Interesting video! It reminds me of a story that my bagpiper teacher Carl (RIP 2007) told me about his time in the British Army during WW2 where his officers along with a Canadian unit were stationed in the Solomon Islands. His British officers used those swords in a battle against the Japanese after all of their ammo ran out on both sides. The regular British and Canadian troops used empty rifles and bayonets, and he got to see his British officers take on the Japanese officers successfully using these swords! He even showed me how one person he remembered did it. The British officer deflected the two handed neck cut the Japanese officer attempted to the left of the British officer's neck, and slit the Japanese officer neck instead by pointing the sword tip down on to the left and then counter attacked. Japan sent reinforcements after the fourth battle/skirmish, and after fighting and losing the colors three times the British and Canadians were captured and taken to a Malaysian prison camp where Carl escaped! He was found by a Western Allied expeditionary force on the way to attack Japan from the West and joined that unit to connected him to a another British unit and made landfall on Japan after the U.S dropped both bombs. They had a stare down with the Russians, but nothing happened. He got to go home after that, and I didn't get to meet him until January 2000 where I joined his bagpipe band. The sword book is this video is also very interesting I'm going to check that out.
At 3:17 in the video, there's a nice close-up of two hilts. Those "bars" or "rings" seem to be positioned to help catch the opponent's blade when doing those counter attacks that they show (like at 4:27). Kind of like an upgrade on the messer "nail", the angles and distance from the blade appear to give it more optimal counter attacks than just a quillon that's lined up with the blade edge. Granted, these "bars" are positioned a bit differently from Matt's example from a later period. Anyone else see the same thing? Or do you see something different?
I've been wondering about the Italian variant of a basket-hilt, the Schiavona, a lot lately. This is partly because I've seen pictures of some that appears to have finger rings incorporated into the basket, which seem like it would allow more grip options than the typical Scottish basket-hilt. Plus, I like sabres along with the whole sidesword/rapier evolution of swords and apparently some curved, backsword bladed Schiavona exist, so a basket-hilted sabre definitely got my attention, lol
Having stepped on my son's lego in the night, I can attest its rightly earned place in the line up, as the domestic successor to the caltrop. A box of lego is like unto a sack of pommels.
It seems like a lot of the counters shown could be turned into thrusts to be more effective Is there any reason why that would be less ideal that the cuts to the arms/head etc?
Cuts to the arm are often easier because the arm is a lot closer than the body - like the whole length of an arm closer. But yes, if you can safely thrust the body then that's an option. Remember that a thrust with a sharp weapon has to go into the person and then be pulled out again though, so in reality thrusts can be more risky, as they have to be pulled out and can leave the thruster exposed in that time.
does anyone know a good maker for 17th -19th century saber replicas? I have seen Matt make videos about a lott of interisting original antique swords but can't remember seeing any video about replicas from that time period.
According to CZcamsr Lindybeige, those "rings" might not have been for blade catching, but it have actually been for helping to move the opponent's shield/targe out of the way. Whether this is true or not needs further research, but it does pose a possibility. Check out his video: "Broadsword and targe - how Highlanders fought"
Hey Matt, big fan of the channel- sorry for the unrelated comment, but have you ever thought of doing a review of the opening fights in Jet Li's Fearless? If you have done one already, I couldn't find it, but I'd like to hear your opinion on those fights
Have you ever handled a schiavona, Matt? I want to know if it's possible to use it like a side sword or short rapier, and if there is a plausible historical basis for doing so.
1) Matt, can you (or someone) explain your shirt to my friend? 2) Dude on the right looks like Harry Potter 3) great content, I have always loved broad swords 4) Go Sharks.
Is this based on single combat (duel) or a battle? I have seen where the "bars" might be used to wedge and lever a targe. Was the targe ALWAYS used with a basket-hilt. It was surely just as effective. Thanks
Help! I bought a Basket-Hilt Backsword from a site called Blades-UK, I selected 2 from the site to view in person, both Scottish swords, and the owner got this Backsword out, he said it wasn't listed on the site but thought I might want to have a look. It was by far the best handler of the 3, almost perfectly balanced and weighted, it had a blackened blade, he didn't say what it was made of or who made it, he said it was functional, but on closer inspection, the tang appears to be a little thin, and I'm worried it might break the second it makes contact with another sword. Does anyone know how to identify if the blade is carbon-steel and whether it has a rat-tail tang without disassembling it, or does anyone recognise a cheap scottish basket-hilt with a blackened blade.
Are you aware of basket hilted swords being used on horseback? There's only one example I'm aware of. VAN BOURKE while "on loan" to Stuart's horse artillery. Are there any more cases of this or is there something inherent to the basket Hilt which makes it undesirable for cavalry?
If one was only trained in sabre and picked up a backsword on the battlefield, would it change their effectiveness much? What are they main differences between the two styles? Apologies for the noobness of my question.
I feel sorry for people who don't do HEMA watching this video. How are they supposed to know the difference between a "single time defence" or a "riposte", or what a "forte" is compared with the "foible"? Please clarify each term quickly and simply so people don't get left out.
HEMA Bro Teamup with Maximum Maas guest starring with Dry Context on Schola Gladiatoria. I loved the invitation to the haters Jay made with a bit of snark. One could almost say that it was a feint ha!
"This book contains text from all three works as well as Enclose and Command: How to Fight with Weapons. However, the material has been rearranged in a clear and logical order and expanded considerably to include nearly 500 training drills, as well as several of the Bob Giordano illustrations originally published in Lannaireachd. In addition, all text has been rewritten to use gender-neutral language" hmmm
I do feel like future wars are going to be fought with swords again. We need to put down our guns, and pick up the sword. So one day our descendants can put down the sword, and pick up the writing stick. Once our descendants master the writing stick, then we can come back to the sword, and pick up our guns again, then move on to the next thing. I know this to be truth.
They were shown with a "light" touch because they were just showing the technique. Remember, these attacks are generally against those without much armor, if any, and all you need is a very sharp blade to cut deeply into flesh. Perhaps these cuts wouldn't kill but they most likely would disable your opponent.
Corey Jackson id like to see the techniques shown with power and cutting mechanics, but given the amount of space the blade has to travel for these cuts, I doubt many would work through clothing. Be neat to see if they could tho
@@Wild1990Child I think only smallswords can be deadly with this little acceleration and momentum. I agree that I don't see those cuts doing much damage on clothes.
@@Wild1990Child Yes indeed I mean using thrusts. Even against clothes, you only need to extend the arm with the smallsword to penetrate clothes and a human body.
very good but they are not also using the thrust , which shows a stage gladiator style of fight and not a killing style , as silver said there is no true fight with out both cut and thrust
Most of these are attacks to the arm, so cutting makes more sense. Broadsword also uses thrusts, borrowing many of its thrusting techniques from french smallsword. In general when disengaging from the guard in broadsword you will cut over and thrust under the opponent's blade.
no not in silver*s day its Italian , bolognesee school , marozzo. di grassi , that why silver said the true length of you sword should be ,for a mean man a yard and one inch, and a tall man one yard and three inches , but no more ,so you can uncross and thrust . he also said how you can thrust long and straight will a basket hilt sword
@@marksteven6116 but they aren't practicing Silver's backsword. They're practicing highland broadsword of the type seen in the late 18th century, written about by Page, Roworth, MacGregor, Sinclair, Mathewson etc. They're related, but not the same. You're also not seeing the whole system here, just a few plays selected to illustrate the use of the basket. The complete system is a cut and thrust system that developed by blending native British cuts and guards similar to silver's with continental (esp French) thrusts and footwork. Nobody is saying you can't thrust with a broadsword, you can and you do. They just aren't showing it here because you can't show a complete fencing system in a half dozen plays.
@@marksteven6116 What are you even talking about? This was a military system that formed the basis of the standard sword exercise for both the British Army and Navy for almost a century. It's not a stage combat style. It has thrusts, you just aren't seeing them here in this specific video
Interesting video! It reminds me of a story that my bagpiper teacher Carl (RIP 2007) told me about his time in the British Army during WW2 where his officers along with a Canadian unit were stationed in the Solomon Islands. His British officers used those swords in a battle against the Japanese after all of their ammo ran out on both sides. The regular British and Canadian troops used empty rifles and bayonets, and he got to see his British officers take on the Japanese officers successfully using these swords! He even showed me how one person he remembered did it. The British officer deflected the two handed neck cut the Japanese officer attempted to the left of the British officer's neck, and slit the Japanese officer neck instead by pointing the sword tip down on to the left and then counter attacked. Japan sent reinforcements after the fourth battle/skirmish, and after fighting and losing the colors three times the British and Canadians were captured and taken to a Malaysian prison camp where Carl escaped! He was found by a Western Allied expeditionary force on the way to attack Japan from the West and joined that unit to connected him to a another British unit and made landfall on Japan after the U.S dropped both bombs. They had a stare down with the Russians, but nothing happened. He got to go home after that, and I didn't get to meet him until January 2000 where I joined his bagpipe band. The sword book is this video is also very interesting I'm going to check that out.
Truly engaging content, we're lucky you do this for free.
The most friendly, and polite "Fight me" I've ever seen. Nice to see some broadsword, or singlestick content.
I love basket hilts, easily my favourite type of sword
At 3:17 in the video, there's a nice close-up of two hilts. Those "bars" or "rings" seem to be positioned to help catch the opponent's blade when doing those counter attacks that they show (like at 4:27). Kind of like an upgrade on the messer "nail", the angles and distance from the blade appear to give it more optimal counter attacks than just a quillon that's lined up with the blade edge. Granted, these "bars" are positioned a bit differently from Matt's example from a later period.
Anyone else see the same thing? Or do you see something different?
I've been wondering about the Italian variant of a basket-hilt, the Schiavona, a lot lately. This is partly because I've seen pictures of some that appears to have finger rings incorporated into the basket, which seem like it would allow more grip options than the typical Scottish basket-hilt. Plus, I like sabres along with the whole sidesword/rapier evolution of swords and apparently some curved, backsword bladed Schiavona exist, so a basket-hilted sabre definitely got my attention, lol
Eyyyy a Canadian on Matt's channel. Finally!
I never thought I'd want to go to Winnipeg for any reason, now I got one
@@Ederick1936 - There are actually quite a lot of reasons :) You just have to find them.
@@Ederick1936 i know! Something to do in Winnipeg!
Schiavona hilts also sometimes have forward hooks that can grip another sword in a similar way!
What's with the T-shirt, Matt? Do those images represent the three most lethal objects invented by man?
i thought this said mages, and that made it so much cooler
At least its not another super-dry shirt! From Japan even!
Yes, but they're not in order of deadliness.
Having stepped on my son's lego in the night, I can attest its rightly earned place in the line up, as the domestic successor to the caltrop. A box of lego is like unto a sack of pommels.
It's his skills and what he can do in SHTF. Firearms, build/craft things, and melee
I just started studying basket hilt broadsword and so far I'm having a blast. I got an economy model from Castille and it's really great.
That ring on the basket was used for opening a cold bottle of ale. Fighting in a battle can really make you thirsty.
I wish I watched this yesterday before sparring. Some new (and simple) techniques I hadn't seen before!
*Relevant and Supportive Comment*
(Also sideswords are best waifu.)
I must admit that dussacks/dusägge/sinclair sabers are quite magnificent, so they are my first choice when it comes to basket style hilts.
facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210154333693080&set=g.186642432064330&type=1&theater&ifg=1
yes, best waifu indeed
*Irate disagreeing comment that's overly focused on semantics.*
(She's MY waifu, the restraining order was just one of her moods.)
Love Jay & the BAM! His videos are often very, very quiet... but well worth listening to!
those double rings are there so you can padlock them to the bike rack at the public library...( scotland is strict that way)
No facepunch with the basket? :D
I think a pommel strike might be more effective if one was that close.
technique examples are always appreciated
this looks so simple yet so effective
Hmm I'm suddenly super interested in broadsword. Didn't know much about it before but the techniques look super fun.
That Sounds like a blast! I would love to attend, unfortunately cannot make it to Canada.
I'd love to see you make a video about basket hilted Lightsabers and further prove that hand protection is key when it comes to swordsmanship!
Are there any examples of that kind of basket hilt on a different kind of blade? Like a basket-hilted saber or something?
Yes. There are examples of basket hilted sabres
Thank you for all your hard work..... I was told it had those open loops to leverage an opponents targe
It seems like a lot of the counters shown could be turned into thrusts to be more effective
Is there any reason why that would be less ideal that the cuts to the arms/head etc?
Cuts to the arm are often easier because the arm is a lot closer than the body - like the whole length of an arm closer. But yes, if you can safely thrust the body then that's an option. Remember that a thrust with a sharp weapon has to go into the person and then be pulled out again though, so in reality thrusts can be more risky, as they have to be pulled out and can leave the thruster exposed in that time.
Ok, makes a fair amount of sense
Thanks for the reply
@@scholagladiatoria if instead of a straight blade it had a saber blade,would all the techniques still work?
@@junichiroyamashita Yes. The sources these techniques come from are explicitly presented as "broadsword and sabre"
@@lancerd4934 out of curiosity, what source are you referring to/using?
I train in Singlestick and I've fought in one Broadsword & Targe tournament, so I'll come and train and spar if I'm ever in the area! :)
does anyone know a good maker for 17th -19th century saber replicas? I have seen Matt make videos about a lott of interisting original antique swords but can't remember seeing any video about replicas from that time period.
Brilliant!
These swords are awesome.
Dude kinda looks like Chris Weidman
Broadsword or backsword? Which would you choose? If you couldn't have a saber.
tracy freeland a lot of broadswords were backswords.
The difference is usually a broadsword has a sharp false edge. But the two terms were used interchangeably.
I’m not saying that’s Daniel Radcliff but that looks like Daniel Radcliff
Damn you Matt!! Lol I just started rapier, now I have to add broadsword!!
The bars can also be use for leverage to push target and catch opponents swords blade
Fascinating! Thank you for the content!
Lessons of the Broadsword Masters... SOLD!
Big thanks Matt for this video. I am interested in basket hilt broadsword for fighting thanks for providing info
According to CZcamsr Lindybeige, those "rings" might not have been for blade catching, but it have actually been for helping to move the opponent's shield/targe out of the way. Whether this is true or not needs further research, but it does pose a possibility. Check out his video: "Broadsword and targe - how Highlanders fought"
great
Fantastic!
The "Sinclair" saber is a cool basket hilted sword
Hey Matt, big fan of the channel- sorry for the unrelated comment, but have you ever thought of doing a review of the opening fights in Jet Li's Fearless? If you have done one already, I couldn't find it, but I'd like to hear your opinion on those fights
Just ordered the book!
Whats the weight of the backsword your holding Matt?
Have you ever handled a schiavona, Matt? I want to know if it's possible to use it like a side sword or short rapier, and if there is a plausible historical basis for doing so.
We need HEMA in Central PA, this place is ripe for a school.
Great video.
So we had the messer fetish realisation, broadsword implementation... Maybe Wakefield hangers' evaluation should be next? :P
1) Matt, can you (or someone) explain your shirt to my friend?
2) Dude on the right looks like Harry Potter
3) great content, I have always loved broad swords
4) Go Sharks.
Three of the most deadly weapons known to man, have you ever stepped on a lego brick?
Is this based on single combat (duel) or a battle? I have seen where the "bars" might be used to wedge and lever a targe. Was the targe ALWAYS used with a basket-hilt. It was surely just as effective. Thanks
Help!
I bought a Basket-Hilt Backsword from a site called Blades-UK, I selected 2 from the site to view in person, both Scottish swords, and the owner got this Backsword out, he said it wasn't listed on the site but thought I might want to have a look. It was by far the best handler of the 3, almost perfectly balanced and weighted, it had a blackened blade, he didn't say what it was made of or who made it, he said it was functional, but on closer inspection, the tang appears to be a little thin, and I'm worried it might break the second it makes contact with another sword. Does anyone know how to identify if the blade is carbon-steel and whether it has a rat-tail tang without disassembling it, or does anyone recognise a cheap scottish basket-hilt with a blackened blade.
The first technique - "forcing the blade" - which manual does it come from?
I'm pretty sure the curved bit was for punching folk in the face, much as a boss on a shield was for and for hanging the broadsword up after battle!
What broadsword brand do you guys use?
I don't really like broadswords, and I really don't like targes, but I at least like that there's some interest in them so I can sneak in some saber.
Something interesting to do i the 'peg? Sweet.
Are you aware of basket hilted swords being used on horseback? There's only one example I'm aware of. VAN BOURKE while "on loan" to Stuart's horse artillery. Are there any more cases of this or is there something inherent to the basket Hilt which makes it undesirable for cavalry?
That Obito Fencing mask is the hypest thing I've ever seen.
and we're all just ignoring the spiderman mask, apparently.
If one was only trained in sabre and picked up a backsword on the battlefield, would it change their effectiveness much? What are they main differences between the two styles?
Apologies for the noobness of my question.
S T I C C
Underrated comment.
The guy on the right looks like Harry Potter with a beard. 😂
Does anyone know any good literature on broadswords? What are the best sources?
Is it just me or every time he says broadsword I get the itch to play heroquest
Added Maas?
I’ll show myself out
Ah, martial arts, one of the few contexts were you can say "Wanna fight me?" in a friendly way.
I feel sorry for people who don't do HEMA watching this video. How are they supposed to know the difference between a "single time defence" or a "riposte", or what a "forte" is compared with the "foible"?
Please clarify each term quickly and simply so people don't get left out.
How many weapons someone can master?
I need a pomell for the one i have.
HEMA Bro Teamup with Maximum Maas guest starring with Dry Context on Schola Gladiatoria. I loved the invitation to the haters Jay made with a bit of snark. One could almost say that it was a feint ha!
Always very suspicious of any explanation that equates to, it was done that way because they always did it that way. Good video thanks.
That's a spider man secret wars mask he's using. When Venom was just a suit.
Sadly I'm not allowed in Canada
Winnepeg? More like Winterpeg.
"This book contains text from all three works as well as Enclose and Command: How to Fight with Weapons. However, the material has been rearranged in a clear and logical order and expanded considerably to include nearly 500 training drills, as well as several of the Bob Giordano illustrations originally published in Lannaireachd. In addition, all text has been rewritten to use gender-neutral language"
hmmm
I do feel like future wars are going to be fought with swords again. We need to put down our guns, and pick up the sword. So one day our descendants can put down the sword, and pick up the writing stick. Once our descendants master the writing stick, then we can come back to the sword, and pick up our guns again, then move on to the next thing. I know this to be truth.
Can someone please feed the poor bloke in the helmet?
Don't let my aunt see the guy on the right, she'd catch a bull moose and make him eat it.
I’m not convinced those cuts would be effective at all...
They were shown with a "light" touch because they were just showing the technique. Remember, these attacks are generally against those without much armor, if any, and all you need is a very sharp blade to cut deeply into flesh. Perhaps these cuts wouldn't kill but they most likely would disable your opponent.
Corey Jackson id like to see the techniques shown with power and cutting mechanics, but given the amount of space the blade has to travel for these cuts, I doubt many would work through clothing. Be neat to see if they could tho
@@Wild1990Child I think only smallswords can be deadly with this little acceleration and momentum. I agree that I don't see those cuts doing much damage on clothes.
Louis Jolliet I assume you mean with thrusts? Smallswords don’t cut...
@@Wild1990Child Yes indeed I mean using thrusts. Even against clothes, you only need to extend the arm with the smallsword to penetrate clothes and a human body.
very good but they are not also using the thrust , which shows a stage gladiator style of fight and not a killing style , as silver said there is no true fight with out both cut and thrust
Most of these are attacks to the arm, so cutting makes more sense. Broadsword also uses thrusts, borrowing many of its thrusting techniques from french smallsword. In general when disengaging from the guard in broadsword you will cut over and thrust under the opponent's blade.
no not in silver*s day its Italian , bolognesee school , marozzo. di grassi , that why silver said the true length of you sword should be ,for a mean man a yard and one inch, and a tall man one yard and three inches , but no more ,so you can uncross and thrust . he also said how you can thrust long and straight will a basket hilt sword
@@marksteven6116 but they aren't practicing Silver's backsword. They're practicing highland broadsword of the type seen in the late 18th century, written about by Page, Roworth, MacGregor, Sinclair, Mathewson etc. They're related, but not the same. You're also not seeing the whole system here, just a few plays selected to illustrate the use of the basket. The complete system is a cut and thrust system that developed by blending native British cuts and guards similar to silver's with continental (esp French) thrusts and footwork. Nobody is saying you can't thrust with a broadsword, you can and you do. They just aren't showing it here because you can't show a complete fencing system in a half dozen plays.
yes its a stage gladiator style , blood sport ,thrusts are band as to dangerous to life
@@marksteven6116 What are you even talking about? This was a military system that formed the basis of the standard sword exercise for both the British Army and Navy for almost a century. It's not a stage combat style. It has thrusts, you just aren't seeing them here in this specific video