I once build a wooden replica of the Dragonslayer. It was just wood.... but dude.... I had problems with just staying and holding that thing a little bit up in the air. To wield the original you would need an exoskeleton or something like this. That Wooden Dragonslayer was almost impossible to use it in any common fight stance. But hell yeah it was really fun to see that thing.
immer_mehr we have to be ridiculously strong like guts to lift that giant sword I rarely see guts parrying with that sword he mostly bashes his opponent with it remember when Griffith fought guts just saying
If the mid-point between one handed and two handed is a "bastard" sword, then I propose we call the mid point between Longsword and Greatsword the "Promiscuous Husband" sword.
This is why in RPGs, I would have any character carrying a great sword attract some very funny looks - where a longsword would be like openly carrying a pistol (which is more acceptable in some places than others), a great sword would be like openly carrying an LMG...
Well, carrying a greatsword was something possible if you could afford one. It was just more unusual for citzen since it was for more specialized people.
@@lupinthethird7059 same things with rifles today then.no one open carries a rifle if they don't have something to hunt or aren't trying to prove a point
I think it's like this -daggers/shortswords/even stuff like knives = a tiny pocket pistol arming swords = a full frame handgun bastard swords = maybe a bigger handgun longsword = a rifle greatsword = open carry .50 BMG
***** Oh yeah he is, got arms like trees. lol no I'm a stubby lil Mexican, speed is my friend. Planning on getting a gladius and a bastard sword, maybe some curved swords like those beautiful oversized kukri Skalligrim has. My tiny arms don't do well with anything bigger than a longsword lol
Well, just look at the Gregor Clegane sword from Game of Thrones. For him it's definitely a longsword. But he's 2.08m so 6ft 9", and for a person of average height it would a greatsword easily :v
@@timmbosliice I actually pulled up some pictures of Jon's sword, and it really is a bastard sword. Not sure f it's a funny coincidence or brilliant writing, but it's damn funny.
In my mind it has always being the point at around half the video, the defining factor: if it can be draw from a scabbard at your belt it's a longsword. If it needs to be carried like a polearm it's a greatsword...
Good point. Skallagrim talked about how these greatswords were carried, and he points out they were simply carried upright leaning against your shoulder, blade up, and the pommel resting down in palm of the hand. You cant use a scabbard on your back for anything but a dagger. You could use a strap I guess but there's no drawings of this.
@@randyparsons3188 well you can put the Greatswords/Bïdenhander/Montante into shoulder straps, but you'll need to take them off a long time before combat. No quick drawing of a Greatsword. But at least you can still run, stretches, etc with a Greatsword on your back compared to on your arm. Longswords are much better, though. People can even roll and crawl around with one strapped to your hips
@@irfannurhadisatria2540 Yeah, greatswords are like an LMG or sniper rifle carrying around. No one would use it for personal protection, only for real war
As long as you can _wear_ it, it's a longsword. You have to _carry_ a greatsword. So, one sword can be a longsword for a bigger combatant and a greatsword for many others.
i believe in Italy great swords were used for "self defense" in that a person would have a body guard with one on his shoulder. In those day i think it was common to be jumped by like 4-6 guys with daggers and rapiers, and nothing says fuck off like a big swinging death pendulum
+ Shadiversity That was some very helpful advice. I am wanting to buy a sword and have been undecided on a hand and half or the two handed long sword. (Not great sword just long sword.) And naturally my first question was what determines one from another. Of all the places I looked there was only one post (on sword forum I believe) that mentioned the human factor. It is definitely something that I will be considering. Thanks for the useful tips.
yeah, Scandinavians are in average taller then western Europe for example, so a Scandinavian longsword would be considered a greatsword in western Europe? My bet is that they didn't know either, the term greatsword probably evolved when longswords started getting longer, at the beginning probably only a few people would call greatsword to a oversized longsword, that's why you have many times swords called both names. The meaning of a word is not defined in its birth, it evolves and mutates in the users, its like it was organic.
There's truth to much of what you've said. The idea of treating greatswords as polearms in a sense is surprisingly appropriate. It's an odd mishmash of different weapon types and I like it because of that. However, I wish to elaborate on some points for the sake of nuance. On your point about historical variations on the size of greatswords: Northern European greatswords tended to be larger than southern European greatswords, the difference being rather substantial so as to merit different uses. German bidenhanders, for example are rather famous for being 1.8m long or somewhat nearing that, with some outstanding examples edging beyond that. The Spanish montante and the Italian spadone, for example, tend to hover around 1.59m and 1.63m. Now, given that early 18th century Germans (greatswords fell out of favour after the 17th century) were only about 1.64m tall, I think variations in the sizes of greatswords indicates a preference for their intended purpose. This leads to my next point. On your point about their use: Greatswords, although famous for being battlefield weapons, saw application in civilian life as a defender's weapon. It is also worth mentioning that it was used to defend the standed-bearer on the battlefield as well. Incidentally, the standard/banner is used in a similar manner according to Alfieri. While bodyguards could and did carry polearms, the greatsword was also used as a means of better fending off multiple attackers in the street. I'm sure you can easily see why. In fact, di Grassi advises against employing thrusts in such a situation as cuts better ward off multiple attackers. Speaking from personal experience, the spadone covers an insane amount of ground and a perimeter maintenance drill easily demonstrates how effective it is in this context. But here is where I fundamentally disagree with the assertion that greatswords cannot be and were not used to fence with in the manner that one does with longswords. I don't disagree completely though and your metric with which to mark the transition from longsword to greatsword is useful for understanding the distinction. While the marked difference in a greatsword's dimensions and handling mean that you do not change direction on a dime, it it nonetheless used in single combat like a bigger longsword, with some unique techniques taking advantage of its massive leverage. Many of the cuts and one-two actions are similar, if not outright the same, the only difference being that full arm extension is required. I think the difference between heavier greatswords and lighter greatswords in their ability to properly fence is rather telling about their roles. In fact, Alfieri values the lighter southern European greatswords for their ability to fence over the heavier greatswords. There are also records of it being used for competitive purposes, with it being used in tournaments held by Henry VIII and James IV. It was however by no means a common occurrence.
***** Now that is some wonderful research and information, thankyou so much for sharing it! I certainly defer to your expertise in the use and function of certain Greatswords being similar to longswords. Perhaps after I get one and train with it I’ll post an updated video based on some more practical experience.My statements come from my own handling of greatswords and as I have done so it’s hard for me to see anyone fight with them to the same level and in the same way one can with a Longsword, but that isn't to say I’m correct. I've probably only handled the larger greatswords or I've simply classified the shorter ones as Longswords in my mind and disregarded their fencing application, which then falls into the classification I explain in my video. My brain is weird like that. I still feel greatswords aren't weapons for self-defense but this really comes down to our definitions of ‘self-defense.’I've learnt that some bodyguards used greatswords and I can indeed see how useful they would be in such a profession, but is this really personal self-defence or use in a martial profession? I think it’s use in a martial profession, very much the same reason why they were used on battlefields because as a weapon, greatswords are awesome, just not practical to carry around when one has a job to do. If your job requires you to be armed then greatswords are a great pick . . . get it, ‘great’ because it’s the same as greatsword . . . (cricket sounds in the background). Ahh, I crack myself up. To me carrying a weapon as part of a job is different to carrying around a weapon just in case you might need to defend yourself while you’re about your normal life. In the latter I feel greatswords would never really have been chosen or used, unless you knew before hand that a fight was coming your way, or that you were going to pick a fight, then you would grab a greatsword or the best arms you could get you hands on including full plate armor if its available, and a feral kitten. Damn dangerous those feral kittens. But of course in saying all this I could be completely wrong, except about those kittens, in that there's no doubt. Thanks so much for sharing your insights, I’ve learnt a lot.
I am Shad Yes, anyone in their right mind wouldn't be carrying a greatsword around for self-defence. A man so wanted so as to require the service of a greatsword or a spear should probably hire guards instead. There are far better options for going about in everyday life - that is, the huge assortment of sideswords available which should suffice for the purposes of defending oneself. In Portugal, young boys would be given staves as a means of self-defence when travelling. Staves are not to be taken lightly at all, both figuratively and literally. A staff made of ash will easily bash someone's brains out with a well-placed strike and the English master Silver is right to warn us not to overlook it. Portuguese staff combat survives today in the practice of jogo do pau, which in use against multiple opponents is a wonderfully balletic show of force, as it still is to some extent in single combat. Now oddly enough we come full circle - there is a lot of crossover between the way the staff is used in jogo do pau and the way a greatsword is used!
***** So true. I often feel that many people underestimate the sheer power and effectiveness of the stave/staff. Thanks again for sharing your insights!
On the Game Of Thrones Sir Gregor Clegan or "The Mountain" I think his sword is the great sword and he wields it like a fucking monster that he truly is.
your classification system would also despond's on the size of the welder. A taller man might be able to use what to you is a greatsword as if it were a longsword and a shorter man might only be able to use what to you is a longsword as if it were a greatsword.
Adam Lewitt you are right but wrong as well because if the sword "fits" the body size of the person then it then becomes a long sword while a great sword must be bigger than your body. see what i mean?
Yeah, this is what I don't like about this definition, it allows alot of subjectivity. If Hafthor Bjornson (The Mountain) can use it as the average man would use a longsword, is it a longsword as long as he wields it? Even if you stipulate that it depends on the capabilities of the average man, back in the medieval period people were much shorter, on average, than today. So was it a great sword then but a long sword now? Just too much wiggle room for my taste, though I do see his point.
A giant's longsword won't be the same size as a dwarf's longsword. Not really that hard to understand once you start exaggerating the differences. For a child, a dagger might as well be an arming sword, and a longsword a greatsword.
Not too much more. Since it's always two handed. They never weighed more than 14 lbs or so despite what you might think it would weigh. Instead of putting strength into your muscles for the parrying and quick maneuvering of changing the direction of your long sword, you're doing much more simple, but devastating wide sweeps. I do imagine you'd get tired out faster, but if you do as he said and grip up on it ( as you would when the opponent closes distance as pole arm styled weapons are only so good when a group of soldiers wield them. 1v1 sword beats pole arm most of the time.
A longsword is going to weigh at most 1.5kg (3.5lb) and a greatsword is going to weigh at most 3kg (about 7lb). There are historical examples of greatswords weighing 14lb+, but they were specifically designed to be ceremonial. Swords designed for combat aren't even going to approach that weight.
Yes... Imagine a giant's sword. unwieldable by us in normal means. It becomes our great sword. And our great sword becomes a normal sword to him. So for Shaq he would have a 7'2" or longer to be a greatsword
Amanda Davis The books agree. They give them human/elf daggers from old treasure to use as arming swords. This includes Sting (from the trolls loot in the Hobbit), and the sword used by Merry or Pippin to cut the heel of the Witch King (from an ancient burial mound between the forrest and Bri, where it was an enchanted dagger from the earliest fights against the Witch King).
Oh yeah I'd forgotten Sting was a dagger originally, same with the swords Merry and Pippen used. I can see why they had to cut the barrowdowns scenes from the movies, but they would have been very cool to see.
I tried to turn this video into a drinking game for whenever he says "sword" So I counted. He says that approx. 168 times... Well - time to say goodbye to my liver!
Important to know that the names of swords were different from region to region. We are stuck on a few names because they have come down to us through manuals. To me, the more important distinction is War Sword vs Dueling Sword. What we think of as a longsword is not something that would be taken into battle because it is too light. The longsword only existed for a short period of time and then quickly transitioned into the rapier. The light longsword can perform all the functions of a rapier. It is just that the rapier does it better. In the longsword manuals we see a guard know as longpoint. We see the techniques called Sprectfester,which is what rapier fencing is. Now there are many war-swords that have the same exact length dimensions as a longsword. The significant factor here is that the blade will be thicker and slightly heavier. When looking at sword sizes, we often do not take into account the thickness of the blade which will have a significant impact on how hard the sword hits. A dueling sword meant for unarmored combat can be very light and still be over kill. That is why they quickly moved on to the rapier.
NO! "Claymore"is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic "claidheamh" (sword), and "mor" (better, great, large, or big). What you're meaning by a claymore is the medieval two-handed sword, which was bigger than the single-handed swords that were more common. By the time of the 18th/19th century, the basket-hilted broadsword is the "claymore", because it's larger than the other swords of the day (sabres etc). Claymore is a horrible, horrible term for swords, please don't use it.
Joshua Bryant You could say that about any term, really. Plus, BOTH are historical terms, it just depends on the context. Still, I would like to know, what WOULD you prefer to call these swords?
Medieval "claymore" = longsword. 18th/19th century "claymore" = broadsword, I think. I'll double-check with my sword expert friend and get back to you.
I have several 'greatswords' by Del Tin, Lutel, and Regenyei, and they are similar in size to the 'extra long longsword' you have (perhaps a hair longer, they range from 1.55m-1.75m). However, they are too unwieldy to use with standard longsword techniques (I do longsword fencing). Although I agree that how the sword is used should determine the sword classification, a steel version of your wooden 'extra long longsword' would weigh atleast 4.5lb, if not 6lb+, and would be forced to be used with greatsword techniques, even though dimensionally, someone theoretically strong enough could still use it as a longsword. Great video though! subbed.
SchmoopyHD Thanks for letting me know mate, you're probably right about my wooden replica. I can't wait till I get my hands on a proper recreation and do some test of my own, but alas there's SO many swords on my to buy list ^_^
I agree with others here, your scale is entirely based on the height of the person. As I am 2.3m tall what would be a great-sword for you would be a long sword for me. Therefor, I propose that great-sword not be a classification at all. But that the person wielding it be classified as a great-swordsman. IE It is determined by the actual use.
+Merlijn Yes I would call that one beasty as hell longsword, but still a longsword. It's most certainly on the limit and it also looks much wider then any truly practical sword would be. But hey, it's fantasy so they can get away with it and I say all power to them because the sword looks awesome!
+Shadiversity Ice wasn't generally used in battle, was more of a ceremonial sword used to show the Starks power. It was mostly used at the heads men's block for Starks to execute prisoners
Ice looks almost too broad to be light enough to be used properly. If it was real it looks like it would be way heavier than most longswords, but heck maybe somebody could wield it properly. Jaime shouldn't have melted it down, should have kept it and gave it the mountain that rides.
I believe Valyrian steel is supposed to be lighter than any other steel, so as broad as Ice is it was probably lighter than you'd think. I think it definitely would've looked more impressive if it was just as broad, but as tall as Sean Bean like a proper greatsword. That would be a sword I could see having enough metal to make a whole arming sword and longsword out of. BTW, it was Tywin who melted down Ice. The two swords he reforged from it he gave to Joffrey and Jamie.
Very interesting to listen and funny to watch. I learned a lot about swords. I did not see the problem behind the greatsword being so long that it becomes a problem to handle. Nice.
I think you're somewhat incorrect. I don't think it's necessarily the size at all that determines the term used (longsword/greatsword) but the style and intended use of that sword. I would much rather call that example of an in-between a longsword for a tall person because its design tells me it is intended as such, but I think if I were to use it I would have to use it AS a greatsword in order to properly wield it. Therefore it is a longsword to me, because that's what I would call the design, but depending on the user (and specifically his or her height) its actual use might differ and I might not use it as intended. Same goes for the actual greatsword, if wielded by a very tall person who for that reason uses it as a longsword (and not as it is intended). The length of the sword cannot determine the purpose, because people of different heights need different sizes of swords and this must be taken into account; thus I must respectfully argue against your definitions and stick with my own reasoning on this matter. Wow, that was some fancy writing. Thanks brain. Also, I would like to suggest people choose a longsword/greatsword/sword-in-general that fits their height and reach instead of looking simply at the classifications of the sword in question. I would for instance be looking for a much smaller longsword than the guy down here saying he was 2.25m as I'm about 1.65m myself. Think of it as shoe sizes.
Benjamin Arnold "claymore" is just Scottish Gaelic for "big sword". That's why later Scottish basket hilted swords are also known as claymores, their blade is much wider than others of the time, making them bigger :)
SerAlgernop BlitzKrieger i never saw a two handed longsword, what you mean is what we call a "Anderthalbhänder" (bastardsword), and it is a own kind of Weapon, so a bastardsword is not a longsword and not a Greatesword, they called it Bastartschwert (bastardsword) because it was a mix of both weapons, you can use a bastardsword with one hand or with both hands or you just support it with your second hand by holding it at the pummle.
I got a nice romantic and reasonable standard for this threshold. "If, when placed pommel on the ground, the tip rises past the users heart, it is a greatsword."
To be fair, people were on average shorter Back In The Day. That biggest longsword of yours, or the thing sold by Cold Steel, might well have been a greatsword for those guys. Of course I have no idea how tall *you* are. If you're 1.7 metres tall that's one thing, and if you're 1.9 that's something else again.
@@TheCompleteMental If you look at any medieval buildings that have been preserved, you can see that they have much shorter doorways. So they definitely were smaller on average.
Well here's my ramble... An Arming sword is mainly for one handed use but theoretically it could be used with a two handed grip if you grab the pommel. A Bastard Sword is less adapt for one handed use than an arming sword but offers better properties for two handed use. A longsword can be used one handedly however considerably it's more adapt for two handed use. This brings us to the shorter of your great wooden swords. I would consider this an oversized Longsword because of it's resemblance when compared as a two handed weapon. However if you would try and use a sword of it's proportions one handedly you would soon find it completely impractical for anything else but lunge trusts. So because of this I would consider it more of a great sword. Hm, Confusing indeed, hm hm. Is it perhaps a great longsword? A tall man's sword? A not so great sword? Or perhaps a half great sword? The label means little I think but since the particular one shown here resembles a longsword in form I would agree to calling it a large longsword at least. PS. The thing about you reaching for an opponent while holding your sword behind you at about 10minutes in is a bit bollocks to be honest. You do not step onto your opponent leaving yourself open like that, there would be no point. At this point what you should do is to either step back and trust with your blade or preferably if you are in a duel you disguard your greatsword and pin him down with your body to finally end him with a rondel.
Ryan Cox A bastard sword is an arming sword length blade with a hilt long enough for both hands, while a longsword has a longer blade with a hilt long enough for both hands. Bastard swords and longswords that can be used in one hand are hand-and-a-half swords as they can be used in one hand or two.
a way my longsword instructor told me on how to recognize a longsword is that, when a standard handle-blade proportion is followed, the lenght of the handle is the same as your forearm, down to 2/3 your forearm, then it becomes a 1 and a half, when you can't have any part of your second palm holding the handle, it becomes an arming sword. A greatsword is when the whole weapon is as tall as you, with the handle being as long as your head, down to the shoulders and just reaching to your armpit, your rule of thumb is also a good way to spot the exact place when a longsword stops becoming such
Probably one of the best descriptions I have ever read for a longsword was one that I found in a translated treatise I was reading a few months ago. I forget which treatise it was, and the exact wording, but what it basically said was that the longest that a longsword can be comfortably used is when the tip touches the ground, that the pommel rests comfortably in the armpit, and that the handle should be roughly the length of your forearm. I noticed that the longsword you made to be the limit of what you considered to be a longsword was roughly these dimensions. With the little bit of fooling around I have done with sparring, I have found these measurements to be pretty accurate as well.
The "problematic" middle one is not a sword. Not a polearm. Not a greatsword. It is a wallhanger. The blade is so thick you, it is useless in combat. There is a reason zweihanders were thin.
Also, it could under no circumstances be considered a longsword. A longsword was, predominantly, a civilian sword, and rarely used for actual war. For that reason, longsword tend to be slicker, with a blade length around 105 cm-s. This thing here is completely overbuilt for a longsword. Please perform any historical longsword technique with it (no tthis one, but a steel version) and you will feel it. That is a two handed cleaver for all intents and purposes. The balance seems to be completely off.
Horváth Benedek Again, wooden sword. It's not going to be thin like a real sword as it is not meant to cut, in fact it's meant to do the opposite. It's a training sword
Parker Krakowiak I didn't have issue with thickness, but width. You see, wooden practice equipment are thickened because wood is "weaker" than steel. However, if we examine the width, it is obvious that it mtters very little if we add an additional centimeter of width to the blade. If you have seen any historical pieces and practice equipment, you'd know that the width are usually identical, the difference occurs usually in the thickness of the weapon, and also that historical pieces are rarely that wide. And BTW, how would you grab the ricasso if it is wider than your palm? see my problem?
I like to split longswords like this: If you can still use them with one hand and a shield, they're longswords. If they require two hands, they're two handers. Yes, it's my own personal classification and it has no basis in history, but i like to use it like that.
Watch a video about using a two-handed greatsword with one hand. What's the matter? Actually, you make a good point: This also is about function of the sword: if you only can use it with two hands, you don't have a shield, so you have to hold any enemy away, or you're screwed
Roman Gogueshvili I think the video makes a good point. What you call a sword depends on the user as well. To give an extreme case, you might call Bilbo's Sting a single handed sword, but in actuality it was a dagger. Likewise, you might have a huge man wield a great sword with one hand, and a shield in the other. It's all about how they're being used, if you ask me.
Did you mean to call it an arming sword (instead of "single-handed")? Anyway, this might make sense in certain games, where a weapon of some class is a lot larger and heavier than it is in the real life. If you are in a Giants' Land with all of the "citizens" extinct, all the weapons are meant for none but your use. Cristi Neagu
Roman Gogueshvili Well, seeing as how the definition of the term "arming sword" as used in present times refers to any single handed medieval sword... i think my use of the term was correct, if not more so, since Sting is not a medieval sword. Or dagger. But yes, that is what i meant. And in games you don't get all the types of swords used in real life. You mostly have single handed and dual handed blades. You might have longswords, but most of the times they're used with one hand and a shield, so not really a longsword. What i meant is that some situation might arise in which a person of smaller stature wielding something classed as a longsword might be unable to use it as a longsword due to their size. If you're constantly hitting the ground, it's not a very effective technique. They might need to use it as a greatsword, in wide swings. So the question is... if it's longsword sized but used as a greatsword... what is it?
Rule of thumb I go by: Is it two handed but can be effectively used one handed? Yes: Longsword. No: Greatsword. Is it two handed, as tall or taller than you, and needs a new style of fighting to use? Yes: Bearing-sword. And why are you using it? You're not Braveheart. There is literally no record it has ever been used in anything other than ceremonial functions.
+Kevin Dombrowski I totally agree! Acording to other information, Greatswords tall than chin-height lose it weapon-funktion & used only to impress auditions with it's size.
+Kevin Dombrowski *"There is literally no record it has ever been used in anything other than ceremonial functions."* Well hold on now. There's no record of literal _bearing swords_ being used for combat, but two-handers of that general size have indeed been used for combat. They just weren't bearing swords. A bearing sword, comparatively (even though it's the same length) would be far heavier and less practical.
For me it's mostly the same, the only difference is that a longsword should be above your belly button. At its largest the lower part of your neck. Everything that is above chin height is great sword. Anything in the middle can be both.
Sukuraidogai not as much as you have been led to believe, at least among European stock medieval people were just slightly shorter than modern but the people in between (start of cities and industry but before modern medicine) were shorter than their ancestors and their descendants.
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, lived 1390 - 1447, he fought at Agincourt with his brother King Henry V, and the interesting thing about him is that his body was was in an open tomb at St Albans, and while some of his remains were taken by pilgrims (causing his tomb to be sealed) there are enough bones, like leg and arm bones to be able to work out his height, and he was around 6 foot tall. Henry the VIII has a suit of armour that showed that he was 6 foot 2 inches. Richard II was about 6 foot tall Richard III would have stood 5 foot 8 without his hunch There is a period where the 'average' populace became shorter, but that was heavily dependant on diet, those who ate well grew tall, those who didn't and just ate certain food staples were generally shorter, this was true up until the 1800's when the industrial revolution brought a great deal of changes, one of which was agricultural and improved the diet of many, this is why since then people in the west have been getting taller as they have access to a wider variety of foods, and in greater quantities. So there were tall people in the medieval periods, if they had access to rich foods, a variety of foods, and plenty of them, so mostly the Royalty and the Knights that had wealth and power (connections) if you were further down the pecking order then you made do with your small castle or small estate, you and your family got to be short arses and you made do with having yourself a short suit of armour made for your short self, while those with power and wealth stood a good foot taller than you.
that sword you pointed to when you said that it was the size of swords in Skyrim and D&D that are refered to as great swords is NOT the size refered to as a greatsword! that sword you point to at that moment is an excellent example of everything I would expect to see as a longsword in D&D. as an avid player of both I can assure you that you are either terribly mistaken or you misspoke without realizing it. there are, first off, no "longswords" in Skyrim at all there are commonly lengthed average "swords" and then the HUGE great swords. and in all editions of Dungeons & Dragons that I have played (since starting in AD&D 2ed back in 1994) the long sword has been (as many reenactors and historians will tell you) a somewhat "in-between" sword that can be effectively wielded one or 2 handed the 2 methods varying in effectiveness from individual to individual. and the greatsword is always a 2 handed weapon that is at a minimum 5' long in total (upwards of 6' in some instances) weighing roughly 6-10 pounds depending on size. D&D has always fairly accurately depicted it's weapons and armor, even if with a good bit of fantastical flare.
Now I can only speak about the 3.5th edition d&d, because that's the only one I'm familiar with, but in it's core rulebook it makes a very silly distiction where a longsword is a one-handed sword, a greatsword is two-handed, and the one that can be wielded either with one or two hands is called a bastard sword. What I personally do is rename all "longswords" arming swords, because that's what the rules are actually talking about. I'm curious to know if they named the swords better in other editions and why did they change it if they had it right.
+Blanco It is mostly the same in 5th edition, though it seems you can get a bonus with a longsword by using it two-handed. It also looks like the Bastard sword is a two-handed only martial weapon where the Greatsword is a heavy weapon. For roleplaying purposes though my character wields an arming sword since he brings a shield into battle, despite the game calling it a longsword.
Shad is right. Just ask yourself, which is the standard "sword and board" weapon in DnD? In all editions I have played (AD&D, 3e, and 3.5e) the answer has always been the "longsword". But longswords were not used with shields, that was what arming swords were for. Longswords were too large to be used effectively with a shield (just like DnD "greatswords", although you could monkeygrip them with a shield in a pinch, albeit at a penalty). This is why the longsword never gained popularity until the advent of plate armor that could offer protection similar to that of a shield, but with both hands free. The DnD "longsword" IS an arming sword, and the DnD "greatsword" IS a longsword. At least as far as core game mechanics are concerned. DnD got their terminology wrong, it happens.
I thought the only way to be sure was to ask a trusted sword-tailor to make you a scabbard to carry it on your hip, & if he says, "lol no I can't, that's a greatsword!" that's how you know
Greatsword is when you go: "I need a polearm, but I just really like swords!"
accurate
Solearm? Greatarm? Polesword.
LOL
( random add moment) there are such things as historical swordpoles
Swordstaff:
@@Nobert594 *'Swolearm'* of course
"It was too big, too thick, too heavy and too long, it was more like a slab of iron"
The Dragonslayer is it's own category lol
+TheUberguitar123 lmao
Great-Great Sword
I once build a wooden replica of the Dragonslayer. It was just wood.... but dude.... I had problems with just staying and holding that thing a little bit up in the air. To wield the original you would need an exoskeleton or something like this. That Wooden Dragonslayer was almost impossible to use it in any common fight stance. But hell yeah it was really fun to see that thing.
immer_mehr we have to be ridiculously strong like guts to lift that giant sword I rarely see guts parrying with that sword he mostly bashes his opponent with it remember when Griffith fought guts just saying
If the mid-point between one handed and two handed is a "bastard" sword, then I propose we call the mid point between Longsword and Greatsword the "Promiscuous Husband" sword.
That's a great sword name, but I think the term is a Sword of War.
As opposed to... Sword of Peaceful Coexistence? (I know there were sword for self defence & judicial disputes, but this was too easy)
"Disgruntled neighborly dispute" sword.
The "Inbred Sword?"
Or is that too close to Game of Thrones?
+Gareth Lamb dam
This is why in RPGs, I would have any character carrying a great sword attract some very funny looks - where a longsword would be like openly carrying a pistol (which is more acceptable in some places than others), a great sword would be like openly carrying an LMG...
Parker8752 Or a bazooka, lol
Well, carrying a greatsword was something possible if you could afford one.
It was just more unusual for citzen since it was for more specialized people.
@@lupinthethird7059 same things with rifles today then.no one open carries a rifle if they don't have something to hunt or aren't trying to prove a point
@incinerator950 hey, it would be cool to carry around full size SAWs! So long as you're not the sole person carrying them with the ammo
I think it's like this
-daggers/shortswords/even stuff like knives = a tiny pocket pistol
arming swords = a full frame handgun
bastard swords = maybe a bigger handgun
longsword = a rifle
greatsword = open carry .50 BMG
When its better than a good sword it becomes a greatsword... duhhh everyone knows that.
Hold up there.
Do you want to become the Pope?
-The Vatican sends you regards.
Clever
Amazingsword
Elliot Facey XL
🤣😂🤣
i'm 2,25m tall. i can use that great sword as a long sword.
now what
Ponder the meaning of the universe.
Hey, my Irish friend is 5'8" and can use a claymore like a fencing sword lol. It's all about strength and skill
smorgisborg
***** Oh yeah he is, got arms like trees. lol no I'm a stubby lil Mexican, speed is my friend. Planning on getting a gladius and a bastard sword, maybe some curved swords like those beautiful oversized kukri Skalligrim has. My tiny arms don't do well with anything bigger than a longsword lol
You dont call it a greatsword then your greatsword would be ~2,30 long
So a Bastard Sword in the hands of a Midget would be a Great Sword? I am ok with this.
LordDemosair Ye bruh
Well, just look at the Gregor Clegane sword from Game of Thrones. For him it's definitely a longsword. But he's 2.08m so 6ft 9", and for a person of average height it would a greatsword easily :v
For Jon Snow, no matter the size of the sword he wields, it's still a bastard sword.
@@timmbosliice wouldn't that be bastard's sword?
@@timmbosliice I actually pulled up some pictures of Jon's sword, and it really is a bastard sword. Not sure f it's a funny coincidence or brilliant writing, but it's damn funny.
In my mind it has always being the point at around half the video, the defining factor: if it can be draw from a scabbard at your belt it's a longsword. If it needs to be carried like a polearm it's a greatsword...
Good point. Skallagrim talked about how these greatswords were carried, and he points out they were simply carried upright leaning against your shoulder, blade up, and the pommel resting down in palm of the hand. You cant use a scabbard on your back for anything but a dagger. You could use a strap I guess but there's no drawings of this.
Shad's gone and made a scabbard to allow you to draw a sword from your back
I would agree with this definition man.
@@randyparsons3188 well you can put the Greatswords/Bïdenhander/Montante into shoulder straps, but you'll need to take them off a long time before combat. No quick drawing of a Greatsword.
But at least you can still run, stretches, etc with a Greatsword on your back compared to on your arm.
Longswords are much better, though. People can even roll and crawl around with one strapped to your hips
@@irfannurhadisatria2540 Yeah, greatswords are like an LMG or sniper rifle carrying around. No one would use it for personal protection, only for real war
As long as you can _wear_ it, it's a longsword. You have to _carry_ a greatsword. So, one sword can be a longsword for a bigger combatant and a greatsword for many others.
It might be possible to wear a greatsword if you had one of Shad's back scabbards specially made for it.
i believe in Italy great swords were used for "self defense" in that a person would have a body guard with one on his shoulder. In those day i think it was common to be jumped by like 4-6 guys with daggers and rapiers, and nothing says fuck off like a big swinging death pendulum
Imagine getting a squire to swing a massive stick to ward off muggers
Wouldn't that be for a Spadone?
Is this an AC reference?
@@nobodynobody3187 yes the spadone is the greatsword
Man, watching this in 2021 really lets me appreciate how Shad's enthusiasm hasn't changed in the slightest and I'm all here for it
"so if this sword can still be used like a sword that means it's still a sword" -Shad 2015
"Size and function is what defies a sword not the profile"
Shhhhhh. Don't ruin it for us!
Now please tell me the rule of thumbs to tell a Greatsword from an Ultra Greatsword!
Go to the equipment menu, next to the name of the sword it should tell you if it's a greatsword or ultra greatsword.
Thanks
When it's so big you basically use it kinda similarly to a halberd
The Ultra Greatsword hit radius is bigger.Meaning that you can just cut bunches of people.
If you can lift it it's not an Ultra Greatsword. Only Guts can lift an Ultra Greatsword.
yeah, the shortsword is what Crocodile Dundee calls "a knife"
"That's not a knife... THIS is a knife."
Nerd!
And I'm lovin' every moment of it! Thanks for clearing up the differences. :)
But what about the types of pommels; all are lethal when thrown.
The Greatpommel can no longer be attached to a hilt
Why even use a sword? I just carry a bag of pommels. End every attacker rightly.
pommel get their destructive power while unscrewing them, that wouldn't end them rightly.
Pommels I would assume were more a choice of fashion and design to compliment the individual sword. Because like you said all pommels can be thrown.
THIS IS SOOO PLAYED OUT! MY GOD MAN!
So whether it's a Great Sword actually depends on the sword AND the person's size/height?
+DeusExAstra Yep, that's how I see it anyway.
+DeusExAstra
If you are large enough, they become letter openers.
makes sense if you build the same model of sword in different sizes
+ Shadiversity
That was some very helpful advice. I am wanting to buy a sword and have been undecided on a hand and half or the two handed long sword. (Not great sword just long sword.) And naturally my first question was what determines one from another. Of all the places I looked there was only one post (on sword forum I believe) that mentioned the human factor. It is definitely something that I will be considering. Thanks for the useful tips.
It's my pleasure, mate!
I propose this cutoff, if regular sized man can't wear it on his belt without dragging it on the ground - then it's a greatsword.
Gaaxure but men come in all sizes
yeah, Scandinavians are in average taller then western Europe for example, so a Scandinavian longsword would be considered a greatsword in western Europe?
My bet is that they didn't know either, the term greatsword probably evolved when longswords started getting longer, at the beginning probably only a few people would call greatsword to a oversized longsword, that's why you have many times swords called both names.
The meaning of a word is not defined in its birth, it evolves and mutates in the users, its like it was organic.
Also, some longswords are that big as well
Best analysis
André Barreto yes
I'm in the process of writing fantasy novels and this channel really helps to make stuff more realistic :) thanks
Sounds interesting my friend. What be the title of these novels?
Name?
There's truth to much of what you've said. The idea of treating greatswords as polearms in a sense is surprisingly appropriate. It's an odd mishmash of different weapon types and I like it because of that. However, I wish to elaborate on some points for the sake of nuance.
On your point about historical variations on the size of greatswords: Northern European greatswords tended to be larger than southern European greatswords, the difference being rather substantial so as to merit different uses. German bidenhanders, for example are rather famous for being 1.8m long or somewhat nearing that, with some outstanding examples edging beyond that. The Spanish montante and the Italian spadone, for example, tend to hover around 1.59m and 1.63m. Now, given that early 18th century Germans (greatswords fell out of favour after the 17th century) were only about 1.64m tall, I think variations in the sizes of greatswords indicates a preference for their intended purpose. This leads to my next point.
On your point about their use: Greatswords, although famous for being battlefield weapons, saw application in civilian life as a defender's weapon. It is also worth mentioning that it was used to defend the standed-bearer on the battlefield as well. Incidentally, the standard/banner is used in a similar manner according to Alfieri.
While bodyguards could and did carry polearms, the greatsword was also used as a means of better fending off multiple attackers in the street. I'm sure you can easily see why. In fact, di Grassi advises against employing thrusts in such a situation as cuts better ward off multiple attackers. Speaking from personal experience, the spadone covers an insane amount of ground and a perimeter maintenance drill easily demonstrates how effective it is in this context.
But here is where I fundamentally disagree with the assertion that greatswords cannot be and were not used to fence with in the manner that one does with longswords. I don't disagree completely though and your metric with which to mark the transition from longsword to greatsword is useful for understanding the distinction. While the marked difference in a greatsword's dimensions and handling mean that you do not change direction on a dime, it it nonetheless used in single combat like a bigger longsword, with some unique techniques taking advantage of its massive leverage. Many of the cuts and one-two actions are similar, if not outright the same, the only difference being that full arm extension is required. I think the difference between heavier greatswords and lighter greatswords in their ability to properly fence is rather telling about their roles. In fact, Alfieri values the lighter southern European greatswords for their ability to fence over the heavier greatswords.
There are also records of it being used for competitive purposes, with it being used in tournaments held by Henry VIII and James IV. It was however by no means a common occurrence.
***** Now that is some wonderful research and information, thankyou so much for sharing it!
I certainly defer to your expertise in the use and function of certain Greatswords being similar to longswords. Perhaps after I get one and train with it I’ll post an updated video based on some more practical experience.My statements come from my own handling of greatswords and as I have done so it’s hard for me to see anyone fight with them to the same level and in the same way one can with a Longsword, but that isn't to say I’m correct. I've probably only handled the larger greatswords or I've simply classified the shorter ones as Longswords in my mind and disregarded their fencing application, which then falls into the classification I explain in my video.
My brain is weird like that.
I still feel greatswords aren't weapons for self-defense but this really comes down to our definitions of ‘self-defense.’I've learnt that some bodyguards used greatswords and I can indeed see how useful they would be in such a profession, but is this really personal self-defence or use in a martial profession? I think it’s use in a martial profession, very much the same reason why they were used on battlefields because as a weapon, greatswords are awesome, just not practical to carry around when one has a job to do. If your job requires you to be armed then greatswords are a great pick . . . get it, ‘great’ because it’s the same as greatsword . . . (cricket sounds in the background).
Ahh, I crack myself up.
To me carrying a weapon as part of a job is different to carrying around a weapon just in case you might need to defend yourself while you’re about your normal life. In the latter I feel greatswords would never really have been chosen or used, unless you knew before hand that a fight was coming your way, or that you were going to pick a fight, then you would grab a greatsword or the best arms you could get you hands on including full plate armor if its available, and a feral kitten. Damn dangerous those feral kittens.
But of course in saying all this I could be completely wrong, except about those kittens, in that there's no doubt.
Thanks so much for sharing your insights, I’ve learnt a lot.
I am Shad Yes, anyone in their right mind wouldn't be carrying a greatsword around for self-defence. A man so wanted so as to require the service of a greatsword or a spear should probably hire guards instead. There are far better options for going about in everyday life - that is, the huge assortment of sideswords available which should suffice for the purposes of defending oneself.
In Portugal, young boys would be given staves as a means of self-defence when travelling. Staves are not to be taken lightly at all, both figuratively and literally. A staff made of ash will easily bash someone's brains out with a well-placed strike and the English master Silver is right to warn us not to overlook it. Portuguese staff combat survives today in the practice of jogo do pau, which in use against multiple opponents is a wonderfully balletic show of force, as it still is to some extent in single combat.
Now oddly enough we come full circle - there is a lot of crossover between the way the staff is used in jogo do pau and the way a greatsword is used!
***** So true. I often feel that many people underestimate the sheer power and effectiveness of the stave/staff. Thanks again for sharing your insights!
+Ian Ho
Or be a guard or noble. Then you can carry what you like.
The 2 last ones are not Great Swords THOSE ARE WOODEN STICKS!!
GAME4WAR ...
That´s true
They are not sticks. They are sticks with crossguards!
@@marktresztian4467 and pommels!
On the Game Of Thrones Sir Gregor Clegan or "The Mountain" I think his sword is the great sword and he wields it like a fucking monster that he truly is.
I think his is more of a big longsword that he uses one-handed.
@Craneo 501kg!
your classification system would also despond's on the size of the welder. A taller man might be able to use what to you is a greatsword as if it were a longsword and a shorter man might only be able to use what to you is a longsword as if it were a greatsword.
Adam Lewitt you are right but wrong as well because if the sword "fits" the body size of the person then it then becomes a long sword while a great sword must be bigger than your body. see what i mean?
Yeah, this is what I don't like about this definition, it allows alot of subjectivity. If Hafthor Bjornson (The Mountain) can use it as the average man would use a longsword, is it a longsword as long as he wields it? Even if you stipulate that it depends on the capabilities of the average man, back in the medieval period people were much shorter, on average, than today. So was it a great sword then but a long sword now? Just too much wiggle room for my taste, though I do see his point.
A giant's longsword won't be the same size as a dwarf's longsword.
Not really that hard to understand once you start exaggerating the differences.
For a child, a dagger might as well be an arming sword, and a longsword a greatsword.
Definition of a great sword: its a THREEhanded sword. Just kidding.
"So, how do we classify this one?"
Just call it a "Very Longsword".... :D
MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH POLICE! "VERY," IS AN UNDERPERFORMING DESCRIPTOR.
A longer sword...
"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"
it takes 17 minutes to say, "This long."
Mudge that's youtuber logic to you XD
Its in the thumbnail.
Rush ha
Then why do you watch this channel
incredible to imagine the strength required to swing a sword of that size
Not too much more. Since it's always two handed. They never weighed more than 14 lbs or so despite what you might think it would weigh. Instead of putting strength into your muscles for the parrying and quick maneuvering of changing the direction of your long sword, you're doing much more simple, but devastating wide sweeps. I do imagine you'd get tired out faster, but if you do as he said and grip up on it ( as you would when the opponent closes distance as pole arm styled weapons are only so good when a group of soldiers wield them. 1v1 sword beats pole arm most of the time.
+J Kurayami 14lb would be way too heavy for a greatsword. 7lb is the heaviest they would be. Any more and you're looking at purely ceremonial ones.
. Of course average. I meant the max for like a huge guy with his large sword was recorded at 14. Which I don't find that heavy.
That's the weight of a German Longsword. I think we can extand this a bit more for the Greatsword.
A longsword is going to weigh at most 1.5kg (3.5lb) and a greatsword is going to weigh at most 3kg (about 7lb). There are historical examples of greatswords weighing 14lb+, but they were specifically designed to be ceremonial. Swords designed for combat aren't even going to approach that weight.
hold up... how did he hang the swords lmao
Yeah lol
i just noticed that, yeah wth
Probably with magnets?
Nails on the wall
I've been watching several of your videos now and they are all very well researched and presented. thank you!
It's an honest pleasure, sir!
Haha dude you're hilarious. Thanks for the video I'll be sure to subscribe and watch more!
Thanks mate, Hope you enjoy!
Unfckwi
Technically they are all long swords. They are swords and they are long
Thanks for the video, I learned something new today.
This was very educational. Thank you for making your points clearly and concisely.
This is one of the best historic podcast you made, along with sword terminology. Thank you for your enlighten information about sword definition.
So would a great sword become a long sword when used by Shaq
Yes... Imagine a giant's sword. unwieldable by us in normal means. It becomes our great sword. And our great sword becomes a normal sword to him. So for Shaq he would have a 7'2" or longer to be a greatsword
By similar logic, a human shortsword is a longsword for a hobbit? Would be interesting if that actually changed their fighting styles.
Amanda Davis The books agree. They give them human/elf daggers from old treasure to use as arming swords. This includes Sting (from the trolls loot in the Hobbit), and the sword used by Merry or Pippin to cut the heel of the Witch King (from an ancient burial mound between the forrest and Bri, where it was an enchanted dagger from the earliest fights against the Witch King).
Oh yeah I'd forgotten Sting was a dagger originally, same with the swords Merry and Pippen used. I can see why they had to cut the barrowdowns scenes from the movies, but they would have been very cool to see.
I tried to turn this video into a drinking game for whenever he says "sword"
So I counted.
He says that approx. 168 times...
Well - time to say goodbye to my liver!
Still there bud?
@@evosquad2474 I need to find out how many shots is there in an average whiskey and I will update ya how far I am
@Adrian Okinczyc Ah, I was just trying to see if you died from alcohol poisoning
@@evosquad2474 10 and a half Whiskey botles later... :P
@@cotyniepowiesz2 Jesus Christ I thought you died wtf happened
I'm actually really suprised on how much i'm learning from this channel, really informative!!
When it gets its act together and starts living up to its potential, that's when.
Important to know that the names of swords were different from region to region. We are stuck on a few names because they have come down to us through manuals. To me, the more important distinction is War Sword vs Dueling Sword. What we think of as a longsword is not something that would be taken into battle because it is too light. The longsword only existed for a short period of time and then quickly transitioned into the rapier. The light longsword can perform all the functions of a rapier. It is just that the rapier does it better. In the longsword manuals we see a guard know as longpoint. We see the techniques called Sprectfester,which is what rapier fencing is.
Now there are many war-swords that have the same exact length dimensions as a longsword. The significant factor here is that the blade will be thicker and slightly heavier. When looking at sword sizes, we often do not take into account the thickness of the blade which will have a significant impact on how hard the sword hits. A dueling sword meant for unarmored combat can be very light and still be over kill. That is why they quickly moved on to the rapier.
I love the toungue-in-cheer nod to how we're talking about inanimate objects :)
This one was especially interesting to me. Thanks, professor Shad. Great lesson! i got a lot out of it.
Brilliant video shad your contant is absolutely astonishing. Yours and the Metatron's. Thanks for the video and have a wonderful year.
Very informative video!
If anyone knows where I can get my hands on a practical/ sparring, steel greatsword. I'd ' greatly' appreciate it :3
Floyd Keim III
Hire a blacksmith, depending on grade of metal & finish-> maybe $3K-7K USD?
You condensed this quite well. Thank you!
I love watching truly passionate youtubers make videos about things they love even if they are things I wouldn’t normally watch
I think short swords are pretty great.
Daggers too
You both deserve it
If it is great then it becomes a greatsword
Yeah, if you're a dwarf.
Or if you wanna be faster
It seems, definition of the sword depends on the person using it.
Gregor Clegane could use your greatsword like a longsword.
Great video. Thank you!
Love this early stuff. Im going to try and watch them all.
8:51 when someone's coming at you and you can't get your sword out
OK, quick question: Would a Claymore (generally) be considered a Longsword based on these criteria, or is it a different beast, entirely?
Longsword
Richard Layton Yeah, guess you're right. Ok, that's what we should call the plus-size longswords from now on, Claymores!
NO! "Claymore"is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic "claidheamh" (sword), and "mor" (better, great, large, or big). What you're meaning by a claymore is the medieval two-handed sword, which was bigger than the single-handed swords that were more common. By the time of the 18th/19th century, the basket-hilted broadsword is the "claymore", because it's larger than the other swords of the day (sabres etc). Claymore is a horrible, horrible term for swords, please don't use it.
Joshua Bryant You could say that about any term, really. Plus, BOTH are historical terms, it just depends on the context. Still, I would like to know, what WOULD you prefer to call these swords?
Medieval "claymore" = longsword. 18th/19th century "claymore" = broadsword, I think. I'll double-check with my sword expert friend and get back to you.
love this guys videos!!
Great video about swords. Especially enjoyed learning about great swords. Fantastic.
you know i bet Great Swords are perfect for people the size of Shaq
I have several 'greatswords' by Del Tin, Lutel, and Regenyei, and they are similar in size to the 'extra long longsword' you have (perhaps a hair longer, they range from 1.55m-1.75m). However, they are too unwieldy to use with standard longsword techniques (I do longsword fencing). Although I agree that how the sword is used should determine the sword classification, a steel version of your wooden 'extra long longsword' would weigh atleast 4.5lb, if not 6lb+, and would be forced to be used with greatsword techniques, even though dimensionally, someone theoretically strong enough could still use it as a longsword. Great video though! subbed.
SchmoopyHD Thanks for letting me know mate, you're probably right about my wooden replica. I can't wait till I get my hands on a proper recreation and do some test of my own, but alas there's SO many swords on my to buy list ^_^
thank you, very enlighting and you just helped me to avoid a mistake purchasing the wrong sword for my liechtenauer fighting style.
Thank you for the video!!!!! GOD bless and keep you and JESUS loves you!!!!!
I agree with others here, your scale is entirely based on the height of the person. As I am 2.3m tall what would be a great-sword for you would be a long sword for me. Therefor, I propose that great-sword not be a classification at all. But that the person wielding it be classified as a great-swordsman. IE It is determined by the actual use.
So is Ice, the sword of house Stark from game of thrones, in your opinion a long sword and not a great sword? Looking at the size etc...
+Merlijn Yes I would call that one beasty as hell longsword, but still a longsword. It's most certainly on the limit and it also looks much wider then any truly practical sword would be. But hey, it's fantasy so they can get away with it and I say all power to them because the sword looks awesome!
+I am Shad It certainly looks awesome! Thanks for replying!
+Shadiversity Ice wasn't generally used in battle, was more of a ceremonial sword used to show the Starks power. It was mostly used at the heads men's block for Starks to execute prisoners
Ice looks almost too broad to be light enough to be used properly. If it was real it looks like it would be way heavier than most longswords, but heck maybe somebody could wield it properly. Jaime shouldn't have melted it down, should have kept it and gave it the mountain that rides.
I believe Valyrian steel is supposed to be lighter than any other steel, so as broad as Ice is it was probably lighter than you'd think. I think it definitely would've looked more impressive if it was just as broad, but as tall as Sean Bean like a proper greatsword. That would be a sword I could see having enough metal to make a whole arming sword and longsword out of.
BTW, it was Tywin who melted down Ice. The two swords he reforged from it he gave to Joffrey and Jamie.
Love those 3 Rules of them - I’ll put them to use when I make my next acquisition at the Renaissance Faire !
Very interesting to listen and funny to watch. I learned a lot about swords. I did not see the problem behind the greatsword being so long that it becomes a problem to handle. Nice.
sephiroths blade vs great sword lmao
I think you're somewhat incorrect. I don't think it's necessarily the size at all that determines the term used (longsword/greatsword) but the style and intended use of that sword. I would much rather call that example of an in-between a longsword for a tall person because its design tells me it is intended as such, but I think if I were to use it I would have to use it AS a greatsword in order to properly wield it. Therefore it is a longsword to me, because that's what I would call the design, but depending on the user (and specifically his or her height) its actual use might differ and I might not use it as intended. Same goes for the actual greatsword, if wielded by a very tall person who for that reason uses it as a longsword (and not as it is intended). The length of the sword cannot determine the purpose, because people of different heights need different sizes of swords and this must be taken into account; thus I must respectfully argue against your definitions and stick with my own reasoning on this matter.
Wow, that was some fancy writing. Thanks brain.
Also, I would like to suggest people choose a longsword/greatsword/sword-in-general that fits their height and reach instead of looking simply at the classifications of the sword in question. I would for instance be looking for a much smaller longsword than the guy down here saying he was 2.25m as I'm about 1.65m myself. Think of it as shoe sizes.
new favorite channel.
Fantastic, this helps me out greatly! Thanks 💛
So you say that a claymore is a long sword?
Claymores can vary in length but most I find to be longswords
Benjamin Arnold "claymore" is just Scottish Gaelic for "big sword".
That's why later Scottish basket hilted swords are also known as claymores, their blade is much wider than others of the time, making them bigger :)
in germany we rate the claymore as Zweihänder (greatesword) because you have to use two hands to use it.
Y'sure about that? Longswords are two handed as well, but certainly aren't Zweihander sort of size
SerAlgernop BlitzKrieger i never saw a two handed longsword, what you mean is what we call a "Anderthalbhänder" (bastardsword), and it is a own kind of Weapon, so a bastardsword is not a longsword and not a Greatesword, they called it Bastartschwert (bastardsword) because it was a mix of both weapons, you can use a bastardsword with one hand or with both hands or you just support it with your second hand by holding it at the pummle.
I got a nice romantic and reasonable standard for this threshold.
"If, when placed pommel on the ground, the tip rises past the users heart, it is a greatsword."
Yeah, basically the cutoff point can be suggestive relative to the height of the user.
Valid points sir. I am in agreement...
To be fair, people were on average shorter Back In The Day. That biggest longsword of yours, or the thing sold by Cold Steel, might well have been a greatsword for those guys.
Of course I have no idea how tall *you* are. If you're 1.7 metres tall that's one thing, and if you're 1.9 that's something else again.
In the renaissance they only went down by about 1 inch, medieval people were sometimes taller on average
@@TheCompleteMental If you look at any medieval buildings that have been preserved, you can see that they have much shorter doorways. So they definitely were smaller on average.
@@irarelyupload6930 Skeletons show they were 173-174cm tall on average in the 14th-15th centuries. Larger openings just reduce structural integrity
Its not about the size its how you use it :P
But the size determines how yo use it :P
+karn sXe nnnnoyessss
I definitely concur. I love your ideas of how to separate the Greatsword from the Longsword.
Really love your channel!! I want to be accurate with swords for my stories so thanks!!
Well here's my ramble...
An Arming sword is mainly for one handed use but theoretically it could be used with a two handed grip if you grab the pommel.
A Bastard Sword is less adapt for one handed use than an arming sword but offers better properties for two handed use.
A longsword can be used one handedly however considerably it's more adapt for two handed use.
This brings us to the shorter of your great wooden swords. I would consider this an oversized Longsword because of it's resemblance when compared as a two handed weapon. However if you would try and use a sword of it's proportions one handedly you would soon find it completely impractical for anything else but lunge trusts. So because of this I would consider it more of a great sword. Hm, Confusing indeed, hm hm.
Is it perhaps a great longsword? A tall man's sword? A not so great sword? Or perhaps a half great sword?
The label means little I think but since the particular one shown here resembles a longsword in form I would agree to calling it a large longsword at least.
PS. The thing about you reaching for an opponent while holding your sword behind you at about 10minutes in is a bit bollocks to be honest. You do not step onto your opponent leaving yourself open like that, there would be no point. At this point what you should do is to either step back and trust with your blade or preferably if you are in a duel you disguard your greatsword and pin him down with your body to finally end him with a rondel.
A Sword of War.
I was always under the impression that "longsword", "bastard sword", and "hand-and-a-half sword" were all just synonyms for the same range in sizes.
Ryan Cox A bastard sword is an arming sword length blade with a hilt long enough for both hands, while a longsword has a longer blade with a hilt long enough for both hands. Bastard swords and longswords that can be used in one hand are hand-and-a-half swords as they can be used in one hand or two.
I suppose it can be sold as great sword to smaller people.... Not everyoe is as tall as you, ladies....
I want to give my tiny gf the biggest greatsword I can find
a way my longsword instructor told me on how to recognize a longsword is that, when a standard handle-blade proportion is followed, the lenght of the handle is the same as your forearm, down to 2/3 your forearm, then it becomes a 1 and a half, when you can't have any part of your second palm holding the handle, it becomes an arming sword. A greatsword is when the whole weapon is as tall as you, with the handle being as long as your head, down to the shoulders and just reaching to your armpit, your rule of thumb is also a good way to spot the exact place when a longsword stops becoming such
Probably one of the best descriptions I have ever read for a longsword was one that I found in a translated treatise I was reading a few months ago. I forget which treatise it was, and the exact wording, but what it basically said was that the longest that a longsword can be comfortably used is when the tip touches the ground, that the pommel rests comfortably in the armpit, and that the handle should be roughly the length of your forearm. I noticed that the longsword you made to be the limit of what you considered to be a longsword was roughly these dimensions. With the little bit of fooling around I have done with sparring, I have found these measurements to be pretty accurate as well.
The "problematic" middle one is not a sword. Not a polearm. Not a greatsword. It is a wallhanger. The blade is so thick you, it is useless in combat. There is a reason zweihanders were thin.
Also, it could under no circumstances be considered a longsword. A longsword was, predominantly, a civilian sword, and rarely used for actual war. For that reason, longsword tend to be slicker, with a blade length around 105 cm-s. This thing here is completely overbuilt for a longsword. Please perform any historical longsword technique with it (no tthis one, but a steel version) and you will feel it. That is a two handed cleaver for all intents and purposes. The balance seems to be completely off.
Its made of wood, I don't think he plans on taking it into battle
Parker Krakowiak You didn't undertand me. The weapon's width dictates a weight that would be inmanagable if it was steel. Therefore it is unwieldy.
Horváth Benedek Again, wooden sword. It's not going to be thin like a real sword as it is not meant to cut, in fact it's meant to do the opposite. It's a training sword
Parker Krakowiak I didn't have issue with thickness, but width. You see, wooden practice equipment are thickened because wood is "weaker" than steel. However, if we examine the width, it is obvious that it mtters very little if we add an additional centimeter of width to the blade. If you have seen any historical pieces and practice equipment, you'd know that the width are usually identical, the difference occurs usually in the thickness of the weapon, and also that historical pieces are rarely that wide.
And BTW, how would you grab the ricasso if it is wider than your palm? see my problem?
I like to split longswords like this: If you can still use them with one hand and a shield, they're longswords. If they require two hands, they're two handers. Yes, it's my own personal classification and it has no basis in history, but i like to use it like that.
Watch a video about using a two-handed greatsword with one hand. What's the matter?
Actually, you make a good point: This also is about function of the sword: if you only can use it with two hands, you don't have a shield, so you have to hold any enemy away, or you're screwed
Roman Gogueshvili I think the video makes a good point. What you call a sword depends on the user as well. To give an extreme case, you might call Bilbo's Sting a single handed sword, but in actuality it was a dagger. Likewise, you might have a huge man wield a great sword with one hand, and a shield in the other. It's all about how they're being used, if you ask me.
Did you mean to call it an arming sword (instead of "single-handed")?
Anyway, this might make sense in certain games, where a weapon of some class is a lot larger and heavier than it is in the real life. If you are in a Giants' Land with all of the "citizens" extinct, all the weapons are meant for none but your use. Cristi Neagu
Roman Gogueshvili Well, seeing as how the definition of the term "arming sword" as used in present times refers to any single handed medieval sword... i think my use of the term was correct, if not more so, since Sting is not a medieval sword. Or dagger. But yes, that is what i meant.
And in games you don't get all the types of swords used in real life. You mostly have single handed and dual handed blades. You might have longswords, but most of the times they're used with one hand and a shield, so not really a longsword.
What i meant is that some situation might arise in which a person of smaller stature wielding something classed as a longsword might be unable to use it as a longsword due to their size. If you're constantly hitting the ground, it's not a very effective technique. They might need to use it as a greatsword, in wide swings. So the question is... if it's longsword sized but used as a greatsword... what is it?
That is probably why they had the middle grip. You could definitely do those moves from that point.
Interesting video.
"..do nice stabby things to them."
I my head I hear the voice of Trevor Phillips.
Rule of thumb I go by:
Is it two handed but can be effectively used one handed?
Yes: Longsword.
No: Greatsword.
Is it two handed, as tall or taller than you, and needs a new style of fighting to use?
Yes: Bearing-sword. And why are you using it? You're not Braveheart. There is literally no record it has ever been used in anything other than ceremonial functions.
+Kevin Dombrowski I totally agree!
Acording to other information, Greatswords tall than chin-height lose it weapon-funktion & used only to impress auditions with it's size.
+Kevin Dombrowski *"There is literally no record it has ever been used in anything other than ceremonial functions."*
Well hold on now. There's no record of literal _bearing swords_ being used for combat, but two-handers of that general size have indeed been used for combat. They just weren't bearing swords. A bearing sword, comparatively (even though it's the same length) would be far heavier and less practical.
For me it's mostly the same, the only difference is that a longsword should be above your belly button. At its largest the lower part of your neck. Everything that is above chin height is great sword. Anything in the middle can be both.
But then why is it called a great "sword" if it can't be used as a sword anymore...
why's a sea horse named a sea horse if its infact not a horse?
devin sword Because some scientist out there wanted to fuck with equestrian's heads.
Very informative video.
I just subscribed.
Why!??
Because I like your logic and thinking.
Please keep that up.
Thank you.
Humans were shorter back in the day. So reproductions that you wouldn't consider to be great swords today were likely great swords back then.
Sukuraidogai not as much as you have been led to believe, at least among European stock medieval people were just slightly shorter than modern but the people in between (start of cities and industry but before modern medicine) were shorter than their ancestors and their descendants.
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, lived 1390 - 1447, he fought at Agincourt with his brother King Henry V, and the interesting thing about him is that his body was was in an open tomb at St Albans, and while some of his remains were taken by pilgrims (causing his tomb to be sealed) there are enough bones, like leg and arm bones to be able to work out his height, and he was around 6 foot tall.
Henry the VIII has a suit of armour that showed that he was 6 foot 2 inches.
Richard II was about 6 foot tall
Richard III would have stood 5 foot 8 without his hunch
There is a period where the 'average' populace became shorter, but that was heavily dependant on diet, those who ate well grew tall, those who didn't and just ate certain food staples were generally shorter, this was true up until the 1800's when the industrial revolution brought a great deal of changes, one of which was agricultural and improved the diet of many, this is why since then people in the west have been getting taller as they have access to a wider variety of foods, and in greater quantities.
So there were tall people in the medieval periods, if they had access to rich foods, a variety of foods, and plenty of them, so mostly the Royalty and the Knights that had wealth and power (connections) if you were further down the pecking order then you made do with your small castle or small estate, you and your family got to be short arses and you made do with having yourself a short suit of armour made for your short self, while those with power and wealth stood a good foot taller than you.
that sword you pointed to when you said that it was the size of swords in Skyrim and D&D that are refered to as great swords is NOT the size refered to as a greatsword! that sword you point to at that moment is an excellent example of everything I would expect to see as a longsword in D&D. as an avid player of both I can assure you that you are either terribly mistaken or you misspoke without realizing it. there are, first off, no "longswords" in Skyrim at all there are commonly lengthed average "swords" and then the HUGE great swords. and in all editions of Dungeons & Dragons that I have played (since starting in AD&D 2ed back in 1994) the long sword has been (as many reenactors and historians will tell you) a somewhat "in-between" sword that can be effectively wielded one or 2 handed the 2 methods varying in effectiveness from individual to individual. and the greatsword is always a 2 handed weapon that is at a minimum 5' long in total (upwards of 6' in some instances) weighing roughly 6-10 pounds depending on size. D&D has always fairly accurately depicted it's weapons and armor, even if with a good bit of fantastical flare.
Now I can only speak about the 3.5th edition d&d, because that's the only one I'm familiar with, but in it's core rulebook it makes a very silly distiction where a longsword is a one-handed sword, a greatsword is two-handed, and the one that can be wielded either with one or two hands is called a bastard sword. What I personally do is rename all "longswords" arming swords, because that's what the rules are actually talking about. I'm curious to know if they named the swords better in other editions and why did they change it if they had it right.
+Blanco It is mostly the same in 5th edition, though it seems you can get a bonus with a longsword by using it two-handed. It also looks like the Bastard sword is a two-handed only martial weapon where the Greatsword is a heavy weapon. For roleplaying purposes though my character wields an arming sword since he brings a shield into battle, despite the game calling it a longsword.
Shad is right. Just ask yourself, which is the standard "sword and board" weapon in DnD? In all editions I have played (AD&D, 3e, and 3.5e) the answer has always been the "longsword". But longswords were not used with shields, that was what arming swords were for. Longswords were too large to be used effectively with a shield (just like DnD "greatswords", although you could monkeygrip them with a shield in a pinch, albeit at a penalty). This is why the longsword never gained popularity until the advent of plate armor that could offer protection similar to that of a shield, but with both hands free. The DnD "longsword" IS an arming sword, and the DnD "greatsword" IS a longsword. At least as far as core game mechanics are concerned. DnD got their terminology wrong, it happens.
This is my 8th video of yours, and now I'm a subscriber. Your gambeson video was the first one i saw.
Only after you level up your strength past 10.
The most "gentlemantic" and bored video outro I ve ever seen! Beautiful! Well done! I will come back and see other stuff that you make.
I like how you mounted the swords good video
Great video!
Arming sword to warsword: Tool/Weapon
Greatsword: *Dance partner*
I fully agree; a weapon that requires different technique to use will classify it as a different weapon. I like this criteria
I thought the only way to be sure was to ask a trusted sword-tailor to make you a scabbard to carry it on your hip, & if he says, "lol no I can't, that's a greatsword!" that's how you know
hahaha man i love ur outfit :D
youre a really good speaker!
fantastic video