True, but I think it's easier to teach someone who has been cutting wood for cooking and heating all his or her life. They already know how to aim and know how an axe handles.
@@warrenokuma7264 It's also muscle memory throughout their lives. If you're going to conscript a bunch of people in time of war, most of them aren't going to have the training to do effective "angle techniques" with a sword as much as just hammering down opponents with an ax with the arms they developed for it...after they lose their spears of course.
@Golden Eagle Because that's not how food works. A regular garden is wholely unfit to feed a family, and vegetables grow at specific periods of the year.
@Golden Eagle the people could simply stop buying food like crazy. The supply lines are not in danger, there is no need to prepare for the end of the world, we won't starve
@@horvathbenedek3596 That's exactly how the food works - buy bulk, cheap stuff like rice or potatoes from store, grow the stuff you need less of like herbs or specific veggies, can save you a lot of time and cash. Who says you need complete autarky?
@@KuK137 1) You can't grow enough spices that it becomes worth it. They are cheaper and easier to acquire in stores. 2) You'd need a greenhouse for it to be worth it at all. 3) Vegetables don't exactly work that way. Anyone who has tried agriculture knows that it's difficult as fuck to produce proper sized, edible vegetables. You have absolutely no.idea what you are talking about. My family tried doing this for a while - we have a pretty large garden. I can tell you that keeping a garden with 2-3 ingredients that are enough to feed a family is a full time job. And it's seasonal. You can garden as a hobby. But understand that unless you go big, it will never turn a profit.
More important: he has the experience and the equipment at home to defend himself against the satanic hordes of Covid-19 infected brain dead folks! ☝️🤔
Idea for video: recruitment, training and equipment sourcing for non-professional soldiers and how this changes over time. Pick your age and locales. Eg: local lord has to equip and available x,y,z soldiers for the kings fighting season, how?
Yeah, I went over this in my head, many times. Answer, Shield, Spear, Gambeson, Cheap Helmet, sling. This is what you get for your troops (with a hand axe as a backup weapon if you have extra cash). You can train a bunch of conscripts to use these effectively in a week, and they are the cheapest thing that you can use to effect.
@@Jeremiah90526 With more cash on hand: better helmets, some metal armor and maybe long knives/short swords with chopping and thrusting abilities (kukri, machaira, kopis, gladius, yatagan, seax, long seax, messer, karabela, artillery sabre), upgrade spears either towards pikes or pole arms.
Goedendags and pikes. A goedendg is an iron headed club with an armor piercing spike . Flemish militias with goedendags mixed with pikemen made mincemeat of French knights at Courtray .
@@victorwaddell6530 Sure, but they lost the war. Had to cede territory to France. EDIT: clarification, territories from the county of Flanders became part of the crown lands. Flanders was already and remained a French fief, it was just a very autonomous one in practice.
One thing to remember is everywhere has access to blacksmith that makes axes and billhooks, and makeing a smaller axe or a bill with point is easy. Swords not as widely made.
"How often do you see someone messing up the edge alignment with an axe?" While swinging it? Not that often. While sharpening one and making the edge uneven so it pulls to one side while chopping? Unfortunately frequently.
@@dustinsmith2021 oh absolutely. I was referring to a general use axe. I managed a cutlery store for a decade and we offered professional sharpening services. I became known as the best person for sharpening in the entire chain so I used to be sent almost all of the weird, or really messed up, things. The things I saw people do to good knives, axes and swords when they tried to sharpen them without knowing how would make you shudder.
And this is why lightsabers are good too... all the useful blade length of a sword, with all of the edge alignment freedom of a club. Well, you know, other than the whole "not a real technology" bit, but when did that stop anyone?
I have suggested this in the past, but reiterating: I would enjoy a video about cut-and-thrust polearms, (other than the pollaxe. The weapons that would be used in formation most of the time)
That is true. But, as I understand it he had a shield on his left arm. This was before wide spread plate armor came along. An ax by itself is a bit of a disadvantage unless you are very good indeed.
Topic suggestion: speaking of weapons for the untrained commoner, how about a video on wooden clubs. Specifically clubs on the medieval period. There is plenty of pictorial evidence showing clubs being used in the medieval period, either with a shield or larger two-handed examples. And of course clubs were widely in use before and after the medieval period all around the world.
Can you make videos on less common polearms? Like Partisans, Spontoon, Voulge, Bardiche? Etc. We always hear about Pikes, Bills and Halberds. Others need some love too.
@@neilwilson5785 I disciplined myself not to shave five years ago and am maintaining that discipline. I should be good. ;>) Seriously, you're right. Use the Seal Trick To Success- make your damn bed first thing every day and do everything else right when it needs doing- no procrastination!
You always seem concerned about the length of your videos. However, personally I don't mind longer videos as they lend themselves better to listening to when working or doing shores around the house. Since many of your videos are as long as they are I think most of your audience are comfortable with longer videos.
@@verrufen2642 Short and concise aren't the same. Generally blabbering like Shadiversity is definitely could use some trimming down, but as long as one stays on topic (or related topic, or in Lindybeige's case any topic he comes to think of associated with the topic he actually was talking about), length is of no concern. Thing Lindybeige, GunJesus and the other great lecturers have is that they *fill the time with content*.
I started watching your videos when researching my great grandfather’s military history who was a yeoman in the south Irish horse. And I’m still watching them. They’re fascinating. Thanks for putting your research out there.
In an open space with no obstacles, reach is everything. A swordsman can easily kite a knife wielding person backwards and be at little risk. It's also better at parrying. In a cramped space though, the knife will be much freer to swing than the sword. This is also true in grapples, hence why knights would sometimes grapple their opponents to shove a dagger through their visor. A knife is also easier to conceal, so for a surprise attack in a public place a knife has its uses...
Against plate armor in a duel. Reach won't matter when the weapon is not so effective, so you need to be in close to get to the gaps in the armor. That's why so many daggers, like the rondell, are great for stabbing. Fighting in full plate will often end in grappling, so you need a small and handy weapon, whereas a large weapon is too cumbersome and you can't move it around so easily. Like Patrick said, in an open field and maybe with less armor the dagger is not so great.
Not just a matter of feeling the edge alignment, but maintaining it in the impact. The greater moment of inertia keeps the edge from twisting when it meets resistance.
Would you agree that swords are "easier" to hit with because it has more effective surface area(the whole blade) and it is also balanced? And axes have heavy "impact damage" due to its shape? Also, the longer and balanced the weapon is, the easier it is to defend with it?
1. He has in fact pointed out in past videos that the entire length of the blade being a cutting surface is a major advantage to swords. 2. "Impact damage" isn't really the right phrasing from a fighting perspective but that *FOCUSED* weight at the head of an axe is a significant part of why it's more effective against armour. 3. Not so much "easier to defend" (and in some ways, it's easier to defend with a more blade-heavy sword than a well balanced one), but the closer to the hilt the baland-point is, the more *AGILE* the blade is, which means faster attacks and faster transitions between attack and defense (in both directions). And about point 3... a blade-heavy sword, or a heavy "head" on an axe or polearm, will give your swings more momentum and make them harder to stop. Having a heavier head or blade end on your own weapon means you've got more weight in that part of the weapon to act against that momentum. This means that "hold weapon in the path of attack" blocks are less likely for the opponent to just smash aside - or smash your own weapon into your face with. With a more agile weapon, you need to put your guard further out, or be pushing into the attack, or use the weapon to redirect the attack around you instead of "hard" blocking the strike. The loss of agility results in both heavier swings that are harder to stop, AND heavier blocks that are harder to break through, but costs you in your ability to shift back and forth from one action to the other rapidly.
@@a-blivvy-yus The increased cutting surface is not as big of an advantage as you might think. The majority of the cutting power of a sword is concentrated on the second half of the blade. The closer you get to the hilt, the weaker the cut, and this is exacerbated by the tendency to leave the first half relatively unsharpened. Meanwhile, holding an axe closer to it's head and striking at close range will still make a competent bludgeon, and the horn and beard of the axe head will tear through someone's throat or be thrust into the eyeball.
@@gabzdark07 It is still - to a point - an advantage. And a related advantage is that the entire striking surface is metal rather than wood which is easier to damage (which is similarly not as big an advantage as many people think because it's still strong wood so it'll probably take a couple of hits and be fine). And my point was that Matt has cited it as one of the advantages of a sword over an axe in previous videos. Because he has. And he's addressed the things you mentioned when doing so, too, because while it is still an advantage, it's not as big as some people might proclaim it to be.
It might be one degree of separation away from an ACTUAL website(then again, perhaps not), but I'm pretty sure this is functionally Thor's website. alexoutdoors.com/pages/tord-bergelin-thors-forge
Topic suggestion: Use if force/self-defense ethics. I’m not sure if I’ve suggested this to you already, but I’ve suggested it as a topic to other martial arts channels.
Mark Suarez Usually you break it down into distances and if they’re verbally assaulting you (name calling basically) or actually threatening you. If they’re more than 15 meters away and all they’re doing is yelling at you, you can’t go beat the crap out of them. If they’re more than 15m away and they threaten to harm you, you leave or call the police. If they’re 10m or closer and yelling at you, cant hit them, but be prepared to. Tell them to back up and go away. Really you only engage them if they’re 15m or closer with a weapon coming at you or if they’re really up in your personal space yelling at you. Guns obviously change the engagement distances. If they’re 100m away and pointing a pistol at you, chances are you can run away and call the cops. If where you’re at has a stand your ground law, then you can shoot them if you felt you needed to, but a 100m shot with a handgun is gunna be hard. If they’ve got a rifle however you find cover and return fire, or run away
@@bigredwolf6 It's also *VERY* dependent on locale, so any advice you get from any martial artist is going to be filtered, to some degree, through the amount of law enforcement present in the areas they frequent as well as what the applicable laws are regarding such things. In some places, it's much harder to get into a fight and come out without prison time, even if you did everything "right" to try and defuse and avoid the situation before being forced to defend yourself.
blivvy I’m from Louisiana, so our self defense laws are pretty good. We don’t have a duty to retreat. We have castle doctrine and stand your ground laws so if someone breaks into your home, you’re pretty much in the clear if you defend yourself. Unless of course you go nuts on them. You’re only supposed to use enough force to stop the threat. Stay safe.
A few questions/topics I would like to hear you explore: -in regards to using shorter blades and dueling normal or longer blades (particularly in HEMA) what strategies would you promote for being successful? -taking more about blade width and edge alignment, where do you see the balance between width and weight? -definitely interested in videos about side swords, and Schiavonas -discussion on the use of how to use the offhand weapons successfully or at least effectively (offhand dagger, buckler, etc) -cinquedea, just looking to hear your thoughts about them, why they didn't catch on -your opinion on the ideal offhand dagger, any specific design or considerations You rock Matt, thanks for making the content that you make
Thanks for another video in lockdown times. One of the things in videogames is usually that the programmer, or game creator, may be favorable towards a weapon against another (most game see sword as best weapons), But war axes and large bladed axes are great.
You carry your weapon far more than you use it... That's why most police use pistols rather than rifles. The reality if soldiering is you spend far more time doing everything but fighting. Even in yesteryear it's not inconceivable that a soldier could serve for many years, and never use a weapon in anger.
An axe haft can be carried in a circle or loop hanging from the belt, just like a sword blade in a scabbard hanging from the belt. You do have the added step of an edge guard that must be removed from the ax edge, but it can be dangled on a cord or chain from the loop or the belt, just like a scabbard peace tie. Hell, I don't see why you couldn't have an actual scabbard created for your axe haft. As long as the head sticks out far enough above the top of the scabbard then you should be golden.
I would love to see a video about sossun pata swords. I've always wondered what longer recurve, yatagan or falcata style blades would be like one more of a tulwar or even sabre style hilt, and then I discovered those swords existed and where pretty close to that. I don't hear people talking about them so much, I'm guessing they weren't so popular or common? I'd love to hear your thoughts and insights on them :)
I'd like if you could look into the concept of availability (in theory) of weapons, maybe some theory behind manufacture, material requirements and equipping a given body of troops. (In particular, plate maille vs chain or scale vs chain etc etc)
3:21 Axe can be worn just as easy as a sword. You can put it in a "loop" I believe it's called axe frog. And if you're fancy you may put on a piece of leather that protects the axe head which basically acts like a scabbard, but with fraction of a leather usage than sword scabbard.
As much as I love all my swords if stuck in a battle royal right now I'd take the axe. I have a Dane & a few hand axes, they're so useful for all kinds of tricks & tasks 😊
HOLD THE CTRL KEY AND PRESS + IT MAKES TEXT (AND EVERYTHING ELSE) BIGGER. I HOPE THIS HELPS. Also assuming that did help, it's weird that most people find all caps harder to read, but when people have vision trouble it's easier. I know when I have a mgiraine affecting my vision it's easier to read all caps than normal text, but normally it's the other way around. Very odd.
Could you doooooo a video on unusual weapons? I like your interpretation of the CONTEXT in which weapons are used so it would be a nice, fresh take on the more obscure
Hey Matt I was wondering if you've seen Ilya's videos on sexy armor and sword steel/tech around the world and across history. Figured you'd have some interesting things to add or disagree with
Video suggestion: Jeddart/Jedburgh staff/axe! Favourite weapon. Was so happy to find one in Leeds Armoury, albeit listed as a guisarme. Say things about it? Or cut-and-thrust polearms in general.
Personally I'd love to see more videos on shields -- different types of shields, their construction, their use, how and why they changed over time. I've always been particularly curious about the keeled shields -- the portable ones, not the big pavises used in siege warfare.
Sword: Generally longer reach, better tip control, generally faster /faster recovery, (usually)won't get stuck into the enemy. Axe: cheaper /easier to produce, sturdier against wear-tear, useful as a tool, better against armor .. generally easier to use, fairly effective even in hands of zero trained troops.
I'd ditch that tool part from the axe. It's a better tool than the sword, but still not that great. Unless you're thinking of, for instance, spiking guns, then sure, if it has a hammer-like side, but not much more than that.
@@rubbers3 The axe head would be the most useful tool part. Remember throughout most of history soldiers had to chop wood if they wanted hot rations. It's not until WWI at the earliest armies started moving beyond campfires to cook rations in the field. Even formal field kitchens mostly used locally scrounged wood. In the 17th-18th century you have armies putting regulations in place regarding cutting wood with hangers because men used them as machetes to cut fire wood. Axes are also useful in building field structures like winter quarters or fortifications.
@@ObsessedwithZelda2 better than swords, certainly. And even if you're not "supposed" to use your weapon as a tool, soldiers sitting around camp absolutely would.
Video ideas: - Explain sword/antique collecting - talk about the fencing technique differences between rapier, side sword, broad sword - how you keep your head bald - how to start a Hema club (no club close to me) - list of different historical practices we have contemporary documentation for such as long sword, pole axe, armor construction, cooking, etc, all the weird things you wouldn't expect like sewing - games of the medieval times - hair/facial hair styles - bayonet fighting - black powder firearms - demolishing Hollywood medieval/fantasy fights - horseback riding - archeology stuff you've done - places you've traveled - castle thoughts - you and your wife fencing - sparring vids - talking about English stuff like different accents and insults and history and culture - backyard cutting practice
Are you aware of a video game called Battle Brothers, Matt? Most of the medieval small unit tactics and weapon (dis)advantages you always mention are represented rather realistically in it.
What about: The Polish "winged cavalry" and their outfit The Cossacks and theirs The Crim Tatars and theirs How these worked out in steppe combat with other players in the region, like the Russians, the Turks, and the Swedes ?
Matt, please ramble about the best sword in the context of modern home defense. A sword is obviously better than a knife or bat or shovel for this purpose, but I have trouble selecting a single sword to buy. How much reach is too much for indoors? Opening doors, etc. Does the thrust have enough stopping power for this purpose or should I select a weapon more specialized for the cut? How important is nimbleness? Do I want a point of balance further out since I'm unlikely to do much fencing? How relevant is hand protection in this situation? Assuming a one-handed sword, what should I carry in the off-hand? Pepper spray? High-powered flashlight to blind them? What about a shield or buckler?
I'd like more on the pre-iron age. While medieval times and Rome are widely explored, information on the early times is still hard to come by. Though that's not really a question.. yet.
Jon Goat they’ve got archaeological evidence. And there’s a pretty good amount of information on the Celts. They had a salt mine in halstadtt Austria. They have a unique castle in hueneberg Germany, it was the only known Celtic castle to be built in the Mediterranean style of unbaked mud brick covered in lime. We know about their swords and their torcs. We don’t know much about their religion because the Romans killed all the druids but we do know that at least in Britain they did human sacrifice and threw them in the bog afterwards
Order of Azarath thought they existed way before then? Bronze Age came before Iron Age right? Some archeologists found some bronze Celtic style swords up in the north of Britain. They talked about it in the documentary celts: iron blood and sacrifice
Would DEFINITELY prefer ANY weapon to have the flatter handle type, I find it is easier to control AND easier [as you just said] to maintain edge alignment. I have cut down a lot of trees and split a lot of firewood, also dug many a mile of ditches with a large heavy pick ax, and after many decades of wielding picks, splitting mauls, hammers and axes, I can definitely say that a rounded handle is generally a bad idea for any weapon. What you say here is so true it makes me wonder if the reason the Gun Dao [a pole-ax type weapon of Dynastic China, for those who do not recognize it] did poorly was more about the rounded handle than its overall weight, seeing as in most martial arts today [ Wushu Kung Fu being the first to come to mind] even many highly trained and experienced users seldom keep their edge aligned, seeing as their 'feel' is off. I wonder if putting a tassel on such a round handled weapon might also [ore more precisely] serve as a visual method of ensuring edge alignment, especially in situations where one can not afford the luxury of looking at their weapon to see if it is properly aligned... ~( 'w')/ Of course, having a lot of curve-back on some of the larger pole handled weapons such as the Crescent Moon and Green Dragon Guan Daos just MIGHT serve NOT ONLY as a hooking or catching tool against an enemy, but also a way to create inertial drag in such a manner as to increase blade alignment. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guandao Since the blade predominantly trails the haft, it is possible this is for the express purpose of using mass and inertia to keep it aligned, seeing as in many ways, it is about half way between a sword and an ax as a weapon... ~( 'w')/
Hey Matt, got a question for you. On the subject of transporting/carrying weapons, I always struggled in imagining how big troops of polearm soldiers would transport their weapons over long distances, marching to battle, to enemy territory, a crusade, etc. I imagine they could carry it over a short distance, leaning the spears on the ground, but how would they transport 3m, 4m, 5m long polearms, pikes, etc? What would a greek phalanx do with their massive spears? Would that fit in wagons? Specialized transports for big boles! On the side of horses? Do we have any historical records or art explaining how that worked? And by the way, thanks a lot for the channel and the amazing content. I am a RPG fanatic and science/history enthusiast and your content weaponized all my arguments about medieval martial arts, weapons and military strategy, as well as giving my storytelling a better sense of realism. My debates are much better because of you. Thanks and take care. :)
I've said this a few times, but videos on polearm usage would be great. Spear and poleaxe have been covered well on the channel, so I'll also say I wouldn't mind if you a) Don't have a halberd or bill or whatever to show off, and b) Don't know as much about the topic as you'd like
Have something to tell about The Sword of Stalingrad, gifted by the British to the Soviets after securing Stalingrad in WW2? I heard it was a masterpiece of modern swordsmithing. Maybe about ceremonial vs actual arms in general, how and how much do they differ.
Blade profiles. That’s something you should cover in a video. Or perhaps a series of videos. Compare different blade profiles, threir strengths, weaknesses and when and why a certain profile is preferable. That ought to be good.
I'd like to see some tests of that back spike, and maybe some of your hammers and other stuff, against a patch of good mail on a patch of gambeson on a nice piece of meat.
Could you talk about how combat between groups of knights would have looked? I don't imagine the opposing spear walls would work when your opponents are pretty much immune to that weapon. Would it turn into a big rugby scrum with pollaxes and maces and daggers or what?
Would love to hear your thoughts on medieval towns. How they were laid out, how they were protected, how they differed from large cities. Especially in dark ages or before, where castles werent as common
Two video ideas: 1. Fight analysis from the duel in the old Sean Connery movie Robin and Marian. 2. You have talked about distal taber and how that makes a sword more nimble by changing the center of gravity. Generally thicker at the base and thinner near the tip. Do you know of any examples where a sword get thicker at the center of percussion in order to make it hit harder?
Hi Matt, I've been a huge fan of yours for several years now. And there is one question that I would like to ask you for quite a while now: Why are Katzbalgers often considered to have a rounded tip? Are there any real benefits to this or is this maybe just a modern misconception? And are there more examples of weapons like this? Keep up the great work!
Video ideas? Since you recently did a video on a WZ.34 sabre, how about a fight review of the Deluge duel? Skallagrim made a video about it, almost exactly a year ago (on March 8th), but he did it more on the choreography aspects and overall realism, but I'd love to see your take, from a military sabre fencer.
Wouldn't want to use an axe without a nice large shield shield unless I had armor. As far as I figure scandinavians had a preference for the axe partially due to necessity (since their steel came from imports or bog iron, which limits the amount of steel you can produce) and partially because it complements the shield wall (if you have a shield you can easily have an axe in the same hand as a reserve weapon while you use the spear in your main hand. Also, it can be used to hook shields and create weaknesses for your friends to exploit).
I'm going to add my call to the chorus. Explaining the Mere / Wahaika you have on the wall would be a good self isolation video. Especially how you came by it please.
Hey Matt, I was really curious if you could talk about military saber construction? The backstrap, nut assembly, etc. I Honestly have a hard time finding any info on how they were made or how the components work together.
Im very interested in multi-man tactics and maneuvering. Basically team attacks, or combos that work well together. And especially historical examples of such things. Say spearmen who were paired with somebody who had some kind of poleaxe for pullong shield so their mate could get a stab in.
I think that physics has a larger part to play. With a sword, the weight is closer to the hand, whilst with an axe the weight is towards the head. Therefore the angular momentum is higher with an axe, often with a lower overall weight.
So.. A suggestion for at video on a topic, that I have been wondering about for some time. How effective were rondel daggers actually? Given that they are most likely used, when you are wrestling up close, and the fighting parties know where thier weak spots are for daggers of this sort, and probably are wearing mail and or thick fabrick in those places, it seems to me that it must have been very difficult to actually get it to penetrate.
If you are a peasant that has chopped firewood since a child, I could see the axe being more comfortable and familiar.
Not really. A battle axe is used very differently from the tool. It's still easy to learn, but hard to master.
True, but I think it's easier to teach someone who has been cutting wood for cooking and heating all his or her life. They already know how to aim and know how an axe handles.
Exactly what I thought too. Come up with all these hypetheses that kinda makes sense, and it's just a simple reason that would make the most sense.
@@warrenokuma7264 It's also muscle memory throughout their lives. If you're going to conscript a bunch of people in time of war, most of them aren't going to have the training to do effective "angle techniques" with a sword as much as just hammering down opponents with an ax with the arms they developed for it...after they lose their spears of course.
Also there more confidence when you know the weapon or tool. Confidence can win you a fight never doubt it.
"Just like me a lot of you are going to be stuck in the house at the moment."
*Standing in his backyard holding an axe.*
Gardens are Ok. Fresh air is better than being inside.
@Golden Eagle Because that's not how food works. A regular garden is wholely unfit to feed a family, and vegetables grow at specific periods of the year.
@Golden Eagle the people could simply stop buying food like crazy. The supply lines are not in danger, there is no need to prepare for the end of the world, we won't starve
@@horvathbenedek3596 That's exactly how the food works - buy bulk, cheap stuff like rice or potatoes from store, grow the stuff you need less of like herbs or specific veggies, can save you a lot of time and cash. Who says you need complete autarky?
@@KuK137
1) You can't grow enough spices that it becomes worth it. They are cheaper and easier to acquire in stores.
2) You'd need a greenhouse for it to be worth it at all.
3) Vegetables don't exactly work that way. Anyone who has tried agriculture knows that it's difficult as fuck to produce proper sized, edible vegetables.
You have absolutely no.idea what you are talking about. My family tried doing this for a while - we have a pretty large garden. I can tell you that keeping a garden with 2-3 ingredients that are enough to feed a family is a full time job. And it's seasonal.
You can garden as a hobby. But understand that unless you go big, it will never turn a profit.
Who doesn't like contemplating his shafted weapon early in the morning?
This comment lacks some much needed context.
In the shower, thinking about his chopper.
Don't forget about penetration capability.
I think about my AKs in the shower. But usually, my wife distracts me.
Out of context, you're thinking of a lance.....
One of the few positive effects of the social isolation due to coronavirus: more videos from Matt.
With that kind of arsenal he probably could upload even after a zombie apocalypse hit the UK.
Indeed a good idea.
@Jon Goat "Zombie" is often used as a euphemism
More important: he has the experience and the equipment at home to defend himself against the satanic hordes of Covid-19 infected brain dead folks! ☝️🤔
Idea for video: recruitment, training and equipment sourcing for non-professional soldiers and how this changes over time. Pick your age and locales.
Eg: local lord has to equip and available x,y,z soldiers for the kings fighting season, how?
Yeah, I went over this in my head, many times. Answer, Shield, Spear, Gambeson, Cheap Helmet, sling. This is what you get for your troops (with a hand axe as a backup weapon if you have extra cash). You can train a bunch of conscripts to use these effectively in a week, and they are the cheapest thing that you can use to effect.
@@Jeremiah90526 With more cash on hand:
better helmets, some metal armor and maybe long knives/short swords with chopping and thrusting abilities (kukri, machaira, kopis, gladius, yatagan, seax, long seax, messer, karabela, artillery sabre), upgrade spears either towards pikes or pole arms.
Goedendags and pikes. A goedendg is an iron headed club with an armor piercing spike . Flemish militias with goedendags mixed with pikemen made mincemeat of French knights at Courtray .
@@victorwaddell6530 Sure, but they lost the war. Had to cede territory to France. EDIT: clarification, territories from the county of Flanders became part of the crown lands. Flanders was already and remained a French fief, it was just a very autonomous one in practice.
@Bart van der Schoor When?
"I was standing in the shower this morning; contemplating my axe!"
-Gimli, 2020
Dat Axe
“I was sitting in the shower”
Oh thank god im not the only one
“Wait standing, sitting in the shower would be weird”
Oh
I sit in the shower because I don’t have a bath tub. Sometimes you just gotta relax after working your ass off
I like to sit in dramatic Greek statue poses with the water running down me so I can imagine I'm in some moody art film.
As long as you have a shower beer it's fine to sit. Especially if you have more than one.
@@bigredwolf6 Yeah but not in the morning
I like how this has become one of the major lessons from the video.
One thing to remember is everywhere has access to blacksmith that makes axes and billhooks, and makeing a smaller axe or a bill with point is easy.
Swords not as widely made.
SuperFunkmachine not only that, swords need higher quality metal. Axes and bills not so much.
Yup and the majority of people know how to use and axe due to needing wood to cook or heat your home.
Fighter: I swear I will have my revenge for the death of my brother.
Elf: You have my bow.
Dwarf: And my axe.
Necromancer: And your brother.
Ayy lmao
And you can practice all that weaponry on him, he wouldn't mind, really.
Everyone: This is why you don't have any friends.
Lol, this is golden.
Wait, so the dwarf is half-assing by only promising his secondary weapon??? :O
"How often do you see someone messing up the edge alignment with an axe?" While swinging it? Not that often. While sharpening one and making the edge uneven so it pulls to one side while chopping? Unfortunately frequently.
You want an axe that has a one sided bevel for certain jobs. Google it.
@@dustinsmith2021 oh absolutely. I was referring to a general use axe. I managed a cutlery store for a decade and we offered professional sharpening services. I became known as the best person for sharpening in the entire chain so I used to be sent almost all of the weird, or really messed up, things. The things I saw people do to good knives, axes and swords when they tried to sharpen them without knowing how would make you shudder.
0:55 "My beautiful, beautiful axe"
me: narrows eyes
Was that a Hägar the Horrible reference?
Well played, sir.
Axes have easier edge alignment than swords? Try using maces and clubs: no edge - no problem!
And this is why lightsabers are good too... all the useful blade length of a sword, with all of the edge alignment freedom of a club.
Well, you know, other than the whole "not a real technology" bit, but when did that stop anyone?
@@a-blivvy-yus And you can poke with it
@@LuxisAlukard but lightsabers don't have pommels
@@gameoflife9576 They didn't had cross guards either for 6 movies... So, maybe in next trilogy we'll see some pommels on them?
@@LuxisAlukard we can only hope that they don't screw it up like this trilogy.
I have suggested this in the past, but reiterating: I would enjoy a video about cut-and-thrust polearms, (other than the pollaxe. The weapons that would be used in formation most of the time)
Well, Robert de Bruce was probably a superbly trained warrior and yet he preferred an axe as his favorite side arm
As a knigth in War, he used to fight armored foes.
That is true. But, as I understand it he had a shield on his left arm. This was before wide spread plate armor came along.
An ax by itself is a bit of a disadvantage unless you are very good indeed.
@@WastelandSeven Any one-handed weapon without a shield is a bit of a disadvantage.
Good point!
Although I presume that his second sidearm was a sword.
He might also have a mace with him.
I would be inclined to have a spear or halberd type weapon as my primary defence/attack. Keeping distance but still being lethal = survival.
The ability to turn one sentence into ten is one of the reasons I love this channel so much.
If you have access to axes, you can use them to excess for great success.
Yes.
I see what u did there..
You really turned that one around. Kinda turned it on its axis
Lol
@@BimpytheWimpyShrimpy RUINS OF AN ARMY, AXIS REST IN HELL!
Topic suggestion: speaking of weapons for the untrained commoner, how about a video on wooden clubs. Specifically clubs on the medieval period. There is plenty of pictorial evidence showing clubs being used in the medieval period, either with a shield or larger two-handed examples. And of course clubs were widely in use before and after the medieval period all around the world.
Clubs, Maces, and Goedendags: "What is edge alignment?"
Can you make videos on less common polearms? Like Partisans, Spontoon, Voulge, Bardiche? Etc.
We always hear about Pikes, Bills and Halberds. Others need some love too.
Confined at home, why bother shaving. Bet he's not wearing any pants either!
I shaved today. The people who keep discipline are more likely to survive. Have a routine! Eat lots of veg and fruit.
@@neilwilson5785 cardio
Cardio is gay. I didn't buy powerlifting equipment for the home gym to do cardio.
@@Userius1 Weight training can be cardio as well.
@@neilwilson5785 I disciplined myself not to shave five years ago and am maintaining that discipline. I should be good. ;>)
Seriously, you're right. Use the Seal Trick To Success- make your damn bed first thing every day and do everything else right when it needs doing- no procrastination!
Video suggestion: Different types of maces and maceheads,ranging from the more traditional ones to the more unusual like the bar mace.
You always seem concerned about the length of your videos. However, personally I don't mind longer videos as they lend themselves better to listening to when working or doing shores around the house. Since many of your videos are as long as they are I think most of your audience are comfortable with longer videos.
Matt makes long videos worth watching
Eh personally I feel he tends to waffle in the longer videos. Keeping it concise is generally better (unless you're Lindybeige)
@@verrufen2642 Short and concise aren't the same. Generally blabbering like Shadiversity is definitely could use some trimming down, but as long as one stays on topic (or related topic, or in Lindybeige's case any topic he comes to think of associated with the topic he actually was talking about), length is of no concern. Thing Lindybeige, GunJesus and the other great lecturers have is that they *fill the time with content*.
How many times do we need to repeat " it's not about the length, it's how you use it"
I started watching your videos when researching my great grandfather’s military history who was a yeoman in the south Irish horse. And I’m still watching them. They’re fascinating. Thanks for putting your research out there.
It'd be very interesting to see just how big of an advantage a sword is over a knife, and in what contexts a knife would be more effective.
In an open space with no obstacles, reach is everything. A swordsman can easily kite a knife wielding person backwards and be at little risk. It's also better at parrying. In a cramped space though, the knife will be much freer to swing than the sword. This is also true in grapples, hence why knights would sometimes grapple their opponents to shove a dagger through their visor. A knife is also easier to conceal, so for a surprise attack in a public place a knife has its uses...
Against plate armor in a duel. Reach won't matter when the weapon is not so effective, so you need to be in close to get to the gaps in the armor.
That's why so many daggers, like the rondell, are great for stabbing.
Fighting in full plate will often end in grappling, so you need a small and handy weapon, whereas a large weapon is too cumbersome and you can't move it around so easily.
Like Patrick said, in an open field and maybe with less armor the dagger is not so great.
A knife is better for human sacrifice. Just ask the Druids.
Oh wait... Rome killed them all.
Edge alignment is something that never even crossed my mind. Thanks for letting me know, Matt or else I'd be screwed during the apocalypse!
thank you for the more frequent input Mr. Easton. Much appreciated!
Not just a matter of feeling the edge alignment, but maintaining it in the impact. The greater moment of inertia keeps the edge from twisting when it meets resistance.
Would you agree that swords are "easier" to hit with because it has more effective surface area(the whole blade) and it is also balanced?
And axes have heavy "impact damage" due to its shape?
Also, the longer and balanced the weapon is, the easier it is to defend with it?
1. He has in fact pointed out in past videos that the entire length of the blade being a cutting surface is a major advantage to swords.
2. "Impact damage" isn't really the right phrasing from a fighting perspective but that *FOCUSED* weight at the head of an axe is a significant part of why it's more effective against armour.
3. Not so much "easier to defend" (and in some ways, it's easier to defend with a more blade-heavy sword than a well balanced one), but the closer to the hilt the baland-point is, the more *AGILE* the blade is, which means faster attacks and faster transitions between attack and defense (in both directions).
And about point 3... a blade-heavy sword, or a heavy "head" on an axe or polearm, will give your swings more momentum and make them harder to stop. Having a heavier head or blade end on your own weapon means you've got more weight in that part of the weapon to act against that momentum. This means that "hold weapon in the path of attack" blocks are less likely for the opponent to just smash aside - or smash your own weapon into your face with. With a more agile weapon, you need to put your guard further out, or be pushing into the attack, or use the weapon to redirect the attack around you instead of "hard" blocking the strike. The loss of agility results in both heavier swings that are harder to stop, AND heavier blocks that are harder to break through, but costs you in your ability to shift back and forth from one action to the other rapidly.
@@a-blivvy-yus thanks man, I will study your response.
@@a-blivvy-yus The increased cutting surface is not as big of an advantage as you might think. The majority of the cutting power of a sword is concentrated on the second half of the blade. The closer you get to the hilt, the weaker the cut, and this is exacerbated by the tendency to leave the first half relatively unsharpened. Meanwhile, holding an axe closer to it's head and striking at close range will still make a competent bludgeon, and the horn and beard of the axe head will tear through someone's throat or be thrust into the eyeball.
@@gabzdark07 It is still - to a point - an advantage. And a related advantage is that the entire striking surface is metal rather than wood which is easier to damage (which is similarly not as big an advantage as many people think because it's still strong wood so it'll probably take a couple of hits and be fine). And my point was that Matt has cited it as one of the advantages of a sword over an axe in previous videos. Because he has. And he's addressed the things you mentioned when doing so, too, because while it is still an advantage, it's not as big as some people might proclaim it to be.
"Grand those swords, but I prefer my trusty axe"
Iykyk
I wish thors forge has a website 😭😭 great video as always
It might be one degree of separation away from an ACTUAL website(then again, perhaps not), but I'm pretty sure this is functionally Thor's website.
alexoutdoors.com/pages/tord-bergelin-thors-forge
Talking about axe/sword type weapons - I would be interested in a quick video on Aztec weapons like the maquahuitl if you fancied a crack!
cadmaniak I think Skallagrim made a video about that. Weapons without metal, far from primitive
Thanks for keeping the videos coming, Matt!
I've suggested this before, but I would love to see a video on Swiss sabers.
Topic suggestion: Use if force/self-defense ethics. I’m not sure if I’ve suggested this to you already, but I’ve suggested it as a topic to other martial arts channels.
Mark Suarez Usually you break it down into distances and if they’re verbally assaulting you (name calling basically) or actually threatening you. If they’re more than 15 meters away and all they’re doing is yelling at you, you can’t go beat the crap out of them. If they’re more than 15m away and they threaten to harm you, you leave or call the police. If they’re 10m or closer and yelling at you, cant hit them, but be prepared to. Tell them to back up and go away. Really you only engage them if they’re 15m or closer with a weapon coming at you or if they’re really up in your personal space yelling at you. Guns obviously change the engagement distances. If they’re 100m away and pointing a pistol at you, chances are you can run away and call the cops. If where you’re at has a stand your ground law, then you can shoot them if you felt you needed to, but a 100m shot with a handgun is gunna be hard. If they’ve got a rifle however you find cover and return fire, or run away
@@bigredwolf6 It's also *VERY* dependent on locale, so any advice you get from any martial artist is going to be filtered, to some degree, through the amount of law enforcement present in the areas they frequent as well as what the applicable laws are regarding such things. In some places, it's much harder to get into a fight and come out without prison time, even if you did everything "right" to try and defuse and avoid the situation before being forced to defend yourself.
blivvy I’m from Louisiana, so our self defense laws are pretty good. We don’t have a duty to retreat. We have castle doctrine and stand your ground laws so if someone breaks into your home, you’re pretty much in the clear if you defend yourself. Unless of course you go nuts on them. You’re only supposed to use enough force to stop the threat. Stay safe.
A few questions/topics I would like to hear you explore:
-in regards to using shorter blades and dueling normal or longer blades (particularly in HEMA) what strategies would you promote for being successful?
-taking more about blade width and edge alignment, where do you see the balance between width and weight?
-definitely interested in videos about side swords, and Schiavonas
-discussion on the use of how to use the offhand weapons successfully or at least effectively (offhand dagger, buckler, etc)
-cinquedea, just looking to hear your thoughts about them, why they didn't catch on
-your opinion on the ideal offhand dagger, any specific design or considerations
You rock Matt, thanks for making the content that you make
Glad to see you are healthy Matt! Be Safe! .....and keep those awesome videos coming! :)
Thanks for another video in lockdown times. One of the things in videogames is usually that the programmer, or game creator, may be favorable towards a weapon against another (most game see sword as best weapons), But war axes and large bladed axes are great.
Axe: is better against shields, armor, mail;
Also easier edge alignment and manufacture
Sword: can be carried
You carry your weapon far more than you use it... That's why most police use pistols rather than rifles. The reality if soldiering is you spend far more time doing everything but fighting. Even in yesteryear it's not inconceivable that a soldier could serve for many years, and never use a weapon in anger.
swords are capable deep penetration and also sport the deadly pommel
@@jonc8074 and who isn't a fan of stiff, deep penetration...
An axe haft can be carried in a circle or loop hanging from the belt, just like a sword blade in a scabbard hanging from the belt. You do have the added step of an edge guard that must be removed from the ax edge, but it can be dangled on a cord or chain from the loop or the belt, just like a scabbard peace tie.
Hell, I don't see why you couldn't have an actual scabbard created for your axe haft. As long as the head sticks out far enough above the top of the scabbard then you should be golden.
@@Furniture121... or a vigorous pommeling
I would love to see a video about sossun pata swords. I've always wondered what longer recurve, yatagan or falcata style blades would be like one more of a tulwar or even sabre style hilt, and then I discovered those swords existed and where pretty close to that.
I don't hear people talking about them so much, I'm guessing they weren't so popular or common? I'd love to hear your thoughts and insights on them :)
I'd like if you could look into the concept of availability (in theory) of weapons, maybe some theory behind manufacture, material requirements and equipping a given body of troops.
(In particular, plate maille vs chain or scale vs chain etc etc)
I would like side by side comparison with early 1800 cavalry swords. Like french, english, german, and austro-hungarian/ russian.
3:21 Axe can be worn just as easy as a sword. You can put it in a "loop" I believe it's called axe frog. And if you're fancy you may put on a piece of leather that protects the axe head which basically acts like a scabbard, but with fraction of a leather usage than sword scabbard.
And thanks for keeping us entertained in this dire times
As much as I love all my swords if stuck in a battle royal right now I'd take the axe. I have a Dane & a few hand axes, they're so useful for all kinds of tricks & tasks 😊
Well, axes are also Dwarvish, so that automatically makes them better. As the saying goes, "If it's not Dwarvish, it's crrrap!"
IDEA________PLEASE TALK ABOUT GETTING MEASURED & FITTED FOR YOUR ARMOUR .THANK YOU FOR SHARING . _NOT YELLING GOING BLIND .
HOLD THE CTRL KEY AND PRESS +
IT MAKES TEXT (AND EVERYTHING ELSE) BIGGER.
I HOPE THIS HELPS.
Also assuming that did help, it's weird that most people find all caps harder to read, but when people have vision trouble it's easier. I know when I have a mgiraine affecting my vision it's easier to read all caps than normal text, but normally it's the other way around. Very odd.
THANKS , I HAVE EVERTHING AS LARGE AS I CAN GET IT . CAPS STILL MAKES THE LETTERS LARGER & CRISPER .!
Could you doooooo a video on unusual weapons? I like your interpretation of the CONTEXT in which weapons are used so it would be a nice, fresh take on the more obscure
Hey Matt I was wondering if you've seen Ilya's videos on sexy armor and sword steel/tech around the world and across history. Figured you'd have some interesting things to add or disagree with
Don't mind me just trying to get this comment further up.
Video suggestion: Jeddart/Jedburgh staff/axe! Favourite weapon. Was so happy to find one in Leeds Armoury, albeit listed as a guisarme. Say things about it? Or cut-and-thrust polearms in general.
I second this
Personally I'd love to see more videos on shields -- different types of shields, their construction, their use, how and why they changed over time. I've always been particularly curious about the keeled shields -- the portable ones, not the big pavises used in siege warfare.
"You know I can make 10 sentences out of one" Haha! We love that about you, Matt! Keep the videos coming, and Cheers!
Sword: Generally longer reach, better tip control, generally faster /faster recovery, (usually)won't get stuck into the enemy.
Axe: cheaper /easier to produce, sturdier against wear-tear, useful as a tool, better against armor .. generally easier to use, fairly effective even in hands of zero trained troops.
I'd ditch that tool part from the axe. It's a better tool than the sword, but still not that great. Unless you're thinking of, for instance, spiking guns, then sure, if it has a hammer-like side, but not much more than that.
@@rubbers3 The axe head would be the most useful tool part. Remember throughout most of history soldiers had to chop wood if they wanted hot rations. It's not until WWI at the earliest armies started moving beyond campfires to cook rations in the field. Even formal field kitchens mostly used locally scrounged wood. In the 17th-18th century you have armies putting regulations in place regarding cutting wood with hangers because men used them as machetes to cut fire wood. Axes are also useful in building field structures like winter quarters or fortifications.
Are war axes good for cutting wood?
@@ObsessedwithZelda2 better than swords, certainly. And even if you're not "supposed" to use your weapon as a tool, soldiers sitting around camp absolutely would.
@@ObsessedwithZelda2 Tomahawks are basically the same thing
Video ideas:
- Explain sword/antique collecting
- talk about the fencing technique differences between rapier, side sword, broad sword
- how you keep your head bald
- how to start a Hema club (no club close to me)
- list of different historical practices we have contemporary documentation for such as long sword, pole axe, armor construction, cooking, etc, all the weird things you wouldn't expect like sewing
- games of the medieval times
- hair/facial hair styles
- bayonet fighting
- black powder firearms
- demolishing Hollywood medieval/fantasy fights
- horseback riding
- archeology stuff you've done
- places you've traveled
- castle thoughts
- you and your wife fencing
- sparring vids
- talking about English stuff like different accents and insults and history and culture
- backyard cutting practice
Are you aware of a video game called Battle Brothers, Matt? Most of the medieval small unit tactics and weapon (dis)advantages you always mention are represented rather realistically in it.
What about:
The Polish "winged cavalry" and their outfit
The Cossacks and theirs
The Crim Tatars and theirs
How these worked out in steppe combat with other players in the region, like the Russians, the Turks, and the Swedes
?
Matt, please ramble about the best sword in the context of modern home defense.
A sword is obviously better than a knife or bat or shovel for this purpose, but I have trouble selecting a single sword to buy.
How much reach is too much for indoors? Opening doors, etc.
Does the thrust have enough stopping power for this purpose or should I select a weapon more specialized for the cut?
How important is nimbleness? Do I want a point of balance further out since I'm unlikely to do much fencing?
How relevant is hand protection in this situation?
Assuming a one-handed sword, what should I carry in the off-hand? Pepper spray? High-powered flashlight to blind them? What about a shield or buckler?
Great looking axe and Matt and it brought up the thought if a two bladed axe with parallel blades would provide a better weapon....
Thanks Matt. Keep calm and carry on.
Thanks for the videos Matt, working from home and can't leave home so the cabin fever is really digging in.
Please do videos on the English civil wars era arms and armour. It's a period I'm very interested in and you're the best person to explain it!
using a sword requires practice and certain skill while even a new recruit can pick up an axe and bury it in someone's skull.
Video on large war hammers or weapon concepts used in battle that were ditched would be cool
could you talk about sword fighting in confined places, such as within a doorway?
I'd like more on the pre-iron age. While medieval times and Rome are widely explored, information on the early times is still hard to come by. Though that's not really a question.. yet.
Jon Goat they’ve got archaeological evidence. And there’s a pretty good amount of information on the Celts. They had a salt mine in halstadtt Austria. They have a unique castle in hueneberg Germany, it was the only known Celtic castle to be built in the Mediterranean style of unbaked mud brick covered in lime. We know about their swords and their torcs. We don’t know much about their religion because the Romans killed all the druids but we do know that at least in Britain they did human sacrifice and threw them in the bog afterwards
@@bigredwolf6 But Celts are way into the Iron Age... the predominant use of Bronze weaponry ends to my knowledge around the battle of Khadesh.
@Jon Goat There is no need to restrict it to northern Europe. Though for this specifically iirc Bronze Axes were found.
Order of Azarath thought they existed way before then? Bronze Age came before Iron Age right? Some archeologists found some bronze Celtic style swords up in the north of Britain. They talked about it in the documentary celts: iron blood and sacrifice
Jon Goat Yea so the Celts make the most sense to explore in detail right? Since we have the most information on them.
Never thought of axes like that before. Good video.
Thanks, Matt! Idea for discussion: left-handed fighters, being one and/or dealing with one.
Would DEFINITELY prefer ANY weapon to have the flatter handle type, I find it is easier to control AND easier [as you just said] to maintain edge alignment.
I have cut down a lot of trees and split a lot of firewood, also dug many a mile of ditches with a large heavy pick ax, and after many decades of wielding picks, splitting mauls, hammers and axes, I can definitely say that a rounded handle is generally a bad idea for any weapon.
What you say here is so true it makes me wonder if the reason the Gun Dao [a pole-ax type weapon of Dynastic China, for those who do not recognize it] did poorly was more about the rounded handle than its overall weight, seeing as in most martial arts today [ Wushu Kung Fu being the first to come to mind] even many highly trained and experienced users seldom keep their edge aligned, seeing as their 'feel' is off.
I wonder if putting a tassel on such a round handled weapon might also [ore more precisely] serve as a visual method of ensuring edge alignment, especially in situations where one can not afford the luxury of looking at their weapon to see if it is properly aligned... ~( 'w')/
Of course, having a lot of curve-back on some of the larger pole handled weapons such as the Crescent Moon and Green Dragon Guan Daos just MIGHT serve NOT ONLY as a hooking or catching tool against an enemy, but also a way to create inertial drag in such a manner as to increase blade alignment. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guandao
Since the blade predominantly trails the haft, it is possible this is for the express purpose of using mass and inertia to keep it aligned, seeing as in many ways, it is about half way between a sword and an ax as a weapon... ~( 'w')/
Thanks Matt. Keeping us sane....
Hey Matt, got a question for you.
On the subject of transporting/carrying weapons, I always struggled in imagining how big troops of polearm soldiers would transport their weapons over long distances, marching to battle, to enemy territory, a crusade, etc.
I imagine they could carry it over a short distance, leaning the spears on the ground, but how would they transport 3m, 4m, 5m long polearms, pikes, etc? What would a greek phalanx do with their massive spears?
Would that fit in wagons? Specialized transports for big boles! On the side of horses? Do we have any historical records or art explaining how that worked?
And by the way, thanks a lot for the channel and the amazing content.
I am a RPG fanatic and science/history enthusiast and your content weaponized all my arguments about medieval martial arts, weapons and military strategy, as well as giving my storytelling a better sense of realism. My debates are much better because of you.
Thanks and take care. :)
I appreciate the short videos
I would love to see a series on your favourite weapons vs your best counter weapons for example Sword and Shield vs Polearm
Video suggestion: WW2 era fighting treatises like "get tough" by Faibairn William.
just type 'Carl Cestari'
I've been looking for a review of this boarding axe. Would love to hear more about how it was used
I've said this a few times, but videos on polearm usage would be great. Spear and poleaxe have been covered well on the channel, so I'll also say I wouldn't mind if you a) Don't have a halberd or bill or whatever to show off, and b) Don't know as much about the topic as you'd like
And today, children, Matt has made a video for us about his chopper. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin.
Have something to tell about The Sword of Stalingrad, gifted by the British to the Soviets after securing Stalingrad in WW2? I heard it was a masterpiece of modern swordsmithing.
Maybe about ceremonial vs actual arms in general, how and how much do they differ.
Blade profiles. That’s something you should cover in a video. Or perhaps a series of videos. Compare different blade profiles, threir strengths, weaknesses and when and why a certain profile is preferable.
That ought to be good.
I love tomahawks, lol. I have 4. What are your thoughts on the CRKT Woods hawks?
I'd like to see some tests of that back spike, and maybe some of your hammers and other stuff, against a patch of good mail on a patch of gambeson on a nice piece of meat.
Could you talk about how combat between groups of knights would have looked? I don't imagine the opposing spear walls would work when your opponents are pretty much immune to that weapon. Would it turn into a big rugby scrum with pollaxes and maces and daggers or what?
Would love to hear your thoughts on medieval towns. How they were laid out, how they were protected, how they differed from large cities. Especially in dark ages or before, where castles werent as common
Is it feasible to use two handed weapons ( poleaxes, swords, spears, etc ) on horseback?
Two video ideas:
1. Fight analysis from the duel in the old Sean Connery movie Robin and Marian.
2. You have talked about distal taber and how that makes a sword more nimble by changing the center of gravity. Generally thicker at the base and thinner near the tip. Do you know of any examples where a sword get thicker at the center of percussion in order to make it hit harder?
Hi Matt, I've been a huge fan of yours for several years now. And there is one question that I would like to ask you for quite a while now:
Why are Katzbalgers often considered to have a rounded tip? Are there any real benefits to this or is this maybe just a modern misconception? And are there more examples of weapons like this?
Keep up the great work!
Video ideas? Since you recently did a video on a WZ.34 sabre, how about a fight review of the Deluge duel? Skallagrim made a video about it, almost exactly a year ago (on March 8th), but he did it more on the choreography aspects and overall realism, but I'd love to see your take, from a military sabre fencer.
I'd like you to read more stories like the accounts in the "Swordsman of the British Empire" book. Thx
Wouldn't want to use an axe without a nice large shield shield unless I had armor. As far as I figure scandinavians had a preference for the axe partially due to necessity (since their steel came from imports or bog iron, which limits the amount of steel you can produce) and partially because it complements the shield wall (if you have a shield you can easily have an axe in the same hand as a reserve weapon while you use the spear in your main hand. Also, it can be used to hook shields and create weaknesses for your friends to exploit).
I'm going to add my call to the chorus. Explaining the Mere / Wahaika you have on the wall would be a good self isolation video. Especially how you came by it please.
0:46 not weird if you're crying in the shower ;n; Great video, as always! Hope you are staying safe and doing well.
Finger-rings help with edge-alignment on narrow swords like rapiers, yes?
So, it's better if the ax has a trailing bit, like a poll, or spikey bit?
2 video ideas -- hafting the spear you did last video, how the axe was carried mounted and on foot
0:07 Matt Easton is the hero we need _and_ the hero we deserve. God bless him.
Hey Matt, I was really curious if you could talk about military saber construction? The backstrap, nut assembly, etc. I Honestly have a hard time finding any info on how they were made or how the components work together.
Sitting showers are actually quite nice
Im very interested in multi-man tactics and maneuvering. Basically team attacks, or combos that work well together. And especially historical examples of such things. Say spearmen who were paired with somebody who had some kind of poleaxe for pullong shield so their mate could get a stab in.
Matt can you please do a video talking about early non firearm gunpowder weapons like the fire lance
I was looking for minecraft axe versus sword and I found this
I think that physics has a larger part to play. With a sword, the weight is closer to the hand, whilst with an axe the weight is towards the head. Therefore the angular momentum is higher with an axe, often with a lower overall weight.
So.. A suggestion for at video on a topic, that I have been wondering about for some time. How effective were rondel daggers actually? Given that they are most likely used, when you are wrestling up close, and the fighting parties know where thier weak spots are for daggers of this sort, and probably are wearing mail and or thick fabrick in those places, it seems to me that it must have been very difficult to actually get it to penetrate.