In the Elder Scrolls games, broadswords tend to be as long as arming swords, but the blade is almost twice as wide. The practicality of that design is questionable, but the name certainly fits.
The sword is a sword. It's the swordiest sword in the entire history of swords. Once, I sword a sword, that was being held by a hobgoblin. I could have sword that swording bastard had four sword-arms. Then again, it could have been the ten pints of ale I had at the Four Swords.
Hah, wow. Hell, it's to be expected though, mentioning the very thing you are trying to literally describe when it has so many specifics and variations.
Mhm, and since this is a video trying to help people remove their misconception and misuse of the now umbrella term known as broadsword, I'd say that it was pretty reasonable a number.
When referring to the "actual" broadsword, I would prefer saying "basket hilt broad sword" because it is obviously pretty hard to miss understand that.
Although, the broadsword was also called a "claymore" by the Scots who used it, but that just adds even more confusion with the large two-handed sword commonly called a "claymore." Historical names versus modern names can create a lot of confusion.
+There Be Game I know. I have a copy of George Silver's "Paradoxes of Defence," and he refers to the backsword as a "short sword," and to the rapier as a "long sword".
The basket-hilted broadsword was not the first broadsword. If it was, people would have only had to say broadsword, as the basket hilt would have been obvious and implied. Broadswords were simply swords wider than one might expect for a standard "arming" sword. Hey, nice sword. You, too. It's pretty wide. That's a pretty broad sword.
Just like paper books were simply called books, analog clocks were just clocks, landline telephones were simply telephones, acoustic guitars were just guitars, etc... ;) It's called a "retronym" a new word to describe old technology with a more specific term to differentiate it from a newer technology...
Stein Gauslaa Strindhaug The problem is that it's a "borrowed retronym" because the word broadsword *was* used In the Rennaisance to describe a double-edged basket hilted (usually Scottish) cut-and-thrust sword (the one edged version was called a "backsword").
I've always grown up knowing the "Scottish basket-hilted sword" as the Claymore, used by the great Clan Chiefs and Jacobite rebels. But then I'm scottish, and I guess we use our own terminology for our own swords.
Quite a lot of arming sword blades were later used in the construction of basket hilt broadswords. Nobody wants to throw away a perfectly good blade that has withstood the test of time.
Hey, you seemed to be struggling a bit for a proper term for the type of taper you were describing with regard to the side sword. The term in my opinion and what I see used a lot is profile taper.
When i was younger i did call arming swords, broadswords because or roleplaying games where they where refered to as broadswords. There you basicly had shortswords, broadswords, longswords, bastardswords and 2 handed or greatswords. And back then most of my "knowledge" about swords came for roleplaying games. Now when i know a lot more than i did back then i automaticaly think about the scotish baskethilted sword as soon as i hear the word broadsword. Normally i do know what people mean when they use the word broadsword and mean armingsword. But i kinda has to make a mental change everytime i hear people refering to armingswords using the the word broadsword
Interesting video. I am clearly not a sword expert, but I always assumed that the term "broadsword" referred to a double edged sword with a wider - more cutting oriented - blade.
@@erojerisiz1571 What if "arming sword" meant "sword you're likely to be issued by an army in battle"? I mean. that's what it sounds like it means anyway.
Thank you for this video, I now 'get' rapiers. Since the blade is generally lighter and the hilt is heavier, the center of balance gets closer to your hand, and it becomes more like an extension of your arm. The speed of the tip (both slashing and thrusting) becomes more paramount and effective, versus arming swords that basically need to swivel at a point that's half a foot outside of where your physical body ends.
For what it's worth, the baskethilt broadsword need not be a _Scottish_ baskethilt broadsword. The English had broadswords, too, as did the Italians (and others). English and Scottish broadswords were quite similar, but the English used different hilts. Italian broadswords are better known as _schiavone_ (s. "schiavona"). So while it can be useful to refer to all broadswords as "baskethilt broadswords", it is somewhat unhelpful to refer to all broadswords as "Scottish baskethilt broadswords", as only one particular subset of broadswords were Scottish, and these carried a particular style of hilt.
My idea of a broad sword is a wide, straight, double edge sword. Around 3 to 4ft long with a straight guard. Basically a knight sword with a very wide viking blade.
Oh my gosh this changes so much! I actually thought the arming sword was called the broadsword, and when I looked at a picture of a swept hilt broadsword I called it a rapier because of the hilt! thank you so much!
Aren't most terminology for western swords kind of made in the modern world? ... Most people back in the day would just call their swords, their "sword" and if it was notably longer, they'd call it "Longsword". We came up with these modern terms later to distinguish one style from another. Right?
this has always been a tough one for me to understand, so thank you. I watched the movie vikings with Kirk Douglas as a kid (probably a great one for you to analyze, and it has a castle with multiple gates getting stormed at the end), and I grew up calling those viking swords broad swords. Similarly, in The Two towers when Aragorn asks the boy to hand him his sword, and Aragorn then flourishes it and hands it back remarking that it is a good sword, that is also very much what I think of as a broad sword. To me, broad swords have wide blades who's sides run parallel almost to the end, and then more of a rounded, less stab-focused point. They are definite choppers, long, may or may not have fullers, and generally appear to have a rounded tip. This is also how I grew up thinking about viking swords, and later medieval period swords with their pointy blades not only look ugly to me but just wrong.
Fun facts: In WWII, Lt. Col. Jack Churchill was known for leading his men into battle whilst carrying a Scottish broadsword in hand. The reason cited was that "An officer without his sword is improperly dressed." The same man also scored the last longbow kill in English war history, felling a German officer with a barbed arrow at the onset of a battle.
I'm not sure but another reason that the broadsword could have been refereed to as Scottish was that the Scots used to use heavy sticks with woven baskets to practice combat in the medieval period. I'm not sure on the time of the training but it would seem the idea for the sword could have come from the training weapon due to the basket being there so the trainees could take full swing at each other without causing harm to the hands of there opponents. Which in the context of the use of the sword could be more useful that earlier periods as swords got more accurate the chance of cross-guard catching a stab was becoming to low to contiue to be of use to the combats, and thus a larger guard might have been developed because whilst there are massive holes everywhere in the guard it was moving faster that the attacker could effectively aim at the weak points simlear to the baskets of the training swords. Also a note because I have handled a "reproduction" (well, it wasn't reproduced from a surviving artifact as I don't think there are any but the method is pretty simple and not hard to do and quite a few people still know how to make them though I'm not sure if that's from word of mouth or written down) that the baskets were surprisingly strong and without them I think not many people would come out of a hit to the hands without some harm. Just speculation and I have no idea if this is even slightly true or if it's just a coincidence? :)
Shad, in Spain, and Mostly wester Europe, the medieval sword that had a pointy end, was called a Thrusting Sword ("Estoque" in Spanish, which the same word can be used for the Rapier) and the ones which their blades look like Rapiers (the medieval ones), are called Skewer/Large Pin ("Espetón" in Spanish). Maybe the using of theese Spanish names can help? Also, in Catalonia there was an especialized Falcion used by the "Almogàvers" (something like the Catalan equivalent of Berserkers, which were a nomad tribe living in the Pirinée) called "Coltell" It's bassically a bigger knive that we use today for cutting big fish in the fish shops. Its first half was wide and convexed, and then the curve ends with a pointy end, and others just like a big fish-knife. It was like an "inversed" falcion. It would be nice if you made a revew about it! 3.bp.blogspot.com/_fG4L2dQKqx4/SwnaOkC5bII/AAAAAAAAAEY/DGX2NV85BGw/s1600/cortell+caspolino+2.jpg perso.ya.com/txibi/aquelarre/bracamante.jpg i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv41/almogavares-teruel/coltellnuevo.jpg 1.bp.blogspot.com/_fG4L2dQKqx4/Swneye1glYI/AAAAAAAAAGA/a_2JqrzjpyU/s1600/almogavar.jpg
I've been watching videos from Shad, Skall, Matt Easton and Loyd for a long time, but every time they talk about sword classifications my brain just turns off. I always find this topic incredibly convoluted.
Longsword, arming sword, bastard sword, hand a half sword, two hand sword, they called the same type of sword by different names depending on the region and era. It really doesn't matter. Broadsword is fine.
It seems that the arming sword is what the D&D longsword is supposed to be, and the "broadsword" is redundant, in that context..Because the D&D "longsword" is supposed to be a 1-handed cruciform, double-edged sword, which of course (as you've pointed out) isn't what a real longsword was.
SGT: the general's not going to like this. General : report SGT: their bailees have bailees, their towers have towers, their tower turrets have turrets, their gatehouses have gatehouses and their machicolations have machicolations! honestly Sir after seeing that half the men deserted on the spot and the other half need quality time with a therapist to get them to stop babbling and drooling
I've seen basket hilt broadswords often incorrectly referred to as claymores far too often. I kind of vomit in my mouth a little bit every time I encounter it and I try to make it a point to correct someone when I do. Sadly we can't fix stupid and I've encountered people who were so ignorant as to argue about it.
I think the big diference between a broadsword and a sidesword is not only the profile but the cross section as well, been the boadsword tipicaly lenticular or hexagonal which is more cut oriented while the sidesword diamond section is more thrust oriented.
just a question, what is the name of the type of sword gandalf uses in the 70's animated version (don't know how else to identify it). is it just an arming sword?
between Hollywood and RPG fantasy games, most people are given incredible amount of misinformation in these subjects for really no reason. I wish they would just check the damn sources and at least try being more accurate as to stop confusions like this from happening. excellent video btw, explains the difference very clearly for those who didn't know.
I wonder if some movie or video game based on a certain period, get everything right in terms of historical accuracy. Will people dislike it because in their mind it is inaccurate, because they believe what Hollywood has taught them.
in many cases people make names for things that did not have them. happens with WW2 weapons and vehicles to. things like Wolverine or long lance were made after the war.
In regards to the difference between the sidesword and the broadsword - these are not as similar as you make them out to be. Neither of them generally had "swept hilts" - the broadsword had a basket hilt, which is is both heavier and provides significantly greater coverage of the hand. By comparison, since the side sword was a transitionary weapon between the arming sword and the rapier, earlier ones had only a cross with rings above the cross for the fingers, and the classic side sword added only a knuckle bow to this. By the time you started to see more complex hilts on side swords, you were getting more into the early rapier period. The other thing to note is that the reason why we use different names for these two swords that were not really contemporary (the broadsword was a later weapon) is because at that point those swords both had very clearly defined names. "Side sword" is a translation of Italian "Spada di Lato", which is what it was referred to as by the bolognese sources, and "broadsword" is the name used for the basket hilted weapon. By comparison, there were no historical terms (that we know of) to distinguish between different arming sword designs.
To address the problem of naming, why not just get rid of words altogether and just use some sort of alphanumeric scheme where parts of the code refers to a certain features and combining them would describe the sword perfectly? Pretty much in a similar manner as to how chemists name organic molecules.
This may seem a peculiar question, but where do you get those stock images that are on white backgrounds? (Like from 2:09 to 2:18) I see you use them in a lot of videos and they are really nice and minimalist. PS. I develop a tabletop game that endeavors to use realistic wounding and weapon classification, so if they _are_ stock images you will be helping me out a lot!
Those are actually free to use images of Albion swords as posted on Wikipedia. If you go to Wikipedia and search Albion swords or google Wikipedia and Albion swords you should be able to find them. I spent like several hours downloading as many as I could find. Their super hi-rez and beautiful.
Odd, none of the people I know that talk about swords. Ever called an arming sword a broadsword. Nor do I associate the two other than blade profile. If someone says broadsword, I see the Scottish basket hilt and nothing else.
I think movies may have influenced this. You see them a lot in Rob Roy for example. I'm not to knowledgeable about current British military ceremonial decoration, but US Army officers might carry a ceremonial saber and occasionally an NCO will carry a ceremonial straight sword (I guess you could say it looks like a rapier). I'm sure there is something similar with the Brits, I just don't know what style swords they use, maybe the basket hilt broadsword for certain Scottish regiments?
I would have referred to a particular type of arming sword with an almost non-existant crossguard and a shorter yet broader blade as a broadsword - basically a larger roman Gladius. I don't know if these kinds of swords were ever widely used, but that's what they were called in our fantasy setting and they were popular among civilizations with a less advanced metallurgy
I remember reading that Broadswords were another word for claymores and other two-handers, but it could have been wrong. but if you want to argue medieval usage let me just point out that the only distinction they made between a longsword and a short sword was whether the blade looked long or short and nothing else. pretty much all of our terms for swords (Arming, zweihander, etc) are post-medieval
I dont think the term broadword refers only to the scotish style of basket hilted swords. In the video itself you show a schiavona which si an italian and dalmatian type of basket hilted sword. The bilbo sword is as well considered the spanish broadsword, and the walloon sword is basicaslly a germanic style of broadsword. All these swords are basket hilted double edge cut centric sword, aka, broadswords.
at the 7:02 mark, you show 3 baskethilts, 2 of which are correctly identified as broadswords, but the middle one technically is not a broad sword, it's a backsword, as it's only single edged.
I would assume that the men of the day would have simply called the place that we call broadsword and arming sword or a sidearm or even the service weapon possibly even so-and-so's standard Armory blade speaking of the Kingdom dictum or possibly even shier if it was a blacksmithing community, ( and you how the region where that blade is harrowed.)
Hey Shad, new to your channel, also pretty new to this wonderful hobby, I would love to see a review of some of the swords you frequently picture in your vids. Also, unless I am missing it, would love to see a review of some of the 300 give or take dollar range for someone just getting in ( what sometimes feels like over my head lol ) a tally purchasing swords, there are so many different choices and specs it hurts my brain. I personally am like 5'11, 160 lbs but that was due to illness,natural weight should be around 200, moderate strength, I don't work out but I would say I'm of slightly above average strength, but only slightly lol, and feel the bastard sword is best for me but I just want something that's not 1000dollars but will hold up well. Thanks Shad, you have tough me very much, and always make me laugh!!!
To me, "broadsword" never refered to medieval arming swords, but I take it as a general term for all double edged 16th-18th century swords with guard branches: scottish basket hilts, but also english basket hilts, schiavonas, wallones, (brass hilted) forte-épées, etc...
I originally thought broadsword ment just arming sword. After I started to learn a bit more about swords , I thought broadsword could refer to any straight double edged sword more optimised for slashing , but a few months ago I found out the ful truth. Something I think you should have mentioned is that the real broadsword (the basket hilt) is also called claymore, but in movies and games the word claymore is always associated with the scottish two handed sword.
If broad swords were of the Renaissance period. Can you show/give an example of an sword of Knights Templar (Poor Knights of Christ) of the Medieval Period? I have been under the impression that Knights Templar used a broad sword. Forgive me of being misinformed that for that I have just stumbled on to this channel.
Hey man, the "Brode-Sode" is a magnificent weapon, and a fine name for such a weapon. Just look at 'Hero Quest.' ua-cam.com/video/CRynOXfqWkk/v-deo.html
I thought that the "Broadsword"/"Scottish Basket hilted Broadsword", was the actually called the Claymore? all though, that is confusing, because the name Claymore also refers to a type of Great Sward, so Could you make a video clearing up the name Claymore? This is one that I've had many troubles warping my head around, and I've been trying to no avail to figure out what are the criteria that cause each one separately to be called Claymores. (different criteria I am assuming) I am especially confused with the great swards, because I have seen these not terribly long(for a great sward) swards with gigantic two layer crass guards, of so I am calling them, and I have seen swards called Celtic Great Swards/Claymors, that have very small cross guards(don't stick out very far.), and shorter handles(for being great swards). Could you clear up this confusion please. I feel that I have three very different swards here all under the same name. Thanks.
I thought Claymores were the big two handed swords (not sure if it's a long or great sword, but I thought the later) as seen in films lile Brave Heart and the first Highlander for example. Pop culture gives a lot of misinformation (for example calling a magazine a clip or how the gun community, news, and government can't seem to agree on what an "assault rifle" is.)
I totally like you insight views. From a journalistic standpoint they are just a bit lengthy. I don't think you would get fewer view if you shorten the vids a bit but spice them up instead a little. Don't get me wrong, informazion is up to scratch!
how much difference is between the Schianova and the scottish Broadsword? Is it okay to call all broadswords Schianova? Because I know the term Schianova much longer because of Assassin's Creed II.
It wasn't referred to as a broadsword in the Renaissance either. George Silver calls the basket-hilted backsword the short sword in Paradox of Defense... the term Broadsword is a much later term. Certainly it was in use during the 18th century maybe the late 17th as well. I would have to do a lot more research to give you a more solid date then that.
That first one looks more like a Longsword. Doesn't seem very broad. Im looking for a fat face of metal; like frogs sword in chrono trigger. If you don't understand that analogy, you probably wouldn't enjoy conversing with me in the first place. I need not explain.
You think confusing an arming sword and a broad sword is bad? On the Indiana Jones fan wiki page they call the sword that the 11th century crusader knight who guards the grail in the Last Crusade film a two handed sword. Even though the sword he has is clearly a type XII arming sword inspired by the Joyeuse sword! 😂
Why do people sometimes call the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword a claymore? Wasn't the claymore from an earlier period and much larger? Also, I was under the impression that the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword was a single edged weapon.
The word "claymore" derives from the Gaelic word for "big/great sword". Although now it commonly refers to the large Scottish two-handed swords from medieval times, there is evidence that the term "claymore" was originally used during the Renaissance period to refer to Scottish basket-hilted broadswords, which were large swords compared to the common rapier swords at the time.
I think first context! Second, to educate people u can always correct them. As long as u know what they mean with a broad sword or ask them do u mean this...? its fine to use the word broad sword. We aren't in medieval times anyway... but words are power and if u know the correct word for it, use it! Not just for swords but in general, just think of the fuss today if you use a word wrongly... for example crazy attacker or national extreamest or a popularised word, TERORIST. But in the case of swords, if u know people will be confused use the more known word. No harm done.
Hmm, should we then call these different forms of arming sword the same as their Renaissance equivalents, but put a "medieval" prefix to them? I mean, I heard the first point rather well; just thinking for identity's sake.
Wasn't there the same kind of thing with the "Short sword" or "small sword" ??? Never an official medieval term, but something that has evolved in the modern day... Correct me if I'm wrong
G'day, Yay Team, I fink Oi does underconstumble ! Words are Symbols for Concepts mate, and the smaller the Word the broader the meaning, so "Chair" being a single tiny word covers everything from a 1-Legged Milkmaid's Belted Stool, through Bentwood Austrian Rockers with Woven Cane Seats, all the way on up to a Martin-Baker Mk-10 Zero/Zero Ejection-Seat ; whereas "Diffuse Interstitial Pulmonary Alveolar Fibrosis" conveys very specific information... "Broadsword" is almost a small enough word to cover any oversized Butterknife appearing in the narrative... Have a good one, ;-p Ciao !
When you hear sword so much you start to question if it's a word
agreed. that's with most words when heard In repetition
Same here. Some words seem natural, but when I hear them over and over again they sound really made up.
If you take the plural ending for the word, word, and put it infront of the word, word, it becomes the SWORD!
Its like learning a new language.
Makes you realize how “weird” English actually is.
Its jamais vu
In the Elder Scrolls games, broadswords tend to be as long as arming swords, but the blade is almost twice as wide.
The practicality of that design is questionable, but the name certainly fits.
The sword is a sword. It's the swordiest sword in the entire history of swords. Once, I sword a sword, that was being held by a hobgoblin. I could have sword that swording bastard had four sword-arms. Then again, it could have been the ten pints of ale I had at the Four Swords.
😂😂😂😂😂
The word "sword" appears 129 times in this video.
Alexey Saranchev That's it?
Thomas Hazaz Yes, I counted by making a mark on the paper every time I've heard it. But I may be wrong by 2-3 less.
Hah, wow. Hell, it's to be expected though, mentioning the very thing you are trying to literally describe when it has so many specifics and variations.
Thomas Hazaz Oh, yes, those include every variations like "broadsword", "shortsword" and alike.
Mhm, and since this is a video trying to help people remove their misconception and misuse of the now umbrella term known as broadsword, I'd say that it was pretty reasonable a number.
When referring to the "actual" broadsword, I would prefer saying "basket hilt broad sword" because it is obviously pretty hard to miss understand that.
Although, the broadsword was also called a "claymore" by the Scots who used it, but that just adds even more confusion with the large two-handed sword commonly called a "claymore." Historical names versus modern names can create a lot of confusion.
+There Be Game I know. I have a copy of George Silver's "Paradoxes of Defence," and he refers to the backsword as a "short sword," and to the rapier as a "long sword".
"Claymore" simply meant "big sword" (from Gaelic _claidheamh-mòr_).
Benni Bodin Jagell misunderstand*
The basket-hilted broadsword was not the first broadsword. If it was, people would have only had to say broadsword, as the basket hilt would have been obvious and implied. Broadswords were simply swords wider than one might expect for a standard "arming" sword.
Hey, nice sword.
You, too. It's pretty wide. That's a pretty broad sword.
Here's a drinking game for the suicidal: take a shot whenever he says: "sword."
lol
We're talking about swords here so duh
Down the hatch am I right
OH NO
129 shots
Just like paper books were simply called books, analog clocks were just clocks, landline telephones were simply telephones, acoustic guitars were just guitars, etc... ;)
It's called a "retronym" a new word to describe old technology with a more specific term to differentiate it from a newer technology...
Stein Gauslaa Strindhaug The problem is that it's a "borrowed retronym" because the word broadsword *was* used In the Rennaisance to describe a double-edged basket hilted (usually Scottish) cut-and-thrust sword (the one edged version was called a "backsword").
Paper books are called "paper" books because they stopped using pig skin for pages. Anything that does not fold is not a book in my eyes.
@@paulgaunt9881 If it folds itt is a roman codex style book. Books were made in different forms.
I have learnt more from these four comments than I have in this past week's classes at school. Jeez
D812_ Do your homework
If it ain't got a basket hilt, it ain't a Broadsword!
you should take a look at this drawing upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Broadswords.JPG
I've always grown up knowing the "Scottish basket-hilted sword" as the Claymore, used by the great Clan Chiefs and Jacobite rebels. But then I'm scottish, and I guess we use our own terminology for our own swords.
A Claymore is a longsword
@@Fishbiene actually no, it's a the name for a scottish broadsword type.
Aye
@@ryanrutten924 i thought it was a greatsword 😢
@@FishbieneIt is a Great Sword, not a Long Sword.
Quite a lot of arming sword blades were later used in the construction of basket hilt broadswords. Nobody wants to throw away a perfectly good blade that has withstood the test of time.
Hey, you seemed to be struggling a bit for a proper term for the type of taper you were describing with regard to the side sword. The term in my opinion and what I see used a lot is profile taper.
That's a good term, thanks heaps for suggesting it, I'll definitely use it in the future. Here, have a cookie ^_^
Earthsea
I thought Broadswords were swords used by women.
Your broad has a nice looking broad.
My ex's name was named Katana or something along that, so I just called them broadsword
Did she got your back? Would you advise not getting killed by her? Did her sword trap the souls of its victims?
@@alextrill5829 Is that a Batman reference?
@@theatricaldragon9766 Suicide Squad reference
When i was younger i did call arming swords, broadswords because or roleplaying games where they where refered to as broadswords. There you basicly had shortswords, broadswords, longswords, bastardswords and 2 handed or greatswords. And back then most of my "knowledge" about swords came for roleplaying games.
Now when i know a lot more than i did back then i automaticaly think about the scotish baskethilted sword as soon as i hear the word broadsword. Normally i do know what people mean when they use the word broadsword and mean armingsword. But i kinda has to make a mental change everytime i hear people refering to armingswords using the the word broadsword
Reddokk Fheg legend of dragoon?
When Deadliest Warrior called William the Conqueror’s sword as a “Norman Broadsword” and the Knight’s sword as a “broadsword” I got suspicious.
another amazing vid added to the TRUTH series, thanks so much Shad!! :D
It truly is an honour sir. It's so awesome that you like them so much ^_^
the honor is all ours - the viewers :D
Interesting video. I am clearly not a sword expert, but I always assumed that the term "broadsword" referred to a double edged sword with a wider - more cutting oriented - blade.
It just grinds my gears when people call it a broadsword. Especially when it's just a normal width arming sword.
What about referring to them as Cross-Hilted Broadsword and Basket-Hilted Broadsword, respectively?
@@erojerisiz1571
What if "arming sword" meant "sword you're likely to be issued by an army in battle"? I mean. that's what it sounds like it means anyway.
Thank you for this video, I now 'get' rapiers. Since the blade is generally lighter and the hilt is heavier, the center of balance gets closer to your hand, and it becomes more like an extension of your arm. The speed of the tip (both slashing and thrusting) becomes more paramount and effective, versus arming swords that basically need to swivel at a point that's half a foot outside of where your physical body ends.
For what it's worth, the baskethilt broadsword need not be a _Scottish_ baskethilt broadsword. The English had broadswords, too, as did the Italians (and others). English and Scottish broadswords were quite similar, but the English used different hilts. Italian broadswords are better known as _schiavone_ (s. "schiavona"). So while it can be useful to refer to all broadswords as "baskethilt broadswords", it is somewhat unhelpful to refer to all broadswords as "Scottish baskethilt broadswords", as only one particular subset of broadswords were Scottish, and these carried a particular style of hilt.
You apply a lot of emotion to linguistics
My idea of a broad sword is a wide, straight, double edge sword. Around 3 to 4ft long with a straight guard. Basically a knight sword with a very wide viking blade.
Oh my gosh this changes so much! I actually thought the arming sword was called the broadsword, and when I looked at a picture of a swept hilt broadsword I called it a rapier because of the hilt! thank you so much!
Shad is ruining my childhood one video at a time. But I will always come back for more.
Aren't most terminology for western swords kind of made in the modern world? ... Most people back in the day would just call their swords, their "sword" and if it was notably longer, they'd call it "Longsword". We came up with these modern terms later to distinguish one style from another. Right?
I absolutely love when someone takes the time and attention to teach proper usage of terms
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Brought to you by me beating my wife with a spatula
this has always been a tough one for me to understand, so thank you.
I watched the movie vikings with Kirk Douglas as a kid (probably a great one for you to analyze, and it has a castle with multiple gates getting stormed at the end), and I grew up calling those viking swords broad swords. Similarly, in The Two towers when Aragorn asks the boy to hand him his sword, and Aragorn then flourishes it and hands it back remarking that it is a good sword, that is also very much what I think of as a broad sword. To me, broad swords have wide blades who's sides run parallel almost to the end, and then more of a rounded, less stab-focused point. They are definite choppers, long, may or may not have fullers, and generally appear to have a rounded tip. This is also how I grew up thinking about viking swords, and later medieval period swords with their pointy blades not only look ugly to me but just wrong.
Fun facts: In WWII, Lt. Col. Jack Churchill was known for leading his men into battle whilst carrying a Scottish broadsword in hand. The reason cited was that "An officer without his sword is improperly dressed."
The same man also scored the last longbow kill in English war history, felling a German officer with a barbed arrow at the onset of a battle.
Ya know Italians really knew how to make broadswords, like they have some of the most beautiful broadswords from the Renaissance
I'm not sure but another reason that the broadsword could have been refereed to as Scottish was that the Scots used to use heavy sticks with woven baskets to practice combat in the medieval period. I'm not sure on the time of the training but it would seem the idea for the sword could have come from the training weapon due to the basket being there so the trainees could take full swing at each other without causing harm to the hands of there opponents. Which in the context of the use of the sword could be more useful that earlier periods as swords got more accurate the chance of cross-guard catching a stab was becoming to low to contiue to be of use to the combats, and thus a larger guard might have been developed because whilst there are massive holes everywhere in the guard it was moving faster that the attacker could effectively aim at the weak points simlear to the baskets of the training swords. Also a note because I have handled a "reproduction" (well, it wasn't reproduced from a surviving artifact as I don't think there are any but the method is pretty simple and not hard to do and quite a few people still know how to make them though I'm not sure if that's from word of mouth or written down) that the baskets were surprisingly strong and without them I think not many people would come out of a hit to the hands without some harm. Just speculation and I have no idea if this is even slightly true or if it's just a coincidence? :)
im just starting to get into HEMA but i always thought of a broadsword as more of a two handed sword. or at least not the typical arming sword
Shad, in Spain, and Mostly wester Europe, the medieval sword that had a pointy end, was called a Thrusting Sword ("Estoque" in Spanish, which the same word can be used for the Rapier) and the ones which their blades look like Rapiers (the medieval ones), are called Skewer/Large Pin ("Espetón" in Spanish). Maybe the using of theese Spanish names can help?
Also, in Catalonia there was an especialized Falcion used by the "Almogàvers" (something like the Catalan equivalent of Berserkers, which were a nomad tribe living in the Pirinée) called "Coltell" It's bassically a bigger knive that we use today for cutting big fish in the fish shops. Its first half was wide and convexed, and then the curve ends with a pointy end, and others just like a big fish-knife. It was like an "inversed" falcion. It would be nice if you made a revew about it!
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I've been watching videos from Shad, Skall, Matt Easton and Loyd for a long time, but every time they talk about sword classifications my brain just turns off. I always find this topic incredibly convoluted.
Longsword, arming sword, bastard sword, hand a half sword, two hand sword, they called the same type of sword by different names depending on the region and era. It really doesn't matter. Broadsword is fine.
It seems that the arming sword is what the D&D longsword is supposed to be, and the "broadsword" is redundant, in that context..Because the D&D "longsword" is supposed to be a 1-handed cruciform, double-edged sword, which of course (as you've pointed out) isn't what a real longsword was.
Broadsword...
Basically a Arming Sword wanting to be a rapier...
SGT: the general's not going to like this.
General : report
SGT: their bailees have bailees, their towers have towers, their tower turrets have turrets, their gatehouses have gatehouses and their machicolations have machicolations! honestly Sir after seeing that half the men deserted on the spot and the other half need quality time with a therapist to get them to stop babbling and drooling
I would say the venecian renaissance Cinquedea is a broad sword. Unless it is to short for being called a sword, so it is then a broad dagger.
I've seen basket hilt broadswords often incorrectly referred to as claymores far too often. I kind of vomit in my mouth a little bit every time I encounter it and I try to make it a point to correct someone when I do. Sadly we can't fix stupid and I've encountered people who were so ignorant as to argue about it.
I think the big diference between a broadsword and a sidesword is not only the profile but the cross section as well, been the boadsword tipicaly lenticular or hexagonal which is more cut oriented while the sidesword diamond section is more thrust oriented.
just a question, what is the name of the type of sword gandalf uses in the 70's animated version (don't know how else to identify it). is it just an arming sword?
I don’t understand why this matters. Most of the plate armor Shad talks about comes from the Renaissance, not the medieval period.
between Hollywood and RPG fantasy games, most people are given incredible amount of misinformation in these subjects for really no reason. I wish they would just check the damn sources and at least try being more accurate as to stop confusions like this from happening. excellent video btw, explains the difference very clearly for those who didn't know.
I wonder if some movie or video game based on a certain period, get everything right in terms of historical accuracy. Will people dislike it because in their mind it is inaccurate, because they believe what Hollywood has taught them.
farrex0 that would actually be interesting to find out.
in many cases people make names for things that did not have them. happens with WW2 weapons and vehicles to. things like Wolverine or long lance were made after the war.
In regards to the difference between the sidesword and the broadsword - these are not as similar as you make them out to be. Neither of them generally had "swept hilts" - the broadsword had a basket hilt, which is is both heavier and provides significantly greater coverage of the hand. By comparison, since the side sword was a transitionary weapon between the arming sword and the rapier, earlier ones had only a cross with rings above the cross for the fingers, and the classic side sword added only a knuckle bow to this. By the time you started to see more complex hilts on side swords, you were getting more into the early rapier period. The other thing to note is that the reason why we use different names for these two swords that were not really contemporary (the broadsword was a later weapon) is because at that point those swords both had very clearly defined names. "Side sword" is a translation of Italian "Spada di Lato", which is what it was referred to as by the bolognese sources, and "broadsword" is the name used for the basket hilted weapon. By comparison, there were no historical terms (that we know of) to distinguish between different arming sword designs.
To address the problem of naming, why not just get rid of words altogether and just use some sort of alphanumeric scheme where parts of the code refers to a certain features and combining them would describe the sword perfectly? Pretty much in a similar manner as to how chemists name organic molecules.
It's called the Oakshotte Typology.
This may seem a peculiar question, but where do you get those stock images that are on white backgrounds? (Like from 2:09 to 2:18) I see you use them in a lot of videos and they are really nice and minimalist.
PS. I develop a tabletop game that endeavors to use realistic wounding and weapon classification, so if they _are_ stock images you will be helping me out a lot!
Those are actually free to use images of Albion swords as posted on Wikipedia. If you go to Wikipedia and search Albion swords or google Wikipedia and Albion swords you should be able to find them. I spent like several hours downloading as many as I could find. Their super hi-rez and beautiful.
Thanks so much!
Odd, none of the people I know that talk about swords. Ever called an arming sword a broadsword. Nor do I associate the two other than blade profile. If someone says broadsword, I see the Scottish basket hilt and nothing else.
Same here... always just arming sword or one handed sword.
Scottish? It was used everywhere in Europe, from schiavonas to Prussian cuirrassiers charging at Leibzig x)
I think movies may have influenced this. You see them a lot in Rob Roy for example. I'm not to knowledgeable about current British military ceremonial decoration, but US Army officers might carry a ceremonial saber and occasionally an NCO will carry a ceremonial straight sword (I guess you could say it looks like a rapier). I'm sure there is something similar with the Brits, I just don't know what style swords they use, maybe the basket hilt broadsword for certain Scottish regiments?
RPGs systems always get these things wrong. I'd love to see more videos like this.
I would have referred to a particular type of arming sword with an almost non-existant crossguard and a shorter yet broader blade as a broadsword - basically a larger roman Gladius. I don't know if these kinds of swords were ever widely used, but that's what they were called in our fantasy setting and they were popular among civilizations with a less advanced metallurgy
I remember reading that Broadswords were another word for claymores and other two-handers, but it could have been wrong. but if you want to argue medieval usage let me just point out that the only distinction they made between a longsword and a short sword was whether the blade looked long or short and nothing else. pretty much all of our terms for swords (Arming, zweihander, etc) are post-medieval
Those different sword classes can get incredibly confusing in a setting where all of them exist at the same time.
I dont think the term broadword refers only to the scotish style of basket hilted swords. In the video itself you show a schiavona which si an italian and dalmatian type of basket hilted sword. The bilbo sword is as well considered the spanish broadsword, and the walloon sword is basicaslly a germanic style of broadsword. All these swords are basket hilted double edge cut centric sword, aka, broadswords.
at the 7:02 mark, you show 3 baskethilts, 2 of which are correctly identified as broadswords, but the middle one technically is not a broad sword, it's a backsword, as it's only single edged.
I would assume that the men of the day would have simply called the place that we call broadsword and arming sword or a sidearm or even the service weapon possibly even so-and-so's standard Armory blade speaking of the Kingdom dictum or possibly even shier if it was a blacksmithing community, ( and you how the region where that blade is harrowed.)
Hey Shad, new to your channel, also pretty new to this wonderful hobby, I would love to see a review of some of the swords you frequently picture in your vids. Also, unless I am missing it, would love to see a review of some of the 300 give or take dollar range for someone just getting in ( what sometimes feels like over my head lol ) a tally purchasing swords, there are so many different choices and specs it hurts my brain. I personally am like 5'11, 160 lbs but that was due to illness,natural weight should be around 200, moderate strength, I don't work out but I would say I'm of slightly above average strength, but only slightly lol, and feel the bastard sword is best for me but I just want something that's not 1000dollars but will hold up well. Thanks Shad, you have tough me very much, and always make me laugh!!!
To me, "broadsword" never refered to medieval arming swords, but I take it as a general term for all double edged 16th-18th century swords with guard branches: scottish basket hilts, but also english basket hilts, schiavonas, wallones, (brass hilted) forte-épées, etc...
That was completely logical and backed up by writings from that time.
Also what about a leaf shaped blade? Would that or should that be called a broadsword?
I originally thought broadsword ment just arming sword. After I started to learn a bit more about swords , I thought broadsword could refer to any straight double edged sword more optimised for slashing , but a few months ago I found out the ful truth. Something I think you should have mentioned is that the real broadsword (the basket hilt) is also called claymore, but in movies and games the word claymore is always associated with the scottish two handed sword.
This is one reason why I love Berserk, it's very realistic to what people would use and call them
I didn't know that a part of me was missing until I learned these sword facts. I am whole now.
There were many different swords all by different names such as the Longsword and rapier or greatswords all of which existed in mid evil times
Hey shad, why was it called a back sword? I'm fairly certain that it isn't because it draws from the back because that doesn't really work
A back sword is basically a single edged broadsword where most of the backside is blunt. Shad does have a video about single vs double edge swords.
If broad swords were of the Renaissance period. Can you show/give an example of an sword of Knights Templar (Poor Knights of Christ) of the Medieval Period? I have been under the impression that Knights Templar used a broad sword. Forgive me of being misinformed that for that I have just stumbled on to this channel.
So, what's the difference between the backsword and the broadsword?
i love watching this even thought i just find myself going away thinking i knew all that
Hey man, the "Brode-Sode" is a magnificent weapon, and a fine name for such a weapon. Just look at 'Hero Quest.'
ua-cam.com/video/CRynOXfqWkk/v-deo.html
I thought that the "Broadsword"/"Scottish Basket hilted Broadsword", was the actually called the Claymore? all though, that is confusing, because the name Claymore also refers to a type of Great Sward, so Could you make a video clearing up the name Claymore? This is one that I've had many troubles warping my head around, and I've been trying to no avail to figure out what are the criteria that cause each one separately to be called Claymores. (different criteria I am assuming)
I am especially confused with the great swards, because I have seen these not terribly long(for a great sward) swards with gigantic two layer crass guards, of so I am calling them, and I have seen swards called Celtic Great Swards/Claymors, that have very small cross guards(don't stick out very far.), and shorter handles(for being great swards). Could you clear up this confusion please. I feel that I have three very different swards here all under the same name.
Thanks.
I thought Claymores were the big two handed swords (not sure if it's a long or great sword, but I thought the later) as seen in films lile Brave Heart and the first Highlander for example. Pop culture gives a lot of misinformation (for example calling a magazine a clip or how the gun community, news, and government can't seem to agree on what an "assault rifle" is.)
Returned for the video after reading about Taigo retrieving three old broadswords from the chest :)
I totally like you insight views. From a journalistic standpoint they are just a bit lengthy. I don't think you would get fewer view if you shorten the vids a bit but spice them up instead a little.
Don't get me wrong, informazion is up to scratch!
how much difference is between the Schianova and the scottish Broadsword? Is it okay to call all broadswords Schianova? Because I know the term Schianova much longer because of Assassin's Creed II.
1:11 No, I can prove wrong: *SUPPRESSOR OR SILENCER?*
Thank you for the corrective. As an aside, it's hard to watch this without hearing Richard Burton saying, "Broadsword calling Danny boy."
Hey Shad, do you have any recommendations for a *reliable* producer of european blades besides Albion?
Also, do you have an opinion on KultOfAthena?
It wasn't referred to as a broadsword in the Renaissance either. George Silver calls the basket-hilted backsword the short sword in Paradox of Defense... the term Broadsword is a much later term. Certainly it was in use during the 18th century maybe the late 17th as well. I would have to do a lot more research to give you a more solid date then that.
That first one looks more like a Longsword. Doesn't seem very broad. Im looking for a fat face of metal; like frogs sword in chrono trigger. If you don't understand that analogy, you probably wouldn't enjoy conversing with me in the first place. I need not explain.
generally, people don't talk or think about swords as u think they do.
I've heard the word sword too many times now and it doesn't make sense anymore.
Drinking game - take a drink each time you hear "sword".
That is why we use Oakeshott system for classification of swords.
You think confusing an arming sword and a broad sword is bad? On the Indiana Jones fan wiki page they call the sword that the 11th century crusader knight who guards the grail in the Last Crusade film a two handed sword. Even though the sword he has is clearly a type XII arming sword inspired by the Joyeuse sword! 😂
I feel this way about "Damascus steel." I can't call pattern welded steel "Damascus" anymore.
Just imagine if we called rapiers "narrow sword"
Actually, rapier come from "Râper" in french, which mean scratching, grating.
I find it even more fun : a sword that is called "scratcher"
Old video so Ill probably be lost but... what is your opinion on the validity of the naginata's female-trend?
Why do people sometimes call the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword a claymore? Wasn't the claymore from an earlier period and much larger? Also, I was under the impression that the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword was a single edged weapon.
claymore means "great sword" just like "Malcolm Canmore" means Malcolm great-cheif
The word "claymore" derives from the Gaelic word for "big/great sword". Although now it commonly refers to the large Scottish two-handed swords from medieval times, there is evidence that the term "claymore" was originally used during the Renaissance period to refer to Scottish basket-hilted broadswords, which were large swords compared to the common rapier swords at the time.
It would be cool for him to do one of these for a chain made
I think first context! Second, to educate people u can always correct them. As long as u know what they mean with a broad sword or ask them do u mean this...? its fine to use the word broad sword. We aren't in medieval times anyway... but words are power and if u know the correct word for it, use it! Not just for swords but in general, just think of the fuss today if you use a word wrongly... for example crazy attacker or national extreamest or a popularised word, TERORIST. But in the case of swords, if u know people will be confused use the more known word. No harm done.
Hmm, should we then call these different forms of arming sword the same as their Renaissance equivalents, but put a "medieval" prefix to them? I mean, I heard the first point rather well; just thinking for identity's sake.
What about a very very very wide arming sword?
hey shad do you want to know my favorite sword of all time the Khopesh
Wasn't there the same kind of thing with the "Short sword" or "small sword" ??? Never an official medieval term, but something that has evolved in the modern day...
Correct me if I'm wrong
G'day,
Yay Team, I fink Oi does underconstumble !
Words are Symbols for Concepts mate, and the smaller the Word the broader the meaning, so "Chair" being a single tiny word covers everything from a 1-Legged Milkmaid's Belted Stool, through Bentwood Austrian Rockers with Woven Cane Seats, all the way on up to a Martin-Baker Mk-10 Zero/Zero Ejection-Seat ; whereas "Diffuse Interstitial Pulmonary Alveolar Fibrosis" conveys very specific information...
"Broadsword" is almost a small enough word to cover any oversized Butterknife appearing in the narrative...
Have a good one,
;-p
Ciao !
Wasn't the Schiavona also a broadsword? Or was it a sidesword?
I guess that's what the Oakshot typology is for.
I had always thought of a broadsword as a large two handed broad bladed medieval cruciform style sword
Excellent explaination. Thanks for the effort and information.
If your wife tells you to pick up a broadsword, you might say to the vendor: "That was the broad's word!".
Only in our cushy and comfortable modern society can we bicker over the names and minutia of swords.
If you want to play a drinking game, take a shot every time he says sword😄😄