regulation German swords fit that description, aside from the flanged backstrap that most German functional service (not parade / officer) swords for artillery and cavalry since the 1811 blücher have had until the KD1889 "modernized" cavalry sword. Doesn't quite fit the earlier M1852 or M1867 cavalry swords either, do look those up tough. Infantry used M1898 bayonets, officers had their shiny status symbol M1889 dress swords and in my reference books there's only one model of a Bavarian M1826 artillery sword that even has a half basket guard. Most other German artillery swords have a C-guard with a bulge. Models since 1889 to WW1 most commonly had plain gloss black bakelite handles and wood would've likely been a custom option for an NCO or officer, if made pre-war, though during the war when bakelite production couldn't keep up, wooden handles reappeared in some models. What do you mean by slits near the quillion? What kind of a blade cross section did it have? Wide, narrow, thick, thin, fullered, pipe-backed? Can you remember any markings?
+scholagladiatoria *Recently, USMarCor adopted a Bowie bayonet from the Ontario (NY, USA) Knife Company.* The Model OKC-3S has an 8½" (215mm) not-much-thicker 2690 chromium-vanadium steel blade than KA-BAR® (Olean, NY, USA) uses for the USN-USMC Knife Mk 2 Mod 1, heat-treated to the 50 RC ballpark, with the primary edge serrated for the closest 2" (51mm) to the hilt. Personally, I'd think a 10" (250mm) Bowie bayonet more effective, especially with a razor-sharp clip for the backslash.
I still remember the first time I handled an Angus Trim longsword. It was really hard to put words to it, but it felt so good on my hands that it brought an immediate smile to my face. Comparatively the Ronin and even the Albion I was using the same day felt clunky.
Mines a 1821 pattern (I think) pipe back light cavalry officers sabre. It’s pitted to hell, markings are pretty much unreadable, it’s quillion has been ground off at some point and I think it was used for stage combat for a while as the hilt and scabbard were both painted black with gloss. But it was the first “proper” sword I ever held and the “ahhhh, that’s what a real sword is meant to feel like in the hand” has stayed with me. I’ve got nicer/rarer/more valuable swords but that first epiphany, and the fact that its already “ruined” as an antique so I don’t mind having some fun with it, means that it’s definitely a firm favourite. Best £50 I ever spent 😁
I have 2 antique french 1822 lc sabers, both are so drastically diffrent, one is exceedingly heavy the other is light and quite spry. I have handeled hanwei katanas and I have 3 ryan sword katana and they are perfect, I even recently acquired a cs 1796, it has a ton of distal taper and its a solid and nice saber, with better handling then the heavier of my 2 1822s.....I love drill and cutting and the entire bit.lol Thank you for another great video
My favorite sword (currently) is a sparring longsword made by a smith I don'trecommend patronizing. Triple fullered, Talhoffer-style hilt, and a waisted grip. She glides through the air effortlessly, and looks good doing it. On the other hand, I also have a Kvetun greatsword on the way...
@@nathanielkidd2840 he has unfulfilled orders 2 years and running. And got disowned by the community for being a domestic abuser. Great sword. Terrible maker.
A personal favorite of one is the Albion Kingmaker. There's just something about its proportions that I find just some balanced and elegantly appealing. I actually own one that friend of mine is keeping in storage for me back in the States. Abotgee favorite of mine (that I'd love to own one day) is the Albion Brescia Spadona. It reminds me of a shark in longsword form. Very deadly looking but beautiful at the same time.
my grandfather's Highland officer's sword has to be my favorite i own, i have never been able to find my father's naval officer sword after he passed though knowing him he probably sold it (he had pawned his medals, including the Victoria Cross after moving to Canada)
Your Vickers arming sword is definitely my favorite of all of your swords, so I was happy to see you feature it here! The previously owned Albion you're referencing was the Poitier, wasn't it? That's still among my favorite of Albion's arming swords. Matt, what about that wonderful replica of an Elizabethan-ish era backsword you had made years ago? I wanna say it was made by Marco Danelli... That is probably my other favorite sword of yours. Do you still have that? That sword is an amazing piece, and a woefully neglected genre of sword in general. Please feature it soon!
Something you said sparked an idea: could you do a video on modern makers' marks? For instance, how do LK Chen mark their swords? Indeed, you mentioned that every sword is hand-made, so it would be interesting to have a video where you demonstrate that a particular sword is not only manufactured by LK Chen / Windlass / Wilkinson Sword / whoever but actually made by Joe Bloggs.
One of my garde de bataille. The french 1.empire lionhead light cavalry officers saber with a damast blade. And the saber for on officer of the 1. empiree french 9ieme légère-the unit i am reenacting.
The sword most special to me is not an antique, and not even that great of a replica, but is nice looking and what is special is how I came about it. When I retired from the Army Guard, I expected to receive a sabre, as I was Armoured Cavalry, and that's pretty much the norm. But because I write historical novels for a living, with most taking place in Ancient Rome, I kind of tongue-in-cheek told my captain, "Sir, if the Regiment is going to get me anything, how about a Roman gladius?" So they did. I've seen the exact same one on Amazon for around $50 USD, yet it still is very nice looking and surprisingly well-balanced; comparable to a historical replica I have of a Pompeii pattern gladius. Then last year (pre-COVID) I had the pleasure of being in a local Shakespeare production of 'Antony and Cleopatra', where I was cast as Marcus Agrippa. I made proper use of my regimental gladius, which I subsequently renamed my 'Sword of Agrippa'. :)
Matt, Another wonderful video. Its always intriguing to see which swords become another persons favorites. My favorite katana for iaido is a Dynasty Forge Bushi Forge Folded Silver Wave. It is lighter than most other Silver Waves and I can do hours of kata with no fatigue, it moves like silk. Another favorite is a Bugai Powered Swedish Steel Dragonfly Katana. Its a beautiful sword and though its a bit longer than my other katanas it moves well and has a definite presence about it. Another blade I have is a Masai spear about two hundred years old. It sits on a stand and just fills my office with its spirit. When other sword people come to visit their eyes are always drawn to "the spear." Thanks again.
The only sword I've ever owned was a cheap wall hanger, but I do have 3 guns like these three swords that have no inherent value but are spectacular, and one that has value, but I wouldn't part with. First up, I have a WASR-10 imported by Century Arms that shoots 3 MOA groups with steel case Wolf crap ammo and iron sights, and AKMs are just so much fun to shoot. WASR-10s are renowned for being junk AKs, but mine has functioned flawlessly. Second is a Taurus PT92 that you can load 17+1 different types, weights, and makes of ammo through, and it'll cycle everything you throw at it reliably, and the point of impact won't shift. The trigger on that gun is shit, but everything else about it is magical. It's like somebody pieced it together out of the very best parts Taurus made that year. Third is another Century Arms import that is easy to thumb your nose at. It's a Golani Sporter. I don't know what black magic the uncle I inherited it from did, but it's a sub-MOA rifle. On multiple occasions I've shot .72 to 0.89 MOA groups with it, and I'm only what I'd consider a mediocre shooter. The one that is a reputable, quality gun that I wouldn't part with is a Colt 1991A1. It has the best trigger of any handgun I've ever shot. It's ergonomic, fun to shoot, and pretty much nothing's more fun than .45 ACP. The only point against it is the parkerized finish absorbs oil and wicks it away, so it's gotta be lubed up like a cheap whore to keep it running.
there were two swords that you showed on this channel that i thought were really amazing. both from Tod's Workshop - the big 2-handed sword and also that rapier he made. they were both really nice.
Thank you for another cool video. My collection is relatively small. Although it is tough to pick the favorites, it must be infinitely easier than in your case :) My three fav swords are: 1) The heavy cavalry sword by Mole that you show in your video "Antique Victorian Heavy Cavalry Officer Swords - 1821 & 1896 Patterns" at 7:05. :) Just as you describe it - there is something special about the balance of that thing. It's a long cavalry blade and it feels powerful enough but also surprisingly nimble, it is straight - so it is very comfortable to thrust with (it's nimble enough for that), the guard is very functional and beautiful. It really feels like a perfect sword! 2) P1897 Infantry Officers Sword by Hobson/Pillin (also from you;). Although I understand the virtues of a universal cut-and-thrust blade, I somehow find this sword similar with a modern epee, and I really like this similarity! It's very nimble, very fast in defence and has a great guard! 3) P1857 Royal Engineers Sword by Wilkinson. It is very nicely made (obviously) with a steel+leather washer , and the manufacturer achieved a great balance between stiffness, nimbleness, and authority in the cut. Also, being P1857 in fantastic condition, it looks great. :) Thank you for the suggestion to create this list. What an excellent excuse to go through the collection! :)
So far, I only have four swords, but it is still hard to pick a favorite. A have a Mateusz Sulowski type XIV that is special not only because he makes great swords but also because I got to specify exactly what I wanted. I also have a nice 1845 model French infantry officer’s sabre that I enjoy both because it is a “real sword” from when swords were still in use and because it is exactly what I wanted in a first sabre: Spear point & lightly curved. There is something special about how it handles different from any other sword I’ve held. (The others are a Cold Steel & a Deepeeka, so no competition for favorite there. 😀)
I believe that the feel of the weapon in your hand is almost more important in a fight than the performance and quality of a sword, and that is for psychological reasons. A blade that handles very well gives you a much greater feeling of security and confidence in your ability to fight with it, whereas a poorly balanced or constructed sword might distract and annoy you and thereby make you lose the fight. Of course, a weapon of bad quality might also fail and break, but this is written with actual swords in mind, which will most likely stay in one piece, and not "sword-like objects".
I found a Windless Sverd, which they call the "battlecry," at a fleamarket and bought it for 150$ (where it's normally 350$). It's perfectly sharp and in great condition, still had it's scabbard and sword carriage even. The only problem I've had so far with it is that the leather/pleather wrapping on the handle is glued on and I had to glue it back down after a few months of practicing with it. My one regret is that I didn't say 100$ instead of 150$, because I'm pretty sure that they would've gone for it. They were quite interested in getting rid of it, for some reason. (They immediately accepted my offer with no attempt to get more money out of it. Their asking price was 250$. One of them also commented that they didn't think that they'd be able to get rid of it.)
Out of my antiques, the nicest handling, though probably not the most effective as a combat weapon is the French Mle1845/55. Light, at only ~750 grams it is fast and nimble with fancy swishing sound effects from its equally fancy fullering. Feels better and lighter than even a French M1887 NCO small sword, owing to its ergonomic handle and excellent weight distribution. At ~91.5 cm / 77.5 cm blade, it's a tad short for a saber though. When it comes to replicas, my Danelli sidesword that I practiced Bolognese fencing with for a beginners' course. The one I would pick as my sidearm if swords were to become an accepted part of a gentleman's (or woman's) attire again... it's hard to choose between the British M1889 Staff Sergeant's sword by Mole for its reach and stabby stiffness without sacrificing balance, the M1796 LC for its slashing power, or a ~WW1 era tulwar for the previous reason + extra handling. If only that last option had a proper temper on the likely imported blade that was shortened and modified by some random local smith to be thinner and curvier at the last quarter of the blade to better suit the intended use, but leaving the edge somewhat soft in some parts. As a collector's item, if it weren't for the obscene tip heaviness of the longer Type 32 "Kō" Guntō (Japanese M1898) cavalry saber, it would've been high on the previous list. It weighs 1008 g and at 97 cm is a bit shorter in reach, but same overall length with curve taken into account as the staff sergeant's sword at 98 cm, weighing at 1040 g. However, the center of balance is 19 cm from the guard as opposed to 11.4 cm for the latter, which gives the type 32 a lot of authority to its swing, but isn't very agile. It is basically a hefty, very stiff, yet longer than usual katana blade with a one-handed saber guard.
I've wanted to own an Ottoman pala for a while now, the fancy kind with the ball pommels and the big belly and the t-section blade and raised yalman, but I can't really afford them. But I found a Georgian navy one from 1877-1878 (so says the faded etching on the blade). It seems to have been blued. It's not as fancy or decorated as some of the Ottoman ones with the big ball pommels (it has a pretty typical unassuming Georgian guard, grip and pommel. The grip is simple black leather wrap glued to what I assume is wood. It's a smallish sword, but it's definitely one of my favorites. The blade is remarkably light due to the T-section geometry, but it is forward weighted enough to feel like it packs a punch.
Went to a gun and knife show maybe 8 years ago. Didn't really have the money to buy any, but it was only like $8 to enter, so what the heck. Of all the fancy high-end pistols of all brands I handled that day, the one I loved the best was a Walther PK380. Not the fanciest, not the most powerful, certainly didn't attract the crowds like the Glock and Sig tables, but damn if it wasn't just the perfect weight and size of all of them for me. It really makes a difference how something can feel in the hand. I did wind up buying something though, a nice heavy kukri machete. Also felt quite nice.
if you have any it would be fun to see different designs of messer swords, dont know if they were widespread throughout europe or not but it would be fun to see alot of different desigs be it practical or astetic
I have a "bastard" long sword that was handmade for me by a good friend in the middle east. Its not perfect. It does have a couple little imperfections but imo that's what make it special. It is mostly given to the cut but handles wonderfully.
I believe Albion make their swords via computerized machine stock removal unlike other sword manufacturers. I have a Cold Steel "Polish Saber" that I blued the hilt to reduce rusting. It has design flaws but it's my first sharp sword and it looks beautiful. I also have an 1845 bladed 1827 Rifle Officer's sword which I actually aquired from Easton Antiques. It's my first antique, soon not to be my only one. Those are my special swords.
Wow, that wakizashi is beautiful. I own the Magnificent Chu Jian from LK Chen as well - it’s an attractive and lively sword, definitely a new favorite. My Albion Lancaster is the all time favorite though - superbly balanced sword.
Hm, difficult thing to answer. If i had to break it down to Just three, i would go for: Longsword oakeshott XVIIIb шашка Model 1881 The Chinese Saber dao 刀 Qing eara. ( maybe i like the japanese Katana a bit more? Damn... Thats a close one XD. I handled all of these and they felt quiet naturally and good to fence with. And to cut with as well.
I bought a feder from kvetun, and I was quite nervous because everyone in my hema club had regenyei and I was a newborn and they said I'd regret it. Two years on, my feder is still the bench mark for swords in the club.
I have an officer's shin-gunto (WWII katana, for those who aren't into Japanese swords) with a maker's name on the tang, and a Type 32 (Western-style saber introduced in 1899) that my grandfather brought back from Japan at the end of his service in WWII. He was an Army truck driver, family legend is he won them off a Marine in a poker game (sadly, he died when I was 10, and I didn't see the swords until I was 15, so I didn't get to ask him about them.) Obviously I'm preserving the officer's sword as best I can (it spent 60 years wrapped in a blanket under a bed, it's got a little rust on the blade that I am not qualified to polish), because it's got all the ray skin and cloth wrapping and a name on the tang (which I haven't been able to decipher, if you know a person that knows Japanese swordsmith names, hook me up). It's sharp, too, like a three-foot-long razor. The machine-made saber isn't all that rare, so I feel okay cleaning it up, sharpening it (haven't yet, tell me if I shouldn't, it has tool marks on the edge like somebody half-sharpened it, but isn't actually sharp), and using to open the new years bubbly (with the unsharpened part, ofc) and such, and it's just like you said -- it's lust the right size for me (I'm 5'7" in boots, so about the size of the guy it was made for, I suppose), perfectly balanced, is really nicely proportioned aesthetically, and is a delight to swing. I love it. I also have a Wilkinson. :p Bought a P1907 off ebay from a soldier who found a crate of 'em in ~2004 that the Brits had left in Iraq when they bugged out in 1932. It's dated March 1918. The SMLE I bought it for was made in 1916.
Matt, I have a few blades one is a ronin dojo pro and a ronin Italian two hand sword, the dojo pro is showing some edge wear. Was wondering who I can send it too to get reground or at least sharpened, maybe even heat treated better? I live in Louisiana USA. Also have the coldsteel small sword, those are my 3 favorite blades. I also have 3 civil war era replicas for reenactments, they are real just blunt, 2 of which are officer's sabers from the north and 1 from the south, the 3rd sabe is an artillery sabe hard curve similar to the cavalry sabers of the time. My father owns a sabe fro the 1860s it's all original
I found a rapier in a gun store in Arizona. Someone had traded it in for in-store credit. Shop-owner was asking $700 if I used a card but $500 if I went and got cash. On the way back, I heard a call for help from an old lady who had fallen over trying to get her oxygen tank into her car. I called 911 for paramedics and checked her over, carefully and respectfully, to make sure she didn't have any life-threatening injuries that would do her in before help arrived (basic 1st aid training courtesy of the corpsmen of the U.S.S Boxer, on which I was an ABH3 at the time). There have been days when I have felt down, depressed, and like a failure... until I see the rapier that reminds me of a day when I was a hero to someone.
Matt, take a look at the older back production Guingate sword from Windlass. I had the original, it is a gorgeous sword with sheath. It has a spine bevel like your Henry the VI sword, the grip is camel bone with a brass spacer and gorgeous Quillions and pommel.
My favorite is the Khyber Knife/Sword, Roman Gladius, Katana and the Tuareg straight swords, even the Khopesh looks nice. I saw a nice antique Khyber dating back to the 16th century with a nice guard and finish online, but its way out of my price range.
I sadly only own for exceedingly cheap swords. My favorite is the Katana that I talked the pawn shop down to $20 for. I figured it was going to be a cheap thing I might use in a costume, but after some searching I found I had a relatively good backyard cutter of a katana. my other three swords cost less than that. I am hoping to save up for a Tang Dao from LK Chen in the near future.
seeing your episode which talked on Sergeants swords, I have been very interested in that 1905 Sgt sword: it just seems the right size, right heft, would love more info on acquiring one.
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Epées and falchions and ancient katanas,
Nepalese kukris, all bent like bananas,
Cavalry sabres with silken hilt cords,
These are a few of my favourite swords.
Gladii and rapiers and naval cutlasses,
Fantasy weapons equipped by young lasses,
Baskethilt claymores wielded by lords,
These are a few of my favourite swords.
The Sound Of Easton
Brilliant song I really like it good job you clever fellow
10:40 "Non-regulation swords and the oddballs who ordered them" sounds like a great video topic!
I thought the same thing. Would be a great video topic!
I believe Matt’s been working in a book about that topic. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard him mention it though.
Wasn't that the original name of Easton Antique Arms?
A video about proof-testing practice and history would be fun.
*Goes through the video to the point he starts to mention the weapons* "It is a sabre-" Oh thank God, it's not an April's Fools joke.
8:06
In German that is not a sword (Schwert) but falls in the catogory of 'Säbel & Messer' (Sabres & Knives).
"And lastly, and to the surprise of many of you, it's a.... Spadroon!"
Biggest sword I own is a steak knife... I really enjoy watching this channel for the education factor.. and seeing the passion from a true connoisseur of something I only partially understand. Sword technology goes waaaaaaaaaaaay back in history and has obviously had a bigger impact than most of us can appreciate.
Steak sounds good right now...good post!!!
"If you came and handled all of my sword collection...."
Offer accepted.
Seriously though, it would be interesting for other members of the sword community to do just that.
Oh hell yeah. I'd love to see the sword community doing field trips to see each others collections and chose their favorite sword from among it. bet you'd get great conversations
It sounds much like choosing a musical instruments. You can play 10 of the same make and model, and one may stand out in tone or how it feels to play. When you have hand craftsmanship especially, magic sometimes happens.
Making weapons is more of an art than a science. I imagine instruments are the same
@@sawyere2496 Yeah, a lot of both. 😁
This analogy came to my mind too. It's why i wont buy an instrument online that isant a cheap throwaway
There are MANY parallels between HEMA and music, especially when it comes to the current study and performance of early/medieval classical music. I don't know what type of musician you are, but there's basically a "HEMA" equivalent in music in the form of what's known as historical performance or HP(it goes by other names as well). We even study original surviving treatises and other sources of written music. But the parallels go way beyond that as well.😁
Same thing with cues, if you're a cuesport enthusiast .. and bats, racquets etc if you play any "ball-hitting" sports
It’s April 1st, don’t believe a thing he says for the entire day!
I have a pattern 1827 Volunteer Rifles sabre , and it was my first sword. I can remember going with Dad to the UK for the first time and purchased the sword at Greys market for £120.00 back in 1996. I was so excited because now I had a authentic sword from England, and not some catalog reproduction/ wall-hanger from Marto . The sword has a lot of sentimental value to me , even more since dad is passed away couple of years ago. Here's to dads.
that's exactly how i choose my favourite t-shirts: "if i had to go to war tomorrow..."
I have the service saber of my late father,. He was a police petty officer and he bought the regulatory saber required by his promotion to sergeant. Unfortunately, that same week, headquarter terminated the use of the saber in service, got relegated to parade and ceremonial duties. So I have a non used original Germany made Carabineros de Chile saber from the 70s. That should be my favorite one mainly for memories sake (and the fact that I don't have that gorgeous collection of yours!). For different reasons I would say that my favorite "sword" would be a Fox Italy kukri, rather a big knife but big enough to give me the sensation you describe, all feels good and right about it (for my hand). Good video as always!
I love seeing the milk bottles stacked up in the background! Their days are numbered.
I don’t own any historical weapons but I truly enjoy this channel I have been a fan for a year and keep enjoying it every time I come back!
At least, he tells the wife that over half the swords are for stock
Only his wife might say we aren't selling that one. Got to love Lucy.
I bet Lucy never lets Matt sell any of the backswords that he gets in.
Matt, I'm looking to start my own collection. A video on where to start, what can make a good first purchase for someone interested in XIX century sabers, what to avoid, etc would be very helpful!
I'm surprised your cutlass didn't make the cut, considering how often it featured in the earlier videos.
I was rather hoping to see the Highland Cavalry Officer's Sword, it's just beautiful.
I personally don’t have any swords (for now) but my favourite sword is the gladius, this just comes from my own preference because I know it’s kinda short for a sword but I have no idea but I love it! The Gladius is the first sword I think of when I hear the word “sword”, it’s incredibly out dated and out matched by others swords (if you only included the idea that you only using that sword alone, with a shield it’s actually good) but I love how simple it is, I love that the guard is not sticking out just a round guard plus the “hoops” that space out your fingers to give your better grip and that handle is wooden and, the blade itself it’s not bad! It is on the short side it’s not super short, it’s not like a dagger or something, it’s simply a short sword and that it’s has a good point for thrusting but has the bulk and the sharp sides to cut too!
I simply love the gladius and I wish to have one for myself!
Yes I know, I write a lot, but it’s good explain things in a lot of detail
Every time I handle a sword with my own hands, it becomes very special.
I find that the my favorite swords are the ones that inspire me to do something new. I recently found a WWII era guntō that was mounted with a traditionally made (though modern) blade. It is a beautiful sword in great condition, and it inspired me to branch out into non European Martial Arts.
I've had similar experiences with indo Persian swords. Learning both the differences and the similarities about how swords from other cultures are used is certainly a fun and educational time.
I like Irish swords with the weird open ring pommel and Scottish Lowland arming swords. Particularly some 13th century swords like the Type 13s that we sometimes see in Scotland, though the ball pommel and curved up crossguard of the 15th century swords look good. Myarmory.com has pictures of Type 13s from Glasgow. La Tène Celtic swords are another favorite of mine. They have beautiful hilts with rounded features and blades that are usually good cutters, at least the longer ones are. The la Tène short swords are also good. Urnfield swords are also another favorite.
That last one was just beautiful!
"Most of those are stock. Half of them are stock. I'm not going to keep them all."
Comes off as a line put in incase the wife is watching.
I have a thai dah, ivory coast sword, and an swedish axe. I always fall back to the axe though. Gransforsbruks reeks of quality.
Always loved that St. George “Henry V” sword. That combo of features, the large guard & pommel, with that uniquely ground blade is just, *mwah*
Doesn't that rib inhibit cutting, though? 🤗
@@konstantin.v I’m not too sure, you may be right. There probably are better options for soft target cuts; would make sense coming from an era where penetration was becoming a priority. I’m betting it still does a respectable hack & slash, but I haven’t personally handled it (or one very similar) though, so that’s a good question for @scholagladiatoria Matt. I was mostly just commenting on it aesthetically.
As soon as I clicked I was expecting all 3 to be katanas in some April Fool's shenanigans hahahaha
Thanks for another great video!
@5:52 yes, I would enjoying seeing a video of the Wilkinson Proved test. I've only come across to old hand drawn images of the machines with a few lines description. THANKS IN ADVANCE!
Find yourself someone who'll talk about you the way Matt talks about his swords.
Funny how the talk of variations in production applies to a lot of things. Guitar players will talk about finding a certain guitar, the same model and run as others, that really speaks to them and feels right.
A couple notes on antique wakizashi.
If you encounter one with a longer, two handed style grip, look at the length of the sheath. If that too is long, like that of a katana, you are not looking at a wakizashi. You have found a shinobi-no-gatana, . They were dressed that way to enable a quicker draw.
Also, when inspecting an antique wakizashi, especially one as nice as his, again take careful note of the sheath. Specifically, the inside. They often have hidden compartments that contain money or important papers. These compartments often go unnoticed by antique dealers.
Oh, that arming sword is lovely.
Mr. Easton, it is really refreshing how you people from behind the Channel are deeply entrenched in your blades´ terminology. Though the rest of Europe is able to clearly differentiate between various blade types (sword x seax x sabre x messer x palas...), Brits hold the tradition and don´t see any differences between, say, 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre, that is really the sabre, and the blade you´ve shown us today as the first beloved blade. Which is definitively palas (as the 1908 and 1912 models). I presume that you do know that the first sabres (šavle, szablyi) came to Europe probably with Avars and have both the curved blade and curved hilt. Palas, on the other hand, was developed in the 17th century and its main features are straight blade (often backsword-like) combined with curved (sabre´) hilt.
My favorite sword is any sword that when I pick it up the warrior's spirit forged into it whispers to me, "Now go hit something!"
I’d actually love a video on any swords you might have sentimental feelings about or attachment to.
Also good to know Toby Capwell is coming back!
I like cut & thrust swords with a medium amount of hand protection and long blades.
The improved 1917 Navy Cutlass from Cold Steel (gasp!) , is actually quite solid. Very little distal taper unfortunately, but otherwise very nice. Plus I've seen photos of U.S. Marines in WW2 landing on Pacific islands (interestingly) with identical ones sticking out of their packs, so it's a good likeness.
3) CS English Backsword
2) LK Chen Flying Phoenix
1) LK Chen Frontier Dao
With an honorable mention of my Windlass actually accurate copy of a 1906 version of the US Cavalry saber.
I like Celtic anthropomorphic swords, the shape off the hilt is interesting and unique. You're basically holding a person
That was mainly early La Tène Celtic swords. The mid and late La Tène swords, along with Hallstatt short swords and even Bronze Age Urnfield swords are somewhat similar in hilt shape. The antenna shape is present in many forms.
I have an original M1907 Bayonet, I cleaned up the blade, the grips and mechanism are in near perfect condition, but the size and feel of it are just spectacular. I have seen numerous other examples, but none ever felt quite the same.
My favorite is the only saber I own from windlass, mostly because I spent a lot of hours grinding it down until it had enough distal taper to feel right and then put an edge on it. Now it moves and cuts absolutely beautifully.
Hand and a half sword, for sure. Very good all around. It can stab and cut, AND it works for one OR two hands.
My three favorite swords I own. Enfield sword bayonet (recurved, extremely wide on the back of the blade). Hembrug cutlass (looks like a typical movie pirate sword, hand guard and clip tip). Small cutlass (has basic brass hand guard, compact,very basic, probably for use in a jungle or tropics before machetes became popular and commercial).
My Favs: #1 - Katana
#2 - Gladius
#3 - chinese Dadao
I do FMA so the ones I love are the ones that move in my hands and flow correctly. I like Barung type blades, amongst them it is the feel not the looks. I also like Kukris , again it is the feel of the movement that attracts me. Mahalo and Aloha.
Oh man, so many great Filipino weapons. TFW's banyal feels amazing and is a beastly cutter for such a light weapon.
I like the ones that go swish & stab
poke poke stick
My favourite sword is an 1854ish (thanks to the Easton Antique Arms website) Hawkes and Co. British infantry officer's sword. It's an 1845 blade pattern with an 1895 pattern bronze hilt.
My Del Tin Schiavona is my personal favourite, being the [For me] perfect balance between a very nimble-tipped sword and one with very, very much authority in the cut. Hand protection is great (due to being a basket grip), and the hilt still allows you to hold it in a hammergrip, handshake grip, index finger across or underneath the quilon/crossguard, thumb through the thumbring or not... It's all optional of course, but it allows for a bit of a larger range of movements that it's British (both Scottish anf English) counterparts don't allow for as easily (or pleasantly).
When handeling her, it just feels "right", both cutting and thrusting, she feels about as lively as I've ever felt a sword to be, and yes... She does feel like she "wants to" cut stuff on her own...
[Not to mention it just looks right and good. Unlike many other Schiavona replicas and interpretations, which are just wrong on a technical levek when compared to their historical counterparts.]
On the whole, it probably will remain my favourite for quite a while.
I had a saber I loved, it had maybe 8-10" of the iron blade broken off. It was a WWI German Gunnary saber, it looked like a pirate sword actually. An Iron Backstrap, with flanges, a ribbed, partially cracked walnut grip. A very thick Iron full saber guard with two slits near the quillion and four holes on each side. I have never seen another one since I had that one in 1989.
That sounds unusual, piques my interest since none of the regulation German swords fit that description, aside from the flanged backstrap that most German functional service (not parade / officer) swords for artillery and cavalry since the 1811 blücher have had until the KD1889 "modernized" cavalry sword. Doesn't quite fit the earlier M1852 or M1867 cavalry swords either, do look those up tough.
Infantry used M1898 bayonets, officers had their shiny status symbol M1889 dress swords and in my reference books there's only one model of a Bavarian M1826 artillery sword that even has a half basket guard. Most other German artillery swords have a C-guard with a bulge. Models since 1889 to WW1 most commonly had plain gloss black bakelite handles and wood would've likely been a custom option for an NCO or officer, if made pre-war, though during the war when bakelite production couldn't keep up, wooden handles reappeared in some models. What do you mean by slits near the quillion? What kind of a blade cross section did it have? Wide, narrow, thick, thin, fullered, pipe-backed? Can you remember any markings?
+scholagladiatoria *Recently, USMarCor adopted a Bowie bayonet from the Ontario (NY, USA) Knife Company.* The Model OKC-3S has an 8½" (215mm) not-much-thicker 2690 chromium-vanadium steel blade than KA-BAR® (Olean, NY, USA) uses for the USN-USMC Knife Mk 2 Mod 1, heat-treated to the 50 RC ballpark, with the primary edge serrated for the closest 2" (51mm) to the hilt. Personally, I'd think a 10" (250mm) Bowie bayonet more effective, especially with a razor-sharp clip for the backslash.
I still remember the first time I handled an Angus Trim longsword. It was really hard to put words to it, but it felt so good on my hands that it brought an immediate smile to my face. Comparatively the Ronin and even the Albion I was using the same day felt clunky.
14:44 You answered my question, that I knew you would get to eventually!
Mines a 1821 pattern (I think) pipe back light cavalry officers sabre. It’s pitted to hell, markings are pretty much unreadable, it’s quillion has been ground off at some point and I think it was used for stage combat for a while as the hilt and scabbard were both painted black with gloss. But it was the first “proper” sword I ever held and the “ahhhh, that’s what a real sword is meant to feel like in the hand” has stayed with me. I’ve got nicer/rarer/more valuable swords but that first epiphany, and the fact that its already “ruined” as an antique so I don’t mind having some fun with it, means that it’s definitely a firm favourite.
Best £50 I ever spent 😁
I have 2 antique french 1822 lc sabers, both are so drastically diffrent, one is exceedingly heavy the other is light and quite spry. I have handeled hanwei katanas and I have 3 ryan sword katana and they are perfect, I even recently acquired a cs 1796, it has a ton of distal taper and its a solid and nice saber, with better handling then the heavier of my 2 1822s.....I love drill and cutting and the entire bit.lol Thank you for another great video
My favorite sword (currently) is a sparring longsword made by a smith I don'trecommend patronizing. Triple fullered, Talhoffer-style hilt, and a waisted grip. She glides through the air effortlessly, and looks good doing it.
On the other hand, I also have a Kvetun greatsword on the way...
Why wouldn’t you recommend the smith? Sounds like you’re happy with the product.
@@nathanielkidd2840 he has unfulfilled orders 2 years and running. And got disowned by the community for being a domestic abuser.
Great sword. Terrible maker.
A personal favorite of one is the Albion Kingmaker. There's just something about its proportions that I find just some balanced and elegantly appealing. I actually own one that friend of mine is keeping in storage for me back in the States.
Abotgee favorite of mine (that I'd love to own one day) is the Albion Brescia Spadona. It reminds me of a shark in longsword form. Very deadly looking but beautiful at the same time.
i just fell in love with that bayonet
infectious enthusiasm
That sabre and the wakizashi would be an awesome weapon combination
my grandfather's Highland officer's sword has to be my favorite i own, i have never been able to find my father's naval officer sword after he passed though knowing him he probably sold it (he had pawned his medals, including the Victoria Cross after moving to Canada)
Your Vickers arming sword is definitely my favorite of all of your swords, so I was happy to see you feature it here! The previously owned Albion you're referencing was the Poitier, wasn't it? That's still among my favorite of Albion's arming swords. Matt, what about that wonderful replica of an Elizabethan-ish era backsword you had made years ago? I wanna say it was made by Marco Danelli... That is probably my other favorite sword of yours. Do you still have that? That sword is an amazing piece, and a woefully neglected genre of sword in general. Please feature it soon!
Something you said sparked an idea: could you do a video on modern makers' marks? For instance, how do LK Chen mark their swords? Indeed, you mentioned that every sword is hand-made, so it would be interesting to have a video where you demonstrate that a particular sword is not only manufactured by LK Chen / Windlass / Wilkinson Sword / whoever but actually made by Joe Bloggs.
Cool to see your favorites. Love that wakizashi.
Can we have a version of this but with Lucy Easton?
One of my garde de bataille. The french 1.empire lionhead light cavalry officers saber with a damast blade. And the saber for on officer of the 1. empiree french 9ieme légère-the unit i am reenacting.
The sword most special to me is not an antique, and not even that great of a replica, but is nice looking and what is special is how I came about it. When I retired from the Army Guard, I expected to receive a sabre, as I was Armoured Cavalry, and that's pretty much the norm. But because I write historical novels for a living, with most taking place in Ancient Rome, I kind of tongue-in-cheek told my captain, "Sir, if the Regiment is going to get me anything, how about a Roman gladius?" So they did. I've seen the exact same one on Amazon for around $50 USD, yet it still is very nice looking and surprisingly well-balanced; comparable to a historical replica I have of a Pompeii pattern gladius. Then last year (pre-COVID) I had the pleasure of being in a local Shakespeare production of 'Antony and Cleopatra', where I was cast as Marcus Agrippa. I made proper use of my regimental gladius, which I subsequently renamed my 'Sword of Agrippa'. :)
Matt, Another wonderful video. Its always intriguing to see which swords become another persons favorites. My favorite katana for iaido is a Dynasty Forge Bushi Forge Folded Silver Wave. It is lighter than most other Silver Waves and I can do hours of kata with no fatigue, it moves like silk. Another favorite is a Bugai Powered Swedish Steel Dragonfly Katana. Its a beautiful sword and though its a bit longer than my other katanas it moves well and has a definite presence about it. Another blade I have is a Masai spear about two hundred years old. It sits on a stand and just fills my office with its spirit. When other sword people come to visit their eyes are always drawn to "the spear." Thanks again.
The only sword I've ever owned was a cheap wall hanger, but I do have 3 guns like these three swords that have no inherent value but are spectacular, and one that has value, but I wouldn't part with.
First up, I have a WASR-10 imported by Century Arms that shoots 3 MOA groups with steel case Wolf crap ammo and iron sights, and AKMs are just so much fun to shoot. WASR-10s are renowned for being junk AKs, but mine has functioned flawlessly.
Second is a Taurus PT92 that you can load 17+1 different types, weights, and makes of ammo through, and it'll cycle everything you throw at it reliably, and the point of impact won't shift. The trigger on that gun is shit, but everything else about it is magical. It's like somebody pieced it together out of the very best parts Taurus made that year.
Third is another Century Arms import that is easy to thumb your nose at. It's a Golani Sporter. I don't know what black magic the uncle I inherited it from did, but it's a sub-MOA rifle. On multiple occasions I've shot .72 to 0.89 MOA groups with it, and I'm only what I'd consider a mediocre shooter.
The one that is a reputable, quality gun that I wouldn't part with is a Colt 1991A1. It has the best trigger of any handgun I've ever shot. It's ergonomic, fun to shoot, and pretty much nothing's more fun than .45 ACP. The only point against it is the parkerized finish absorbs oil and wicks it away, so it's gotta be lubed up like a cheap whore to keep it running.
there were two swords that you showed on this channel that i thought were really amazing. both from Tod's Workshop - the big 2-handed sword and also that rapier he made. they were both really nice.
Thank you for another cool video. My collection is relatively small. Although it is tough to pick the favorites, it must be infinitely easier than in your case :) My three fav swords are:
1) The heavy cavalry sword by Mole that you show in your video "Antique Victorian Heavy Cavalry Officer Swords - 1821 & 1896 Patterns" at 7:05. :) Just as you describe it - there is something special about the balance of that thing. It's a long cavalry blade and it feels powerful enough but also surprisingly nimble, it is straight - so it is very comfortable to thrust with (it's nimble enough for that), the guard is very functional and beautiful. It really feels like a perfect sword!
2) P1897 Infantry Officers Sword by Hobson/Pillin (also from you;). Although I understand the virtues of a universal cut-and-thrust blade, I somehow find this sword similar with a modern epee, and I really like this similarity! It's very nimble, very fast in defence and has a great guard!
3) P1857 Royal Engineers Sword by Wilkinson. It is very nicely made (obviously) with a steel+leather washer , and the manufacturer achieved a great balance between stiffness, nimbleness, and authority in the cut. Also, being P1857 in fantastic condition, it looks great. :)
Thank you for the suggestion to create this list. What an excellent excuse to go through the collection! :)
Wait! Albion Europe is gone? Damn. I bought my Kingmaker there from the same guy.
So far, I only have four swords, but it is still hard to pick a favorite. A have a Mateusz Sulowski type XIV that is special not only because he makes great swords but also because I got to specify exactly what I wanted. I also have a nice 1845 model French infantry officer’s sabre that I enjoy both because it is a “real sword” from when swords were still in use and because it is exactly what I wanted in a first sabre: Spear point & lightly curved. There is something special about how it handles different from any other sword I’ve held. (The others are a Cold Steel & a Deepeeka, so no competition for favorite there. 😀)
'I'm not going to keep them all.' And there was the April Fools for this year ;)
To sum up this video : "It feels just amazing in the hand"
I believe that the feel of the weapon in your hand is almost more important in a fight than the performance and quality of a sword, and that is for psychological reasons. A blade that handles very well gives you a much greater feeling of security and confidence in your ability to fight with it, whereas a poorly balanced or constructed sword might distract and annoy you and thereby make you lose the fight. Of course, a weapon of bad quality might also fail and break, but this is written with actual swords in mind, which will most likely stay in one piece, and not "sword-like objects".
I found a Windless Sverd, which they call the "battlecry," at a fleamarket and bought it for 150$ (where it's normally 350$). It's perfectly sharp and in great condition, still had it's scabbard and sword carriage even. The only problem I've had so far with it is that the leather/pleather wrapping on the handle is glued on and I had to glue it back down after a few months of practicing with it.
My one regret is that I didn't say 100$ instead of 150$, because I'm pretty sure that they would've gone for it. They were quite interested in getting rid of it, for some reason. (They immediately accepted my offer with no attempt to get more money out of it. Their asking price was 250$. One of them also commented that they didn't think that they'd be able to get rid of it.)
Out of my antiques, the nicest handling, though probably not the most effective as a combat weapon is the French Mle1845/55. Light, at only ~750 grams it is fast and nimble with fancy swishing sound effects from its equally fancy fullering. Feels better and lighter than even a French M1887 NCO small sword, owing to its ergonomic handle and excellent weight distribution. At ~91.5 cm / 77.5 cm blade, it's a tad short for a saber though.
When it comes to replicas, my Danelli sidesword that I practiced Bolognese fencing with for a beginners' course.
The one I would pick as my sidearm if swords were to become an accepted part of a gentleman's (or woman's) attire again... it's hard to choose between the British M1889 Staff Sergeant's sword by Mole for its reach and stabby stiffness without sacrificing balance, the M1796 LC for its slashing power, or a ~WW1 era tulwar for the previous reason + extra handling. If only that last option had a proper temper on the likely imported blade that was shortened and modified by some random local smith to be thinner and curvier at the last quarter of the blade to better suit the intended use, but leaving the edge somewhat soft in some parts.
As a collector's item, if it weren't for the obscene tip heaviness of the longer Type 32 "Kō" Guntō (Japanese M1898) cavalry saber, it would've been high on the previous list. It weighs 1008 g and at 97 cm is a bit shorter in reach, but same overall length with curve taken into account as the staff sergeant's sword at 98 cm, weighing at 1040 g. However, the center of balance is 19 cm from the guard as opposed to 11.4 cm for the latter, which gives the type 32 a lot of authority to its swing, but isn't very agile. It is basically a hefty, very stiff, yet longer than usual katana blade with a one-handed saber guard.
I've wanted to own an Ottoman pala for a while now, the fancy kind with the ball pommels and the big belly and the t-section blade and raised yalman, but I can't really afford them. But I found a Georgian navy one from 1877-1878 (so says the faded etching on the blade). It seems to have been blued. It's not as fancy or decorated as some of the Ottoman ones with the big ball pommels (it has a pretty typical unassuming Georgian guard, grip and pommel. The grip is simple black leather wrap glued to what I assume is wood. It's a smallish sword, but it's definitely one of my favorites. The blade is remarkably light due to the T-section geometry, but it is forward weighted enough to feel like it packs a punch.
Went to a gun and knife show maybe 8 years ago. Didn't really have the money to buy any, but it was only like $8 to enter, so what the heck. Of all the fancy high-end pistols of all brands I handled that day, the one I loved the best was a Walther PK380. Not the fanciest, not the most powerful, certainly didn't attract the crowds like the Glock and Sig tables, but damn if it wasn't just the perfect weight and size of all of them for me. It really makes a difference how something can feel in the hand.
I did wind up buying something though, a nice heavy kukri machete. Also felt quite nice.
if you have any it would be fun to see different designs of messer swords, dont know if they were widespread throughout europe or not but it would be fun to see alot of different desigs be it practical or astetic
I would like to see a report of the knife and sword production from Sheffield, England over the centuries.
I have a "bastard" long sword that was handmade for me by a good friend in the middle east. Its not perfect. It does have a couple little imperfections but imo that's what make it special. It is mostly given to the cut but handles wonderfully.
I believe Albion make their swords via computerized machine stock removal unlike other sword manufacturers.
I have a Cold Steel "Polish Saber" that I blued the hilt to reduce rusting. It has design flaws but it's my first sharp sword and it looks beautiful.
I also have an 1845 bladed 1827 Rifle Officer's sword which I actually aquired from Easton Antiques. It's my first antique, soon not to be my only one.
Those are my special swords.
Wow, that wakizashi is beautiful.
I own the Magnificent Chu Jian from LK Chen as well - it’s an attractive and lively sword, definitely a new favorite. My Albion Lancaster is the all time favorite though - superbly balanced sword.
Hm, difficult thing to answer.
If i had to break it down to Just three, i would go for:
Longsword oakeshott XVIIIb
шашка Model 1881
The Chinese Saber dao 刀 Qing eara.
( maybe i like the japanese Katana a bit more? Damn... Thats a close one XD. I handled all of these and they felt quiet naturally and good to fence with. And to cut with as well.
I bought a feder from kvetun, and I was quite nervous because everyone in my hema club had regenyei and I was a newborn and they said I'd regret it. Two years on, my feder is still the bench mark for swords in the club.
I have an officer's shin-gunto (WWII katana, for those who aren't into Japanese swords) with a maker's name on the tang, and a Type 32 (Western-style saber introduced in 1899) that my grandfather brought back from Japan at the end of his service in WWII. He was an Army truck driver, family legend is he won them off a Marine in a poker game (sadly, he died when I was 10, and I didn't see the swords until I was 15, so I didn't get to ask him about them.)
Obviously I'm preserving the officer's sword as best I can (it spent 60 years wrapped in a blanket under a bed, it's got a little rust on the blade that I am not qualified to polish), because it's got all the ray skin and cloth wrapping and a name on the tang (which I haven't been able to decipher, if you know a person that knows Japanese swordsmith names, hook me up). It's sharp, too, like a three-foot-long razor.
The machine-made saber isn't all that rare, so I feel okay cleaning it up, sharpening it (haven't yet, tell me if I shouldn't, it has tool marks on the edge like somebody half-sharpened it, but isn't actually sharp), and using to open the new years bubbly (with the unsharpened part, ofc) and such, and it's just like you said -- it's lust the right size for me (I'm 5'7" in boots, so about the size of the guy it was made for, I suppose), perfectly balanced, is really nicely proportioned aesthetically, and is a delight to swing. I love it.
I also have a Wilkinson. :p Bought a P1907 off ebay from a soldier who found a crate of 'em in ~2004 that the Brits had left in Iraq when they bugged out in 1932. It's dated March 1918. The SMLE I bought it for was made in 1916.
Matt, I have a few blades one is a ronin dojo pro and a ronin Italian two hand sword, the dojo pro is showing some edge wear. Was wondering who I can send it too to get reground or at least sharpened, maybe even heat treated better? I live in Louisiana USA. Also have the coldsteel small sword, those are my 3 favorite blades. I also have 3 civil war era replicas for reenactments, they are real just blunt, 2 of which are officer's sabers from the north and 1 from the south, the 3rd sabe is an artillery sabe hard curve similar to the cavalry sabers of the time. My father owns a sabe fro the 1860s it's all original
You never forget your first sword. My baby is a Tinker Longsword and she cuts like a dream and is quicker than a whippet. Not bad for under £250
All beautiful, but I was expecting a tulwar as the third.
I love the Talwar grip, a wonderful style.
I agree! Not only are they devastating in the cut, they are elegant and beautiful weapons as well.
I found a rapier in a gun store in Arizona. Someone had traded it in for in-store credit. Shop-owner was asking $700 if I used a card but $500 if I went and got cash.
On the way back, I heard a call for help from an old lady who had fallen over trying to get her oxygen tank into her car. I called 911 for paramedics and checked her over, carefully and respectfully, to make sure she didn't have any life-threatening injuries that would do her in before help arrived (basic 1st aid training courtesy of the corpsmen of the U.S.S Boxer, on which I was an ABH3 at the time).
There have been days when I have felt down, depressed, and like a failure... until I see the rapier that reminds me of a day when I was a hero to someone.
Matt, take a look at the older back production Guingate sword from Windlass. I had the original, it is a gorgeous sword with sheath. It has a spine bevel like your Henry the VI sword, the grip is camel bone with a brass spacer and gorgeous Quillions and pommel.
That wakizashi looks nice!
My favorite is the Khyber Knife/Sword, Roman Gladius, Katana and the Tuareg straight swords, even the Khopesh looks nice.
I saw a nice antique Khyber dating back to the 16th century with a nice guard and finish online, but its way out of my price range.
Can you do a video about knives? From way back to the present? Love your vids
I would love to see a video on sword proof testing.
Dude, you almost cut your fingers with that wakizashi at 15:50 . Omg!!!
I would very much love to have a 2 handed longsword version of that 'Henry V' sword....
I sadly only own for exceedingly cheap swords. My favorite is the Katana that I talked the pawn shop down to $20 for. I figured it was going to be a cheap thing I might use in a costume, but after some searching I found I had a relatively good backyard cutter of a katana. my other three swords cost less than that. I am hoping to save up for a Tang Dao from LK Chen in the near future.
seeing your episode which talked on Sergeants swords, I have been very interested in that 1905 Sgt sword: it just seems the right size, right heft, would love more info on acquiring one.