I think Matt had it on the nose, comparing it to the cinquedea. Nobody NEEDED a sword like this in the 15-16th centuries, but that wide blade gives plenty space for fancy decoration. I can picture a group of florentine merchants, comparing executive swords, like the business card scene in 'American Psycho'. "Oh my god, he has gold filigree lions, and an inlayed Latin prayer, and a hunting season calander!"
There are a lot of surviving storte that were not decorated at all (IE www.cittadelgrifo.it/Grifo_wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/storta.jpg ). The Storta was a soldier's weapon, and was as useful as the cutlass later became.
Beautiful sword Tod. The reason they wanted big pommels is because they had to rest their hand and hold it all day when they walked. Simple really. I like everyone hate a sharp small pommel digging into my palm when I run or walk. It’s the difference between painful and comfortable. 👍
I have to point out that most of the surviving Chinquedea were Embellished. Some time after they were made (Or are historical reproductions) and they made fancier ones in Venice at the time. However, the fanciest ones survived, and the less fancy ones were embellished, to raise their value. I conject that the pizza slice blade made a great surface for embellishment, but I also believe that there were much simpler ones, that weren't as valuable. Since their period, and range was so limited, we only have the surviving pieces to go bye, but it's basically a sword for back alley knife fights.
Thank you, Tod and Matt - singly but especially together like in this video - for giving me so muh pleasure while also reaching me about swords , bows, spears, maces: all things I didn't have a clue about unless Lockdown started. And now I've become an aficionado of your videos ...
I think this sword would match a pirate perfectly; the color and ornamentation match the image of pirates I have (even the stereotype) better than a plain cutlass. It’s a flashy and charismatic sword, even in the scabbard, which fits the image of a swashbuckler to me.
You are both clearly experts, yet also are exemplars of humility. It is so refreshing to see people freely admit, celebrate even, the limits of their knowledge. Well done.
Imagine fighting someone with this sword in battle. Screaming over the noise “hey once we’re finished can I get a look at that thing? Obviously I don’t want to see it swinging into my skull right now, but once we’re finished”
storte (italian plural for storta) were OMNIPRESENT in Italian reinassance art, from late 15th to 17th century. You can find them in every biblical representation, on the side of roman soldiers. No historical research in those times, it seems. Great video, cheers from the northwestern border of the duchy of Milan!
Fancy falchions remind me of those people who have insane murals and bling and intricate bodywork on something like a Transit Van; a workhorse that someone has gone to a hell of a lot of effort to make look dazzling, almost to the point of absurdity. imo a falchion is a brutally efficient, no nonsense, "I'm going to cut various parts on and off you until you're long dead" type of weapon, and yet you see examples of them so exquisitely furnished! Xzibit truly is a modern day reincarnation of 16th century Pimp My Blade smiths
Absolutely beautiful sword, and I love the shape and details! One of my favorite types and especially the way Tod puts them together gives it an extra step up in coolness
I would love to ad that this looks really similar to my uncles traditional hunting sword. The tradition od using those to finish deer is still alive here in Czechia. I do strongly believe it is connected to those, since the tradition of giving one of those to the huntmaster as a gift can be tracked to 17th century,as far as I know
Please Tod during the next or couple Lockdown Cross Bow films wear this Falchion so we can see how it hangs. Nice to see Mat and the discussion. You might sell more if we can see it. Thank you for your consideration.
@@tods_workshop Thank you for the reply Tod. I am looking forward to the video. Personally I am interested in something utilitarian. A common soldiers weapon having a very good blade not much adornment. Good work this. Keep going.
It's fun to see that I can now start to pick out small "Tod Cutler" trademark details. And I feel this is something that is quite important to note. All artisans back in the day would have had their own style of doing things. Both for marketing and becouse they all did things a little bit different. And it's still an important thing for artisans today to have a style that is easily distinguishable. It's most importantly so that people (or potential customers) can say "that's a really nice sword there, is that a Tod Cutler sword? I should get myself one of those" Doing simple generic stuff.. well.. that's for the common muck blacksmiths working on volume stuff for common soldiers.. But even they would have had some individual details.
My teacher use to say anything can be art, it all depends how good you are at it. You could hang tods work on a wall with a frame around it. Beautiful work
Tod I have a question. You mention at the 2:35-2:40 a book by the name of "Armi (second word) Italian" and how it has examples of even more complex blade work on stortas and I am looking for more reference material like this as I have only one reference photo of a Venetian storta at the Metropolitan Museum in New York published in a book titled "Swords and Hilt Weapons" by Multimedia press 1993 page 48, which has a broad blade almost a hybrid of sabre and storta because it's somewhat longer than a storta blade but possibly a little shorter than a sabre. An an amazing detail of the blade is that the spine of the blade is quite thick and viewing it from the side profile, the spine arks 3.25 times along the length of the spine actually giving it a 'crooked' or storta like shape with peaks about every third of the spines length, the last of which is just before the tip of the sword. I'm attempting to find more photos and measurements of such swords and could really use your help. I need to find a copy of this book, and others if you know of any?
From a land clearing workers perspective: I'd see a use for that for traipsing through a forests underbrush. Cutting through soft vegetation, thin saplings, vines and tall weeds. Those soft vegetations tend to bend around straight edges, so you either need a kept up sharp edge, put extra speed into every cut, and/or add a drawing motion to your cut. However, that slight curve helps you work longer on soft vegetation between sharpenings and with less energy used per swing because every cut becomes a draw cut. Managing energy per swing is such a big deal. A sword is still too heavy for brush clearing.. but if I had to carry any sword through underbrush, it'd be the falchion blade style. Blazing a trail through spring and summer undergrowth would, by the end of the day, be a breeze compared to a straight edged sword.
I don't think Tod or Matt mentioned the sword's overall mass, but I'd guess it's similar to a modern machete. The longer blade may cause some problems with hangups if used for brush-clearance (hence the shorter, heavier modern machete blade design), but it retains its ability as primarily a foot skirmisher fighting weapon while still somewhat utilitarian in function.. hence the mentions early on of its ~16C+ 'classic' pirate cutlass descendant, presumably used primarily as such a tool in Carribean or similarly tropical environs
It looks a very beutifully exotic sword with a great degree of intricate workmanship . I'd love to see even a glimpse of the swords you make being worked from raw materials Tod.
No surprise that the falchion type persisted through the 16th and even into the 17th century. Before the bayonet, arquebusiers and musketeers needed an edged weapon to back up using their firelock as a club. A short sword with effective cut and thrust capability against enemy foot and even horse would have been an ideal sidearm.
Also, the wider blade is a bigger canvas for embellishments. As for the why the falchion-type sword stayed present throughout the period... Relatively short, easy to carry, and a strong choppy/slicey blade for use against the unarmored. Looks beautiful.
The Italian name of the falchion is "falcione". "Storta" is not a "fancy Italian name for the falchion" but a distinct weapon with a defined shape. It was already well diffused and present in iconograpy in 15th century.
@@tods_workshop Thanks for the reply. As for iconography, the Storta is one of the most depicted blades in renaissance art since 15th century. IE it's the sword of Piero della Francesca's St. Michael and of Pollaiolo's St. Michael. You can see it multiple times in Botticelli (in the Youth of Moses there are two, one in the scabbard and one held. Then is present in the Primavera, Giuditta, Calumny of Apelles...). Is used by three of the four chivalrymen in Leonardo's Battle of Anghiari. Is the blade of Cellini's Perseus.... Probably it was precisely the asymmetrical shape that helped the artists to give a sense of movement, while a symmetrical one would have seemed static.
From what i know,the name Storta came later for Falcioni with a complex guard like the shell and curved quillons,maybe to specify,since Falcione also was used to refer to glaives. I always loved Hermes Storta in the Primavera by Botticelli. The shape is also very common in heraldry,the modern false image of the scimitar is based on the storta, a large,very curved blade with a clip point and s shaped quillons.
@@junichiroyamashita I find that with many of these terms the people speaking the vernacular of their day were far less concerned with using these terms precisely than are modern antiquarians.
About the scabbard: it really looks similar to a so called "Fuhrmannsdussack" which is a Dussack for cart drivers who had some powder and shot stored in their sword scabbard. There are some top quality examples in the Landeszeughaus in Graz, Austria
The scabbard leatherwork is even more impressive than the storta itself to my eye. 10:32 Would it though? It seems to me that sometimes the opposite is true, if one takes into consideration the Byzantine swords, for example. 15:28 The pommel size might also be of use here.
I've always found these wonderfully decorated late period falchions or stortas interesting pieces, particularly in a period where straight blades and complex hilts were more en vogue for the upper classes, and at least one master of fence referred to single-edged blades as designs of antiquity (Manciolino, iirc). Certainly the upper classes did little without considering the political message, particularly in fractious Italy, and I have to think there was a particular conservative or populist-agrarian statement made by wearing a blade form associated to peasant knives and olden days (though obviously dressed up to the wealth and station of the owner and opulence of the modern style), possibly a renunciation of foreign or cosmopolitan influence... or perhaps simply a nod to provincial idylls, as was sometimes fashionable. I recall Charles V set a short-lived fashion in kriegsmessers after wearing an elegant example. As per the comment on "pirate" cutlasses using 18th/19th century hilts too early, I have some questions... Certainly I've seen hangers and cuttoes (both of new and old world) by the mid-1600s with fairly developed guards, sometimes using flat steel rather than the bars of earlier "Sinclair" designs, but for anything nautical I find historic reference can be pretty dodgy until we get into established official patterns of swords in the 1800s. Curious what else you've seen @scholagladiatoria as I think you have better museums locally than I do.
The storta was one of the most depicted blades in renaissance since 15th century, when the complex hilt of later had not been developed yet. Probably the main user of storte, and other single edged blades, in Italy was the Republic of Venice. Like the later cutlasses, the storte were very apt for marine-oriented infantry. At the same time, being in direct contact with the Balkans, longer single edged blade designs made their way into the ranks of cavalry, and then for general use. I.E. this is a much less fancy Venetian Storta, with the typical Venetian squared pommel (this too roughly shaped) www.cittadelgrifo.it/Grifo_wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/storta.jpg While this is a 16th century Venetian sabre. cloud10.todocoleccion.online/militaria-armas-blancas/tc/2019/01/21/01/147790502_120819657.webp
As a thought about the pommel design, how often where they used as a weapon in combat? A mass of metal on the back of the fist is a useful thing in close quarters combat.
interesting sword and video. Is there any evidence of the pommels being held in the palm and the thumb and forfinger choking the handle for an extention of reach or a swinging blow or technique. would it allow rapid change of direction and or reduce hand shock,, maybe from a horse
Nice video as always Tod! Anyone caught what the book's named that Tod shortly talked about? Couldn't make it out :/ you guys just complement each other very well and I would like more videos like the last ones! ;)
A rather beautiful blade. I have to admit I'm always impressed by the depth of knowledge of Tod and his guests, and for that matter the commenters. I have a question if I may. Swords where to various extents status symbols as well as weapons. Is there any evidence of swords being repaired aft suffering damage when used as weapons?
Back then, pretty much everything that could be repaired was repaired to the fullest possible extent. We used to mend and patch worn clothing, and now it's practically unheard of. With manufacturing processes and materials supply lines so streamlined, it's very often just not worth repairing things, but that's a very recent development in human history. It's even to the point where manufacturers now intentionally make their products difficult or impossible to repair in order to boost their sales, when less than a lifetime ago they sold their products with schematics and service instructions, used readily-available standard parts, and offered any specialty replacement parts for sale. Shout-out to the "right to repair" movement.
Thanks Sophie. Yes swords were repaired, but this is usually just the blade either being repurposed or edge nicks beefing ground out, but recycling certainly took place. Exact memory fails me, but I think there is a katzbalger (16thC) sword in an Austrian museum with a pattern welded migration era (6/7thC) blade on it.
@@SepticFuddy We don't subscribe to the throw away society and often buy and repair mechanical and electrical equipment. I know it's not fashionable to mend and repair in the current climate of hyperconsumerism which is why I asked the question. My partner and I are, in effect, self taught engineers. Our company manufactures, repairs and restore vintage motorcycles. We're very much practical exponents of the right to repair principle and we do find the loss of practical skills very worrying. We refuse to trade in our aging Land Rover Discovery as it's a vehicle we can repair ourselves. We need to return to a mend and repair culture, I really believe that out possessions should have value which encourages us to look after them and repair them.
I like history but not as much and the craftsmanship that he is doing on all these it’s crazy and he can and does do everything and from what I can see a damn good job of it I would love to but a custom peace
As the Storta and Cinquedea were around at the same time, with similarities in blades, could they have comprised a pair like Rapier and Dagger? The Cinquedea could be held reverse-grip and its broad blade providing a buckler-like defence? Both were obviously made mostly for show and of portable size, for the man about town (expecting to bump into a drunk and angry Caravaggio. And survive.), if they're both from Northern Italy and metallurgical composition match it could be a thing.
storta and falcion have different origins, also the storta was very popular in the isamic world especially the levant and Tunesia and algeria. they were associated with north african muslims and muslim pirates in norther europe. the spanish had a similar weapon. they are probably related to the nimcha and europeanised and then spread back the muslim states
Hi, Tod, this is just a little later than your 1550 date for a dearth of Falchion-like swords, but I found a lovely sword that sold some time ago, apparently it's "An important falchion, dating: last quarter of the 16th Century, provenance: Venice, dating: last quarter of the 16th Century, provenance: Venice, Wide, straight, single-and false-edged blade, slightly widening toward the tip with concave back and edge; deep groove at the back, double groove at the center, tang with two stamps; another stamp at the back, iron hilt with quillons curved toward the blade, parry ring, quillon and big, disk-pommel, all richly engraved and decorated with bas-relieved, silver floral motifs. Wooden grip with brass wire binding and moor's heads, decorated with spirals. , length 75 cm."
Lots of fun doing this Tod, as always!
see my post Pommy
Thanks for coming Matt and looking back I really enjoyed that day - we should do it again.
@@tods_workshop Great stuff as always!
Do more collaborations together! Love them!
Mr. Easton when you were moving the blade about as if it was weightless, that reminded of the value of skill & experience.
It always makes my day when Tod shows off another sword he made and chats it up with Matt I just love these two gents!
Thanks
Two artists: the maker, and the user, respecting each other's abilities.
The customer who commissioned these swords is one lucky person with excellent taste in weapons
The couple in question had good taste and were lucky as you say - thanks for appreciating them
I think Matt had it on the nose, comparing it to the cinquedea. Nobody NEEDED a sword like this in the 15-16th centuries, but that wide blade gives plenty space for fancy decoration. I can picture a group of florentine merchants, comparing executive swords, like the business card scene in 'American Psycho'.
"Oh my god, he has gold filigree lions, and an inlayed Latin prayer, and a hunting season calander!"
Nice and very possibly true
There are a lot of surviving storte that were not decorated at all (IE www.cittadelgrifo.it/Grifo_wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/storta.jpg ). The Storta was a soldier's weapon, and was as useful as the cutlass later became.
😂😂
A simply magnificent sword. You really did it justice with this collaboration. And a warm greeting from the homeland of that beauty 🇮🇹😁
That sword came from my Italian side - Todeschini is not very English after all!
@@tods_workshop 😆
Beautiful sword Tod.
The reason they wanted big pommels is because they had to rest their hand and hold it all day when they walked. Simple really. I like everyone hate a sharp small pommel digging into my palm when I run or walk. It’s the difference between painful and comfortable. 👍
Could be that simple
And it looks more phallic
@@tods_workshop better to locate in a hurry, perhaps like rondels it may also guard better
@@1johnnygunn if you are guarding with a pommel....welll things have went really weird.
Probably good for smacking an enemy in the face or somewhere else painful too.
I have to point out that most of the surviving Chinquedea were Embellished. Some time after they were made (Or are historical reproductions) and they made fancier ones in Venice at the time. However, the fanciest ones survived, and the less fancy ones were embellished, to raise their value. I conject that the pizza slice blade made a great surface for embellishment, but I also believe that there were much simpler ones, that weren't as valuable. Since their period, and range was so limited, we only have the surviving pieces to go bye, but it's basically a sword for back alley knife fights.
I’ve always loved Falchions, mostly because they seem quite brutal. But that one is gorgeous!
I know what you mean 😏
If you like Falchions,do yourself a favor and watch Matt and Ilya,That Works, make a Falchion for Skallagrim...its truly awesome!
@@rogerlacaille3148 will do, thanks!
Thank you, Tod and Matt - singly but especially together like in this video - for giving me so muh pleasure while also reaching me about swords , bows, spears, maces: all things I didn't have a clue about unless Lockdown started. And now I've become an aficionado of your videos ...
Glad to help
I would be interested in a film about those cartridge covering swords you mentioned Tod, even if it’s just in front of a chalkboard.
Yeah, I will have to find the pictures again and make one
dude are u also a lucky strike somker me too man
@@leonardodomingues9010 I don’t smoke often but will occasionally have a Lucky
very interested as well, we must make tod do it.
I love that Tod admits that he messed up doing one thing and did another and then had to replicate it, only to have it turn out wonderful
I think this sword would match a pirate perfectly; the color and ornamentation match the image of pirates I have (even the stereotype) better than a plain cutlass. It’s a flashy and charismatic sword, even in the scabbard, which fits the image of a swashbuckler to me.
Sword looks beautiful. The size made it very wearing friendly. Short, but not too short, easy to wear, easier to use in small space.
Love the pair of you two, you guys are a great duo!
Thanks
You are both clearly experts, yet also are exemplars of humility. It is so refreshing to see people freely admit, celebrate even, the limits of their knowledge. Well done.
Imagine fighting someone with this sword in battle. Screaming over the noise
“hey once we’re finished can I get a look at that thing? Obviously I don’t want to see it swinging into my skull right now, but once we’re finished”
Was just watching a scholagladiatora vid. Found this here. Matt AND Todd, what a treat.
Gorgeous piece as always Tod. The more folks that learn about storta the better!
The pommels were made large as a warning to would be attackers to show just how rightly you could end them.
storte (italian plural for storta) were OMNIPRESENT in Italian reinassance art, from late 15th to 17th century. You can find them in every biblical representation, on the side of roman soldiers. No historical research in those times, it seems.
Great video, cheers from the northwestern border of the duchy of Milan!
As a german guy, fluent in english and learning italian for fun, these Videos always are a treasure trove of pronunciation :P
Fancy falchions remind me of those people who have insane murals and bling and intricate bodywork on something like a Transit Van; a workhorse that someone has gone to a hell of a lot of effort to make look dazzling, almost to the point of absurdity.
imo a falchion is a brutally efficient, no nonsense, "I'm going to cut various parts on and off you until you're long dead" type of weapon, and yet you see examples of them so exquisitely furnished! Xzibit truly is a modern day reincarnation of 16th century Pimp My Blade smiths
That's renaissance Italy for you.
Same with a dussack, which seem to range from something it looks like a farmer beat out of some other tool, to incredibly fancy and elaborate weapons.
@@Lurklen Bollock (dagger)s!
@@andytopley314 The ultimate status item for Bill who wants to shiv someone in an alley, and Prince Willy who's gadding about town with his pals.
Happens with all blades for example baselards are high status in italy and switzerland but low status in england
That's such a hell of a beautiful sword ! I love all this short one-edged stuff.
Absolutely beautiful sword, and I love the shape and details! One of my favorite types and especially the way Tod puts them together gives it an extra step up in coolness
That's a real beauty Tod ... and so interesting to hear your, and Matt's, thoughts on it. Your client is a very lucky person!
Its a Storta beautiful sword there. Always nice to see Mat come on and give his thoughts.
Todd is by far the best sword and weapons maker I've ever seen!
I would love to ad that this looks really similar to my uncles traditional hunting sword. The tradition od using those to finish deer is still alive here in Czechia. I do strongly believe it is connected to those, since the tradition of giving one of those to the huntmaster as a gift can be tracked to 17th century,as far as I know
Shorter versions called ,Hirschfänger' are sometimes also seen in Germany, but today mostly for more ceremonial use.
Not even a 30 seconds in and man is that pretty. And then tangent of shell and rain guard. Great work and knowledge gentlemen.
This Falchion is a piece of art.
Hey your workmanship isnt waisted. i think we all appreciate the work you put in and we can see the pride you have. awesome.
Please Tod during the next or couple Lockdown Cross Bow films wear this Falchion so we can see how it hangs. Nice to see Mat and the discussion. You might sell more if we can see it. Thank you for your consideration.
Not that one, but I have something similar coming up
@@tods_workshop Thank you for the reply Tod. I am looking forward to the video. Personally I am interested in something utilitarian. A common soldiers weapon having a very good blade not much adornment. Good work this. Keep going.
It's fun to see that I can now start to pick out small "Tod Cutler" trademark details.
And I feel this is something that is quite important to note. All artisans back in the day would have had their own style of doing things. Both for marketing and becouse they all did things a little bit different.
And it's still an important thing for artisans today to have a style that is easily distinguishable. It's most importantly so that people (or potential customers) can say "that's a really nice sword there, is that a Tod Cutler sword? I should get myself one of those"
Doing simple generic stuff.. well.. that's for the common muck blacksmiths working on volume stuff for common soldiers..
But even they would have had some individual details.
Man I wish I could afford something with that level of craftsmanship. Very interesting history as well. Great video as always. Thanks.
I can already see Metatron drooling all over this beauty! What a beautiful sword 😍
That's a sharp looking blade! Pun mostly not intended.
Now that's soldiering.
More of this guy please
Thank you gentlemen for sharing this with us. Has to be one of my favorite swords Tod has made
Piece of art!
My teacher use to say anything can be art, it all depends how good you are at it. You could hang tods work on a wall with a frame around it. Beautiful work
I wonder who the one person is that doesn't like Mat and Tod's video.
a nunchuck lover obviously
His name is: Inigo Montoya, his father was ended rightly by a six fingered Italian man wielding large pommels.
Tod I have a question. You mention at the 2:35-2:40 a book by the name of "Armi (second word) Italian" and how it has examples of even more complex blade work on stortas and I am looking for more reference material like this as I have only one reference photo of a Venetian storta at the Metropolitan Museum in New York published in a book titled "Swords and Hilt Weapons" by Multimedia press 1993 page 48, which has a broad blade almost a hybrid of sabre and storta because it's somewhat longer than a storta blade but possibly a little shorter than a sabre. An an amazing detail of the blade is that the spine of the blade is quite thick and viewing it from the side profile, the spine arks 3.25 times along the length of the spine actually giving it a 'crooked' or storta like shape with peaks about every third of the spines length, the last of which is just before the tip of the sword. I'm attempting to find more photos and measurements of such swords and could really use your help. I need to find a copy of this book, and others if you know of any?
I love your craftsmanship. Shoutout from Germany!
I saw this little beauty in the background of the other video and wanted to check it out
From a land clearing workers perspective: I'd see a use for that for traipsing through a forests underbrush. Cutting through soft vegetation, thin saplings, vines and tall weeds. Those soft vegetations tend to bend around straight edges, so you either need a kept up sharp edge, put extra speed into every cut, and/or add a drawing motion to your cut. However, that slight curve helps you work longer on soft vegetation between sharpenings and with less energy used per swing because every cut becomes a draw cut. Managing energy per swing is such a big deal.
A sword is still too heavy for brush clearing.. but if I had to carry any sword through underbrush, it'd be the falchion blade style. Blazing a trail through spring and summer undergrowth would, by the end of the day, be a breeze compared to a straight edged sword.
I don't think Tod or Matt mentioned the sword's overall mass, but I'd guess it's similar to a modern machete. The longer blade may cause some problems with hangups if used for brush-clearance (hence the shorter, heavier modern machete blade design), but it retains its ability as primarily a foot skirmisher fighting weapon while still somewhat utilitarian in function.. hence the mentions early on of its ~16C+ 'classic' pirate cutlass descendant, presumably used primarily as such a tool in Carribean or similarly tropical environs
I would not recommend this blade for that!
Very nice collaboration video!
Gorgeous blade and wonderful presentation! Thank you both for sharing.
Our pleasure!
Form ever follows function.
A beautiful blade, but like all the best blades it's very functional as well
1:24 They went out of falchion for a time, but them they came into falchion again later
What a beautiful weapon! Amazing work! Well done!
Tod + Matt = Instant like.
This channel is great. Very entertaining and educational.
What an incredibly beautiful sword. Very nice work.
It looks a very beutifully exotic sword with a great degree of intricate workmanship . I'd love to see even a glimpse of the swords you make being worked from raw materials Tod.
Damn Matt looks deadly flourishing and cutting and parrying with that sword....
love when these two guys collaborate.
I love your teamwork. Please keep on. Greetings from Germany
I haven’t watched in a little while. Thanks for the always enlightening video. Good job to both of you fellows.
That sword is truly beautiful.
No surprise that the falchion type persisted through the 16th and even into the 17th century. Before the bayonet, arquebusiers and musketeers needed an edged weapon to back up using their firelock as a club. A short sword with effective cut and thrust capability against enemy foot and even horse would have been an ideal sidearm.
Beautiful workmanship.
Should have tried a few practice swings at that cloud of bloody gnats!
Beautiful storta Tom!!
Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
15:32 You just really wouldn't want to get into a swordfight with Matt lol
At least it would be fast
well he is a instructor in HEMA of various schools/styles, so ure screwed no matter which weapon you choose.
Majestic blade ! Thanks for sharing
Also, the wider blade is a bigger canvas for embellishments.
As for the why the falchion-type sword stayed present throughout the period... Relatively short, easy to carry, and a strong choppy/slicey blade for use against the unarmored.
Looks beautiful.
What a gorgeous sword
The Italian name of the falchion is "falcione". "Storta" is not a "fancy Italian name for the falchion" but a distinct weapon with a defined shape. It was already well diffused and present in iconograpy in 15th century.
Thanks for that. I hope you are wrong and that we haven't mislead anyone, but I will have a look at this - appreciated
@@tods_workshop Thanks for the reply. As for iconography, the Storta is one of the most depicted blades in renaissance art since 15th century. IE it's the sword of Piero della Francesca's St. Michael and of Pollaiolo's St. Michael. You can see it multiple times in Botticelli (in the Youth of Moses there are two, one in the scabbard and one held. Then is present in the Primavera, Giuditta, Calumny of Apelles...). Is used by three of the four chivalrymen in Leonardo's Battle of Anghiari. Is the blade of Cellini's Perseus.... Probably it was precisely the asymmetrical shape that helped the artists to give a sense of movement, while a symmetrical one would have seemed static.
From what i know,the name Storta came later for Falcioni with a complex guard like the shell and curved quillons,maybe to specify,since Falcione also was used to refer to glaives. I always loved Hermes Storta in the Primavera by Botticelli. The shape is also very common in heraldry,the modern false image of the scimitar is based on the storta, a large,very curved blade with a clip point and s shaped quillons.
@@junichiroyamashita I find that with many of these terms the people speaking the vernacular of their day were far less concerned with using these terms precisely than are modern antiquarians.
That’s a gorgeous weapon.
About the scabbard: it really looks similar to a so called "Fuhrmannsdussack" which is a Dussack for cart drivers who had some powder and shot stored in their sword scabbard. There are some top quality examples in the Landeszeughaus in Graz, Austria
THANK YOU!!!! - now I have the name
Absolutely gorgeous! 😍
We need more videos like this!!!
Cant stop watching all the flies.
The scabbard leatherwork is even more impressive than the storta itself to my eye.
10:32 Would it though? It seems to me that sometimes the opposite is true, if one takes into consideration the Byzantine swords, for example.
15:28 The pommel size might also be of use here.
Beautiful piece 👍👍
Beautiful sword. You would definitely take notice of someone wearing that.
Another stunning piece. Well done sir.
I've always found these wonderfully decorated late period falchions or stortas interesting pieces, particularly in a period where straight blades and complex hilts were more en vogue for the upper classes, and at least one master of fence referred to single-edged blades as designs of antiquity (Manciolino, iirc). Certainly the upper classes did little without considering the political message, particularly in fractious Italy, and I have to think there was a particular conservative or populist-agrarian statement made by wearing a blade form associated to peasant knives and olden days (though obviously dressed up to the wealth and station of the owner and opulence of the modern style), possibly a renunciation of foreign or cosmopolitan influence... or perhaps simply a nod to provincial idylls, as was sometimes fashionable. I recall Charles V set a short-lived fashion in kriegsmessers after wearing an elegant example.
As per the comment on "pirate" cutlasses using 18th/19th century hilts too early, I have some questions... Certainly I've seen hangers and cuttoes (both of new and old world) by the mid-1600s with fairly developed guards, sometimes using flat steel rather than the bars of earlier "Sinclair" designs, but for anything nautical I find historic reference can be pretty dodgy until we get into established official patterns of swords in the 1800s. Curious what else you've seen @scholagladiatoria as I think you have better museums locally than I do.
The storta was one of the most depicted blades in renaissance since 15th century, when the complex hilt of later had not been developed yet.
Probably the main user of storte, and other single edged blades, in Italy was the Republic of Venice. Like the later cutlasses, the storte were very apt for marine-oriented infantry. At the same time, being in direct contact with the Balkans, longer single edged blade designs made their way into the ranks of cavalry, and then for general use.
I.E. this is a much less fancy Venetian Storta, with the typical Venetian squared pommel (this too roughly shaped) www.cittadelgrifo.it/Grifo_wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/storta.jpg
While this is a 16th century Venetian sabre. cloud10.todocoleccion.online/militaria-armas-blancas/tc/2019/01/21/01/147790502_120819657.webp
4:54 yeah, it's not Na(i)gel. :D We still pronounce vowels as they should be. 😂 ✌🏻
As a thought about the pommel design, how often where they used as a weapon in combat? A mass of metal on the back of the fist is a useful thing in close quarters combat.
Best cross over
Omg so beautiful!
Matt is very handsome indeed
@@samarkand1585 🤨😂
Beautiful work!
interesting sword and video. Is there any evidence of the pommels being held in the palm and the thumb and forfinger choking the handle for an extention of reach or a swinging blow or technique. would it allow rapid change of direction and or reduce hand shock,, maybe from a horse
Nice video as always Tod! Anyone caught what the book's named that Tod shortly talked about? Couldn't make it out :/
you guys just complement each other very well and I would like more videos like the last ones! ;)
Thx 🙏
I have often thought that a relatively short, wide but still pointed blade would be idle at close to medium range.
A rather beautiful blade. I have to admit I'm always impressed by the depth of knowledge of Tod and his guests, and for that matter the commenters.
I have a question if I may. Swords where to various extents status symbols as well as weapons. Is there any evidence of swords being repaired aft suffering damage when used as weapons?
Back then, pretty much everything that could be repaired was repaired to the fullest possible extent. We used to mend and patch worn clothing, and now it's practically unheard of. With manufacturing processes and materials supply lines so streamlined, it's very often just not worth repairing things, but that's a very recent development in human history. It's even to the point where manufacturers now intentionally make their products difficult or impossible to repair in order to boost their sales, when less than a lifetime ago they sold their products with schematics and service instructions, used readily-available standard parts, and offered any specialty replacement parts for sale. Shout-out to the "right to repair" movement.
Thanks Sophie.
Yes swords were repaired, but this is usually just the blade either being repurposed or edge nicks beefing ground out, but recycling certainly took place. Exact memory fails me, but I think there is a katzbalger (16thC) sword in an Austrian museum with a pattern welded migration era (6/7thC) blade on it.
@@tods_workshop on that, I really feel like a lot of katzbalger artefacts were probably recycled broken longsword/sidesword blades?
@@SepticFuddy We don't subscribe to the throw away society and often buy and repair mechanical and electrical equipment. I know it's not fashionable to mend and repair in the current climate of hyperconsumerism which is why I asked the question. My partner and I are, in effect, self taught engineers. Our company manufactures, repairs and restore vintage motorcycles.
We're very much practical exponents of the right to repair principle and we do find the loss of practical skills very worrying.
We refuse to trade in our aging Land Rover Discovery as it's a vehicle we can repair ourselves. We need to return to a mend and repair culture, I really believe that out possessions should have value which encourages us to look after them and repair them.
@@khoatran-pc6tb Ah, that's a really interesting hypothesis and does make a lot of sense.
I like history but not as much and the craftsmanship that he is doing on all these it’s crazy and he can and does do everything and from what I can see a damn good job of it I would love to but a custom peace
Probably the most important light infantry weapon of the period.
This Collab is so good tho' 😆💪🏻
As the Storta and Cinquedea were around at the same time, with similarities in blades, could they have comprised a pair like Rapier and Dagger? The Cinquedea could be held reverse-grip and its broad blade providing a buckler-like defence? Both were obviously made mostly for show and of portable size, for the man about town (expecting to bump into a drunk and angry Caravaggio. And survive.), if they're both from Northern Italy and metallurgical composition match it could be a thing.
That is a damn good looking sword!
I saw many many frescoes or painting with guys having a similar thing hanging
storta and falcion have different origins, also the storta was very popular in the isamic world especially the levant and Tunesia and algeria. they were associated with north african muslims and muslim pirates in norther europe. the spanish had a similar weapon. they are probably related to the nimcha and europeanised and then spread back the muslim states
Hi, Tod, this is just a little later than your 1550 date for a dearth of Falchion-like swords, but I found a lovely sword that sold some time ago, apparently it's
"An important falchion, dating: last quarter of the 16th Century, provenance: Venice, dating: last quarter of the 16th Century, provenance: Venice, Wide, straight, single-and false-edged blade, slightly widening toward the tip with concave back and edge; deep groove at the back, double groove at the center, tang with two stamps; another stamp at the back, iron hilt with quillons curved toward the blade, parry ring, quillon and big, disk-pommel, all richly engraved and decorated with bas-relieved, silver floral motifs. Wooden grip with brass wire binding and moor's heads, decorated with spirals. , length 75 cm."
Wonderful.
Fantastic!!
Very nice sword !
Surprised no one has compared it yet to the Skalchion (Fallagrim).