Dude, we are either all sword nerds or sword-tolerant. If we weren't interested in your passion project with a mid-18th Century sharp and stabby thing, we wouldn't be here.
I've got four things to say, number one: good, informative video, as always. Two: Thank you for mentioning Fred Burnaby. I've not heard of him before and I'm better for having done now. Three: Your camera was focusing on the swords and shields behind you. It was a bit distracting. Four: "a pretty quick video" *nine-and-a-half minutes later* "This is what I wanted to talk about here..." Classic Matt Easton! Keep up the educational commentary!
well the hand is a very common target, and it could be it glances off the guard and slides into the hole... but yeah I don't know any medical statistics so it's hard to say if it was really a problem
I have an anecdote which may show a specific possibility of this happening: During a historical European swordmanship class, we were learning about rapiers. I, a leftie, versus my friend, a rightie, were faced off together. As I was a little better, and had more experience, he started to mirror my poses and when we both thrusted together and our blades lined up with each other's basket-hilts, his going through mine and almost got my index finger pinched off! If they weren't dull blades, and I didn't have reinforced gloves, I would have 1 less finger!😅
Yes, this. I have some relatively young swords that could use some work but I don't know enough to tackle them yet. I would imagine that Matt knows quite a bit on that topic worth sharing. Maybe he should set up a second channel just on restoration, if he has the time. (BTW are you the same Murph so well known on Quora?)
I´d love to hear your opinion on sword grip modifications. Japanese wrapping Chinese Wrapping European leather wrap European wire wrap wooden knife grip horn knife grip my favourite thus far are textile wraps (no slipping, absorb sweat), but cleaning them...
@scholagladiatoria A really interesting and original video, bravo Matt. It occurs to me that actually weaing a sword like that, most of the time, over two or three days, while doing various things might well teach some useful and interesting things. Perhaps over a fight camp or some such?
If you experimented with sheet steel, the slightly added weight would possibly benefit the feel in the hand and make your control of the blade more precise and effective.
I'm going to be making a leather liner for a sabre style machete that I have because it needs that or a thick glove for comfortable use. Now I' considering incorporating some plate steel since the existing guard is only a D guard.
Matt, how would they deal with the sword knot if the leather liner was in place? Would they just loop between the guard and the leather? Pass it through a slit in the leather? Something else?
Was about to say you take a 1895 guard and everything is perfect, but I way prefer your solution which preserves the original brass structure. Speaking about alloys, there is something I wanted to precise. I often observed in French blades that "brass" can vary quite significantly from one sword to another in composition and some higher rates of copper, the addition of a significant portion of tin like in bronze while diminishing the zinc presence, can make the whole alloy way more hard and durable. And speaking of that I was intrigued at your sword guard almost "pink" aspect that resembles bronze objects but of course without a proper method of analysis like XRay Fluorescence and so on it's speculation. Great insight anyway, thanks for sharing!
I was thinking along similar lines, a light cavalry officer who wanted a long straight sword for point attack in the charge, but one that was also a light and handy cutter in a melee on horseback or foot. Dragoon or cavalry, either would fit.
Brigandine liner. Sandwich a piece of sheet steel between two leather liners and use hollow rivets to bind it all together; which can double as anchor points?
I'm currently working on a custom-made hangar (custom, because I'm left-handed). Now I'm going to go back and redesign the guard. On the bright side, I have plenty of steel on hand to make it from!
you can easily buy plates of 1mm mild steal at most metal suply stores, make a paper template, and use a recipricating saw/ electric jigsaw to cut it out or tinsnips. and bending it to the right shape should be fairly easy around a tree of with a vice and body weight. if you make several, you could do stab/cutting test against it if you have a blade you don't mind getting dammaged by wacking into steel plate.
If the hilt can be disassembled could a hardened steel bell guard be fitted? Hardened steel would require less material than brass to be protective and the bell guard wouldn't have the gaps seen on the guard that's fitted now. In theory you should be able to undo the nuts, dismantle the hilt to swap the guard out and reassemble the hilt.
Love the videos! Have you ever covered tomahawks? I was curious how they were used in maleé type battles as opposed to one on one. My friend says they may have been held inverted using what would be the grip to strike quickly then finish with the blade which was close to the hand. Anyway thanks for the great content.
In 1886, John Harvey of Birmingham was selling new infantry officers' swords at 42 shillings each or in other words £2 2s 0d in real money, which is £2.10p in today's money not allowing for inflation. Of course 2.10 quid in 1886 money would be a lot more than that today.
Matt, do you have the stats on your personal sword posted anywhere? I'm impressed that you say that slender officer's sword cuts so well. Thanks for this video. It's beautiful weapon & I appreciate the longer blade.
I know it is not your period, but as the British military had companies making and offering swords for purchase & use, how did the Roman legions get by? Were there smiths who were contracted to equip the legions (after Marius' reforms)? Or did the individual legions and their smiths take care of equipping recruits and manufacturing replacement weapons?
The romans had Smiths that stayed in Rome and focused on the initial construction of arms and armor then when the legion left on a campaign they had Smiths that went with them for upkeep and replacement
Seeing someone wearing a vest today actually makes me jealous. It was 98 here today... that's 37 for folks who live in countries that don't have flags on the moon
That is an excellent idea! Not as strong as steel but much stronger than leather and can be shaped by soaking in hot water first. Also good protection from heat. It would look quite snazzy too. ;>)
@@SurmaSampo Basically, yes- it's a polymer made of proteins. I was amazed at the TH-cam videos I've seen about Eastern and Western bowmaking techniques and how easy it actually is to work with compared to wood and metal.
Off topic but I'd love your opinion on the Albion Doge and which system would be best for a novice with one, by itself or with shield. Clarification, not best but most effective for its design in your opinion, I know Albion considers it a Venetian sidesword but it seems to me one could take either sidesword, backsword, highland broadsword courses and wield it effectively after a time but which do you feel pairs best with it as it has some unique features
Two things- First, please consider doing some videos or maybe even set up a second channel on the mechanics of restoration from teardown to final detailing. (as if you have the time...) Second, buff leather, while said to be able to turn a broadsword stroke, seems unlikely to stop a stab. How about rawhide, or as another commented suggested, horn?
Another advantage of not sharpening the forte of the blade much is that you can grab the blade more easily by that portion than the sharper parts; if for whatever reason the grip isn't an option (too close to hit holding the grip, just recovered after disarm, need to use the weapon RFN, etc). I'd never buy, carry, or use a brass-hilted sword if I could help it. Battlefield pickups only. I'm surprised you choose a totally straight blade, you cut pretty well in your sparring videos. Especially the counter cut to the midsection (3 o clock to 9 horizontal) from a high guard.
There is a shop near me that fixes shoes. They have a giant three feet long Swiss Army Knife, which seems to be motorised in the window. When did the Swiss Army use these weapons and why did they stop? They don't seem to be practical.
How come this blade is so straight? After I watched your Video on the GB seargeant swords and the different blade designs, this blade doesn't look like 1845 pattern to me, but rather a 1892 pattern. Which mentioned was the superior pattern of them both. Comparison video please!! ;-)
By 1880 the answer was simple, carry more bullets, carry a second pistol or pick up a bandoleer and rifle before being on the cover of the Illustrated London News waving a saber about in a last heroic stand armed only with cold steel and British guts.
I only knew how long this sword is because I use 32" arrow shafts lol Why didn't Bonaparte win with you guys at least once ://// PS I love brass-looking guards but I'd rather have it steel+gilding
You need to stand a bit further back from the camera than you did in the second half of the video: you and the sword were out of focus during that bit.
I recognised the painting on screen at 12:15 as a famous one by James Tissot, and after extensive research (i.e. a minute or so on Google Images) I can confirm that it really is a portrait of Frederick Burnaby: www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw00932/Frederick-Burnaby It's almost too good to be true!
why does he never wear his glasses on video? You can tell he normally/often wears them due to the indentation slot over his ears and slight wear marks on the nose.
They sold their machines to Solingen in 2005: www.wkc-shop.de/en/index The British and German infantry sabers are still available in carbon steel as an option!
I'd like to see a video about the tightening procedure.
th-cam.com/video/lp0ND0s3ZHQ/w-d-xo.html
Thank you for straightening the shield on the wall
If I was a forgotten and rusty 115 year old service sword I imagine I would like to be restored to fighting shape.
Do you hope that happens if you have a next life?
Vulcan 14 and hear the lamentations of their women.
Even if the worst enemies I had to match myself against were plastic bottles of water. Because that would be relaxing.
Whenever you ask if we enjoyed the video I chuckle. Outstanding, as always. Thank you for your work.
Dude, we are either all sword nerds or sword-tolerant. If we weren't interested in your passion project with a mid-18th Century sharp and stabby thing, we wouldn't be here.
Tolerant
@@KageNoTora74
Thank you.
I've got four things to say, number one: good, informative video, as always.
Two: Thank you for mentioning Fred Burnaby. I've not heard of him before and I'm better for having done now.
Three: Your camera was focusing on the swords and shields behind you. It was a bit distracting.
Four: "a pretty quick video" *nine-and-a-half minutes later* "This is what I wanted to talk about here..." Classic Matt Easton! Keep up the educational commentary!
Also, painting the steel liner white would pretty much negate the heating of strong sunlight. It really does make a surprising difference.
Matt's zweihander looks so massive in comparison to some wee sabres
Alternatively, those sabres look tiny compared to the zweihander.
"That thing was too big to be called a sword. Too big, too thick, too heavy, and too rough, it was more like a large hunk of iron."
I would love to see how you tightened the hilt. I have a couple that could use tightening.
Gosh, you're so cool, Matt. Keep on keeping on, my guy. I learn so much from your videos.
I imagine you’d have to be an AMAZING (or lucky) swordsman to successfully land a full-power thrust through one of those guard holes
well the hand is a very common target, and it could be it glances off the guard and slides into the hole... but yeah I don't know any medical statistics so it's hard to say if it was really a problem
It only takes one to lose a couple fingers, and possibly my life since that distraction could easily cost me the fight.
I have an anecdote which may show a specific possibility of this happening:
During a historical European swordmanship class, we were learning about rapiers. I, a leftie, versus my friend, a rightie, were faced off together. As I was a little better, and had more experience, he started to mirror my poses and when we both thrusted together and our blades lined up with each other's basket-hilts, his going through mine and almost got my index finger pinched off! If they weren't dull blades, and I didn't have reinforced gloves, I would have 1 less finger!😅
I'd very much like to see how you tightened that grip. Perhaps even some videos how how you do restoration work.
Yes, this. I have some relatively young swords that could use some work but I don't know enough to tackle them yet.
I would imagine that Matt knows quite a bit on that topic worth sharing. Maybe he should set up a second channel just on restoration, if he has the time.
(BTW are you the same Murph so well known on Quora?)
My god your camera just really wants us to focus on that Zweihander!
Cos its cool
Beautiful blade. Thanks for sharing
Is it just me or is anyone else getting Kakashi vibes from Matt with that vest? Also, I do love the new location.
I´d love to hear your opinion on sword grip modifications.
Japanese wrapping
Chinese Wrapping
European leather wrap
European wire wrap
wooden knife grip
horn knife grip
my favourite thus far are textile wraps (no slipping, absorb sweat), but cleaning them...
how does textile wrap compare to modern paracord?
@@churchboy4609 I haven't handled Paracord yet. Sorry.
I'm excited to see more videos on this sword
Great video! Can't wait to see you tighten those nuts.
I bought a large end of black patent leather from the Identity Store in the UK. Works perfectly for making inf off sword hilt liners.
Pretty quick video = a few seconds or so under fifteen minutes. Keep up what you are doing. Nice barn doors, by the way.
That sword is absolutely beautiful! A buff liner would be my style choice for that guard.
@scholagladiatoria A really interesting and original video, bravo Matt. It occurs to me that actually weaing a sword like that, most of the time, over two or three days, while doing various things might well teach some useful and interesting things. Perhaps over a fight camp or some such?
I would love to see the customized version! Hope it goes well,
Nice, looking forward to seeing the results. Luck.
If you experimented with sheet steel, the slightly added weight would possibly benefit the feel in the hand and make your control of the blade more precise and effective.
Wow I didn't know you sold antique swords! And quite reasonably priced too. Might have to get one some day.
Dude, you got a shoutout from Brandon Sanderson in Shad's video!
I'm going to be making a leather liner for a sabre style machete that I have because it needs that or a thick glove for comfortable use.
Now I' considering incorporating some plate steel since the existing guard is only a D guard.
That’s a very handsome sword Matt. I’d love to have one like it some day.
The brass guard looks so good though.
Beautiful sword, it will fit many tastes.
Matt, how would they deal with the sword knot if the leather liner was in place? Would they just loop between the guard and the leather? Pass it through a slit in the leather? Something else?
Jesus, we clearly have very similar taste. That's one of the most beautiful swords I've ever seen. I thought you were a black leather kind of person.
Was about to say you take a 1895 guard and everything is perfect, but I way prefer your solution which preserves the original brass structure.
Speaking about alloys, there is something I wanted to precise. I often observed in French blades that "brass" can vary quite significantly from one sword to another in composition and some higher rates of copper, the addition of a significant portion of tin like in bronze while diminishing the zinc presence, can make the whole alloy way more hard and durable. And speaking of that I was intrigued at your sword guard almost "pink" aspect that resembles bronze objects but of course without a proper method of analysis like XRay Fluorescence and so on it's speculation.
Great insight anyway, thanks for sharing!
Probably a Dragoon Officer's battle sword. Someone who wanted a sword for fighting dismounted but has the length to use mounted if necessary.
I was thinking along similar lines, a light cavalry officer who wanted a long straight sword for point attack in the charge, but one that was also a light and handy cutter in a melee on horseback or foot. Dragoon or cavalry, either would fit.
Brigandine liner. Sandwich a piece of sheet steel between two leather liners and use hollow rivets to bind it all together; which can double as anchor points?
Cant wait to see the liners once you make them
A beautiful weapon
I'm currently working on a custom-made hangar (custom, because I'm left-handed). Now I'm going to go back and redesign the guard. On the bright side, I have plenty of steel on hand to make it from!
Steal liner with a felt or leather backing seems like it would be strong and deal with the heat issue all at one go.
you can easily buy plates of 1mm mild steal at most metal suply stores, make a paper template, and use a recipricating saw/ electric jigsaw to cut it out or tinsnips. and bending it to the right shape should be fairly easy around a tree of with a vice and body weight.
if you make several, you could do stab/cutting test against it if you have a blade you don't mind getting dammaged by wacking into steel plate.
Your vest totally makes me think of Naruto.
If the hilt can be disassembled could a hardened steel bell guard be fitted? Hardened steel would require less material than brass to be protective and the bell guard wouldn't have the gaps seen on the guard that's fitted now. In theory you should be able to undo the nuts, dismantle the hilt to swap the guard out and reassemble the hilt.
thin patent leather over a steel insert would be my suggestion...
Ever came around making those liners? Could we see how it turned out?
Love the videos! Have you ever covered tomahawks? I was curious how they were used in maleé type battles as opposed to one on one. My friend says they may have been held inverted using what would be the grip to strike quickly then finish with the blade which was close to the hand. Anyway thanks for the great content.
Matt, great info but a lot of focus issues in this video. The stuff in the background might be a little too interesting for the auto focus
What a blade!
a good liner makes brass hilts pop and also steel hilts.
How much would one of those swords have cost you back in the day
In 1886, John Harvey of Birmingham was selling new infantry officers' swords at 42 shillings each or in other words £2 2s 0d in real money, which is £2.10p in today's money not allowing for inflation. Of course 2.10 quid in 1886 money would be a lot more than that today.
About 276ish
So you can compare, this link is for living expenses in 1888 Victorian London.
www.victorianweb.org/economics/wages4.html
Matt, do you have the stats on your personal sword posted anywhere? I'm impressed that you say that slender officer's sword cuts so well. Thanks for this video. It's beautiful weapon & I appreciate the longer blade.
I've long coveted one of these, have never found one I could afford.
I know it is not your period, but as the British military had companies making and offering swords for purchase & use, how did the Roman legions get by? Were there smiths who were contracted to equip the legions (after Marius' reforms)? Or did the individual legions and their smiths take care of equipping recruits and manufacturing replacement weapons?
The romans had Smiths that stayed in Rome and focused on the initial construction of arms and armor then when the legion left on a campaign they had Smiths that went with them for upkeep and replacement
@@bork116 Thank you for the information!
Maybe steel liner with felt so you get the protection from heat or cold?
Seeing someone wearing a vest today actually makes me jealous. It was 98 here today... that's 37 for folks who live in countries that don't have flags on the moon
@Bing Zengaki It's not arrogance when you can back it up...
@Bing Zengaki is*
Matt what's your opinion on 9th century Khazar sabers ? And how were they used ?
@MisterJohnnyBlank It pleases me how common this sort of comment has become.
That is a beautiful sword though I must say I prefer the scroll hilt design or rifles hilts for utility and aestetic reasons.
Please do a video on the exploits on Freddy Burnaby, sounds like an awesome fella!
Ahh, the serendipitous barn doors backdrop
Just a thought but if it's your service weapon, then making permanent changes to make it better should not be an issue. Cool sword.
Did you ever produce a video on tightening the hilt?
All of a sudden i've become obsessed with collecting sabres. This is going to get expensive.
That's a good looking sword....
Maybe try out a horn liner as well?
That is an excellent idea! Not as strong as steel but much stronger than leather and can be shaped by soaking in hot water first. Also good protection from heat.
It would look quite snazzy too. ;>)
@@markfergerson2145 It is essentially a plastic that grows on ruminants.
@@SurmaSampo Basically, yes- it's a polymer made of proteins. I was amazed at the TH-cam videos I've seen about Eastern and Western bowmaking techniques and how easy it actually is to work with compared to wood and metal.
@@markfergerson2145 It is an excellent and underutilized material.
Great video
Off topic but I'd love your opinion on the Albion Doge and which system would be best for a novice with one, by itself or with shield. Clarification, not best but most effective for its design in your opinion, I know Albion considers it a Venetian sidesword but it seems to me one could take either sidesword, backsword, highland broadsword courses and wield it effectively after a time but which do you feel pairs best with it as it has some unique features
That's interesting, what kind of adhesive did they use to bond leather to steel or brass in the 19th century?
black leather liner will go with your logo colours, vintage swords are like classic cars, use them!!
Two things-
First, please consider doing some videos or maybe even set up a second channel on the mechanics of restoration from teardown to final detailing. (as if you have the time...)
Second, buff leather, while said to be able to turn a broadsword stroke, seems unlikely to stop a stab. How about rawhide, or as another commented suggested, horn?
I have a question related to sabers.
I don’t have any hema clubs in my area of any kind. What are some good dvds that I can watch & practice from?
Another advantage of not sharpening the forte of the blade much is that you can grab the blade more easily by that portion than the sharper parts; if for whatever reason the grip isn't an option (too close to hit holding the grip, just recovered after disarm, need to use the weapon RFN, etc). I'd never buy, carry, or use a brass-hilted sword if I could help it. Battlefield pickups only.
I'm surprised you choose a totally straight blade, you cut pretty well in your sparring videos. Especially the counter cut to the midsection (3 o clock to 9 horizontal) from a high guard.
Hi, I use to practice with a 1890's Chilean line cavalry sabre, weights 2.34 pounds. Is it too heavy compared to a regular practice sabre?. Thanks
There is a shop near me that fixes shoes. They have a giant three feet long Swiss Army Knife, which seems to be motorised in the window. When did the Swiss Army use these weapons and why did they stop? They don't seem to be practical.
@scholagladitoria what is your preferred system/manual to use with this blade?
Make the Kingston arms sidesword review!
How come this blade is so straight? After I watched your Video on the GB seargeant swords and the different blade designs, this blade doesn't look like 1845 pattern to me, but rather a 1892 pattern. Which mentioned was the superior pattern of them both. Comparison video please!! ;-)
By 1880 the answer was simple, carry more bullets, carry a second pistol or pick up a bandoleer and rifle before being on the cover of the Illustrated London News waving a saber about in a last heroic stand armed only with cold steel and British guts.
I only knew how long this sword is because I use 32" arrow shafts lol
Why didn't Bonaparte win with you guys at least once :////
PS I love brass-looking guards but I'd rather have it steel+gilding
You need to stand a bit further back from the camera than you did in the second half of the video: you and the sword were out of focus during that bit.
@Scholagladiatoria can u review or say something about spada schiavonesca?? Pretty please :)
Is it wrong that as an American I think the British 1845 is one of the nicest looking swords made?
TheLoneRideR no
A short vid that was actually short!
Great vid though.
I recognised the painting on screen at 12:15 as a famous one by James Tissot, and after extensive research (i.e. a minute or so on Google Images) I can confirm that it really is a portrait of Frederick Burnaby: www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw00932/Frederick-Burnaby It's almost too good to be true!
Buff leather ? I that short for Buffalow (sp ) ? Nice video thank you for sharing .
Originally, Yes; now it means tough leather that has been processed that way.
Why didn't they make a steel guard like a colander with multiple small holes to lighten it up?
I'm fairly certain some bladesmiths did, at the very least with clamshell guards, though I have no idea at what point in history
Any update on your progress with this one?
why does he never wear his glasses on video? You can tell he normally/often wears them due to the indentation slot over his ears and slight wear marks on the nose.
Do you have a uniform to go with it? Wait that sounds weird.
I do.
Were leather guard additions ever used in earlier periods?
Yes, they were quite common in 17th-18th century basket hilted swords.
sweet
Honest question. How many swords do you sell in Texas;seeing how we allow sword carrying in my great republic?
Matt how do you tell if the saber is solid brass or a Steel Hilt that has been Gilded to look like Brass?
A fridge magnet (or something similar) would tell you straight away. It will stick to a steel hilt, but fall away from a brass one.
your leather liner should be in your regimental colours
Why do some British use imperial and other British use metric for measuring?
Age, habit. But also some people prefer to historical measurements when talking about historical things.
Alistair Shaw thanks!
I've got a double nut system.
Does Wilkinson still make swords?
They sold their machines to Solingen in 2005:
www.wkc-shop.de/en/index
The British and German infantry sabers are still available in carbon steel as an option!
god i want a saber :(
2:38 William Buttmaster? :D
What you are doing is maintenance to conserve the weapon.
1 inch and one eight?