In case you were wondering, I've had to move this video to unlisted, because as soon as I published it the stupid f**king CZcams bot demonetised it, so it's sitting in review stage. I'll republish when the muppets have done their jobs.
Your comment about officers not wanting to learn I find hilarious. In my time in the service I have met so many lieutenants that were so arrogant it was a genuine pleasure that I as junior enlisted would "take them to school" (cadets were much worse). I had my commanding officer and first sergeant rolling a few times when I got paired with some "butter bar" for combatives training or marksmanship. Usually the worst offenders were the academy brats ("ring bangers" we called them). Now the officers that went through OCS were usually prior enlisted and still carried that mentality. Of course this was before the massive attitude change of the military. If I were to do this to some fresh LT. now I would most likely receive a letter of reprimand or maybe a loss of rank and pay all because feelings were hurt.
Don't want the officer's feelings hurt as training for real combat, they might learn how to prepare for real eventualities to make themselves competent enough to keep themselves and their troops alive on the battlefield.
When, I as Marine Corporal (now 25 + years ago). Would educate a jr. lieutenant, and would be ask why. My answer, Humility is how you learn, arrogance is how you die. Better to learn now, and live. Then to die later, from idiocracy. If, I still got the look. The explanation, was he/she wants to be a MARINE, I don't like burying Marines. I was never asked twice.....
Thank you! I always loved Sharpe's character in the books who sneered at the traditional slim officer's sword and instead, used a Calvary officer's straight sword - because he didn't know how to fence!
As a rifle officer, his regulation sword would be an officer’s version of the 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre. But Sharpe preferred the straight heavy cavalry sword. I think Cornwall explains why Sharpe doesn’t like the curved sword in one of the books set in India. But I could be mistaken. Honestly I think it was just part of setting Sharpe aside from the other, gentlemanly officers of his time.
In the very first Sharpe novel (the one first published, where he is already an officer) he got his sword from the previous commander who was dying. It was given to show the rest of the men that he had confidence in Sharpe, who at that time was simply a supply officer. I think it was in "Sharpe's Sword" that he breaks that original weapon, and his sergeant basically "builds" him another one, by doing a bit of grinding and shaping. The rationale was that Sharpe did not know how to fence (that is mentioned several times) but the sheer bulk of the weapon, as well as his own strength and brutal fighting style, let him beat aside enemy bayonets and slimmer swords. Anyway, thanks for the historical clarification.
The Real Killer B Oh, right. It’s been a few years since I read the series. I do think there is a scene in one of the India books were Sharpe has to use the regulation sword and doesn’t like it. But, of course, those were prequels written after the original books came out. Good books. Too bad his Civil War series wasn’t as good.
He uses curved blade defending Wellington at Assaye (where he wins his commission) but struggles with it because he is never sure where the point is going when he thrusts. At the seige of Gawilghur he picks up a basket hilted claymore and finds it a much easier weapon to use. But essentially the Indian back stories were written long after the first book. Sharpe was always portrayed as big, strong brawler who was brought up on bar fights and back street muggings. Then was given bayonet drills by the army and uses his sword in much the same way, to stab and club people down.
Great video, Matt. I don't know what you're doing different with your presentation, but I love it. It's like I'm in the room with you, having a conversation- your narrative flow moves to answer almost every question I have just as it comes to mind.
Yes , it makes sense , it is one of a very small number of militarily sensible ideas, that the idea fairy had[ side note; the idea fairy, is not your friend]. I still find that the spadroon ,as a design , is to easy to get wrong, especialy when the maker is on government contract, or a state arsenal , the choice is usually cheap, over functional. If the powers that be , had given the task of designing the thing to someone with actual expierence of using the sharp and pointy things in a life or death moment , we would have something far more useful , and far different, than what now exists .
There is a few folks commenting that Napoleonic officers were weenies, dandies, etc. and asking "why didn't they just learn to use their swords?" The thing to remember is that an officer's primary "weapon" is his (or her, but his in the context) soldiers. How often would being a good fencer matter for a line infantry officer on the Napoleonic battlefield? Not that often. But an officer's ability to command soldiers, execute orders effectively and just generally be a leader could change the course of a battle or war. Perhaps they were just more focused on what mattered to them as officers.
Correct. I read somewhere that there was a regular question in military academy final exams that read, "You need a trench dug. How do you go about it?" Correct answer, "I say, 'Sergeant, I need a trench dug over there. We've got three hours.'" Mind over matter.
Have been on exercises with modern officers who didn't bother loading their rifles. It's not what you're there for. You should probably load it in an actual fight though.
But don't forget that you can also help dig the trench, so unless you have more important things to do you should help, it raises morale in most situations.
I won't claim to have a lot of experience there. I do think it's good for officers to make a show of sharing the work occasionally. But I also think that an officer with nothing better to do than help his troops dig a trench has probably forgotten something important.
Legendary Wave Pool it simulates a weapon, how much of an ass are you? Also, fencing is a martial art, as watered down as it is now, it was to prepare you for small sword dueling.
I see you fully embraced the memes. More seriously it's a really interesting video. It's good to have an explanation for why this sword was used so widely and for so long, considering its weaknesses.
Wonderful video! It seems like I haven't heard much discussion anywhere about sabers PRIOR to 1796. It would be super interesting if you'd do a video about sabers in the early 18th century, and maybe up to, and including, the Seven Years War, American War of Independence, etc. Even earlier usage would make for an interesting discussion as well. For example- Were any sabers used in the Thirty Years War or English Civil War?
Thank you for sharing your research with us! In this case, it sounds like the best (if iconoclastic) description of the sword's intent would be "like training-wheels on a child's first bike."
Excellent vid. Possibly off topic comment: When I was studying Ancient Greek I discovered that British texts presumed one had studied Latin first. American texts not so much, and one Australian text went out of its way to take the British to task for the presumption. Clearly, the same sorts who regulated the swords wrote the text books.
Heck... it shows me this video in the activities and it sent me a push message to my tablet but it does not show in "Videos" on the scholagladiatoria channel page? What's CZcams messing up now?
Whew! I was thinking you were about to convince me that the spud was a great sword. Your logic about the use of the spud makes perfect sense. Fairly recently in become aware of single stick. Wow, I am intrigued. Seems like the perfect self defence weapon? With the stigma against knifes now days, a stick is a perfect compromise. When I walk my dogs at night nobody even looks at it while we chat.
This may be one of the most engaging and intriguing video I have seen in sometime, my specialty being developing adaptive training for people with limitations. This type of both analysis and the source. Material is perfect. Can you (or anyone reading) suggest a synthetic spadroon to use in hema like fighting against synthetics like PHA or Rawlings? Allowing physically weaker opponents or those with sport fencing backrounds spar with more historical styles has been an equipment challenge.
I still feel like "preval blades" - the really wide hollow ground triangular blades sometimes seen on french swords - are simply better than almost all spadroon blades in every way. Sure, they have limited cutting capacity, but so does a normal spadroon. (like the blade in your "cuirassier vs estoc" video.)
This is truly a sign of the end times. But for real, I've come to appreciate the spadroon and not merely just the most frequently thought of version of it, which I think most people will agree was rubbish. On another note, what's that T-shirt that you're wearing?
the t-shirt theme is probably evolution of weapons, arrows on bow or dart launcher were the first manufactured weapon of humankind, then melee weapons, firearms and finally the lego brick, that hurts as hell when someone steps on it. And uses human children to spread on floors.
Saying it once more, would love a video from you on Germsn student fencing. I'm a member of a German fraternity myself (as evidenced by my photo) but it's a non-fencing catholic one. While I do know some things on the non-technical perspective of this kind of fencing, I would love your personal, technical insight.
Matt did you see the 3 part mini-series Gunpowder? All the the rapiers they showed had really beefy cut and thrust blades which I found very interesting. I would love to get your opinion on this in terms of historical accuracy.
Před 6 lety+2
Very strange that (at least for me) it shows in notifications, but it is not visible among videos on @scholagladiatoria channel.
How's this for a video idea: what are some of your favourite techniques for different weapons? What are some of your preferred strategies for different kinds of opponents? E.g. the counter striking guy.. the crazy bull.. the guy who avoids you etc
Hey Matt I was wondering, what’s your thoughts on Navaja, or the folding knife used in Spain during the 18 and 1900’s? I feel like you’re among the best to ask since you always seem to give an honest opinion from the your experiences and practise, and also from your research of actual historical materials. Would love to hear your thoughts on the Navaja!
That answered many of my questions regarding the Spadroon. Did any Spadroons have more extensive hand protection or would that have restricted the manner in which they are employed??
Good video, all makes perfect sense. ALSO, as you've often said, the sword is a sidearm. Most swords ever made were probably never wielded in combat. Give a sword to an officer and he will very seldom be at the front of the press and fighting hand to hand, partly because he has a tactical role, and partly because middle managers everywhere like to avoid getting their hands dirty. The infantry officer would spend most of his time on the battlefield (only a few hours of his whole career) standing at the end of a line of his men while they loaded, fired, and reloaded. He would be ordering his men to advance, ordering them to form defensive squares, ordering them to fire. If an officer ever got to having to use his own sword for poking enemies in the guts, things had gone badly wrong. (It would be different for a cavalry officer who would need to lead charges.) However, a light sword is not only a symbol of authority, but something that can be used to accentuate gestures and coordinate the firing of volleys in the noise, smoke and confusion of battle. Do you know about the Japanese war fan? It is a real thing, and still used by Sumo referees to signal to the wrestlers and the crowd, but was originally used as a way of emphasising gestures and signalling on the battlefield.
I feel when MacBane mentioned "Sheering sword", due to his experience in the Netherlands he probably meant something more like the walloon (with a thumb ring).
Hmm now I've seen this in the background on multiple videos but can anyone tell me what the Key-like Logo is for on that big Flag thing on the left? (his right)
I have a question. Consider the following context: What weapon set would you prefer in a one on one duel, assuming that the combatants have the best possible medieval armor. Something like late medieval full plate "white" armor out of hardened steel. Perhaps maximillian style. What would have the advantage? Mace and shield? Flail and shield? Poleax? Halberd? A great sword? Something else? What would you pick?
Can you do a video about policing before the police actually existed? I always wonder about riot situations, did they just massacre everyone or swap their swords for sticks?
AFAIK, sticks were often the only weapon officially carried by law-enforcement before the formation of modern police. Even then many had a batton and a more lethal option. In the middle ages, they might also have worn a spear. With a spear you could also use the blunt end, if you choose a less lethal approach....
Going back law was often fines for the a hundreds, in the old Anglo-Saxon law you'd be in a hundred with your tithing being one tenth of a hundred or ten hides which are meant to be two fully equipped warriors. So your paying 1/5 of a soldiers wage, or doing garrison duty your self, yes its a 1 in 5 do there duty on campaign. Only that's 2 fully equipped 7th century warriors so by the 10th century your just paying a cash liability. These things keep going long after there just vague measure of land and hopefull counts of numbers, things that make sense in 7th century are carried on in to the 12th, it's not until 1193 after King Richard's ransom that the old hides Anglo-Saxon stop being used. On crimes often the entire hundred had to pay the fine, so you'd soon be keeping a close eye on your neighbors.
Civil guards in medieval-early modern age often were armed with polearms. They could use them sideways and push, if the situation was not so critical, or point the sharp end and advance if it was.
CONTEXT ! (don't ever stop with that battle cry, it's far too rare, and desperately needed among those interested in truly learning about these topics)
I’ve actually seen 1812 battlefield engravings that I think depict using the spadroon to cut the jugular. It never appeared to me a very solid cut, but it was a cut nonetheless. Edit: for further detail, it appeared to have cut from the left veins up to and possible halfway into the windpipe.
I think your point is absolutely valid. Another proof is that in Italy the adoption of proper military sabres was very late, and straight swords were predominant for a long time. This happened because the general belief was that the thrust was "superior" to the cut, and this was teached in every fencing school and has roots in the ancient Italian fencing tradition. Even in military fencing treatises of the 19th century, the main focus is on straight thrusting swords.
So Im looking to get a sword. Im debating a cutlass but I dont like the extreme curve. I get cutting/chopping ability. I feel a thrusting sword would be better for self defense. But a small sword often doesn't have a cutting edge. I feel a broad sword is too heavy and unwieldy. Thoughts?
Were there any examples of military small swords like there were military rapiers? I'm sure this has come up on this channel before, but there are so many videos It's hard to know for sure.
Horses for courses, as you say " context". Each type of weapon has it's own style of use and some utility in other areas. Swords have a narrow area of speciality but a wide and robust range of disciplines and fighting styles. The spadroon, a term I have only recently been exposed to, is in context a gap filler and I dare say would have a range of weight and flexibility to better deal with facing heavier battlefield weapons. Only to be overtaken by a preference for various types of sabres. E.g. the Artillery Officers sword with a slight curve to mid Victorian sabres for Infantry Officers. Thank you Matt for the explanation. Not an ideal weapon but at least something.
I feel like history tried to fix the spadroon in the 18th-19th century with the development of the naval cutlass. Similar amount of steel (minus the very large cutlass guard) but shorter, broader, stiffer blade. In fact, a cutlass with a smaller guard would essentially be a cut and thrust spadroon. But obviously it would be shorter, which some may not like.
When you say that the Spadroon is worse at thrusting than a Smallsword, how much of an impact does that deficiency have? I assume the spadroon is still able to pierce through a uniform and kill or incapacitate someone, so why would I need more thrusting ability? Same thing goes for more cut-centric swords: How much cutting-ability does a sword need? Do swords really need to be able to chop limbs of? A cut to the weapon hand or the neck, even with a Spadroon, should be enough to end a fight. I would really appreciate it if you could put those thrusting and cutting abilities into perspective.
The accounts of them failing to get through winter uniforms are for a specific spadroon pattern, though. ThegnThrand has a video where he tests a Civil War spadroon.
That spadroon is over a kilogram (Medieval Shoppe tends to make all of their swords a bit heavy). Also Thrand only ever tests and makes it through cloth with horizontal cuts using the tip.
a cut to the weapon hand or the neck are not quite easy to deliver in a fight, and if you can only do supercial cut to the arms, legs or the torso you will not incapacitate the enemy (for example a downward cut to the shoulder must get pass the collar bone to deliver any real damage) and if you think of all the layer of cloting that a Napeonic era soldier would have, even more in winter, i don't think is so easy to cut him effectively with something light and narrow like a spadroon blade
The Awe-Me-channel made a spadroon that cut amazingly well. From what I've seen, I guess the over all shape and weight was correct, but it had less distal taper and had thus a stiffer blade and more blade presence (which I'd prefer, but probably most gentry wouldn't).
I would LOVE to learn the smallsword. I love the way that style of weapon relies on thrusts..not just cause it looks xool and fun..but also cause as far as quick and extremely deadly combat when your life depends on it...damn a thrust is VERY deadly. when making a cut or slice if someone wants to they could sacrifice and arm or hand and mitigate the first attack and survive if then they can end the attack quickly. But if the first quick attack is a thrust of a smallsword thru the lung or liver or diaphram or even the heart...its over. if if they do get away or even kill you..they are prolly dead soon after you.
Actually this was a huge problem historically, many western countries trying to fight with the duelling culture, whereas here in Poland where 90% of people used sabres since the 16th century, duelling was not such a big problem, as it is easier to wound but not fatally with a sabre than with a small sword (I am not saying the sabre is not deadly, just that if you do not want to kill, and in most duels of the time that was the case, it is easier to do so). Also, in a battle context, a sabre is more reliable, a thrust may kill or do nothing to stop the other person depending where the point goes, how lucky the are, a heavy cut is really hard to ignore.
How would a spadroon compare to a typical sidesword? Guess the spadroon would be lighter & more nimble at the tip, but the sidesword would penetrate better when it does hit and cut better, right?
Does a sword with a larger cross section have greater stopping power in the thrust? It seems to me that using a spadroon might be similar to using a carbine that fires a .223 or 5.56 cartridge. While it is much easier to use unpracticed than a .32 or .30 it has more power and reliability than .22.
This is a question I've only just had since I've delved into broadsword sources: What about in sources such as McBane, Page, et al where we get the Spadroon and shearing sword really talked up as the best sword ever ("the master of all weapons")? Are they just talking about a more robust sword with a more robust blade?
if one wa challenged to a sword duel, was he required to use a small sword or could he use whatever sword he preferred? I mean, if i were a gentleman of that time and some guy threw his glove at me, could i choe to fight the duel using a greatsword?
Who are you and where is the real Matt Easton? ;) But good video, and I think your rationale makes a lot of sense. Hmmmm... I did foil fencing back when I was in school, but haven't done any fencing since. Perhaps a spadroon is the sword I should get. Nah.
You said that small sword would have been the dueling sword. I thought that when challenged to a duel, the one being challenged chose a weapon, and their options (realistically) was marching pistols or basically any sword?
Due to the fact you talk about spadroons way more than the average person does, I would think you loved them. (ignore the fact that the majority of people probably dont know what a spadroon is) :)
With regard to what you say about the feel of a blade, I thought I could (as a physicist), give you some support there. In general, the response of a rigid body (which describes a sword well except for a short period of time around impacts) to any force is determined by 4 numbers, 1 location, and 2 angles. The first number is the mass, and the location is the centre of mass. These are the two numbers you talk about people often relying on. In general, these only determine the motion of the centre of mass in response to a force, and not anything about rotation (although when comparing objects of closely related mass distributions they can be used to estimate relative rotational properties). The 2 angles define the principal axes of the object which, in some sense, are the most natural axes to consider rotations of the object about. In a sword these are pretty obvious, they are one axis pointing (approximately) down the blade, one perpendicular to that (approximately) along the cross-guard (or where the cross-guard would be), and one perpendicular to both (in the direction that a nagel would be on a Messer). The remaining 3 numbers are the moments of inertia about each of these principal axes from the centre of mass and they tell you how hard it is to rotate the sword about a line running through the centre of mass (although it is possible to calculate the moment of inertia for other centres of rotation from this moment of inertia and the mass) parallel to one of the principal axes (there is a rotational equivalent to Newton's f=ma, torque = moment of inertia * angular acceleration so the moment of inertia is analogous to the mass in normal linear mechanics). As swords are generally rotated either about the nagel-axis (in the plane of the blade), or about the blade-axis giving these two moments of inertia as well as the mass and centre of mass (the point of balance) should be sufficient to accurately describe the handling-feel of the blade (except on impact). For straight blades it's even better as the blade-axis moment of inertia will usually be very small (as, looking down the blade, all the mass is very near the centre of mass) and so of little interest, so the only info beyond the standard point-of-balance and mass that needs to be given to accurately describe the handling of the blade to sellers is the moment of inertia about the nagel-axis (for rotations in the plane of the blade). So yeah, sellers should give people not just the mass and point of balance, but also the moment of inertia.
The moment of inertia is a bit tricky to measure though. The easiest way is to suspend the blade (making a pendulum) and timing how long it takes to swing from one side to the other making sure the oscillations are small (the calculation gets less accurate the bigger the swings) and have as little motion outside of the plane of the blade as possible (otherwise you'll be measuring a different moment of inertia). From this, you can calculate the moment of inertia (I) as: I = (m * g * r * T^2)/(4 π^2) m is the mass of the blade g is the acceleration due to gravity ~9.82 m/s^2 r is the distance from the pivot point to the point of balance T is the time for one complete oscillation (so to swing from one side, to the other, and back) if you use entirely metric units, the moment of inertia should be in "kg m^2" but this is actually one occasion where imperial units can be a little nicer by giving us I = (W * r * T^2)/(4 π^2) where W is the weight of the object in pound-force (the same number as the mass in pounds). The moment of inertia in imperial units calculated this way will be "lbf ft s^2" but, if calculated with the acceleration due to gravity explicitly it will be in "lb ft^2". The moment of inertia about the blade-axis is more complicated to measure but, luckily, it's only relevant in quite curved swords
This Matt has been replaced by a clone who loves spadroons. You can tell because he isn't wearing Superdry.
In case you were wondering, I've had to move this video to unlisted, because as soon as I published it the stupid f**king CZcams bot demonetised it, so it's sitting in review stage. I'll republish when the muppets have done their jobs.
Your comment about officers not wanting to learn I find hilarious. In my time in the service I have met so many lieutenants that were so arrogant it was a genuine pleasure that I as junior enlisted would "take them to school" (cadets were much worse). I had my commanding officer and first sergeant rolling a few times when I got paired with some "butter bar" for combatives training or marksmanship. Usually the worst offenders were the academy brats ("ring bangers" we called them). Now the officers that went through OCS were usually prior enlisted and still carried that mentality. Of course this was before the massive attitude change of the military. If I were to do this to some fresh LT. now I would most likely receive a letter of reprimand or maybe a loss of rank and pay all because feelings were hurt.
Don't want the officer's feelings hurt as training for real combat, they might learn how to prepare for real eventualities to make themselves competent enough to keep themselves and their troops alive on the battlefield.
I am curious as to what "the massive attitude change" is.
When,
I as Marine Corporal (now 25 + years ago). Would educate a jr. lieutenant, and would be ask why. My answer, Humility is how you learn, arrogance is how you die. Better to learn now, and live. Then to die later, from idiocracy. If, I still got the look. The explanation, was he/she wants to be a MARINE, I don't like burying Marines.
I was never asked twice.....
Thank you! I always loved Sharpe's character in the books who sneered at the traditional slim officer's sword and instead, used a Calvary officer's straight sword - because he didn't know how to fence!
I think, while it was owned by an officer, it was a troopers pattern sword.
As a rifle officer, his regulation sword would be an officer’s version of the 1796 Light Cavalry Sabre. But Sharpe preferred the straight heavy cavalry sword. I think Cornwall explains why Sharpe doesn’t like the curved sword in one of the books set in India. But I could be mistaken. Honestly I think it was just part of setting Sharpe aside from the other, gentlemanly officers of his time.
In the very first Sharpe novel (the one first published, where he is already an officer) he got his sword from the previous commander who was dying. It was given to show the rest of the men that he had confidence in Sharpe, who at that time was simply a supply officer. I think it was in "Sharpe's Sword" that he breaks that original weapon, and his sergeant basically "builds" him another one, by doing a bit of grinding and shaping. The rationale was that Sharpe did not know how to fence (that is mentioned several times) but the sheer bulk of the weapon, as well as his own strength and brutal fighting style, let him beat aside enemy bayonets and slimmer swords. Anyway, thanks for the historical clarification.
The Real Killer B Oh, right. It’s been a few years since I read the series. I do think there is a scene in one of the India books were Sharpe has to use the regulation sword and doesn’t like it. But, of course, those were prequels written after the original books came out. Good books. Too bad his Civil War series wasn’t as good.
He uses curved blade defending Wellington at Assaye (where he wins his commission) but struggles with it because he is never sure where the point is going when he thrusts. At the seige of Gawilghur he picks up a basket hilted claymore and finds it a much easier weapon to use.
But essentially the Indian back stories were written long after the first book. Sharpe was always portrayed as big, strong brawler who was brought up on bar fights and back street muggings. Then was given bayonet drills by the army and uses his sword in much the same way, to stab and club people down.
I saw Matt Easton Context Spadroons and best sword in one sentence so I knew I just had to come quickly
This is a very nice video about functionality of a Spadroon.
Thank you very much for uploading.
Great video, Matt. I don't know what you're doing different with your presentation, but I love it. It's like I'm in the room with you, having a conversation- your narrative flow moves to answer almost every question I have just as it comes to mind.
Great video. Love how you are able to put swords into an historical perspective
Wow. Such a massively interesting video!
Clears up a lot of confusion about the decision making at the time.
Your headstone is going to read "context"
Great breakdown. Very concise and entertaining.
Very informative, fascinating video 😊
Great Video Matt and makes total since :D
Since what?? Jk. Love your channel by the way.
Yes , it makes sense , it is one of a very small number of militarily sensible ideas, that the idea fairy had[ side note; the idea fairy, is not your friend].
I still find that the spadroon ,as a design , is to easy to get wrong, especialy when the maker is on government contract, or a state arsenal , the choice is usually cheap, over functional.
If the powers that be , had given the task of designing the thing to someone with actual expierence of using the sharp and pointy things in a life or death moment , we would have something far more useful , and far different, than what now exists .
ThegnThrand not a good video.he should have defined a spadroon. I went through the whole video not knowing what he meant by a spadroon.
and i love these kinds of videos, talking about the time period's reasoning for this or that
There is a few folks commenting that Napoleonic officers were weenies, dandies, etc. and asking "why didn't they just learn to use their swords?" The thing to remember is that an officer's primary "weapon" is his (or her, but his in the context) soldiers. How often would being a good fencer matter for a line infantry officer on the Napoleonic battlefield? Not that often. But an officer's ability to command soldiers, execute orders effectively and just generally be a leader could change the course of a battle or war. Perhaps they were just more focused on what mattered to them as officers.
Correct, Arthur.
Correct. I read somewhere that there was a regular question in military academy final exams that read, "You need a trench dug. How do you go about it?" Correct answer, "I say, 'Sergeant, I need a trench dug over there. We've got three hours.'" Mind over matter.
Have been on exercises with modern officers who didn't bother loading their rifles. It's not what you're there for. You should probably load it in an actual fight though.
But don't forget that you can also help dig the trench, so unless you have more important things to do you should help, it raises morale in most situations.
I won't claim to have a lot of experience there. I do think it's good for officers to make a show of sharing the work occasionally. But I also think that an officer with nothing better to do than help his troops dig a trench has probably forgotten something important.
You've finally found your magic Spadroon eh Matt ? Mission accomplished my dear Sir.
Very interesting, especially the understanding of the context.
You're now a paid shill for Big Spadroon, accept it Matt.
Wasnt that simply big pharma joke? :D
Halberdier its a joke...
Halberdier WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH
The spadroon-industrial complex.
Jp Gotrokkits The war economy.... supplied on the back of Spadroons. War... war has had changed {cue mgs 5 theme}.
Bring back foil-fencing lessons at school! :-)
I would have loved that in highschool
No, teach a useful martial art like a grappling art. But if you must use a weapon Single Stick is far better and more practical.
Evirthewarrior but a foil's not a weapon, nor is it used for martial arts...
Legendary Wave Pool it simulates a weapon, how much of an ass are you? Also, fencing is a martial art, as watered down as it is now, it was to prepare you for small sword dueling.
RS2Russ
Naw, bring back Saber fencing!
I see you fully embraced the memes.
More seriously it's a really interesting video. It's good to have an explanation for why this sword was used so widely and for so long, considering its weaknesses.
Really great channel
Excellent video.
Damn Matt, you know your shit. Still amazes me from time to time.
_S P A D R O O N S_
Well said. Very interesting topic.
Wonderful video! It seems like I haven't heard much discussion anywhere about sabers PRIOR to 1796. It would be super interesting if you'd do a video about sabers in the early 18th century, and maybe up to, and including, the Seven Years War, American War of Independence, etc. Even earlier usage would make for an interesting discussion as well. For example- Were any sabers used in the Thirty Years War or English Civil War?
Thank you for sharing your research with us!
In this case, it sounds like the best (if iconoclastic) description of the sword's intent would be "like training-wheels on a child's first bike."
Excellent vid. Possibly off topic comment: When I was studying Ancient Greek I discovered that British texts presumed one had studied Latin first. American texts not so much, and one Australian text went out of its way to take the British to task for the presumption. Clearly, the same sorts who regulated the swords wrote the text books.
Heck... it shows me this video in the activities and it sent me a push message to my tablet but it does not show in "Videos" on the scholagladiatoria channel page? What's CZcams messing up now?
Whew! I was thinking you were about to convince me that the spud was a great sword. Your logic about the use of the spud makes perfect sense.
Fairly recently in become aware of single stick. Wow, I am intrigued. Seems like the perfect self defence weapon?
With the stigma against knifes now days, a stick is a perfect compromise. When I walk my dogs at night nobody even looks at it while we chat.
This may be one of the most engaging and intriguing video I have seen in sometime, my specialty being developing adaptive training for people with limitations. This type of both analysis and the source. Material is perfect.
Can you (or anyone reading) suggest a synthetic spadroon to use in hema like fighting against synthetics like PHA or Rawlings? Allowing physically weaker opponents or those with sport fencing backrounds spar with more historical styles has been an equipment challenge.
I still feel like "preval blades" - the really wide hollow ground triangular blades sometimes seen on french swords - are simply better than almost all spadroon blades in every way. Sure, they have limited cutting capacity, but so does a normal spadroon.
(like the blade in your "cuirassier vs estoc" video.)
This topic was deeply penetrated.
This is truly a sign of the end times. But for real, I've come to appreciate the spadroon and not merely just the most frequently thought of version of it, which I think most people will agree was rubbish.
On another note, what's that T-shirt that you're wearing?
the t-shirt theme is probably evolution of weapons, arrows on bow or dart launcher were the first manufactured weapon of humankind, then melee weapons, firearms and finally the lego brick, that hurts as hell when someone steps on it. And uses human children to spread on floors.
Matt you should do a video about scythes. I see a lot of people confused about their usage in and out of combat and I’d love to see one as well
Saying it once more, would love a video from you on Germsn student fencing.
I'm a member of a German fraternity myself (as evidenced by my photo) but it's a non-fencing catholic one. While I do know some things on the non-technical perspective of this kind of fencing, I would love your personal, technical insight.
He held out saying context till 11:50. So proud of you lol
Matt did you see the 3 part mini-series Gunpowder? All the the rapiers they showed had really beefy cut and thrust blades which I found very interesting. I would love to get your opinion on this in terms of historical accuracy.
Very strange that (at least for me) it shows in notifications, but it is not visible among videos on @scholagladiatoria channel.
How's this for a video idea: what are some of your favourite techniques for different weapons? What are some of your preferred strategies for different kinds of opponents? E.g. the counter striking guy.. the crazy bull.. the guy who avoids you etc
Hey Matt I was wondering, what’s your thoughts on Navaja, or the folding knife used in Spain during the 18 and 1900’s? I feel like you’re among the best to ask since you always seem to give an honest opinion from the your experiences and practise, and also from your research of actual historical materials. Would love to hear your thoughts on the Navaja!
Good explanation btw. The militarized smallsword.
“A scaled up smallsword” so it’s a “bigsword”?
Why is this video unlisted?
I’d always assumed singlestick was training for broadsword
"No it's not that. It's this; it's that..."
You the man.
That answered many of my questions regarding the Spadroon. Did any Spadroons have more extensive hand protection or would that have restricted the manner in which they are employed??
could you make a video about the last recorded use of a longsword and or greatsword in a military action?
Spadroons and Kyo-Guntos are my favorite swords, practical but elegant.
Good video, all makes perfect sense. ALSO, as you've often said, the sword is a sidearm. Most swords ever made were probably never wielded in combat. Give a sword to an officer and he will very seldom be at the front of the press and fighting hand to hand, partly because he has a tactical role, and partly because middle managers everywhere like to avoid getting their hands dirty. The infantry officer would spend most of his time on the battlefield (only a few hours of his whole career) standing at the end of a line of his men while they loaded, fired, and reloaded. He would be ordering his men to advance, ordering them to form defensive squares, ordering them to fire. If an officer ever got to having to use his own sword for poking enemies in the guts, things had gone badly wrong. (It would be different for a cavalry officer who would need to lead charges.) However, a light sword is not only a symbol of authority, but something that can be used to accentuate gestures and coordinate the firing of volleys in the noise, smoke and confusion of battle. Do you know about the Japanese war fan? It is a real thing, and still used by Sumo referees to signal to the wrestlers and the crowd, but was originally used as a way of emphasising gestures and signalling on the battlefield.
I feel when MacBane mentioned "Sheering sword", due to his experience in the Netherlands he probably meant something more like the walloon (with a thumb ring).
Could you do some videos on the backsword vs. The saber
Hmm now I've seen this in the background on multiple videos but can anyone tell me what the Key-like Logo is for on that big Flag thing on the left? (his right)
Can you please make a video about the Palash? Was quite a big thing in eastern europe. And is it the same as a backsword or something different?
I'd like to hear Mett Euston's opinion on this, come think of it I haven't seen him for a while
He's sold two kidneys to afford the blue and gilt spodroon.
Meth Easton lives in America.
I have a question. Consider the following context:
What weapon set would you prefer in a one on one duel, assuming that the combatants have the best possible medieval armor. Something like late medieval full plate "white" armor out of hardened steel. Perhaps maximillian style.
What would have the advantage? Mace and shield? Flail and shield? Poleax? Halberd? A great sword? Something else?
What would you pick?
Can you do a video about policing before the police actually existed? I always wonder about riot situations, did they just massacre everyone or swap their swords for sticks?
AFAIK, sticks were often the only weapon officially carried by law-enforcement before the formation of modern police. Even then many had a batton and a more lethal option.
In the middle ages, they might also have worn a spear. With a spear you could also use the blunt end, if you choose a less lethal approach....
Going back law was often fines for the a hundreds, in the old Anglo-Saxon law you'd be in a hundred with your tithing being one tenth of a hundred or ten hides which are meant to be two fully equipped warriors.
So your paying 1/5 of a soldiers wage, or doing garrison duty your self, yes its a 1 in 5 do there duty on campaign.
Only that's 2 fully equipped 7th century warriors so by the 10th century your just paying a cash liability.
These things keep going long after there just vague measure of land and hopefull counts of numbers, things that make sense in 7th century are carried on in to the 12th, it's not until 1193 after King Richard's ransom that the old hides Anglo-Saxon stop being used.
On crimes often the entire hundred had to pay the fine, so you'd soon be keeping a close eye on your neighbors.
Civil guards in medieval-early modern age often were armed with polearms. They could use them sideways and push, if the situation was not so critical, or point the sharp end and advance if it was.
CONTEXT ! (don't ever stop with that battle cry, it's far too rare, and desperately needed among those interested in truly learning about these topics)
Katanas may cut through tanks... but Spadroons cut through *castles*!
In a sense, the spadroon is equivalent to the modern sporting "sabre". Currently training in this, and it's bloody good fun!
I’ve actually seen 1812 battlefield engravings that I think depict using the spadroon to cut the jugular. It never appeared to me a very solid cut, but it was a cut nonetheless.
Edit: for further detail, it appeared to have cut from the left veins up to and possible halfway into the windpipe.
I would have loved this to be a one-second video, where Matt just says, "No."
Hey Matt, where does that t-shirt come frome? I want one!
5:32
How good is that cut, though? It looks like it'd glance off a glove.
11:49 Captain Context strikes again!
I like your shirt.
Which sword would you use in a close order infantry formation?
where can I get that shirt, I want to express my interests in shirt form as well
Had to look up singlestick. So was it just a wooden training weapon and technique for the sabre/cutlass?
finally i get the destinction. In polish we got one word for both smallsword and spadroon - szpada
I think your point is absolutely valid. Another proof is that in Italy the adoption of proper military sabres was very late, and straight swords were predominant for a long time. This happened because the general belief was that the thrust was "superior" to the cut, and this was teached in every fencing school and has roots in the ancient Italian fencing tradition. Even in military fencing treatises of the 19th century, the main focus is on straight thrusting swords.
Did anyone else expect Matt to shout "Lindybeige!" at the end of this video?
So Im looking to get a sword. Im debating a cutlass but I dont like the extreme curve. I get cutting/chopping ability. I feel a thrusting sword would be better for self defense. But a small sword often doesn't have a cutting edge. I feel a broad sword is too heavy and unwieldy. Thoughts?
Have you ever considered spadroons? Given context, they are pretty alright.
Were there any examples of military small swords like there were military rapiers? I'm sure this has come up on this channel before, but there are so many videos It's hard to know for sure.
One wonders just how common duels where at times.
I had to check the date to see if it was release april 1st
As someone who learned foil and was then handed a sabre, this makes perfect sense.
Horses for courses, as you say " context". Each type of weapon has it's own style of use and some utility in other areas. Swords have a narrow area of speciality but a wide and robust range of disciplines and fighting styles. The spadroon, a term I have only recently been exposed to, is in context a gap filler and I dare say would have a range of weight and flexibility to better deal with facing heavier battlefield weapons. Only to be overtaken by a preference for various types of sabres. E.g. the Artillery Officers sword with a slight curve to mid Victorian sabres for Infantry Officers. Thank you Matt for the explanation. Not an ideal weapon but at least something.
I feel like history tried to fix the spadroon in the 18th-19th century with the development of the naval cutlass. Similar amount of steel (minus the very large cutlass guard) but shorter, broader, stiffer blade. In fact, a cutlass with a smaller guard would essentially be a cut and thrust spadroon. But obviously it would be shorter, which some may not like.
Scholagladitoria would you do a comparison of British sabers to American sabers?
i always got spontoons and spadroons mixed up when talking weapons
When you say that the Spadroon is worse at thrusting than a Smallsword, how much of an impact does that deficiency have? I assume the spadroon is still able to pierce through a uniform and kill or incapacitate someone, so why would I need more thrusting ability?
Same thing goes for more cut-centric swords: How much cutting-ability does a sword need? Do swords really need to be able to chop limbs of? A cut to the weapon hand or the neck, even with a Spadroon, should be enough to end a fight.
I would really appreciate it if you could put those thrusting and cutting abilities into perspective.
I think there are accounts of spadroons failing to cut and thrust through winter uniforms. So they were pretty eh.
The accounts of them failing to get through winter uniforms are for a specific spadroon pattern, though. ThegnThrand has a video where he tests a Civil War spadroon.
That spadroon is over a kilogram (Medieval Shoppe tends to make all of their swords a bit heavy). Also Thrand only ever tests and makes it through cloth with horizontal cuts using the tip.
Source? Because I've heard that in regards to the Crimean war but at that point the sword for infantry officers was the P1845 sabre.
a cut to the weapon hand or the neck are not quite easy to deliver in a fight, and if you can only do supercial cut to the arms, legs or the torso you will not incapacitate the enemy (for example a downward cut to the shoulder must get pass the collar bone to deliver any real damage)
and if you think of all the layer of cloting that a Napeonic era soldier would have, even more in winter, i don't think is so easy to cut him effectively with something light and narrow like a spadroon blade
Did you ever sell that spadroon with the "s" shaped blade cross section?
The Awe-Me-channel made a spadroon that cut amazingly well. From what I've seen, I guess the over all shape and weight was correct, but it had less distal taper and had thus a stiffer blade and more blade presence (which I'd prefer, but probably most gentry wouldn't).
edi which project?
It belonged to the fallout project.
Was there not sabre fencing back in the day?
I would LOVE to learn the smallsword.
I love the way that style of weapon relies on thrusts..not just cause it looks xool and fun..but also cause as far as quick and extremely deadly combat when your life depends on it...damn a thrust is VERY deadly. when making a cut or slice if someone wants to they could sacrifice and arm or hand and mitigate the first attack and survive if then they can end the attack quickly. But if the first quick attack is a thrust of a smallsword thru the lung or liver or diaphram or even the heart...its over. if if they do get away or even kill you..they are prolly dead soon after you.
Actually this was a huge problem historically, many western countries trying to fight with the duelling culture, whereas here in Poland where 90% of people used sabres since the 16th century, duelling was not such a big problem, as it is easier to wound but not fatally with a sabre than with a small sword (I am not saying the sabre is not deadly, just that if you do not want to kill, and in most duels of the time that was the case, it is easier to do so).
Also, in a battle context, a sabre is more reliable, a thrust may kill or do nothing to stop the other person depending where the point goes, how lucky the are, a heavy cut is really hard to ignore.
How would a spadroon compare to a typical sidesword? Guess the spadroon would be lighter & more nimble at the tip, but the sidesword would penetrate better when it does hit and cut better, right?
Does a sword with a larger cross section have greater stopping power in the thrust? It seems to me that using a spadroon might be similar to using a carbine that fires a .223 or 5.56 cartridge. While it is much easier to use unpracticed than a .32 or .30 it has more power and reliability than .22.
Yes, kind of. Though at the risk of not penetrating (through clothes/uniform) at all.
This is a question I've only just had since I've delved into broadsword sources: What about in sources such as McBane, Page, et al where we get the Spadroon and shearing sword really talked up as the best sword ever ("the master of all weapons")? Are they just talking about a more robust sword with a more robust blade?
Oi mate, ya got a license fer that t-shirt?
Interesting.
*Mah spadroons are THE BEST SWORDS EWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR*
REEEEEEEEEEEE!
if one wa challenged to a sword duel, was he required to use a small sword or could he use whatever sword he preferred? I mean, if i were a gentleman of that time and some guy threw his glove at me, could i choe to fight the duel using a greatsword?
Who are you and where is the real Matt Easton? ;) But good video, and I think your rationale makes a lot of sense.
Hmmmm... I did foil fencing back when I was in school, but haven't done any fencing since. Perhaps a spadroon is the sword I should get.
Nah.
You said that small sword would have been the dueling sword.
I thought that when challenged to a duel, the one being challenged chose a weapon, and their options (realistically) was marching pistols or basically any sword?
What is the diffrence between a spadroon and a small sword?
Due to the fact you talk about spadroons way more than the average person does, I would think you loved them. (ignore the fact that the majority of people probably dont know what a spadroon is) :)
With regard to what you say about the feel of a blade, I thought I could (as a physicist), give you some support there. In general, the response of a rigid body (which describes a sword well except for a short period of time around impacts) to any force is determined by 4 numbers, 1 location, and 2 angles.
The first number is the mass, and the location is the centre of mass. These are the two numbers you talk about people often relying on. In general, these only determine the motion of the centre of mass in response to a force, and not anything about rotation (although when comparing objects of closely related mass distributions they can be used to estimate relative rotational properties).
The 2 angles define the principal axes of the object which, in some sense, are the most natural axes to consider rotations of the object about. In a sword these are pretty obvious, they are one axis pointing (approximately) down the blade, one perpendicular to that (approximately) along the cross-guard (or where the cross-guard would be), and one perpendicular to both (in the direction that a nagel would be on a Messer).
The remaining 3 numbers are the moments of inertia about each of these principal axes from the centre of mass and they tell you how hard it is to rotate the sword about a line running through the centre of mass (although it is possible to calculate the moment of inertia for other centres of rotation from this moment of inertia and the mass) parallel to one of the principal axes (there is a rotational equivalent to Newton's f=ma, torque = moment of inertia * angular acceleration so the moment of inertia is analogous to the mass in normal linear mechanics).
As swords are generally rotated either about the nagel-axis (in the plane of the blade), or about the blade-axis giving these two moments of inertia as well as the mass and centre of mass (the point of balance) should be sufficient to accurately describe the handling-feel of the blade (except on impact). For straight blades it's even better as the blade-axis moment of inertia will usually be very small (as, looking down the blade, all the mass is very near the centre of mass) and so of little interest, so the only info beyond the standard point-of-balance and mass that needs to be given to accurately describe the handling of the blade to sellers is the moment of inertia about the nagel-axis (for rotations in the plane of the blade).
So yeah, sellers should give people not just the mass and point of balance, but also the moment of inertia.
The moment of inertia is a bit tricky to measure though. The easiest way is to suspend the blade (making a pendulum) and timing how long it takes to swing from one side to the other making sure the oscillations are small (the calculation gets less accurate the bigger the swings) and have as little motion outside of the plane of the blade as possible (otherwise you'll be measuring a different moment of inertia).
From this, you can calculate the moment of inertia (I) as:
I = (m * g * r * T^2)/(4 π^2)
m is the mass of the blade
g is the acceleration due to gravity ~9.82 m/s^2
r is the distance from the pivot point to the point of balance
T is the time for one complete oscillation (so to swing from one side, to the other, and back)
if you use entirely metric units, the moment of inertia should be in "kg m^2" but this is actually one occasion where imperial units can be a little nicer by giving us I = (W * r * T^2)/(4 π^2) where W is the weight of the object in pound-force (the same number as the mass in pounds). The moment of inertia in imperial units calculated this way will be "lbf ft s^2" but, if calculated with the acceleration due to gravity explicitly it will be in "lb ft^2".
The moment of inertia about the blade-axis is more complicated to measure but, luckily, it's only relevant in quite curved swords
All i did was to click once. Now my recommended videos are only about spadroons. Lol
I think that 'Context' would serve better as a title