Back Scabbards For Swords - Can They Work? Is There A Much Better Option?
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
- Back scabbards for swords are featured a LOT in movies, TV and video games. But historically they were barely used at all. Can they even work? Are other options better?
Nate's video: / @natev-swordsavvy
I have also covered some historical examples of swords worn on backs previously: • Back Scabbards in Chin...
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Hi Matt,
I made the scabbards for Geralt in Witcher 1 and 2 and these were designed in conjunction with the armourer to work in a very specific way. As you point out, wearing scabbards on the back was basically not done, because it basically doesn't work.
That said, we very specifically wanted it to work, so tried very hard to do so or at the least make it plausible. The exact details are complicated, but the scabbard needs to be fitted to a harness that holds it in the correct place and does not slide down, so was anchored to the belt front and back. It needed an articulated section at the top near the shoulder to allow the blade to pivot front and back, but not to move laterally and only the tip of the sword was covered, but the edges were encased in a channel to make it safe. The blade was already destined to be fairly short and so this arrangement worked - it really did. It would not have worked with a true longsword.
It worked, but was it nicer and better to use than wearing on the hip? - no way
That's very interesting because at least in the witcher books I have read(I have not read them all) only witchers wear swords on their backs. There are even idle comments in both the second and third game by soldiers how weird it is that Geralt wears his swords on this back and in the third game there is also a whole scene about how complicated his harness so he can draw his two swords.
How come the witcher crew wanted Geralt's swords to be so short? A proper longsword like in the games would have been so much cooler in my opinion.
@@howitzer551 Since you haven't read all of the books I won't spoil too much, but in the last one, Lady of The Lake, chapter 12, when Geralt visits Rivia, there are young ruffians (about 12 of them mentioned) that also wear swords on their backs. One of those was Nadia Esposito.
Because of the description - leather jackets with silver studs, a headband, sword on the back - it's sort of implied that the Rivian youth criminals imitate the style of famous Geralt of Rivia (who generally dresses like that), but it isn't said outright.
@@lostmarimo Games had literally nothing to do with the books. It was pure, dumbed down hack & slash. Add comically stupid sword design in games and the fact that in real life swords don't teleport out of the scabbard and you can see why everyone ignored them...
Thanks Tod! I didn't know you'd done the Witcher scabbard... but now that I think about it I should have of course reaslised you did!! Thanks for sharing these details, really cool stuff.
I'd love more info on 'tactical' historical wear, like pouches, bags, etc worn in conjunction with historical arms (and armor).
Now that sounds interesting.
Oh yeah that sounds super interesting. Inspiring for RPGs😁
Agreed.
Though there is a smallish channel called fandabi dozi (I think, going by memory) by a Scottish guy. Who is trying assemble traditional Scottish gear.
He has some good stuff 👍
30 clip automatic crossbolt quivers?
Jim Lee is salivating at the chance to draw leg pouches on William of Orange.
Decades from now, Matt Easton is lying on his deathbed surrounded by friends and loved ones. His eyes slowly begin to close. Hands are clutched tight, tears begin to well in eyes. The only sound is the ping of the cardiogram.
Suddenly, his eyes snap open. "Wait, I just had more thoughts about back scabbards!"
50 years after his passing some local council will make a public statue of him for memory. With a backscabbard.
Another advantage for drawing from your back, which is rarely mentioned, is that, being closer to your ear, you can hear the "schwing" much clearer as you pull the sword out.
"modern people think swords on back look cool" Also, as Tod from Tod's Armory explained, swords on back is more convenient for TV show and film makers. As well as being out of the way, they will move around less and so present less continuity issues between takes.
That is an interesting point but really doesn't do anything to explain the prevalence of swords on the back in video games. Though I guess you could argue there's less potential for clipping on clothing and stuff there...
As I said on Tod's video comments, his point about swords on the hip limiting certain types of movement shows exactly the sort of thinking which is a problem in modern movies.
If wearing the costume and equipment correctly alters how you move, then there is a good chance that that is how you should be moving. Rather than altering the costume and equipment.
People used to wearing a sword in their hip adapt. They do things like casually resting a hand on the pommel while moving about to stop it snagging and to keep track of where the point is.
Things like that are good for characterisation.
Where would westerns be without the characteristic "I've been on a horse too long" waddle and the different way you walk while wearing spurs?
@@AlanGChenery The thinking Tod pointed out, as reported by Christophinns above, isn't about not wanting to change how they move to accomodate the gear, so changing the gear instead. It's about the way "properly"-worn equipment moves causing cinematological problems. If Joe the Hero is standing there with his sword at his hip, then you cut to a different angle to disguise the fact that parts of the scene were shot in two different takes, then there's already a ton of variables that have to be gotten right to avoid making an internet list of movie mistakes, such as where the sun is, what the actors are wearing, etc. Most of those aren't actually too hard to account for, but they still have to be accounted for. If Joe the Hero was standing there before the jump-cut with his sword at his hip, and the tip swung outward, then the tip had better not swing inward just as the second take gets to the point of the camera-angle switch. If the plot requires his hands be anywhere other than on the pommel, then that becomes a much more difficult variable to get right than something like making sure the actor didn't wear a glove they weren't wearing yesterday.
@@kevadu In videogames it is more of animation problem as sword in the back is more stable and can just be added to any running animation and it mostly just sits there. If you would add it to the hip you'd have to animate the scabbard wobbling around while running. Also as many many games tend to use very very oversized weaponry if you mount it to the back means you can just put any weapons there and it kind of works and that 2m long katana doesn't poke through ground on most occasions. You can just but anykind of weapon were it sword, bow, staff, musket, daneaxe to the back and it does kind of works, especially as us gamers have been so used to the weapons being on the back we never questin it.
@@overlow91 Veryg ood points regarding weapons in video games.
One point I'd like to add: I think another reason may be that many fantasy RPGs (where this 'problem' is widespread) use weapons as rewords after certain challenges, like defeating a boss in a dungeon. Most of these weapons are also very elaborately designed (much to the chagrin of UA-cam's Sword Enthusiast Crowd (tm)).
If you put those weapons on the back, they are almost always in the focus of the player, who is playing in a third person perspective. Putting such a weapon on "full display" for the player probably feels a lot more awesome that hanging it from the hip.
EDIT: I don't know if this may be a hen-egg-problem, but maybe another point: If you look at character art, especially in promotional material, you almost always see the main character from the front or the back. Seldom from the side. A weapon on the back would then also be more visible, especially when the shot focuses only on the upper torso.
in the military, we carried the rifle on our backs when we had to work (cable construction or digging trenches, etc.) But when we had to be ready to fight, we often carried it on the side like a sword.
And I think that is mostly the argument for seeing things like the big 2handers on backs historically. It would have been done when marching or something (when combat isn't expected).
@@AndrewTheFrank
During long marches, I often held the rifle with one hand on the barrel and balanced the rifle on my shoulder. Just like the Landsknechte in this picture: www.quagga-illustrations.de/produkt/h0041100/
@@AndrewTheFrank but something that long is also uncomfortable along your back because it gets in the way of your legs if you don't walk on flat horizontal roads. Thats why it is often depicted as being carried over the shoulder like a spear or halberd.
I remember trying a 3-point sling, and with some arrangements it was possible to "slide" the gun from back to front, is it inconvenient or simply not done for any reason?
Also, the same sling allowed for having your rifle dangling from your chest in the front, I loved how versatile it was
@@simoneperale3765 I'm no expert on this stuff but when I was in the army we were issued a regular and a 3 point sling. It seem to be a love it or hate it deal, the 2 point was favored by some because it's hard to screw up simple, while the fans of the 3 point liked it because it let you take the weight off your hands while marching. Which was super cheating and you would get told off for it on training marches if you got caught :)
The javanese customarily wore the keris on the small of the back when going to formal festivities or go to the palace. Even today. And the reason is simple: so that it can't be drawn quickly nor easily.
Guess where we carry the keris in travel or transit? Left or front hip
@@arpioisme interesting, your picture shows several slightly different ways of wearing a sword on your back. Do they have different meanings or is it just a preference thing?
@@googlehepimizifisliyor2968 yes, each of them have names and philosophy based on practical use in the past. Here a good article in indonesian, but google translate probably would translate this just fine
www.tjokrosuharto.com/id/content/6-Keris
Scabbard worn high and closer to the armpit was common in ancient Greece and the hellenistic kingdoms aswell.
I thought it looked similar to Greek/Roman style of carrying your scabbard.
It also allows you to do it fairly vertically which is really convenient when you spend lots of time inside. It has to be added though, that in hellenistic world swords tended to be fairly short compared to later spathas, longswords and rapiers
Was that because the swords tended to be shorter? I’m speaking as a total amateur btw
The swords were usually muc much shorter for foot soldiers. Horsemen used longer swords at least in Rome.
At certain times in China, soldiers would wear a sword on their back for the purpose of carrying it, often it was no more than transport and at times of peace. If they knew that they might use it of course they would take it off their back and wear it at the hip. It always made me think of modern soldiers and rifles, they don't walk around all day in a ready fighting stance.
This is cool... I think a lot of the discomfort and weirdness could be ameliorated with a custom made harness. A couple extra straps in certain places would make the whole rig more comfortable and easier to move forward when you need it.
The biggest advantage to wearing a sword on the back is, that you have the space to wear another sword at the hip.
Hopefully you have two hips.
@@scholagladiatoria That seems like it hurts biology... The hip is both sides, it is one bone, they are connected.
@@keeganowens8949 That's the pelvis - the hip-bone is attached to the thigh-bone, as the song goes
@@Klijpo Ah, it appears I am wrong. Thank you for pointing that out.
It's how I do my DnD character.
She's rather short, only 5' tall and fights with one handed swords.
She would carry a shorter, broad blade at her hip to draw for self-defence with a complex guard. If ambushed, she'll draw it and hold out. Being short as she is, wearing a sword on her hip limits its length to maintain mobility. Think Silver's "shortsword."
If she knows battle will come, she'll unsling her backscabbard, draw her longer blade and stow the scabbard on her back again. If she needs a free pair of hands, she tucks the blade into her belt at an angle, however this limits mobility since it's a rather long blade. Think Meyer's side sword.
10:11 That's how Sheriff Sir Sonny Crockett concealed his sword under his unstructured pastel gambeson on "Medieval Vice."
This still does not explain how his Moorish colleague, Sir Ricardo Of the Tubbs could inconspicuously fit a pollaxe under his dress coat.
@@Wavemaninawe Or was he just glad to see you?
Yea verily, this discussion makes me wish to once more visit the land of glamour and stirring ballads. Where valiant knights reside on gilt barges with pet dragons, and ride only the swiftest Italian steeds while doing battle with those who would flood the kingdom with foul alchemy...
I see the video title and wonder why we need more videos on this subject, then I look at the comments and it’s clear why.
Godinho mentions swords on the back in Arte de Estigma. He's talking about what you should and shouldn't do when carrying a montante at night, and he says to carry it without a sheath or not tightly sheated (interesting that he mentions sheaths at all), in your left hand, not on your back, *as many people do it* . This is the only evidence I know of that it must've been done. Of course, there's absolutely no way you could draw it, but I'm so glad that written evidence exists, because it'd be a pain in the ass to transport it to reenactments.
Sounds like the times were peaceful enough that people would consider carrying their sword more troublesome than necessity. They wouldn't leave home without it, but wearing it on back for ease of carrying implies they were not expecting to draw it in a hurry. At night there are thieves about, so basically he is saying you should keep your weapon ready at hand in case of attack.
Nice!
Can I suggest two topics for future videos?
1) Cinquedea: starting by the "small of back" wearing.
2) Early ways to carry a pistol; up to the introduction of the metallic cartridge.
Wearing a (somewhat shorter) sword high under the armpit was how hoplites wore them! :) Easy to grab up once your spear breaks amid a close shieldwall.
you also keep your shield in the shield wall.
Could you do a series on various ways of carrying weapons? You've done swords, now you should look at daggers, axes, maces, and other Medieval weapons.
Visit tod's workshops channel, he has some videos exactly on that topic and they are perfect.
yeah, like, how the hell I carry a zweihander?
@@PedroHenrique-dh3bq from the iconography looks like they just carried them in their hands or leaning on the shoulder.
I would love to know if there was an alternative way to carry a crossbow other than just at the shoulder.
I’d like to know more about carrying single handed axes. Without a blade sheath they’re a pain in the arse.
A lot of the advantages of carrying a sword on your back will require it to have a second anchor, such as another connection point to the belt further down, and will be even better if the belt across you is anchored in place to prevent sliding down. That pretty much requires a modified scabbard setup to be able to draw, though, such as Shad's Shabbard or the similar method that Stocatta described the Scots (such as the Gallowglass) using.
ua-cam.com/video/5Fq9tHfrV7A/v-deo.html
Great video as always! Going to check out the link now.
I don’t think I’ve seen it historically, but I really like wearing a sword with a sling hung over one shoulder. It’s very similar to back carry, except that I can quickly drop it off the shoulder and draw it normally. It’s more convenient in my opinion because it rarely bangs into anything that way and I can easily just set it down to sit or do something where I need it out of the way. Only downside is that it moves around or falls off if you were trying to use a polearm, but if the sword is your main weapon (traveling or in town) it’s a non-issue. It tends to occupy one hand but I find that belt carry already does this for me anyway. Note that this is for longsword, and other single swords. If you tried to do this while carrying a shield I imagine it would be a pain in the ass.
Pretty much like a rifle then. I guarantee that this was done historically, especially if you’re sitting up and done a lot like you would using a wagon or cart.
Ughh... I am so late! Love the intro!🤣 Omg, I really am feeling spoiled here lately because so many of these things are also my own little "pet" topics, and I've been wanting you to cover this one above all others recently! I totally agree! Not only do I not like back scabbards, I don't even know why people even THINK that they're so cool! I think they actually look stupid, and they throw off the visual balance of the wearer, making him/her look top-heavy. I also agree that baldrics are by far the most elegant solution to any problem that back-scabbards are trying to solve.
That underarm carry is BRILLIANT! I can't believe I have never seen that before. Just when I thought I had learned everything about swords Matt drops a knowledge bomb on me.
The one reason I can imagine is transport. You're marching about in the main body of a troop, the thing might be wrapped up in oilcloth, you're not expecting an entire unit to sit behind the shrubbery and jump you. There are people with the job to keep an eye out around you. Combat in antiquity and up past the napoleonic era involves a terrible lot of walking about. There's raids and skirmishes but large battles are spots of trouble with long walks in between. You have other bits you need to lug around as well, like a cheese or part of the unit tent.
That should be easy to test out though. Pick a nice hour-long trail and take a walk around it. See what is easier to just walk around with, a sword packed on the back or on the hip or higher under the arm.
Possible disadvantages of backscabbard outside of combat. Feel free to comment for more :
1. Hard to conceal. People know you are armed because they can see your weapon. City guards will know who to look out for if an accident happen.
2. Thugs would want to steal your weapon. Easy to do with cloak and dagger. Cut the straps and run away with it.
3. Doesn't work well with capes when it's raining, as pointed out in the vid. Thanks matt.
Also, going through doors...
Shad has a whole series of videos on this (and his own design that works). Metatron too, I think
Love this video, really liked the extra bit on the Asian sword.
Outstanding information here.
I’m not a sword guy, but your videos are addictive. Especially for someone like me that has a greater love for edged weapons than for projectile weapons.
It seems that an “Arkansas Toothpick” or other large knife might work on a top back carry. But I don’t want any blade (even my own) to ever get that close to my neck.
I prefer the “Dundee” carry for a large knife behind the back.
None of this even addresses issue of armour. Wear a full plate harness and see if you have the shoulder flexibility to reach behind you, hint: you do not. Not in most European styles and not even in English style. If you are not sure how much range of motion you get I recommend Knyght Errant and his videos on mobility in armour. ua-cam.com/video/7RR6I-BLKbQ/v-deo.html arm mobility starts at 6:24
The best way to wear a sword on the back is using video game logic - get your sword to hover in mid air around 6 inches from your body.
I suspect that part of the insistence on back scabbards lies at the root of all modern ideas about historical people, we seem to instinctively assume that they were stupid and not very good at doing their daily activities.
Love your videos Matt, didn't know at all about the under-arm scabbard in Sudan and SE Asia. It is reminiscent to me of the neck-knife worn by many of the Iroquois and Great Lakes tribes in North America. Side note, from what I've read the placement of combat knives on the chest for many in the American military is a derivative of the practice of neck-knives.
Drawing from the hip brings the sword into action quicker. As you drew, even before it is fully withdrawn from the scabbard, it is providing cross torso protection. Itsvalso possible to turn the draw into a cut al, in one timing.
I like the new intro, especially the voice over title with you silently figuring things out.
Grip scabbard with offhand. Lift up scabbard so hilt rises. Grip hilt and press towards your chest while drawing, and pull scabbard down. You can get this down to 1 quick motion.
The "shoulder holster" style of carry was also very popular with bowie knives back in the 1800s, as you could conceal a very large knife completely underneath the arm.
below armpit sword attachment seems to be also much more advantagous when riding a horse.
If you listen closely to the messer coming out of the scabbard, it sounds like a really quiet lightsaber being activated. This might be a good idea for a movie stock sound effect to replicate the sound of a "hamster brushing against a cushion" as Matt Easton described the sound of a sword comming out of an all-wooden scabbard.
It's good seeing Nate get all this attention and publicity. Such a simple solution to the problem, instantly proving the "it's impossible" statement wrong. Might not be the best option, but definitely possible.
It helps too to dip down ur scaber side shoulder down towards the ground and when u start pulling with ur dominant hand u whip ur weak side shoulder back so it's a push pull helping u motion. I still perfer hip mount but if ur flexible enough and move ur body right u can make shoulder work pretty quickly too
Personally I don't feel it's that ludicrous. As a soldier we had slings that allowed to wear the gun on the back and that was very very useful when working on other things or on the march. If I want it at the ready, I change it so I have it at the hip on on my chest. But in RPG contexts of being on the move a lot and needing to work on other things... having a weapon on the back where it's out of the way but still accessible in a pinch seems perfectly reasonable.
A rifle and a sword are very different. Also, doesn't matter if you have 1, 2 or 3 point sling on your firearm (2 point all the way), those are kinda designed for said purpose and slings dont get in the way themselves. But you would have to have special scabbards for swords (check Shadiversity) which will be only usable exclusivelly on back, not allowing hip or under arm positions.
For a more accurate comparisson, *Rifle* (primary) = polearm/bow/crossbow, while *Pistol* (secondary) = sword/axe/mace .....
No slings for da spear my friend
@@czarus_the_sniper9924 Modern rifles have folding stocks my friend, and that is how we wore them on our backs. And if I'm traveling or working on something, I don't see the difference between a sword and a rifle. I don't need it right now, I want it out of the way, but in a pinch I can still get to it easy enough. I still don't get what's so weird about an adventurer or witcher, i.e. someone that is on the road a lot, having their sword on their back. ESPECIALLY as a witcher when you need to be lighning fast and be able to dodge stuff. Try doing that with a sword scabbard dangling near your legs. This really has been discussed to death and I'll never understand why sword purists get so hung up on this. It's simply a practical way to wear a sword to have it out of the way on your travels. So you think a sword at your hip is not a problem huh. Yeah try running and walking like that every single day for the entire day since you are always traveling, like RPG characters or witchers are.
I just made my shashka (dragon [type 4]) to hang from armpit just yesterday with no knowledge of it being done with sabers. This video came at utmost convenience, for this one it really feels most comfortable
I do like that under arm style, and can sort of anecdotally confirm how convenient it is to wear. Long time ago, 25 years or so, I went out for Halloween as a "Highlander" and rigged up a katana to the straps of a shoulder holster (so no band across the chest or anything) with some paracord. After some adjusting to get the katana placed right and hanging almost straight down you couldn't even tell I was wearing it under a sufficiently long coat (I had a long drover coat...remember when those were cool?), even when the coat was open at the front. It was also very comfortable and easy to draw.
The "armpit hanging" was and is still sometimes done with machetes in Latin America, I haven't seen an image taking it as far back as the Spanish Colony, but I would not doubt it.
"Not as failsafe" Yeah...I was considering how close the blade was to your left hand while you were struggling to pull the last few inches out. I do like Shad's scabbard invention and I think it would be cool to see something similar featured in a film, series or video game. Frankly, not enough games even bother with scabbards in general, despite their wonderful potential for customization, bling and style. But also, I will theorize that the more historical 'tactical' sword harness simply never came into fashion in Europe because it simply doesn't look very dignified. In my experience, fashion often wins out over the practicality of things.
Shad had a good way to put swords on a back. It is tricky to use the harness here is lacking support to hold the blade in place. Also length of blade would be important.
As it happens I was just watching the Musashi TV series produced by NHK, and the actor playing his nemesis Kojiro does a very good job of drawing a 3 foot Nodachi from over his left shoulder. Looks perfectly easy, natural, fluid, and quick. It is not a trick, you can see all parts of the motion. The wooden scabbard is stiff like that of a katana, not floppy, and is hung on his left shoulder by a simple cord across his chest on the outside of his robes. The two handed hilt actually rises well above his head. When drawing, he pulls on the cord with his left hand and leans the hilt down over his shoulder and slightly in front of his face where he can see it, and then pulls down and out on the sword with his right hand to release it. He never rides a horse, and when he runs he carries the scabbarded sword in his left hand. The tsuba guard, of course, doesn't stick out like the crossguard of a european sword, so that isn't a problem. It seems to me purely a matter of context how well this works: precisely what sword you are using, your height and body shape, and the length of the sword are all in play, but with the right combination ... at least this actor makes it look easy. Maybe it only seems clumsy to us because most people are using a sword not designed for the job.
ua-cam.com/video/Uy1nEjjzviE/v-deo.html
I made a bit of response video to this and Nate V's video on the topic. I demonstrate an alternative method of wearing a scabbard on the back which is more stable during movement, allowing for running and such without the scabbard flopping around, while still being quick to draw. Naturally it comes with its own disadvantages. /watch?v=X3JIuCnO-FY
I'd rather draw my sword behind the cover of my shield than draw it in the "o so cool" way from the back and loose my arm, because it's totally exposed to any kind of attack.
Someone will see this and mount a catapult on someone's back in a game just to piss on realism lol
Someone = Joerg Sprave
I think someone already has. I vaguely remember seeing or reading about it somewhere.
I believe the alien in Predator had shoulder mounted weapons
Middle Earth: Shadow of War had Graugs with Ballistae on their backs.
@@Cabamacadaf
And mangonels on the back of giant troll-like creatures in Return Of The King.
Somewhere I read some Spanish officers wore their swords high, almost at the armpit during the peninsular war (maybe a Sharpe book?)
They have some for just carrying, it works. But only for when a swordsman is going on a long journey. Sky Hook Back Harness. But take out off when in combat. Or in towns.
Regarding the pommel of your bastard sword, I have a sword with a disk shaped pommel, and this really really helps with blade alignment.
I love how Matt jumps into a topic that was overly discussed and brings a completely overlooked POV in.
I recently noticed George R R Martin depicted quite a few times of wearing swords on the back in his famous A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, which fortunately wasn't shown in the HBO movies based on them. I couldn't believe great writers like George Martin would make such mistakes. In many cases when Martin said the character has a sword on his back, the character is actually mounted, so it is certainly more convenient to carry the weapon on his horse for the transportation purpose. BTW, would you make a video about ways to carry various of weapons on horse in medieval times? That will be very interesting.
Very interesting indeed.
Matt, you should watch Nate's video again, he is turning the sword so you don't cut your own throat, and with a longer sword, he pulls it out different, more by the arm. Much love! 🤗
The longer the sword the more you have to adapt the scabbard. They did a good job in the Witcher series in that point. However I don’t buy swords, I make mine myself from the blade to the hilt. Very rarely I buy a finished blade, although when I do I tend to shorten the blade to fit my body size. Since I‘m 1,73m tall, most swords are just uncomfortably long and impractical.
So for swords with blade lengths of about 80cm I do need another kind of scabbard as I need for the first sword I ever made, wich is a one handed short sword which has a blade length of about 48cm, it has a thick heavy blade and even the hilt is steel and not wood. The thing is, I can wear that sword on my back and even wear a coat above it without printing. Perfect concealment underneath the black coat, and I can draw it and put it back without taking my coat off, which is a great advantage. Wouldn’t work that well with longer swords especially in terms of concealment, depending on how long the coat is.
The scabbard is worn like a backpack in the middle of my back, but flexibel so I can move it to a certain degree to draw it perfectly.
It all depends on the scabbard you use/specifically made for that sword and the length.
Plan beforehand.
A.: What type of sword (length)
B.: What kind of scabbard you need
C.: how long has the coat to be to wear above it.
Shads scabbard however is very impractical. Not recommendable.
Be handy if you could have a belt system that allowed you to easily adjust the sword from your hip position to the higher up position so you could change it depending on what you're doing like if you need to be more manoeuvrable then you'd have it higher up but if you were kind of suddenly going into battle, you drop it down in preparation
Fantastic video, Matt! When you draw a sword from the hip, do you not generally need to grip the scabbard with your left hand? Just curious.
I think Shad addressed some the disadvantages mentioned in this video that can be addressed with strapping the sword in a different way or with practice getting used to it.
Its worth noting that the many depictions of Ninjas with back scabbards have them place it on back for getting through tight spaces and stealthy movement, but switch to hip wearing if in the open.
Nice background mood-setting music!
When wearing it under the arm like that, as you grab the hilt, push it down so as you draw the blade comes out down and across instead of up. Feels better
In Overlord (Novel) it's explicitly stated several times that Nabe helps Momon get the swords out. Thought that was interesting to mention.
Don't know if this is an issue, but when I (only visually) compare the drawing from the back scabbard (5:15) to from under the arm pit (11:30) you nearly totally expose your (vulnerable) chest when drawing from the back plus reduce your view with the arm in front of your face. Also think of some light armour worn on the drawing sword-arm that is still somewhat protecting your front when you pull out the sword with the arm partially "across" your chest.
Another point: having to put the drawing arm that much over your other shoulder may not be such a big problem for a young and healthy fighter than a more aged veteran, wounded some time in the past, risking a shoulder dislocation of his valuable drawing arm. ;-)
I suspect shoulder-slung scabbards with the sword in the armpit were quite common in the Anglo-Saxon period as well. In Riddle 79, the beginning reads, "I am the shoulder-companion (eaxlgestealla) of the prince, the warrior’s comrade, the associate of a king, dear to my lord. Sometimes a fair-haired lady, and earl’s daughter, noble as she is, lays her hand upon me…." (translation from H. R. Ellis Davidson). To me, the compound word "shoulder-companion" alludes to the sword being worn directly beneath the shoulder, or to the scabbard slung over the shoulder. If this term could hint the answer of a riddle to an Anglo-Saxon audience, I would conclude this style must have been common, or at least commonly known.
That's an interesting video. Ofcourse it is easier to pull the sword from the waist than from the back. But I think there is another more important point to consider. Many carried bows & quivers on their backs so they had no other option but to carry the swords on their waists.
Why don't people just suspend the scabbard from a baldrick, I carry my claymore that way. I had the rig made when I was told that it couldn't be done.
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Well, people don't normally wear swords these days, that's basically why. If they are doing so for some sort of reenactment then they will tend to wear weapons in a way that's appropriate for the time period.
Suspended from a Baldrick, you say. Sounds like a cunning plan...
@1misanthropist Only when in character.
@@ivanharlokin I suppose, I had it made because I couldn't wear the sword on my back.
Yes. That’s what I like to see. A sharp blade being rapidly drawn next to my jugular vein.
I think blades were probably stored on the back for travel on horseback so your hands are free to work, somewhat akin to storing it on the horse as part of a pack of gear. I don’t think it would be worn on the back as a “ready” location.
I remember in the first Witcher book Geralt is described as not carrying his sword in the usual way but "Slung over his back like a bow." It even turns a few heads and makes him stand out as a bit strange.
I reckon if you walked into a Medieval tap-house with a sword on your back you probably would get laughed at.
Can testify that wearing swords under the armpit via very short baldrics or even suspension belts is far more comfy that it should have any right to be. Easy as fun to draw, too.
I have read a fantasy author who devised a way to wear the sword across the back but draw it from the hip. It was sort of like a Sam Browne belt, except that the belt which went over the shoulder was a continuous loop. A ring on the shoulder belt went onto a hook on the hip belt, which held it in place with the sword across the back. When needed the wearer unhooked the ring and the whole shoulder belt slid around bringing the sword down to the hip. From there it could be drawn normally. Another ring on the shoulder belt near the scabbard could be hooked to the hip belt to keep it in this position. Whether this would work in practice admits of a question, but it sounds plausible in theory.
Meanwhile your opponent isn't just standing there... he doesn't bother drawing his own sword, just steps in, uses his off-hand to jam your arms in their weak cross-chest position, and sticks a dagger in your eye.
great video
That moment when Matt puts his sword in the scabbard the wrong way.
Yet another peril of putting your scabbard on your back.
It might work if you hinged the scabbard on the top of the shoulder and used a pair of magnets to temporarily secure the point end on the back. Pull on the hilt, hinge the sword/scabbard up so it is parallel to the floor (the magnets are pulled apart - scabbard away from the back) and you draw forward and downward in front of the chest.
Super comfortable and super convenient. I have to remind myself that this is tips and tricks for filmmakers, game designers and a distinct class of people who died 500 years ago. I hope anyone taking a stroll down to the shops with a 37inch longsword puts it on their back so they can be comfortably and conveniently half-nelsoned before they can get it out.
If you open the last six inches on the lateral sides of the scabbard it you won’t have that end of the pull struggle. The advantages are in running where the momentum won’t mess with your gate.
I'm from Mexico and I have a machete and I carry it on my back because I don't have a sword, but I made him a wooden crossguard, and having a short blade I can easily take it out and put it away, and it's fun to use it for gardening, I feel like Link looking for Rupees
Another distinct factor to consider with the sword worn on the back is what is the context, for example the Japanese odachi great sword has art examples of it being worn on the back but this was for transport to the fight, and it was drawn from its sheath aided by a retainer,
So consider the back sheath for a sword is it for transport then plausible but should not generally be used when actually fighting
Quickdraw from the hip puts you in a position with some ability to block. Drawing from the back invites a stab to the abdomen.
I think there is one major reason for "weapon on back"-syndrome that will keep it in movies, games etc for ever: having the weapons on a characters back makes the weapons far more visible, especially for games. Basically I believe it's just one more way for the creators of whatever media we are discussing to show of their weapon designs in a "natural"(or unnatural, depending on your point of view) way.
I think in video games its a mixture off cool factor, and massive clipping issues that makes the back ideal for larger weapons. Or really any weapon. Also weapons are a way to progress your character. And they are often elaboretly detailed/crafted. People want to see them.
Using Anime as a source.. Because I feel that's where this comes from..
I have seen instances where they take off the scabbard with the strap, then draw from the hand as if from the hip, then throw the scabbard on the ground for later collection.
Which could make sense on long journeys where back scabbards may be practical for carrying comfort.. if you don't use a backpack or are ok slinging the sword over one shoulder.
An equipped scabbard can impede movement, and maybe that's important for an imaginary character who likes to duel?
If you can see your opponents coming, just like readying your hand on your sword hilt to draw from the hip, you could ready your self by removing the scabbard from your back etc.
I think mostly hats would be a problem, but maybe in a fight, hats and scabbards can just be collected from the ground after the fight :P
If you suspect an ambush, carry your back scabbard in your hand, ready to draw.
Something I've seen in local (Balkan) art, is wearing a sword basically on your belly. Big belt, and the handle is in front of your chest, blade to one side. Thats how shorter blades, often multiple, were worn. Also multiple pistols.
But we did have these belt, sashes, how are they called in English? ... that create a big pocket in front of your belly, and thats where your money would go as well.
I think there's something to be said for the under the arm. It strikes me as very practical for shorter blades and quite dense terrain, quite close quarters. So it would work in forests, towns, cities, jungles, the like. Maybe even in castles too, during a siege.
Why I think we don't see this so much is that after the 1300's, we had weapons increasing in length, to the long sword and rapier by the 1600's. It also strikes me that this drawing position has a product of a person's geometry, their length of arm, to height, to width etc.
So as weapons got longer, that particular geometry to allow you to draw from such a position got harder, the wider population wasn't capable of doing it. Especially with blades in the area of 36", 37" inches.
So it's not that it's a bad idea, it's a pretty good idea. It's that the weapons of the time made it less than practical.
Good points, especially about cloaks, but I like Shaveristy's solution better, since it allows for wearing longer, even 2 handed, swords.
And yet it's unrealistic that such a thing would exist IRL at the time; I've seen the video, and while fun, it's not a historical thing.
I suppose like modern military rifle, in patrol or on duty where you are not expecting to be fighting you can choose to sling the rifle behind, or while carrying stuffs like ammunition and supplies you would sling the rifle behind.
There are plenty of down time in a military scenario, like eating, going to toilet or even walking to station for duty.
Most of the time you wouldn't be expecting a fight or direct combat engagement, your commander will relay the information
And raise alert level as encounter of enemies is expected.
Which then you will have a bunch of troops on standby for perimeter defense, those dudes building tents and digging trenches
Won't be able to not sling the rifle behind for the chores.
Even when operating other weapons like emplaced machineguns you would not have a rifle blocking your way.
Similar reasons swords are not carried on hip belt the whole time,
Prolonged slinging a weapon of any weight such as rifle and sword for duration of hours can cause friction and blistering of skin around your neck, shoulder and even hip.
For long distance route march you will need to carry resupply, clothing, food, water, and other supplies.
That is on top of your helmet and armour, the weight of the helmet on your head can cause neck fatigue for hours.
I have alway thought that the low hip position was a horsemans position being easier to draw mounted. That high position you just demoed seems a really good position for someone that wants to do stuff without the sword coming in the way.
Hey Matt,
Thanks as always for a good, informative video :-)
A further question in this regard: in the Bronze Age, it appears that swords in Mediterranean contexts were often worn across the chest: the belt was worn diagonally across the torso from shoulder to hip, and the sword hung down from it from about chest-height, sometimes at an angle and (apparently) sometimes even without a scabbard. I'd be curious as to how practical that method is, and why warriors back then would have chosen to wear it like that.
Your insights (and possible experiments?) in this regard would be much appreciated :-)
@@F1ghteR41 Well, if Egyptian reliefs depicting "Sea Peoples" and bronze age warrior statues are to be believed, then yes - long swords were also carried this way, impractical though it may seem.
Hey Matt, maybe you could do a video on how to make a modern shield that would defend against rubber bullets
I do a lot of marching in armour and I would say that when your not expecting to be attacked wearing a sword on your back is far more comfortable and leaves you free to carry other stuff, pole weapons etc more easily. I would never go into a situation where I was likely to need a weapon quickly with it on the back because it is almost impossible to draw. The difference is for me is only the same as carrying any equipment, comfort vs speed. If I never intended to draw it then I can use the same belt and suspension system I use for carry at the waist on my back with only small adjustments. All these debates go on about drawing and access but 90% of the time you won’t need to draw it quickly.
OK, now its time for you to review some of the Highlander sword battles.
Nate pointed out that with longer sword lengths you need to pull the scabbard slightly over the shoulder
I think one large reason why swords on backs tends to be common in video games is because it's a way to avoid graphical issues, namely clipping through other objects/the environment. If you're wearing a scabbard at your side the way you normally would in real life, it becomes harder to make sure that you're tracking it as a discrete tangible object and not phasing through the scenery. It's basically a case of cutting corners to reduce the graphical workload.
I had a history teacher once who told me back scabbards were only a thing with knights squires and not intended to be drawn by the person wearing it. It was so a mounted knight or demounted knight could grab it off his squire. Which kinda makes sense. Id assume if you were a guy whos job it was to carry around weapons for another person being able to draw it quickly wasnt always a priority at least not on your end of the deal. If your traveling to theres only so many places to put a sword. Im sure it was also a personal choice thing and just because it doesnt work well doesnt mean people didnt do it. There were stupid people around in ancient times to. Its a bad idea to carry a gun without a holster, but people do it. People get hung up on things like this. Theres never just one way to do things, but people for some reason assume there was only one ''right'' way regardless of circumstance.
Do you think the back scabbard was in fact just a way to transport the sword loosely on the back with no suspension and that when needed was just brought around the front of the body for use - *Similar to how rifles straps are mounted on the back/ behind the shoulder when in transport which are easily slung around the front of the body for use (due to not being tightly attached to the back position)*
I think that's how it was mostly done historically. I just wish that Vidoe game developers would finally stop with this "sword on back looks cool" nonsense.
Makes sense to carry a longsword on your back for long distance transport. If you walk long distance it's much nicer if you can swing your arms in a normal gait.
Remember that pockets/pouches/bags/purses were often attached to a belt at the waist or hips and that a sword belt often doubled for that purpose as well.
However, yeah, I imagine that was done with carrying greatswords around. Also this
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@@robbiej3642 If you're traveling with a longsword, you probably have a cart. Cheap workforce at the time.
@@nealsterling8151 Its more then just looks cool. Weapons are often oversized. Clipping is a huge issue in games. Having it on the back reduces it. Weapons are often more then just weapons, they are ways to show your characters power/progression, and people want to be able to see it. There are lots of good reasons to carry weapons on your back in video games.
By the way i love your channel . Swords are awesome.
If you read the Witcher books. Geralt is described as pulling down on his shoulder strap while drawing his sword , very much like Nate V demonstrates..Geralts swords BTW are described as 40" overall with 32 " blades...just for you info ...cheers
This picture of a Mamluk warrior shows him wearing one (!) of his swords in the position Matt shows: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamluk#/media/File:Mameluke-in-Full-Armour.jpg
Holy hell that guy is loaded down with weapons lol
That image is just another example of amazing-looking styles that get sadly ignored by media.
Holy shit that dude is armed to the teeth. Spear, scimitar, yatagan, two pistols, a knife, some sort of targe-looking shield, and that thing under the top scabbard looks like it has quite the hilt so I assume another short sword or maybe a club of some kind.
@@denvermiller5091 RPG-"where does he store all those weapons"-character. :D
The artist : "What weapons do you want me to represent you with ?"
The Mamluk : "Yes !"
It only takes someone to creep up behind you and they have free access to your sword before you even realise they are there. And I'd love to see a sword drawn from the back while wearing armour and a helmet!
You've been working out lately Matt? Good arms you have there :)
Sheathing a sharp, pointy sword in to a floppy leather scabbard over your shoulder would inevitably lead to poking through the flat of the scabbard eventually.
That sword looks amazing! who made it?
I find it acceptable in sci-fi or fantasy things when some kind of fictional quick-release special magnet plate (or something like this) is involved but I groan a little if I see a scene from one of these so called historical drama series with a bunch of warriors drawing things off their backs wearing leather.