STORTA! Italian falchion
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- Falchions were single edged swords with broad blades and were popular from the 13thC across large parts of Europe and of course came in many styles. One very late style from around 1600, was the Italian version called a Storta. Always fancy, always detailed, always ostentatious and always efficiently 'cutty'; it may look like its just for wearing about your palazzo, but it is just as happy in a pub brawl.
I was lucky enough to have Matt Easton from Schola Gladiatoria here and so we chatted Storta.
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The film I referred to about the Swiss sabre is here • Tod Cutler and Matt Ea...
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Matts excellent channel can be found here / scholagladiatoria
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.
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.
😂😂
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
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.
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 😆
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’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!
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
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”
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
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!
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 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.
That's a sharp looking blade! Pun mostly not intended.
Now that's soldiering.
Love the pair of you two, you guys are a great duo!
Thanks
That sword is sick AF... beautiful.... a true work of art!!
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.
The pommels were made large as a warning to would be attackers to show just how rightly you could end them.
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.
Was just watching a scholagladiatora vid. Found this here. Matt AND Todd, what a treat.
- What sorta sword is it?
- Storta
- I'm asking what sort of sword is it...
Groucho Marx wearing a shiteating grin
Third base!
@@alger8181 no who is on second...
@@ulrichkalber9039 Sorry, Tomorrow!
It's Storta your sword.
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.
Sword looks beautiful. The size made it very wearing friendly. Short, but not too short, easy to wear, easier to use in small space.
Gorgeous piece as always Tod. The more folks that learn about storta the better!
I can already see Metatron drooling all over this beauty! What a beautiful sword 😍
It's just screaming "money" at you, I wonder what the cost of original would've been
Sk0lzkiy -Probably bout as much as its worth. Though a lot of high placed personages had there own smiths and cutters. Cuts cost to make them en'mass.
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.
This Falchion is a piece of art.
1:24 They went out of falchion for a time, but them they came into falchion again later
More of this guy please
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
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.
Its a Storta beautiful sword there. Always nice to see Mat come on and give his thoughts.
As a german guy, fluent in english and learning italian for fun, these Videos always are a treasure trove of pronunciation :P
That's such a hell of a beautiful sword ! I love all this short one-edged stuff.
Tod + Matt = Instant like.
Not even a 30 seconds in and man is that pretty. And then tangent of shell and rain guard. Great work and knowledge gentlemen.
Should have tried a few practice swings at that cloud of bloody gnats!
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.
Todd is by far the best sword and weapons maker I've ever seen!
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!
Thank you gentlemen for sharing this with us. Has to be one of my favorite swords Tod has made
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.
Damn Matt looks deadly flourishing and cutting and parrying with that sword....
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.
Hey your workmanship isnt waisted. i think we all appreciate the work you put in and we can see the pride you have. awesome.
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
I love your craftsmanship. Shoutout from Germany!
Man I wish I could afford something with that level of craftsmanship. Very interesting history as well. Great video as always. Thanks.
Piece of art!
Form ever follows function.
A beautiful blade, but like all the best blades it's very functional as well
I saw this little beauty in the background of the other video and wanted to check it out
I haven’t watched in a little while. Thanks for the always enlightening video. Good job to both of you fellows.
What a beautiful weapon! Amazing work! Well done!
Cant stop watching all the flies.
Watching Matt handle that blade is frankly terrifying. As Mick Dundee once said... "That's not a knife..."
What an incredibly beautiful sword. Very nice work.
Gorgeous blade and wonderful presentation! Thank you both for sharing.
Our pleasure!
Another stunning piece. Well done sir.
Very nice collaboration video!
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
Majestic blade ! Thanks for sharing
love when these two guys collaborate.
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
Probably the most important light infantry weapon of the period.
Beautiful piece 👍👍
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!
Beautiful sword. You would definitely take notice of someone wearing that.
Nothing better than Matt, Tod and a falchion.
Beautiful workmanship.
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.
We need more videos like this!!!
Beautiful work!
What a gorgeous sword
14:20 a rare physical demonstration by Matt !
That’s a gorgeous weapon.
I love your teamwork. Please keep on. Greetings from Germany
This channel is great. Very entertaining and educational.
Absolutely gorgeous! 😍
Surprised no one has compared it yet to the Skalchion (Fallagrim).
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.
Beautiful storta Tom!!
Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up
That sword is truly beautiful.
Fantastic!!
Wonderful.
This Collab is so good tho' 😆💪🏻
4:54 yeah, it's not Na(i)gel. :D We still pronounce vowels as they should be. 😂 ✌🏻
I have often thought that a relatively short, wide but still pointed blade would be idle at close to medium range.
Very nice sword !
Best cross over
Thx 🙏
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! ;)
Omg so beautiful!
Matt is very handsome indeed
@@samarkand1585 🤨😂
Is it fully Italian, or just sorta Italian?
G'ah!
Boppity boopy 🤌🏼
Great video man
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
That is a damn good looking sword!
An hour of Todd, Matt and Lindy Beige discussing/arguing/experimenting with medieval weaponry needs to happen.
Also Jorg Sprave, Skallagrim and Shadiversity for the ultimate YT Medieval dream team.
More Witcher content I would lap up like your other Witcher videos.
Glad I found your channel enthusiasm knowledge and craftsmenship. Bravo