Play War Thunder now with my links, and get a massive, free bonus pack including vehicles, boosters and more on PC and consoles: playwt.link/scholagladiatora | Mobile: wtm.game/scholagladiatora
I really love the concept of War Thunder, but in practice, it's really hard and there's no SBBM (or just bad SBBM?) to protect newbs from getting clobbered.
Matt speaking of pirates i have a question for you what would you classify the pan sword from the movie hook as? would love to hear your thoughts on it. it sone of my all time fav movie swords
Please do a video on how sharp functional military swords were IRL. Were they actually "razor sharp"? Could you pop hair off your arm or would a piece of paper get sliced through on its own weight? Would it be sharper than a kitchen knife or tactical military/camping knife?
And in case your sword breaks and you are left just punching with the guard and handle you can change your name to Rocky and be the dreaded Rocky Bilboa
According to the books I've read, cutlasses for sailors were kept in barrels below decks until combat was guaranteed. Swords worn while trying to do work would just get in the way. Captains and petty officers would wear them at all times, of course. Having said that, there would be axes on deck for cutting rigging, but most sailors would just run over and grab whatever sword was in the barrel.
The could also be in dedicated racks. I think Matt recently unboxed one with a number on it, showing at which slot it should be stored. Got to run a right ship! The storage is also why the cutlass can have such a big hand protection. You don't need to worry about it being impractical to wear.
I always kind of liked the belaying pin. You just have a bunch of short wooden objects that make handy clubs you can pull out of their storage places on the deck and make free. I have no idea if that was really a thing, but I like it. ;)
Yes on naval ships that is absolutely how they were stored but pirates would usually be using personally owned equipment tho ive read that some ships would have small arms- muskets, pistols, and possibly swords collectively owned by the pirate company so essentially the ship. Don't know how often this would have been the case probably not often since criminals tend to be every man for himself sort of people
They could grabs swords, boarding axes, sometimes there was also some form of halberd or harpoon they could use. Even just a heavy capstan bar would split some heads pretty easily
Many don't know that there were Filipinos on board some Spanish ships that ended up the the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Where I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast near New Orleans, there was a pirate who lived after the Golden Age name Jean Lafitte who had 300 Filipinos under his command who were deserters from Spanish ships. They surely had their own weapons at least somewhat. They had their own community south of New Orleans dating all they way back during Spanish occupation of New Orleans, that lasted until hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Filipinos also known as great sword fighters and pirates in the Philippine islands. Great sword fighting systems as well as their neighbors in Indonesia
I know new Orleans is like a gumbo (lol) of cultures, I also know filipino people were all over the place on ships and of course pirate ships, but this is very interesting! these hurricanes are a plague honestly. they are getting worse and worse 🙃
One correction: Yes, Geo. Washington owned numerous smallswords. However, when it came to warfare, he carried a hanger that he referred to as a "cuttoe". In fact this hanger, as well as many of his personal smallswords, still survive!😁
George Washington’s Last Will and Testament, … To each of my Nephews, William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington and Samuel Washington, I give one of the Swords or Cutteaux of which I may die possessed; and they are to chuse in the order they are named. These Swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self defence, OR in defence of their Country and its rights; and in the latter case, to keep them unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands, to the relinquishment thereof…
Washington's dyed Ivory and silver banded cuttoe was easily his favorite sword. You can tell because he is depicted with it in various paintings, even in ones that took place prior to John Bailey crafting the sword in 1778.
I suppose it's possible that he carried a smallsword into battle during his early career. For example: during the French & Indian War. But by the time of the Revolution, he valued the practicality of having a good cutting sword.
I own three bone grip cutlasses. Two are from the 18th century and one is from as far back as the second half of the 17th century. They are naval and could be pirate used but I doubt it as most didn't survive.
Anyone who has ever been on board of a 17th & 18th century multi deck ship knows how little space there was. I can't stand up straight there. Swords during combat weren't just used for engaging enemies. They were also used to cut boarding ropes. Pirates were also often not the most well trained swordsmen. Some were of course, but the majority only had a rudimentary understanding of sword fighting. So short, curved and stout chopping oriented blades were best.
Actually in the US histories often consider the end of the golden age with Jean Lafite's defeat in Galveston. English Piracy Golden Age tends to be more correct to date 1650-1730. Since French,Creole,Mexican and Spanish pirates were operating dozens of ships and hundreds of crew in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico up until the War of 1812. Perhaps even more than the aforementioned Golden Age.
for as much as people in hema, and Matt in particular, obsess over hand protection, it's worth noting that swords with extensive hand protection were not widely distrusted geographically nor were they in use very long. in fact it's notable that in both India and China highly protective hilts were actually abandoned in favor of less protective types and indeed the Chinese only ever seen to have used the cutlass style hilt for sparring swords, the battlefield sword of the time had no hand protection whatsoever. most swords in history had either a cross guard, a disc guard, both often quite small, or no guard. all that to say that historically people whose lives depended on swords didn't seem to really care about hand protection indicating that it probably wasn't as important as the hema community would have you believe.
It depends on your system, but I think hand protection is something you SHOULD obsesse over. Of course there are techniques for swords with minimal hand protection. But if you're in a time period where you can have maximum hand protection, why wouldn't you?@@yamiyomizuki
@matthewcooper4248 well very clearly people who historically used swords didn't agree with you, because as I pointed out, not only did very few swords have extensive hand protection, even cultures that had invented theoretically protective hilts often chose not to use them. and it would be more accurate to say that there are specialized techniques for using swords with extensive hand protection, because 1 they are the minority and 2 don't handle well with the techniques you would use for a normal 1 handed sword. if you have a large hilt it actively changes the way your sword moves, essential requiring that the arm be kept extended and the sword be maneuvered from the wrist rather than the elbow or shoulder.
I was honestly relieved how at the very end this video you took a moment to mention the Spanish bilbo sword. That would be my first choice as someone who fences a lot of rapier but wants a more cut-centric weapon for use on board a ship.
Laz Bichaq or Laz knife (Black Sea yataghan), the blade up 80cm long and over a centimetre thick at spine. It was a favoured weapon of Laz pirates in the Black Sea. The pommel has two pointed horn like protrusions, these were said to be used in the same way as a marlinspike for rope-work, splicing, undoing knots, unlaying(untwisting) rope. The Laz have a storied maritime history as sailors, fishermen, and pirates. Theirs is was the fabled land of Colchis, the land of the Golden Fleece.
I believe that there was a style choice in Japan at one point of wearing the katana more vertically, which makes wearing them easier in confined spaces and, speaking from experience, it is no problem using it for iaijutsu like that.
Remember that some of the usual concerns don't apply on board ship! No one is carrying their sword around, so bulkiness and ease of deployment are simply non-issues. Remember that by the 19th century, European and American men-of-war often didn't even bother including scabbards with their cutlasses. For normal use (boarding and counter-boarding), one just grabs the sword and goes. I would also suggest (as a left-hander) that some consideration be given to symmetrical guards (basket hilts and such). Even if one is right-handed, having to switch hands could be a reality. Again, without the need to carry a sheathed sword for long periods of time, there's no need to sacrifice protection for comfort.
There was a Ming Dynasty general who was fighting against Japanese pirates who used Katana. The Ming Dynasty developed Wodao based on Katana. Chinese Ming Dynasty General Qi Jiguang (1528-1588)"This is what I learned for the first time when the Japanese attacked Ming. They moved like a dance, and the forward rushing force seemed to flash light, and our Ming soldiers were just distracted. It is difficult to approach with my soldier's sword, it is too late with a spear, and if we encounter them, everyone will be cut off and killed. This is because their weapons are sharp and they are free to use powerful and heavy swords that can be swung with both hands. " "For Japanese, a fowling gun from a distance is effective. But the Japanese have absolutely no fear and charge at point blank range where they can attack or stab. It also takes time while our gunners load their bullets, That's why Our soldiers often allow them to approach. We cannot stop their momentum. Japanese swordsmanship is light and long, Our gunners move too slowly after allowing them to approach. Therefore, we should equip ourselves with Japanese-style long swords."明 戚继光 此自倭犯中國始有之。彼以此跳舞、光閃而前、我兵已奪氣矣。倭善躍、一迸足則丈餘、遭之者身多兩斷、縁器利而雙手使、用力重故也。 今如獨用則無衛、惟鳥銃手賊遠發銃、賊至近身再無他器可以攻刺、如兼殺器則銃重藥子又多、勢所不能、惟此刀輕而且長、以備臨身棄銃用此。況有殺手當鋒、故用長刀備之耳。 Spanish trader Bernardino de Avila Giron (-1619) "I say again that they are very warlike and use very cruel and cutting weapons, made of such refined steel that they cut through iron with ease." "The quality of its steel shatters European steel with the first blow."
Alehouse dagger might deserve a mention here, as the shorter version of a basket-hilt sword. Maybe something you'd wear below deck and in cabins more than the broad/backsword, if you're concerned with it being too long for confined spaces. A turcael would be another sword worth considering, if you'd prefer a curved choppy blade on a basket-hilt. Great video, always nice to see basket-hilts getting some love
I'd also add-as someone who works on a fairly modern museum ship-that a buckler or ANY off-hand weapon simply isn't going to work. You need at least one hand free at all times, even on a ship that isn't pitching and rolling. Moving up and down ladders nd rigging is dangerous, and requires the use of at least one hand. Remember how pirates always have their dirk clamped in their teeth? It isn't just because it feels good and looks sexy.
Remember also: the physicDuring the age of Sail, the average sailor, all around the world, would stand between 5'-1 and 5'-5 tall (155-165cm) tall! Blackbeard, who was considered a "giant", was likely about 6' tall (183cm). This may change many people's ideas about the sizes of weapons that would be "ideal" for the users. Cheers from Canada!
Remember how slow sail ships move. You'd have more than enough time to collect your sword and put on a pair of gauntlets, you wouldn't carry them around during your normal duties.
surprised you didn't even mention north African scimitars...considering how prolific pirates the Berbers where. from the days they they pillaged Genoese and Venetians ships in the 16th century until as late as the 19th century when they fought the British and American navies.
Japanese pirates (wakou) were actually famous for using huge nodachi sized swords, and you can see paintings of them fighting on skiffs with such weapons alongside pikes. Such swords inspired the Chinese wodao, which are mostly around the size of pretty big katanas. (they're probably not actually doing ship-to-ship combat though, they're doing a lot more raiding of harbors and coastal villages than Caribbean pirates)
Yes, but officers usually have a flintlock pistol in addition to a basket-hilt sword. the problem with the Flintlock pistol it's not its power but reload time and single shot so, it's just one enemy you can dispose of with a Flintlock pistol.
Personally I'd go for a choora/khyber knife paired with a small sipahi/dahl shield, something buckler-sized or a little larger. Not only is it a weapon I'm fairly familiar with, but it's a good cut and thrust compromise design with excellent chopping and thrusting capacity in a small enough package to wield easily in confined spaces belowdecks or carry sheathed while moving around on deck. Also despite being short enough to work well in confined spaces it's still a fairly broad, chunky blade which can make it intimidating to face, making it very good for crowd control in terms of persuading merchantmen to surrender or else subduing them once they have surrendered, which seems useful for piratical activities. My second choice would probably be a yataghan and buckler for basically the same reasons.
@@KingTrouser That's the advantage of using a small buckler-sized dahl, it still leaves you with some use of your off-hand (at least enough to grab onto rigging or similar) while holding plus it's small enough to easily hang off your belt when you need more use of the hand (e.g. when using a pistol), yet can be quickly grabbed and deployed as needed. While a larger shield would definitely be an encumbrance I reckon a small dahl, with that double string grip, makes a good compromise between giving some off-hand protection for melee combat while still allowing use of the off-hand for supporting yourself, using a pistol or anything else you might need it for.
Anything manoeuverable. Cutlass, short hanger, etc etc etc, possibly with a dirk on the other side of the belt. Add in a few pistols and you’re ready to go!
In period a lot of katana were in the 24-25" blade length range. I have one made in the mid-1600's which is almost exactly 25" in the blade. Very handy in close quarters.
I think I remember Nick Thomas saying that, if there is a line to draw between "hanger" and "cutlass", it's that "hanger" suggests land use, and "cutlass", sea. I hope I'm not butchering what he said. I wonder if this is only when talking about later times though? I understand "hanger" is a word that has a pretty long span of use, though I get the sense it's mostly been used for short-ish (therefore easily worn) cutting swords
1:13 If that i will get nagamaki or some podao. From my point of view, ship defense is more like a bodyguard unit than a front line army. A weapon with a slightly longer range and the ability to block a larger space seems better to me. When boarding, fighting is more individual than in formation. Earlier, when the opponents are separated from us by broadsides of 2 ships the scenario is in some way similar to war waggon defence. This is where larger swings can make a difference. Due to the location and the time when heavy armor was not such used, I chose a relatively light weapon, which allows the grip to be shortened if needed, but the lever can also act as in a pole weapon.
I see your point of reasoning, but one thing you have to take into consideration is that there isn't that much space in a ship, much less in a sailship. A sailship is not only limited in space, but it is also litter with all sorts of rigging and tackle. You have to constantly watch your step, add to that the ship is constantly moving even when not traveling. There's a reason why the term sea-legs exists. In the situation of a boarding party, you will be further constrained by all the people around you. Not to much space to be swinging a long cutting weapon, even if you can shorten the grip you will still have the problem of the long handle getting in the way.
@15:55 the long hilt definitely is a factor, but its certainly worth bearing in mind that japanese pirates were known for using large Odachi, which even inspired chinese swords to a pretty significant extent. Those Odachi had really long handles, and some of the chinese long sabers that followed had even longer ones as far as I can tell (not a historian tho haha). So certainly it is not so much of a deterrent that it would entirely prevent someone from wearing a large sword if that's what they wanted to use. I'd actually be really interested in a video that dives into the logistics of wearing large swords in different scenarios throughout history. With the focus being on how you actually deal with the logistics, not the combat.
8:00 Looks like a sword from the Swedish Carolean epoch, styled and equipped in the late 17th century, with military tactics built on closing down to the enemy and beat him hand to hand.
I have three or four thoughts on this subject: - in the first place, you’re absolutely right that something like a bilbo would be perfect for this job….. so much so, that I’m astonished that you only mentioned it at the end. in contrast, I was preparing to type it in from the moment the video started, but yes, some sort of beef up rape, beer or light broadsword sounds like a well suited tool for the job. - What I first THINK of, however, as a weapon for the common pirate, is sin a little less European: some kind of bolo/cutlass hybrid, with a blade a little less than 2 feet long and a double-curved or S-curved profile. this is something that would be great for double duty both in hacking combat and as a machete, and will probably look pretty cool. - Lastly, if we are “ going Japanese,” as it were,, I remember that there’s a vague category of intermediate length swords of that type called “chisakatana,” and it seems to me that some variant on that would be very practical aboard ship.
I love this! I have a whole pirate persona I don for renaissance faires and have been looking for a sword to add to the garb that i have all hand made. After Matt's older video which tossed in basket hilted swords as an option in that time, i have been looking at a basket hilted backsword (also because frankly Teach in Black Sails has a whole vibe carrying a broadsword). This solidifies my choice. I now need a good basket hilted backsword
When I used to be a pirate on the Open Seas, I thought a light saber would be the best pirate blade. However, I found that over time, the salt water really messed with the electronics and caused issues in the long run. I have switched to a nerf sword for weight consideration...it isn't the most effective in a fight, but it is not impacted by water, plus if I droup it in the ocean, it floats!
Interestingly greatswords were also used aboard ship to good effect. Especially to clear space on a deck and fight multiple opponents. Although they start to fall out of favour once firearms and grenades become more common implements. It makes less sense to use a greatsword like that to defend against boarders or to board ships when you just need a strong sailor to throw a grenade or a marksman to start shooting to achieve all of the same things. That said both nodachi and zweihanders saw use in naval actions and the Chinese feared Japanese pirates for using swords just like that so they made the zhanmadao and copied from Japanese martial arts scrolls they recovered.
Me I would roll with either a long dirk, boarding pike or boarding axe. Your not going to have time for any fancy stuff on a ship. Actually think the axe would be the most useful. I've read way to much horatio hornblower😅
Even a fokos shepherds axe could have also been used by pirates and I did see one with a built in flint lock but some of the drawbacks is that even though it was relatively light and short it was still look enough to where it possibly would have been at least a bit awkward to carry it strapped to ones side because of the length of the shaft even though in theory you could still make a specialized holster for carrying one.
French historian Alexandre Exquemelin has said that the buccaneer François l'Ollonais used a cutlass as early as 1667. Yes I realize that means technically he mostly engaged in attacking seaside villages, not open sea piracy, but he did use a cutlass long before the British Naval example. Although here in colonial America, in the 1740s we did produce something called a cutlass, it's described as having a round wooden grip (nothing I can find describes knuckle bows or cupped hilts), with only the slightest of curves to the blade, so I think I might avoid that one.
I've got this French naval cutlass with blackened full handguard and anchor markings on the blade, is all. I do not recall the time period that this repro represents but they were made in France for some kind of celebration and then imported here. Not as handy as I had hoped due to the weight of the not too long blade.
Hello Matt! As always, I greatly enjoy your videos, not only for the entertainment but primarily for the education. Over the years, I've learned (mainly from you) that a general purpose sword is usually inferior to something that is better for the particular niche you're considering. In most eras, there is only rarely a "general purpose". Purely for academic purposes, without regard for historic examples, what would you choose if firearms were not available, you were likely alone, or with a small group, against multiple opponents, no armor, half the time in an open environment, and the other half in a more enclosed location such as a room, hallway or passageway, etc. that restricts movement to a degree? And if you would choose something for your offhand, such as a buckler, main gauche, shield, etc.? I threw in the potential for multiple opponents because while a spear could be great against a single opponent in a hall or passageway, it would likely get you killed if another opponent moved past your spear point while you were engaged. I have my ideas, but I suspect yours will be better.
I'd carry a cutlass all the time and when expecting trouble, I'd carry Walloon sword or saber and some handguns. Maybe, I'd use the cutlass as a parrying device in my left.
I really liked Cortez's espada ropera as depicted on Deadliest Warriors. The point is better than the blade, and that espada ropera was good with both.
I waited until the end to comment, wondering how my pick would hold up in the given context. Turns out my pick is very similar to you! My one and only sword, and the one I considered in this context, was a Basket-Hilt combined with a Sinclair hilt and a Dussak blade! 😄 It's marketed as a Scottish Cutlass, I think it's made by Windlass.
Shell guarded hanger, with a knuckle bow. Or a shortened saber. Need the cut and thrust capacity. But light enough to use a flintlock or boarding axe in the offhand for both secondary offence and defensive use
The curved blades are better at cutting, rather it is a 26:15 shearing action to glide or more smoothly slice soft targets. Personally l would choose a parang but with a better hand guard. The heavier end helps carry it through when chopping soft targets.
10 years ago I turned a old French Briquet sabre for Marines (there's an Anker on the blade) into my Pirate Sword, the Brass hilt was broken and I exchanged it with a hilt from a "Haudegen".
About katana and what you said about it getting entangled. There is a specific way of carrying a katana in tight or densely populated areas that mitigates how much the katana would get in the way of things. This was especially useful in cities as bumping your sword into someone else's sword was incredibly rude and could lead to altercations. Sadly I cant remember how this way of carrying a katana is called in japanese, but it comes up in iai all the time. This leads me to think they would've utilized it when working on a ship.
I very much like my Windlass Munich sword so I would probably go with something like that, a medium-lenght cut-and-thrust blade with a hilt that offers fairly good hand protection. Something like a basket hilted broadsword would be a good option too but it might be a little more cumbersome to wear. Of course a sword would not be worn at most times on the ship, only for battle and when going ashore. In addition I would wear a large knife or a dagger and as many pistols as I could carry with at least some comfort as reloading the pistols of those times during a battle was almost impossible so you would need more than one.
Having studied Italian Rapier my first implulse would be to take a swept hilt rapier, a quick, nimble blade with a significant reach advantage over a small sword, dussac/hanger/cuttoe or most eastern swords. However, thinking about it further the limitations of a thrust centric blade, and the space requirements to wield one effectively make me think I'd actually pick a moderate length basket hilted broadsword.
How common was it to have a longer blade with a basket hilt to be cut down to a more realistic size to use? Like a civil war, “confederate” blade. It started about as grandpa’s sword during the revolutionary war but cut sown to a smaller size and used by a grandson.
You ended up with the same choices as me. A hanger for everyday carry and a basket hilt for combat. But I don't think sailors wore swords doing their work. You get enough time to arm yourself before being borded. That's why the cutlass can have such a large hand protection, you never wear it by your side.
In limited or confined spaces you definitely don't wear anything around you that might get in the way. Specially in a sailship which is littered with all sorts of riggings and tackles. It is one of the subjects most people fail to understand or comprehend, and through no fault of their own. Most people don't have the opportunity to being in a ship, much less in a sailship. The perspective about it changes rather quickly once you have to climb up a mast while under way. The last thing you would want is something that is not closely tight around your body, and even that can easily become cumbersome.
I was leaning towards a messer. 24”-25” blade, knuckle bow and nagel. Decent hand protection, good overall length for the close quarters of the gun deck & and cut and thrust style blade that is broad enough to defend against larger weapons. If that wasn’t an option then I’d probably find a decent hanger or go the dirk and boarding axe/hatchet route.
As I don't have formal training I am partial to run of the mill hangers and cutlasses, the uglier the better. (I keep trying to get makers to do some of the ugly surviving examples.) That said I have become interested in back swords, not exactly the best in close combat, but does provide some options. Slight note, small sword parts at least have been found on wreck sites, I believe the Whydah has at least one. So a pirate did have access to one. The Queen Anne's Revenge I know has the hilt of a hunting hanger which fits with surviving images from the 1680s as well as shipping records.
In the case of the parang with the clip point I would say that even if I don't know whether people historically did this or not but I do think that if the back of the clip point had a sharpend edge I think that would have helped with thrusting and I think that it could have been useful for other reasons including perhaps hitting somebody on a back swing.
A barong style blade mounted on a knuckle bow hilt. Maybe something slightly more complex but not a full basket guard. A bit point heavy for chopping, decent profile for thrusts, and not so long as to be unwieldy below decks
@@InWithBothFeet Long ago from a galaxy far away, and... I don't even know anymore? A potential future several time warps ago? In some weird future when plasma rifles are powered by microwave oven bulbs? Beats my pair of jacks.
I HAVE chosen my sword... I went to the UK Re-enactactor market TORM and bought a 17th/18th English style hangar. It's thin and pokey, with the benefits of a rapier, while still have the swish and flick of a sabre - like a cross between the two. I quite like it.
I don't think anyone is taking into account just how ridiculously cramped it is below decks on one of these ships. I'm a big lad 6'5" and when I visited HMS Victory I had serious difficulty even just moving around. That's a first rate ship of the line from a few decades later so I would imagine pirate ships (mostly Sloops) would be much smaller. You just aren't going to be able to cut effectively with a sword in those circumstances. A big dagger or knife and a flintlock pistol or 2 for me.
Hi Matt, love your content. Could you talk about the battlefielduse of rapiers? I understand that it was mostly a civilian weapon that was only used occasionally in battle by armies like the Caroleans.
I'd probably pick the "crossbowman's dao." I have a full length chang dao/miao dao that I quite like but I think would be unwieldy on a ship, but the same design scaled down for true hand and a half use would be great. Was good enough for the chinese at the time to fight pirates and it's what I'm personally the most familiar with. Would be just a bit longer than those pesky katanas and still have options against nimble european blades.
I can't help wondering whether the cutlass evolved to the single piece guard in the 19th century because bars and bows might have had a nasty tendency to catch on shipboard objects at incredibly inconvenient moments. I'm imagining you could be swinging a basket hilt around and that big guard would catch on some overhead hook or something similar and you'd be in big trouble.
The quillions on rapiers could easily do some serious damage. But I believe either falchion or tyre iron (or three feet of chain) would be my side arm of choice.
I think you need to have a chat with the folks at Chatham, to see whether they'd let you have a little sparring session on one or two of their historic vessels. As long as you're not cutting any ropes or leaving blood on their decks I can't see them minding much.
I can't argue with any of the choices. I'd like to suggest the not quite basket hilted european (sometimes called Munich) town's guard swords. A classic arming sword blade with a swept hilt "rapier" guard. But it's the same as a basket hilt broad/back sword. Proper sword, not too stupidly long, and hand protection you can punch with.
Actually, for my personal preference, i would go with something similar to what you had over your left shoulder. Probably not the most 'optimal' choice, but for general versatility, i would chose something like a broad blade/cut and thrust 'rapier' (think of some 16th-17th century Spanish swords) with a compound (but not cup, of fully enclosed basket) hilt, for some protection without too much wearing hinderance. This should cover most scenarios on ship, but also on land, as we may indeed fight on shore as well, especially during raids. I would probably look a bit old fashioned for the 1700's but whoever finds me funny, can meet the shar bit of my steel!
I'd want a falchion or messer in this context, since humans wouldn't be the only target of a blade. There's also be a lot of rigging and other nautical equipment that might need cutting.
Probably I would pick a dussack for my pirate outings. But thinking about it, leaving popular anime aside, I think that a katana could be quite a reliable option for close quarter combat aboard ships: cuts well, is short enough not to be cumbersome, the small tsuba guard won't get caught in stuff hanging around., despite being lacklustre in terms of hand protection.
Outside of movies, captains wouldn't be dueling other captains, because pirates have no sense of honor, and honestly, neither do most naval officers, and the crew isn't going to agree to surrender to whoever wins in single combat. You want an efficient melee weapon that will not encumber you much. If you want reach, the boarding pike is the best option. But once it's close-in, hard to beat the cutlass/messer style sword. Also, pirates like to go ashore sometimes. Spend all their doubloons or whatever on wine women & song. If you have a shorter sword, you're less likely to get in trouble with the local authorities for wearing it (since you are almost certainly not one of the ruling class), and you'll still have something to use if a fight breaks out. However--there are accounts of Blackbeard's Last Stand--that I don't necessarily believe--which say Maynard insisted his men carry light thrusting swords, because the heavier cutting blades were tiring to swing, and his men would have more staying power. Based on what I know of that battle, swords were not really what decided it. Blackbeard was ambushed, outnumbered, and there are also accounts that say he broke Maynard's lighter blade with his hangar. He still lost. Honestly, strategy, logistics, and numbers always matter more than your choice of tool, but you still have to choose one. ;)
I've been thinking about this for a few of your more recent videos. Given a confined space, and I think a ship would be a confined space by definition, and, in the age of sail especially, rigging and whatnot confining that space even more, wouldn't any sword or use of a given sword that required an arc of motion be a disadvantage? I mean, yes, if you weren't particularly trained in the use of a sword, intuitively you would probably want to cut with it if you could. So you want a sword that you know how to use. Sure, OK. But if you knew your way around a sword, given your confined environment, I should think that trusting or shanking would be a more preferred / successful approach. Now, considering that you're going to be in grappling distance in no short order, a relatively short two edged blade, maybe 26-28'', that was beefy enough to parry with and with beefy hand protection (metal punching in the face glove) is what would seem to me to be called for. I kind of like the basket hilted broad sword, but, really, a bit too much focused on the cut for me. I think I would go for the bilbo. But that's just me.
Thing is Matt is trained in sword fighting, so he would choose something more refined. Majority of pirates were not. Regular navy men did get some training (at least in RN) but it was a thing of secondary (or tertiary really) importance to them. Therfore very solid, practical sword, that you can hack away with (and cut ropes!) was probably best. And so cutlass become weapon of choice. Although it happen after the period discussed in video. All this relates to European zone of combat of course, i know almost nothing about Asian piracy in XVIII century.
Would love to see the Sri Lankan kastane in this discussion, particularly as during this period there was a two-way cultural transmission of styles between them and European naval swords.
Rightside shell guard made of brass with a curved blade with that false edge style so it could still stababit but more so chop. Maybe technically a falchion?
At the next Fight Camp could you/would you consider a naval type battle!!?? I was a sailor in the US navy (below decks) and this is a special topic for me! Personally I'd opt for a 18 to 24 inch blade. Sailors don't wear armor and spaces get crowded very quickly so, again Personally, I'd opt for the Phillipine style. Also most sailors are "roughnecks" and not trained swordsmen. Smash, slash or stab it's going to be a close quarters fight
Play War Thunder now with my links, and get a massive, free bonus pack including vehicles, boosters and more on PC and consoles: playwt.link/scholagladiatora | Mobile: wtm.game/scholagladiatora
What did Indian pirates use?
I'm guessing it'll jump to the top of your list!
I really love the concept of War Thunder, but in practice, it's really hard and there's no SBBM (or just bad SBBM?) to protect newbs from getting clobbered.
Matt speaking of pirates i have a question for you what would you classify the pan sword from the movie hook as? would love to hear your thoughts on it. it sone of my all time fav movie swords
Have you ever been to the HMS Victory. Might be cool if you filmed that think it's in dry dock
Please do a video on how sharp functional military swords were IRL. Were they actually "razor sharp"? Could you pop hair off your arm or would a piece of paper get sliced through on its own weight? Would it be sharper than a kitchen knife or tactical military/camping knife?
I'd use a bilboa and change my last name to Baggins so I'd be the Dread Pirate Bilboa Baggins . . .
And in case your sword breaks and you are left just punching with the guard and handle you can change your name to Rocky and be the dreaded Rocky Bilboa
Both of these comments made me chuckle, i thank thee for the jokes good sirs
@@Hatsworthful 😆👍
You're twosted, sick, and wrong. I like that in a person!
I laughed too😆
According to the books I've read, cutlasses for sailors were kept in barrels below decks until combat was guaranteed. Swords worn while trying to do work would just get in the way. Captains and petty officers would wear them at all times, of course. Having said that, there would be axes on deck for cutting rigging, but most sailors would just run over and grab whatever sword was in the barrel.
The could also be in dedicated racks. I think Matt recently unboxed one with a number on it, showing at which slot it should be stored. Got to run a right ship!
The storage is also why the cutlass can have such a big hand protection. You don't need to worry about it being impractical to wear.
Makes sense. Cool detail, thanks!
I always kind of liked the belaying pin. You just have a bunch of short wooden objects that make handy clubs you can pull out of their storage places on the deck and make free. I have no idea if that was really a thing, but I like it. ;)
Yes on naval ships that is absolutely how they were stored but pirates would usually be using personally owned equipment tho ive read that some ships would have small arms- muskets, pistols, and possibly swords collectively owned by the pirate company so essentially the ship. Don't know how often this would have been the case probably not often since criminals tend to be every man for himself sort of people
They could grabs swords, boarding axes, sometimes there was also some form of halberd or harpoon they could use. Even just a heavy capstan bar would split some heads pretty easily
Many don't know that there were Filipinos on board some Spanish ships that ended up the the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Where I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast near New Orleans, there was a pirate who lived after the Golden Age name Jean Lafitte who had 300 Filipinos under his command who were deserters from Spanish ships. They surely had their own weapons at least somewhat. They had their own community south of New Orleans dating all they way back during Spanish occupation of New Orleans, that lasted until hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Filipinos also known as great sword fighters and pirates in the Philippine islands. Great sword fighting systems as well as their neighbors in Indonesia
Didn’t know they established a colony
Never hear of Philippine culture in New Orleans
Did they get sallowed up by the black community?
I know new Orleans is like a gumbo (lol) of cultures, I also know filipino people were all over the place on ships and of course pirate ships, but this is very interesting!
these hurricanes are a plague honestly. they are getting worse and worse 🙃
Probably they used two short cutting swords
One correction: Yes, Geo. Washington owned numerous smallswords. However, when it came to warfare, he carried a hanger that he referred to as a "cuttoe". In fact this hanger, as well as many of his personal smallswords, still survive!😁
Green dyed ivory grip.
George Washington’s Last Will and Testament,
… To each of my Nephews, William Augustine Washington, George Lewis, George Steptoe Washington, Bushrod Washington and Samuel Washington, I give one of the Swords or Cutteaux of which I may die possessed; and they are to chuse in the order they are named. These Swords are accompanied with an injunction not to unsheath them for the purpose of shedding blood, except it be for self defence, OR in defence of their Country and its rights; and in the latter case, to keep them unsheathed, and prefer falling with them in their hands, to the relinquishment thereof…
Washington's dyed Ivory and silver banded cuttoe was easily his favorite sword. You can tell because he is depicted with it in various paintings, even in ones that took place prior to John Bailey crafting the sword in 1778.
I suppose it's possible that he carried a smallsword into battle during his early career. For example: during the French & Indian War. But by the time of the Revolution, he valued the practicality of having a good cutting sword.
@
Yes, one does not bring a duelling sword for skirmishing.
I own three bone grip cutlasses. Two are from the 18th century and one is from as far back as the second half of the 17th century. They are naval and could be pirate used but I doubt it as most didn't survive.
Anyone who has ever been on board of a 17th & 18th century multi deck ship knows how little space there was. I can't stand up straight there.
Swords during combat weren't just used for engaging enemies. They were also used to cut boarding ropes.
Pirates were also often not the most well trained swordsmen. Some were of course, but the majority only had a rudimentary understanding of sword fighting.
So short, curved and stout chopping oriented blades were best.
I've been on the USS Constitution. And a few reliplicas. You don't have a ton of head room
Actually in the US histories often consider the end of the golden age with Jean Lafite's defeat in Galveston. English Piracy Golden Age tends to be more correct to date 1650-1730. Since French,Creole,Mexican and Spanish pirates were operating dozens of ships and hundreds of crew in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico up until the War of 1812. Perhaps even more than the aforementioned Golden Age.
I dig a chonky broadsword, and have become much more sensitive to the need for hand protection since subbing to this channel.
for as much as people in hema, and Matt in particular, obsess over hand protection, it's worth noting that swords with extensive hand protection were not widely distrusted geographically nor were they in use very long. in fact it's notable that in both India and China highly protective hilts were actually abandoned in favor of less protective types and indeed the Chinese only ever seen to have used the cutlass style hilt for sparring swords, the battlefield sword of the time had no hand protection whatsoever. most swords in history had either a cross guard, a disc guard, both often quite small, or no guard. all that to say that historically people whose lives depended on swords didn't seem to really care about hand protection indicating that it probably wasn't as important as the hema community would have you believe.
It depends on your system, but I think hand protection is something you SHOULD obsesse over. Of course there are techniques for swords with minimal hand protection. But if you're in a time period where you can have maximum hand protection, why wouldn't you?@@yamiyomizuki
@matthewcooper4248 well very clearly people who historically used swords didn't agree with you, because as I pointed out, not only did very few swords have extensive hand protection, even cultures that had invented theoretically protective hilts often chose not to use them. and it would be more accurate to say that there are specialized techniques for using swords with extensive hand protection, because 1 they are the minority and 2 don't handle well with the techniques you would use for a normal 1 handed sword. if you have a large hilt it actively changes the way your sword moves, essential requiring that the arm be kept extended and the sword be maneuvered from the wrist rather than the elbow or shoulder.
I was honestly relieved how at the very end this video you took a moment to mention the Spanish bilbo sword. That would be my first choice as someone who fences a lot of rapier but wants a more cut-centric weapon for use on board a ship.
Laz Bichaq or Laz knife (Black Sea yataghan), the blade up 80cm long and over a centimetre thick at spine. It was a favoured weapon of Laz pirates in the Black Sea. The pommel has two pointed horn like protrusions, these were said to be used in the same way as a marlinspike for rope-work, splicing, undoing knots, unlaying(untwisting) rope. The Laz have a storied maritime history as sailors, fishermen, and pirates. Theirs is was the fabled land of Colchis, the land of the Golden Fleece.
I believe that there was a style choice in Japan at one point of wearing the katana more vertically, which makes wearing them easier in confined spaces and, speaking from experience, it is no problem using it for iaijutsu like that.
The best sword for a pirate is clearly 3 Katanas.
And the best nationality is British, they have a racial bonus x3 in looting.
Came here looking for this comment lol🙌
Well, obviously. 😂
Remember that some of the usual concerns don't apply on board ship! No one is carrying their sword around, so bulkiness and ease of deployment are simply non-issues. Remember that by the 19th century, European and American men-of-war often didn't even bother including scabbards with their cutlasses. For normal use (boarding and counter-boarding), one just grabs the sword and goes.
I would also suggest (as a left-hander) that some consideration be given to symmetrical guards (basket hilts and such). Even if one is right-handed, having to switch hands could be a reality. Again, without the need to carry a sheathed sword for long periods of time, there's no need to sacrifice protection for comfort.
speaking as someone who owns one, 19th century cutlasses absolutely had scabbards.
There was a Ming Dynasty general who was fighting against Japanese pirates who used Katana. The Ming Dynasty developed Wodao based on Katana.
Chinese Ming Dynasty General Qi Jiguang (1528-1588)"This is what I learned for the first time when the Japanese attacked Ming. They moved like a dance, and the forward rushing force seemed to flash light, and our Ming soldiers were just distracted. It is difficult to approach with my soldier's sword, it is too late with a spear, and if we encounter them, everyone will be cut off and killed. This is because their weapons are sharp and they are free to use powerful and heavy swords that can be swung with both hands. " "For Japanese, a fowling gun from a distance is effective. But the Japanese have absolutely no fear and charge at point blank range where they can attack or stab. It also takes time while our gunners load their bullets, That's why Our soldiers often allow them to approach. We cannot stop their momentum. Japanese swordsmanship is light and long, Our gunners move too slowly after allowing them to approach. Therefore, we should equip ourselves with Japanese-style long swords."明 戚继光 此自倭犯中國始有之。彼以此跳舞、光閃而前、我兵已奪氣矣。倭善躍、一迸足則丈餘、遭之者身多兩斷、縁器利而雙手使、用力重故也。 今如獨用則無衛、惟鳥銃手賊遠發銃、賊至近身再無他器可以攻刺、如兼殺器則銃重藥子又多、勢所不能、惟此刀輕而且長、以備臨身棄銃用此。況有殺手當鋒、故用長刀備之耳。
Spanish trader Bernardino de Avila Giron (-1619) "I say again that they are very warlike and use very cruel and cutting weapons, made of such refined steel that they cut through iron with ease." "The quality of its steel shatters European steel with the first blow."
A shell-hilted dussack, or a schiavona might be my choice. Both have enough blade to hit with authority, and both have great hand protection.
Alehouse dagger might deserve a mention here, as the shorter version of a basket-hilt sword. Maybe something you'd wear below deck and in cabins more than the broad/backsword, if you're concerned with it being too long for confined spaces. A turcael would be another sword worth considering, if you'd prefer a curved choppy blade on a basket-hilt. Great video, always nice to see basket-hilts getting some love
I'd also add-as someone who works on a fairly modern museum ship-that a buckler or ANY off-hand weapon simply isn't going to work. You need at least one hand free at all times, even on a ship that isn't pitching and rolling. Moving up and down ladders nd rigging is dangerous, and requires the use of at least one hand.
Remember how pirates always have their dirk clamped in their teeth? It isn't just because it feels good and looks sexy.
Remember also: the physicDuring the age of Sail, the average sailor, all around the world, would stand between 5'-1 and 5'-5 tall (155-165cm) tall! Blackbeard, who was considered a "giant", was likely about 6' tall (183cm). This may change many people's ideas about the sizes of weapons that would be "ideal" for the users. Cheers from Canada!
Remember how slow sail ships move. You'd have more than enough time to collect your sword and put on a pair of gauntlets, you wouldn't carry them around during your normal duties.
Boarding gauntlets and helmets are a thing for this reason.
surprised you didn't even mention north African scimitars...considering how prolific pirates the Berbers where.
from the days they they pillaged Genoese and Venetians ships in the 16th century until as late as the 19th century when they fought the British and American navies.
Japanese pirates (wakou) were actually famous for using huge nodachi sized swords, and you can see paintings of them fighting on skiffs with such weapons alongside pikes. Such swords inspired the Chinese wodao, which are mostly around the size of pretty big katanas. (they're probably not actually doing ship-to-ship combat though, they're doing a lot more raiding of harbors and coastal villages than Caribbean pirates)
Citation needed
13:20 nice accidental example of why shorter length weapons are good on a ship. Hits his light.
"I would rather have a basket-hilt".
Me too Matt, me too. For absolutely everything.
❤
All of this only to get sniped by some bilgerat with a flintlock
Ball rounds are notoriously inaccurate. On a swaying ship, moreso.
@VelaiciaCreator If they were so inaccurate people wouldn't have primarily used them extensively before boarding a ship.
@@VelaiciaCreatorI don't think that's really historically astute, pistols were pretty popular for good reason...
Yes, but officers usually have a flintlock pistol in addition to a basket-hilt sword. the problem with the Flintlock pistol it's not its power but reload time and single shot so, it's just one enemy you can dispose of with a Flintlock pistol.
@@ChapterGrim The inaccuracy is why firing lines were a thing. You also have to consider the fact that it was smooth bore.
Personally I'd go for a choora/khyber knife paired with a small sipahi/dahl shield, something buckler-sized or a little larger. Not only is it a weapon I'm fairly familiar with, but it's a good cut and thrust compromise design with excellent chopping and thrusting capacity in a small enough package to wield easily in confined spaces belowdecks or carry sheathed while moving around on deck. Also despite being short enough to work well in confined spaces it's still a fairly broad, chunky blade which can make it intimidating to face, making it very good for crowd control in terms of persuading merchantmen to surrender or else subduing them once they have surrendered, which seems useful for piratical activities. My second choice would probably be a yataghan and buckler for basically the same reasons.
You'll be wanting to keep that off hand free, you're on a heaving ship deck remember - you want to hold on with one hand, and maybe grasp a pistol
@@KingTrouser That's the advantage of using a small buckler-sized dahl, it still leaves you with some use of your off-hand (at least enough to grab onto rigging or similar) while holding plus it's small enough to easily hang off your belt when you need more use of the hand (e.g. when using a pistol), yet can be quickly grabbed and deployed as needed. While a larger shield would definitely be an encumbrance I reckon a small dahl, with that double string grip, makes a good compromise between giving some off-hand protection for melee combat while still allowing use of the off-hand for supporting yourself, using a pistol or anything else you might need it for.
Anything manoeuverable.
Cutlass, short hanger, etc etc etc, possibly with a dirk on the other side of the belt. Add in a few pistols and you’re ready to go!
Things you want to do as a pirate, that aren't fighting?
Carousing
Canoodling
Drinking
Cadrinking /j
In period a lot of katana were in the 24-25" blade length range. I have one made in the mid-1600's which is almost exactly 25" in the blade. Very handy in close quarters.
I think I remember Nick Thomas saying that, if there is a line to draw between "hanger" and "cutlass", it's that "hanger" suggests land use, and "cutlass", sea. I hope I'm not butchering what he said. I wonder if this is only when talking about later times though? I understand "hanger" is a word that has a pretty long span of use, though I get the sense it's mostly been used for short-ish (therefore easily worn) cutting swords
0:37 Scared the hell out of me. I thought he actually threw the cutlass off screen like a cartoon.
1:13 If that i will get nagamaki or some podao. From my point of view, ship defense is more like a bodyguard unit than a front line army. A weapon with a slightly longer range and the ability to block a larger space seems better to me. When boarding, fighting is more individual than in formation. Earlier, when the opponents are separated from us by broadsides of 2 ships the scenario is in some way similar to war waggon defence. This is where larger swings can make a difference. Due to the location and the time when heavy armor was not such used, I chose a relatively light weapon, which allows the grip to be shortened if needed, but the lever can also act as in a pole weapon.
I see your point of reasoning, but one thing you have to take into consideration is that there isn't that much space in a ship, much less in a sailship.
A sailship is not only limited in space, but it is also litter with all sorts of rigging and tackle. You have to constantly watch your step, add to that the ship is constantly moving even when not traveling. There's a reason why the term sea-legs exists.
In the situation of a boarding party, you will be further constrained by all the people around you. Not to much space to be swinging a long cutting weapon, even if you can shorten the grip you will still have the problem of the long handle getting in the way.
@15:55 the long hilt definitely is a factor, but its certainly worth bearing in mind that japanese pirates were known for using large Odachi, which even inspired chinese swords to a pretty significant extent. Those Odachi had really long handles, and some of the chinese long sabers that followed had even longer ones as far as I can tell (not a historian tho haha). So certainly it is not so much of a deterrent that it would entirely prevent someone from wearing a large sword if that's what they wanted to use.
I'd actually be really interested in a video that dives into the logistics of wearing large swords in different scenarios throughout history. With the focus being on how you actually deal with the logistics, not the combat.
The more Matt shows off that bilbo, the more I'm thinking that could possibly be the best single sword for all occasions.
I fell in love with it when he first showed it off.
Cutlass It's always a favorite. Protects your hand and doesn't break!
I’m going to have to go with a schiavona. Cut and thrust, hand protection but mostly because it looks cool. Cumbersomeness be buggered.
8:00 Looks like a sword from the Swedish Carolean epoch, styled and equipped in the late 17th century, with military tactics built on closing down to the enemy and beat him hand to hand.
I have three or four thoughts on this subject:
- in the first place, you’re absolutely right that something like a bilbo would be perfect for this job….. so much so, that I’m astonished that you only mentioned it at the end. in contrast, I was preparing to type it in from the moment the video started, but yes, some sort of beef up rape, beer or light broadsword sounds like a well suited tool for the job.
- What I first THINK of, however, as a weapon for the common pirate, is sin a little less European: some kind of bolo/cutlass hybrid, with a blade a little less than 2 feet long and a double-curved or S-curved profile. this is something that would be great for double duty both in hacking combat and as a machete, and will probably look pretty cool.
- Lastly, if we are “ going Japanese,” as it were,, I remember that there’s a vague category of intermediate length swords of that type called “chisakatana,” and it seems to me that some variant on that would be very practical aboard ship.
8:24 What sword would this be called?
Broadsword?
Walloon?
It has a larger Smallsword guard, Pommel and Grip.
I like it.
.The discs of pre-Tokugawa Japanese swords were larger than the discs of your katana, they did provide significant hand protection
I love this! I have a whole pirate persona I don for renaissance faires and have been looking for a sword to add to the garb that i have all hand made. After Matt's older video which tossed in basket hilted swords as an option in that time, i have been looking at a basket hilted backsword (also because frankly Teach in Black Sails has a whole vibe carrying a broadsword). This solidifies my choice. I now need a good basket hilted backsword
When I used to be a pirate on the Open Seas, I thought a light saber would be the best pirate blade. However, I found that over time, the salt water really messed with the electronics and caused issues in the long run. I have switched to a nerf sword for weight consideration...it isn't the most effective in a fight, but it is not impacted by water, plus if I droup it in the ocean, it floats!
Great video. You'd definitely need a sword for cutting rope etc. as much as fighting. Sword, sharp and versatile 👍
Best episode to date. I love Pirates and Matt!
Interestingly greatswords were also used aboard ship to good effect. Especially to clear space on a deck and fight multiple opponents. Although they start to fall out of favour once firearms and grenades become more common implements. It makes less sense to use a greatsword like that to defend against boarders or to board ships when you just need a strong sailor to throw a grenade or a marksman to start shooting to achieve all of the same things. That said both nodachi and zweihanders saw use in naval actions and the Chinese feared Japanese pirates for using swords just like that so they made the zhanmadao and copied from Japanese martial arts scrolls they recovered.
Me I would roll with either a long dirk, boarding pike or boarding axe. Your not going to have time for any fancy stuff on a ship. Actually think the axe would be the most useful. I've read way to much horatio hornblower😅
Even a fokos shepherds axe could have also been used by pirates and I did see one with a built in flint lock but some of the drawbacks is that even though it was relatively light and short it was still look enough to where it possibly would have been at least a bit awkward to carry it strapped to ones side because of the length of the shaft even though in theory you could still make a specialized holster for carrying one.
How relevant were swords to the various naval officers you're talking about? How often were they getting into hand to hand combat?
French historian Alexandre Exquemelin has said that the buccaneer François l'Ollonais used a cutlass as early as 1667.
Yes I realize that means technically he mostly engaged in attacking seaside villages, not open sea piracy, but he did use a cutlass long before the British Naval example.
Although here in colonial America, in the 1740s we did produce something called a cutlass, it's described as having a round wooden grip (nothing I can find describes knuckle bows or cupped hilts), with only the slightest of curves to the blade, so I think I might avoid that one.
I’d carry a Schiavonna. Being a descendent of Croatians from Krk. Who often sailed as privateers for Venice, or took to piracy.
I've got this French naval cutlass with blackened full handguard and anchor markings on the blade, is all. I do not recall the time period that this repro represents but they were made in France for some kind of celebration and then imported here. Not as handy as I had hoped due to the weight of the not too long blade.
Golden Age of Sea Men Swordfighting
Hello Matt! As always, I greatly enjoy your videos, not only for the entertainment but primarily for the education. Over the years, I've learned (mainly from you) that a general purpose sword is usually inferior to something that is better for the particular niche you're considering. In most eras, there is only rarely a "general purpose". Purely for academic purposes, without regard for historic examples, what would you choose if firearms were not available, you were likely alone, or with a small group, against multiple opponents, no armor, half the time in an open environment, and the other half in a more enclosed location such as a room, hallway or passageway, etc. that restricts movement to a degree?
And if you would choose something for your offhand, such as a buckler, main gauche, shield, etc.?
I threw in the potential for multiple opponents because while a spear could be great against a single opponent in a hall or passageway, it would likely get you killed if another opponent moved past your spear point while you were engaged. I have my ideas, but I suspect yours will be better.
Have you seen
Zombie Tools
D'Capitan cutlass
Saber and companion?
@@michaelmetler6315 Reviews of said weapons have told me that they’re excellent boat anchors in terms of weight.
I'd carry a cutlass all the time and when expecting trouble, I'd carry Walloon sword or saber and some handguns. Maybe, I'd use the cutlass as a parrying device in my left.
Lmao, i can aready picture you carry multiple swords and guns on you, and you fumbling with them as they move erraticly with your every movement
Unsure but you always have to bear in mind a pitching and rolling ship when fighting to choose the weapon.
I really liked Cortez's espada ropera as depicted on Deadliest Warriors. The point is better than the blade, and that espada ropera was good with both.
Good vid.
How about a video on what if any armour or shields pirates might have used?
Japanese pirates also used Nodachi, but I have never heard or read a reason when and in what situations.
Probably to defend checkpoints, like hallways, an huge sword is good for area denial
I waited until the end to comment, wondering how my pick would hold up in the given context.
Turns out my pick is very similar to you!
My one and only sword, and the one I considered in this context, was a Basket-Hilt combined with a Sinclair hilt and a Dussak blade! 😄
It's marketed as a Scottish Cutlass, I think it's made by Windlass.
Shell guarded hanger, with a knuckle bow. Or a shortened saber. Need the cut and thrust capacity. But light enough to use a flintlock or boarding axe in the offhand for both secondary offence and defensive use
The curved blades are better at cutting, rather it is a 26:15 shearing action to glide or more smoothly slice soft targets. Personally l would choose a parang but with a better hand guard. The heavier end helps carry it through when chopping soft targets.
10 years ago I turned a old French Briquet sabre for Marines (there's an Anker on the blade) into my Pirate Sword, the Brass hilt was broken and I exchanged it with a hilt from a "Haudegen".
About katana and what you said about it getting entangled. There is a specific way of carrying a katana in tight or densely populated areas that mitigates how much the katana would get in the way of things. This was especially useful in cities as bumping your sword into someone else's sword was incredibly rude and could lead to altercations. Sadly I cant remember how this way of carrying a katana is called in japanese, but it comes up in iai all the time. This leads me to think they would've utilized it when working on a ship.
I very much like my Windlass Munich sword so I would probably go with something like that, a medium-lenght cut-and-thrust blade with a hilt that offers fairly good hand protection. Something like a basket hilted broadsword would be a good option too but it might be a little more cumbersome to wear. Of course a sword would not be worn at most times on the ship, only for battle and when going ashore.
In addition I would wear a large knife or a dagger and as many pistols as I could carry with at least some comfort as reloading the pistols of those times during a battle was almost impossible so you would need more than one.
Having studied Italian Rapier my first implulse would be to take a swept hilt rapier, a quick, nimble blade with a significant reach advantage over a small sword, dussac/hanger/cuttoe or most eastern swords. However, thinking about it further the limitations of a thrust centric blade, and the space requirements to wield one effectively make me think I'd actually pick a moderate length basket hilted broadsword.
How common was it to have a longer blade with a basket hilt to be cut down to a more realistic size to use? Like a civil war, “confederate” blade. It started about as grandpa’s sword during the revolutionary war but cut sown to a smaller size and used by a grandson.
You ended up with the same choices as me. A hanger for everyday carry and a basket hilt for combat. But I don't think sailors wore swords doing their work. You get enough time to arm yourself before being borded. That's why the cutlass can have such a large hand protection, you never wear it by your side.
In limited or confined spaces you definitely don't wear anything around you that might get in the way. Specially in a sailship which is littered with all sorts of riggings and tackles.
It is one of the subjects most people fail to understand or comprehend, and through no fault of their own. Most people don't have the opportunity to being in a ship, much less in a sailship.
The perspective about it changes rather quickly once you have to climb up a mast while under way. The last thing you would want is something that is not closely tight around your body, and even that can easily become cumbersome.
I was leaning towards a messer. 24”-25” blade, knuckle bow and nagel. Decent hand protection, good overall length for the close quarters of the gun deck & and cut and thrust style blade that is broad enough to defend against larger weapons.
If that wasn’t an option then I’d probably find a decent hanger or go the dirk and boarding axe/hatchet route.
Can anybody tell me, what is the hanger Mr. Easton is holding at around 2:23, please?
As I don't have formal training I am partial to run of the mill hangers and cutlasses, the uglier the better. (I keep trying to get makers to do some of the ugly surviving examples.) That said I have become interested in back swords, not exactly the best in close combat, but does provide some options.
Slight note, small sword parts at least have been found on wreck sites, I believe the Whydah has at least one. So a pirate did have access to one. The Queen Anne's Revenge I know has the hilt of a hunting hanger which fits with surviving images from the 1680s as well as shipping records.
An officer, or possibly loot
In the case of the parang with the clip point I would say that even if I don't know whether people historically did this or not but I do think that if the back of the clip point had a sharpend edge I think that would have helped with thrusting and I think that it could have been useful for other reasons including perhaps hitting somebody on a back swing.
Walloon and Bilbo swords for me!!
A barong style blade mounted on a knuckle bow hilt. Maybe something slightly more complex but not a full basket guard. A bit point heavy for chopping, decent profile for thrusts, and not so long as to be unwieldy below decks
Yatagan, maybe?
Does anyone know what specific kind of hanger Matt is holding at 2:35?
12 ga, 3" #4 buckshot. No kevlar back then.
Blunderbuss or musketoon back then.
@@InWithBothFeet No shotguns, either.
@@matthewhooper1508 Light Sabers? Plasma rifle in the 50w range?
@@InWithBothFeet Long ago from a galaxy far away, and... I don't even know anymore? A potential future several time warps ago? In some weird future when plasma rifles are powered by microwave oven bulbs? Beats my pair of jacks.
I HAVE chosen my sword... I went to the UK Re-enactactor market TORM and bought a 17th/18th English style hangar. It's thin and pokey, with the benefits of a rapier, while still have the swish and flick of a sabre - like a cross between the two. I quite like it.
Showing Sheering sword cutting capacity by demonstrating on hand.
Conclusion: Matt is cut proof.
I don't think anyone is taking into account just how ridiculously cramped it is below decks on one of these ships. I'm a big lad 6'5" and when I visited HMS Victory I had serious difficulty even just moving around.
That's a first rate ship of the line from a few decades later so I would imagine pirate ships (mostly Sloops) would be much smaller.
You just aren't going to be able to cut effectively with a sword in those circumstances. A big dagger or knife and a flintlock pistol or 2 for me.
Hi Matt, love your content. Could you talk about the battlefielduse of rapiers? I understand that it was mostly a civilian weapon that was only used occasionally in battle by armies like the Caroleans.
I'd probably pick the "crossbowman's dao." I have a full length chang dao/miao dao that I quite like but I think would be unwieldy on a ship, but the same design scaled down for true hand and a half use would be great. Was good enough for the chinese at the time to fight pirates and it's what I'm personally the most familiar with. Would be just a bit longer than those pesky katanas and still have options against nimble european blades.
I can't help wondering whether the cutlass evolved to the single piece guard in the 19th century because bars and bows might have had a nasty tendency to catch on shipboard objects at incredibly inconvenient moments. I'm imagining you could be swinging a basket hilt around and that big guard would catch on some overhead hook or something similar and you'd be in big trouble.
The quillions on rapiers could easily do some serious damage. But I believe either falchion or tyre iron (or three feet of chain) would be my side arm of choice.
thanks for the honourable mention Matt! :)
I think you need to have a chat with the folks at Chatham, to see whether they'd let you have a little sparring session on one or two of their historic vessels. As long as you're not cutting any ropes or leaving blood on their decks I can't see them minding much.
I can't argue with any of the choices. I'd like to suggest the not quite basket hilted european (sometimes called Munich) town's guard swords. A classic arming sword blade with a swept hilt "rapier" guard. But it's the same as a basket hilt broad/back sword. Proper sword, not too stupidly long, and hand protection you can punch with.
Actually, for my personal preference, i would go with something similar to what you had over your left shoulder. Probably not the most 'optimal' choice, but for general versatility, i would chose something like a broad blade/cut and thrust 'rapier' (think of some 16th-17th century Spanish swords) with a compound (but not cup, of fully enclosed basket) hilt, for some protection without too much wearing hinderance. This should cover most scenarios on ship, but also on land, as we may indeed fight on shore as well, especially during raids. I would probably look a bit old fashioned for the 1700's but whoever finds me funny, can meet the shar bit of my steel!
I'd want a falchion or messer in this context, since humans wouldn't be the only target of a blade. There's also be a lot of rigging and other nautical equipment that might need cutting.
Cheers for the heads up
Probably I would pick a dussack for my pirate outings. But thinking about it, leaving popular anime aside, I think that a katana could be quite a reliable option for close quarter combat aboard ships: cuts well, is short enough not to be cumbersome, the small tsuba guard won't get caught in stuff hanging around., despite being lacklustre in terms of hand protection.
Pirate katana.
Outside of movies, captains wouldn't be dueling other captains, because pirates have no sense of honor, and honestly, neither do most naval officers, and the crew isn't going to agree to surrender to whoever wins in single combat. You want an efficient melee weapon that will not encumber you much. If you want reach, the boarding pike is the best option. But once it's close-in, hard to beat the cutlass/messer style sword. Also, pirates like to go ashore sometimes. Spend all their doubloons or whatever on wine women & song. If you have a shorter sword, you're less likely to get in trouble with the local authorities for wearing it (since you are almost certainly not one of the ruling class), and you'll still have something to use if a fight breaks out.
However--there are accounts of Blackbeard's Last Stand--that I don't necessarily believe--which say Maynard insisted his men carry light thrusting swords, because the heavier cutting blades were tiring to swing, and his men would have more staying power. Based on what I know of that battle, swords were not really what decided it. Blackbeard was ambushed, outnumbered, and there are also accounts that say he broke Maynard's lighter blade with his hangar. He still lost. Honestly, strategy, logistics, and numbers always matter more than your choice of tool, but you still have to choose one. ;)
I've been thinking about this for a few of your more recent videos. Given a confined space, and I think a ship would be a confined space by definition, and, in the age of sail especially, rigging and whatnot confining that space even more, wouldn't any sword or use of a given sword that required an arc of motion be a disadvantage? I mean, yes, if you weren't particularly trained in the use of a sword, intuitively you would probably want to cut with it if you could. So you want a sword that you know how to use. Sure, OK. But if you knew your way around a sword, given your confined environment, I should think that trusting or shanking would be a more preferred / successful approach. Now, considering that you're going to be in grappling distance in no short order, a relatively short two edged blade, maybe 26-28'', that was beefy enough to parry with and with beefy hand protection (metal punching in the face glove) is what would seem to me to be called for. I kind of like the basket hilted broad sword, but, really, a bit too much focused on the cut for me. I think I would go for the bilbo. But that's just me.
Thing is Matt is trained in sword fighting, so he would choose something more refined. Majority of pirates were not. Regular navy men did get some training (at least in RN) but it was a thing of secondary (or tertiary really) importance to them. Therfore very solid, practical sword, that you can hack away with (and cut ropes!) was probably best. And so cutlass become weapon of choice. Although it happen after the period discussed in video.
All this relates to European zone of combat of course, i know almost nothing about Asian piracy in XVIII century.
He does cover the cuttoe and cutlass a good amount
7:23 Bigger than a smallsword, but not big enough to be a greatsword? Is this the legendary Mediumsword?
Would love to see the Sri Lankan kastane in this discussion, particularly as during this period there was a two-way cultural transmission of styles between them and European naval swords.
Rightside shell guard made of brass with a curved blade with that false edge style so it could still stababit but more so chop. Maybe technically a falchion?
At the next Fight Camp could you/would you consider a naval type battle!!?? I was a sailor in the US navy (below decks) and this is a special topic for me! Personally I'd opt for a 18 to 24 inch blade. Sailors don't wear armor and spaces get crowded very quickly so, again Personally, I'd opt for the Phillipine style. Also most sailors are "roughnecks" and not trained swordsmen. Smash, slash or stab it's going to be a close quarters fight
Matt... What did you smack at 13:21 ?