Adam Savage Meets Real Armored Gauntlets: ua-cam.com/video/59-9PlB-F1Y/v-deo.html The MET's Arms and Armor Department: www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/collection-areas/arms-and-armor
Adam you have GOT to go to the Royal Armouries in Leeds here in the UK. You would absolutely lose yourself in there and curation team and staff are so incredibly passionate about everything, it'd make for a fantastic video/series of videos!
I lived in northern England for four year and was a member of the Royal Armouries. We had monthly classes where we got to explore the back rooms. My favorite memory was when they brought out "transition swords" - the swords that filled the gaps between different designs.
Found a box of pictures of Adam and some of our friends when we were in our 20’s yesterday . This comes up on my feed today and makes me realize how fast life goes by. Blink, we are old.
@@KrypticKratos I have no memory of Adam smoking weed and the rest of us were stoners. Accidentally scooping a chip of wasabi thinking it was guacamole, yes, but weed no.
I absolutely loved how the person filming this kept backing away, eventually winding up on the other side of the table away from Adam's gleeful swings.
Theres nothing like seeing/being a part of a conversation with this much passion in it. Love how excited they both get at small facts about the blades. Passion is contagious
The second sword Adam held, from the Alexandria armoury, has been copied by Albion swords, a modern maker that makes real, functional replicas. Its such a ferocious cutting sword that it is actually banned from HEMA cutting competitions, because it makes it too easy. It just glides through tatami mats and other cutting targets so effortlessly that they banned it from competition because it was almost impossible to compete if you had any other sword.
@@TraktorTarzan It really was. Those born to noble families or those of higher status were fortunate enough to have the best equipment and the best trainers, fortunate enough to have be trained at all. Peasants couldn't afford either. I suppose that was one way of keeping the nobles noble and the peasants covered in dirt, the dirt covered could do nothing about it.
This is brilliant in so many ways! As a HEMA enthusiast and translator of fencing manuals I'm so, so happy to finally see a proper, blunt 16th century "sports" fencing sword being presented to a wider audience! Thank you so, so much for this! Also the explanation on how you actually fight in plate armor in halfswording, etc. Awesome video, I love it, this really makes me happy. :)
Those were amazing. I got to hold one once that was probably 15th century. Not only was it far lighter than any replica swords I've ever held, but the balance point was exactly where it needed to be. It would stay in whatever orientation it was in your hand almost as if it was levitating that way. There was no effort involved. Moving it felt more like you were directing it where to move and it did so on it's own.
It's so insane that he's holding a weapon that could've seen wars or battles from over 700 years ago man if those swords could talk! Also I couldn't take my eyes off these pieces how amazing
Well, most probably they'd say that they never really saw any battle at all. ;) Medieval warfare was by and large a siege warfare with little direct enemy contact. Open field battles like we see in movies were a very rare exception. Take the 100 years war, for example. HIstorians count about 60 violent encounters in that rivalry for the French crown, and only 3-4 of them were larger field battles (Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt,..). And that's in the entire area of France, in 100 years. And each of those battles didn't last longer than a day. So, the probability of actually fighting in a battle was probably smaller than going from playing football as kid to actually playing in the World Cup finals..
@@heiterkiter well depends what site it's from they never said in the video but you're right in the sense that it might not have been involved in a large war but people don't just kill eachother in war my friend.
@@ThousandManx that is true of course and I would also love to hear the story these swords could tell. :) I'm just commenting because I think it's sad how fiction shows the late Middle Ages far more violently than they actually were. According to a study from 2003 (M. Eisner, Long-Term Historical Trends in Violent Crime), many major cities in the US have a higher violent crime rate today than central Europe had in the 15th century. These swords were made in the period after the plague killed ~30% of the European population in the mid 14th century. Poorer fields were left deserted while the better ones were still cultivated, which lead to a higher production per person for the survivors. Trade was flourishing and the prospering cities competed for able craftsmen. And the people who wore swords were the managing elite of the society. It would have been idiotic to allow these people to just kill each other every time they had some dispute. That's not what the 15th century actually looked like.. :)
Why not a current US swordmaker, like the guys at Albion . These guys make really good swords in older styles . Some are copies of old originals, some are updated designs . All are fully functional like their historic counterparts, but with modern production and materials . If an ancient warrior woke up and wanted a traditional duel, this is where a modern US hero could buy their sword .
I don't know if Adam will see this, but the Alexandria sword is what the company Albion has based theirs & the Principe off of - which is one of the best performing cutting swords in competitive European sword cutting competitions of all time. To the point where many people feel like it's just cheating. I just think he would enjoy knowing that it performs even better than it feels in the hand.
@@zzodysseuszz "superior" is a a loaded term. the myth of them being iron bars is obviously very irritating but swords all over the world perform excellently at their intended purposes.
@@johnshite4656 That comparison just isint very good. Katana's were over engineered and served a very specific purpose which was mainly just self defence for nobles. If they were used in war it was mainly a side arm and you would really be using something like a spear. The way katana's are made make them very hard to repair as well and the odds are if you use it in battle a few times it will be so damaged that you would have to get a new one and they arent exactly cheap either.
@@billfred9411 Yep. The actual 'battle katana' if you wanted to call it that was the nodachi, which is in essence a giant two-handed cleaver with ~85 in cutting length and almost an inch thick triangular cross-section. Probably either used as a cavalry weapon, or an anti-cavalry weapon.
Part of what I love about watching these videos (and Tested in general) is Adam's enthusiasm. He really truly appreciates, in a visceral and emotional way, the value and importance of whatever it is he's looking at. This isn't just history and education-- it's joy and love and excitement and it shows in every video. Thank you Adam and Tested team!!
I've been into swords and the study thereof for over a decade, so it makes me happy *in my soul* to see a video that covers 500 years of sword history in broad strokes without saying anything too misleading or horribly wrong.
Even from a viewer's perspective, the detailed overview of these swords' weights and dimensions was incredibly interesting and informative. Like Adam said, the way swords are depicted by replicas and in media makes them seem so much bulkier and more cumbersome than they apparently really were in reality. The balance and flexibility of the large longsword and the unbelievable detail on the mourning sword is truly fascinating
I love the absolute joy and fascination in Adam's eyes as he truly admires the craftsmanship of these wonderful swords. I don't blame him for liking the flimsy one!
As an historian who recently worked on the topic of swords, i can say that we need to demystify the utility of swords in ancient organized warfare. History itself proves how bad swords were during organized warfare : - The qin empire was able to unify china during the warring states period because of the use of longer spears and Ji plus crossbows despite using bronze against iron and steel. - Alexander the great used the reforms of phillip 2 and with the sarissa he steamrolled over half asia. - toyotomi hideyoshi advocated the use of long spears and under his "reign" during the imjin war japanese boasted that their spears were longer that those of the koreans. - A text from the sengoku jidai period stated that 80% of the weapons on the battlefield were yari spears and around 20% yumi bows... yeah katanas were not considered a main weapon but a backup weapons... - the vikings encyclopedia for kings even says it in "the king's mirror" "You must also be specially advised, when you are in the line of battle, not to not throw your spear unless you have two, for on the battlefield on land A spear is more effective than two swords." - the Jouvencel written by jean de bueil describes the hundred years war and it says that the lance and spear dominates the battlefield for infantry and cavalry : "A spear is many and subtle, and is so small an entrance that it passes through; where it arrives, it is merciless. The most dangerous weapons in the world are horse and spear; for there is no stop for it" - In 15th century because of swiss hallberd and pikes germans tried to used the zweihander to counter them but without success. The same goes with the odachi which during the kamakura period began to be used as an anti cavalry weapon as the zweihander did. Spears countered them. - Because the swiss pikemen destroyed the Bourgondian knights which were the best knights of the world => cavalry was over. Most of europe began to use long pikes like the sarissa. - Swords gained prestige because of the myths around them and because they were symbols of prestige, power and wealth. Only nobles and soldiers could wear a sword and a beautiful sword was just a way to differenciate rich and powerfull from poor. They were the main weapons during gorilla warfare before war was organized in battle formations. Which means it was primarily used during the bronze ages and after the Roman Empire collapsed due to the disappearance of organized armies until first European kingdoms were born. - During the middle ages the only time swords were the main weapon on the battlefield was between the 8th and 10th century ad. After this swords began to be a secondary weapon. - The superiority of the roman gladius during ancient times is only due to those factors : romans mastered iron and they often fought against bronze/iron mix of weapons and armors. Their oponents often had inferior armor and weapons. Their pilums rendered oponents shields useless. The romans had a well organized and permanent military which is perhaps one of the first real military organisation in the world : with strict rules, organisation, some forms of standardisation and regular conscription. Most of the states during ancient era had normal citizens which could purchase armors and weapons (like hoplites and regional chiefs with their troops). Finally if we remove spartans from the lot few of them had already fought a real war compared to a legionnary which was a professionnal soldier. Even if in the Greek world (with the descebdant generals Of Alexander) there were organized armies they didn’t have the training nor the same Quality of equipment + phalanx made of sarissa were mostly only used in macedon. Romans won against the sarissa because of 2 main factors the terrain, the sarissa dominates flat ground and the equipment was really outdated. - Range is the best indicator of power. If you have greater range you will always win. Genghis khan conquered the biggest empire in the world because composite bows + horse = insane range and mobility during middle ages. hollywood more like trashwood destroyed reality and accuracy about ancient warfare. However pike and lance fight would be boring that's the reason why the sword is prefered over the pike and the lance.
The Royal Armouries in Leeds (UK) is a really good day out if anyone's in, or visiting, the north of England - free entry, several floors of this stuff. Big fan of the horse armour, personally, and the painted helms. I also had a lot of fun at a longsword workshop once, you really do need to heft one of these bad boys around to appreciate them fully. And wearing a full helmet and chainmail is quite an experience. The old steel was lighter than most modern repro. OK, spam over, watching the rest of the video now :D
Very nice progression through the style, age, and design. Swords are such an interesting topic as historic items go. There's as much personal taste of the master as there is of the maker. Both stories, forever intertwined in a piece of wood, leather, and steel.
Not all sword users were masters, many were regular men of sufficient status for whom it was just their EDC or combat weapon . Notice in particular the sword that was shown in both army and civilian versions, with the civilian having extra decorative features and neither being associated with a famed master .
I love how Sean trusts Adam to handle these blades, I`m here with eyes WIDE OPEN with every move Adam makes, and Sean is just... Chilling, doesn't bat an eye
Absolutely amazing. I'm loving this series you're doing with medieval arms and armour. Beautiful pieces of craftsmanship. I'll have to make a trip out to the MET to check these out myself. Thank you Adam and Tested team.
If you ever make it to Cleveland, Ohio, go to the Cleveland Museum of art. They have a HUGE room dedicated to various forms of armament. Swords, suits of armor, jousting, horse armor, various weapons…it’s quite spectacular.
@@DaveDexterMusic The common belief, especially among younger people, is usually that we, today’s humans, are far superior to the people who came before. “Backwoods dummies” may not be how they specifically refer to them, but it’s a very comparable phrase to what they would call them.
Yea, there is this myth that swords were heavy, for some reason perpetuated by "historians", media. and hobbyists. When in reality they did pretty good engineering to get as much as they could out of what they had. Wasting steel by overbuilding something that didn't need it, cut into profits and gave you more work. People also did not want to swing around heavy things during long battles, they wanted enough to do the job and no more.
@@DaveDexterMusic The same goofballs that think knights had to be craned onto horses also think swords are really heavy and everybody in the past was a moron. Mostly US high school teachers
soooo jealous, and at the same time I really am happy that Adam is allowed to have one of my childhood dreams fulfilled, holding a real ancient sword and I can enjoy it with him 🤗. Adam is someone who I believe deserves good things happening to him
The enthusiasm of both these men is infectious. I have to say that a well made fighting sword is quite a thing to hold and swing. It almost wants to do a swing itself. I never held anything this old but early 19 Century cavalry swords are easy to distinguish from the later copies just on the basis of their balance in the hand.
Boy how I wish I could own an actual antique like that. That display alone just reinforces why I love swords. In only a few swords it shows such a range of combat and design and style, a raw evolution of combat arts and techniques. So much to look at and discover, and you're only looking at a handful of swords from Europe. Never mind the variety of styles and forms if you expanded the era of time and took from around the world. Swords are wonderful.
For anyone interested in getting their very own version of that Alexandria sword Albion has an amazing reproduction called the Principe. There's also one called the Balaur Arms Type XVIIIc Alexandria that's in a more affordable price range.
yes the principe is a beauty problem is albion wait list jaja, though the balaur version is is a bit narrower than the original one, also just for bonus the maker is LK chen a well know company for their chinese reproductions, they have been on the rise you can get one in kult of athena.
Adam's giddiness at seeing priceless artifacts is the reason I keep coming back to this channel. He isn't working, he is living his dream and being paid for it.
I would be just as giddy, seeing them up close and actually being able to hold them. Feel the weight and history to them. I was smiling just with the first camera pass. Love all these videos from the Met Arms and Armor section.
It should be noted that there are many fine craftsmen of replica swords who do include the distal taper which is what makes it so nice in the hand and not overly heavy. There are also some larger manufacturers of historical style European and Eastern swords that also get the weight right as people who do things such as hema or are just hobbyists want historically accurate weapons. I can definitely understand where Adam is coming from though as he has likely dealt with mostly props which weren't made with much other than looks in mind.
It’s almost embarrassing the amount of times I caught MYSELF smiling while watching this video. Thank you so much to the team at the met and adam savage for providing such fascinating info on varying eras of arms and armor
The sword that Adam holds at the very end is an absolutely amazing cutter. Albion has a replica based on a very similar sword type and it's so easy to cut with that cutting competitions have banned it's use because it's simply too good at cutting.
With joy I listened to the knowledge and understanding of 'how it was'. With a fair amount of jealousy I applaud Sean's dedication to understanding the technology and art of those who came before us. His dedication to keeping alive the past for us to be amazed.
I have an original 1822 model French infantry officer saber that weighs 1 lb 10 oz and balances about 5” from the guard. It measures 7.9 mm thick at the base and 2.56 mm just after the fuller (6.5” from tip). I also have a reproduction napoleonic French infantry officer saber of very similar dimensions including the curve of the blade. It weighs 2 lb 4 oz and balances 8” from the guard. It is 7.06 mm thick at the base of the blade and 5 mm just after the fuller (6.75” from tip). It isn’t a perfect 1:1 comparison, but it gives a pretty good idea of how different the weight and balance can be between originals and reproductions.
I recently saw a demonstration by a local sword fighting school. It was really interesting to learn how actual sword fighting occurred. There is a lot more grappling than I think most people realize and the stuff you see in movies with huge swings that leave a person open to getting grabbed or punched in the face with a shield really is just for movies.
I've held swords with that much flex, and I've used one in practice combat. What has always just amazed me even more than the ability to bend is the fact that a properly constructed blade will return to true, even after far more significant bending than you saw here. It's like magic.
One of my Ancestors, Sir. Thomas Holcomb, traveled in the Crusades as a knight, sent by the King of England to protect the Christians. He carried a big sword like the second one, around this same time, and is known for severing the heads of 3 Muslim attackers in one fell swoop.
Albion make a few swords that are extremely similar based on swords that were kept in the Alexandria collection. The Alexandria and the Principe in particular are very nice pieces, the Principe has actually been banned from HEMA cutting competitions for being too good.
I've always loved the middle ages since I was a kid, seeing Adam's face light up as he holds the swords is honestly really wholesome and a slight tearjerker for me :D
Yeah he did pull some good ones for you! We've studied the long swords there and have made similar-ish versions! We use those and others from museums all over (Royal Armouries, Wallace Collection, Louvre, etc) for our blades. Hard to really make good historical based swords until you get the originals in your hands! We'd love to have you on our Sword Talk podcast someday on our tiny youtube channel :) It would be cool to hear more about your experiences working with Peter Lyon! He's a great guy!
If you buy a weapon from a company called Arms and Armor, what you get are museum-quality replicas that are made to be indistinguishable from the original by anyone other than an expert. I've had the pleasure of handling some of the weapons they had at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and they're exquisite. They're also not cheap.
I doubt it, museum originals are characterized by rough work, you can't sell that low quality to a modern public. Tod's Workshop discusses that problem a few times. On a technical level it's also blacksmith versus whitesmith products.
Thanks Adam & Sean bean a great episode on swords, amazing how they started so big and ended so light and fancy....thanks for all the fun knowledge we learnt along the way...Peace and love to everyone
It would be amazing to see you do some videos with Tod's Workshop youtube channel. He makes authentic medieval weaponry (he even made a real trebuchet!) and does interesting tests with them. His channel is great!
The practise sword type is known today as a Feder (Federschwert) sword. It is the training weapon for the longsword and replicas of these are used widely today in HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) sword competitions/events. Modern Feder replicas usually have a bent tip.
The second Sword that they picked up is of the Oakshott XVIIIc typology. It's known for its ability to cut. A sword company by the name of Albion makes a really good replica. I laughed when Adam picked it up, because everyone had that reaction when they pick up an XVIIIc 😂
Was once at a Swiss gun-show that had an Albion-booth, already fairly familiar with them myself it was funny to see the reactions of the many lifting up a historically correct sword for the first time. 1. Tense up the shoulder-muscles, expecting to lift a heavy chunk of metal. 2. Lifting the sword up much more easily than expected, confused only needing a fraction of the strength anticipated. 3. Moving it around being fascinated and relaxing the muscles. .. and then being kinda discouraged and hesitant looking at price-tag a few times.
I apologize in advance for this post being so long, but I have to know if anyone else is as nerdy as me? I guess what I mean by that is does anyone else, if ever given the chance to hold a piece of antiquity, like the swords in the video, think of the person who once owned it? Or the last person to hold it before it was lost to time? And why it was lost? Was it lost in battle? Was it buried with them? Did it fall off a wagon while they were marching? Or do you think about the wars and combat it must have seen? Do you think if this sword ever drew blood?!?! During my 3rd deployment to Iraq in 2012, Al Qaeda had started systematically destroying ancient Babylonian artifacts and what was left of ruins and monuments. Coincidencely, they were also trying to seize and smuggle more valuable pieces out of the country for monetary gain. Apparently, their moral objection to their historical caliphate only goes skin deep. Everything has a price, I guess. Please note, after Al Qeada's defeat in Iraq, ISIS took up the mantle in destroying historical sites. This all came to a head in 2017 when it was brought to the worlds attention. Its unfortunate that Al Qeada and ISIS were able to destroy so much history. Anyway, I was fortunate enough, possibly because my leasdership knew I was a humongous nerd when it came to history (that and I was in school at the time for Anthropology), to get assigned to one of several units tasked with securing various historical sites and providing secuirty for the transportation of pieces that could be safely moved. Being able to be the first person, in 2,500 years, to run my hand down the wall of what used to be a temple. Or to be able to hold an Akkadian clay tablet (with gloves obviously) makes you think of those that created it. Like the swords in the video. I can't describe just how incredible it is to hold something and know that you are sharing a moment with someone that lived thousands of years ago.
These videos from the Metropolitan Armory are my favorite videos of all, the craftsmen from those times where incredible and the History lesson is also incredible! Thank you so much guys that was awesome ❤😊
Without wanting to mythologise too much, I believe I'm right in saying that the second sword's (longsword from the Alexandria arsenal) blade type has gotten such a reputation as a "cheat code" for cutting that many modern hema clubs and competitions don't allow it because it makes it too easy. When I first saw the blade profile I assumed it was intended to optimise thrusting, but the blades are so thin and broad they cut like crazy as well
I don't think I know many HEMA comps that actually ban it - it's a very good cutter but I've seen people lose in the first round with them still. It definitely has the "cheat code" rep though
If you are interested in Swords and all kinds of related blades, if you happen to be in Germany I suggest a visit to the Klingenmuseum in Solingen. They have a huge display, among other things, of all sorts of edged weapons, especially those made in and around Solingen. What I find so fascinating about those, especially the more elaborate and decorative ones, is imagining how someone a few hundred years ago made those, with the materials and knowledge about materials they had back then and obviously all hand tools. No Power Hammers (maybe lateron a water powered one), no CNC, no grinders, no Dremel tools etc.. I cannot even imagine how long it might have taken to make some of those. Not the forging itself, which may actually be the least part of time spent, but all the grinding, filing, possibly scraping (the fuller for example) or planing, engraving and whatelse that went into the hilt. I can hardly imagine any of todays craftsman being able to recreate it the same way. from a crafts perspective there are a few who will sure be able too, but it would need such an amount of money and dedication, unbeliavable. And then, not sure if they would get it as light and flexible, although with todays materials we would be able to make even lighter, more flexible and especially more durable versions.
The rapier @17:30 reminds me of a sword I once saw at an SCA event as a "Look but no-touchy" antique display. the whole inside of the hand guard was encased in (I believe) crushed red velvet or similar material. The cloth was thick and voluminous and reminded me of a catcher's mitt. I imagine it would keep the wielder's hand nice and warm in the winter. Those rows of small chain loops look like thread lashing points used to attach something similar. I bet it must have been an absolute delight to hold before it's cloth components succumbed to the weight of time.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Adam Savage Meets Real Armored Gauntlets: ua-cam.com/video/59-9PlB-F1Y/v-deo.html
The MET's Arms and Armor Department: www.metmuseum.org/about-the-met/collection-areas/arms-and-armor
Love the vid and I want more.
Maybe do something with the Forged in Fire crew, I think that'd be right up your ally
Would love to see more historical focused videos like this
Meow
I love that last one because the triangular blade seems to be playing off the bayonet design of the time.
Adam you have GOT to go to the Royal Armouries in Leeds here in the UK. You would absolutely lose yourself in there and curation team and staff are so incredibly passionate about everything, it'd make for a fantastic video/series of videos!
I lived in northern England for four year and was a member of the Royal Armouries. We had monthly classes where we got to explore the back rooms. My favorite memory was when they brought out "transition swords" - the swords that filled the gaps between different designs.
I would love to see Adam talk to Matt Easton and Toby Capwell
Is that where "Jonathon Ferguson, keeper of firearms and artillery at the royal armories museum in the UK" works at?
It's such a great place, Adam would love it
Karen Watts is so knowledgeable and sweet, a real pleasure. :)
Found a box of pictures of Adam and some of our friends when we were in our 20’s yesterday . This comes up on my feed today and makes me realize how fast life goes by. Blink, we are old.
How do u know him?
Were u guys smoking bongs 😅
@@KrypticKratos I have no memory of Adam smoking weed and the rest of us were stoners. Accidentally scooping a chip of wasabi thinking it was guacamole, yes, but weed no.
Happy 30# birthday!!!
I absolutely loved how the person filming this kept backing away, eventually winding up on the other side of the table away from Adam's gleeful swings.
It was Joey!
@@tested Smartt lad, Joey.
Put want the full action shot…
He didnt want a John Belushi type of accident. 😂
He was dodging adams fake laughs
Theres nothing like seeing/being a part of a conversation with this much passion in it. Love how excited they both get at small facts about the blades. Passion is contagious
The second sword Adam held, from the Alexandria armoury, has been copied by Albion swords, a modern maker that makes real, functional replicas. Its such a ferocious cutting sword that it is actually banned from HEMA cutting competitions, because it makes it too easy. It just glides through tatami mats and other cutting targets so effortlessly that they banned it from competition because it was almost impossible to compete if you had any other sword.
Lol, isnt hema supposed to be historically accurate? Ie, I have a more skilled blacksmith and money = I have a better sword 😅
It reminded me of the Principe.
@@IWontBuy-RP Turns out medieval combat was P2W 😆
@@TraktorTarzan It really was. Those born to noble families or those of higher status were fortunate enough to have the best equipment and the best trainers, fortunate enough to have be trained at all. Peasants couldn't afford either. I suppose that was one way of keeping the nobles noble and the peasants covered in dirt, the dirt covered could do nothing about it.
@@junichiroyamashita I think Albion based "The Alexandria" on this.
I love Adam's enthusiasm and just pure joy at seeing the craftsmanship of these weapons.
This is brilliant in so many ways! As a HEMA enthusiast and translator of fencing manuals I'm so, so happy to finally see a proper, blunt 16th century "sports" fencing sword being presented to a wider audience! Thank you so, so much for this! Also the explanation on how you actually fight in plate armor in halfswording, etc. Awesome video, I love it, this really makes me happy. :)
Those were amazing. I got to hold one once that was probably 15th century. Not only was it far lighter than any replica swords I've ever held, but the balance point was exactly where it needed to be. It would stay in whatever orientation it was in your hand almost as if it was levitating that way. There was no effort involved. Moving it felt more like you were directing it where to move and it did so on it's own.
Beautiful description, very well said!
It's so insane that he's holding a weapon that could've seen wars or battles from over 700 years ago man if those swords could talk!
Also I couldn't take my eyes off these pieces how amazing
Right?!
Well, most probably they'd say that they never really saw any battle at all. ;) Medieval warfare was by and large a siege warfare with little direct enemy contact. Open field battles like we see in movies were a very rare exception. Take the 100 years war, for example. HIstorians count about 60 violent encounters in that rivalry for the French crown, and only 3-4 of them were larger field battles (Crecy, Poitiers, Agincourt,..). And that's in the entire area of France, in 100 years. And each of those battles didn't last longer than a day. So, the probability of actually fighting in a battle was probably smaller than going from playing football as kid to actually playing in the World Cup finals..
@@heiterkiter well depends what site it's from they never said in the video but you're right in the sense that it might not have been involved in a large war but people don't just kill eachother in war my friend.
@@ThousandManx that is true of course and I would also love to hear the story these swords could tell. :) I'm just commenting because I think it's sad how fiction shows the late Middle Ages far more violently than they actually were. According to a study from 2003 (M. Eisner, Long-Term Historical Trends in Violent Crime), many major cities in the US have a higher violent crime rate today than central Europe had in the 15th century. These swords were made in the period after the plague killed ~30% of the European population in the mid 14th century. Poorer fields were left deserted while the better ones were still cultivated, which lead to a higher production per person for the survivors. Trade was flourishing and the prospering cities competed for able craftsmen. And the people who wore swords were the managing elite of the society. It would have been idiotic to allow these people to just kill each other every time they had some dispute. That's not what the 15th century actually looked like.. :)
If they still used swords as primary weapons today, there may very well, be very few wars, if not battles....
The level of respect, grattitude and passion Adam Savage has in this episode was the biggest entertainment for me :) What a good person!
The joy from just holding those…it really is beautiful to watch. Adam’s content always makes me smile 😊
Oh man, sooo jealous!! What an incredible opportunity! I am so happy for you!! That must have been so fun!
Now we need a video of Adam Savage meeting with Tobias Capwell or Tod Cutler to discuss swords and making things like this! That would be amazing!
I feel like Adam and Todd could do some incredible collaborations. True Medieval Mythbusting
So true! :)
Yes!
Adam Savage and Tod Cutler would be ideal.
Just the amount both can learn from each other alone would be phenomenal.
I just suggested exactly the same. They would me the best of friends and I wish I’d be there too.
Why not a current US swordmaker, like the guys at Albion . These guys make really good swords in older styles . Some are copies of old originals, some are updated designs . All are fully functional like their historic counterparts, but with modern production and materials . If an ancient warrior woke up and wanted a traditional duel, this is where a modern US hero could buy their sword .
Hurray Adam !!!!...We love you!!!.....thanks for all the great shows!
I don't know if Adam will see this, but the Alexandria sword is what the company Albion has based theirs & the Principe off of - which is one of the best performing cutting swords in competitive European sword cutting competitions of all time. To the point where many people feel like it's just cheating. I just think he would enjoy knowing that it performs even better than it feels in the hand.
People underestimate how superior European swords were at cutting especially the Alexandria
@@zzodysseuszz "superior" is a a loaded term. the myth of them being iron bars is obviously very irritating but swords all over the world perform excellently at their intended purposes.
@@WoodrowSkillson Principe/Alexandria > Katana
@@johnshite4656 That comparison just isint very good. Katana's were over engineered and served a very specific purpose which was mainly just self defence for nobles. If they were used in war it was mainly a side arm and you would really be using something like a spear. The way katana's are made make them very hard to repair as well and the odds are if you use it in battle a few times it will be so damaged that you would have to get a new one and they arent exactly cheap either.
@@billfred9411 Yep. The actual 'battle katana' if you wanted to call it that was the nodachi, which is in essence a giant two-handed cleaver with ~85 in cutting length and almost an inch thick triangular cross-section. Probably either used as a cavalry weapon, or an anti-cavalry weapon.
I always love how enthusiastic and how respectful you are about other peoples work and how you are open to new ideas.
Part of what I love about watching these videos (and Tested in general) is Adam's enthusiasm. He really truly appreciates, in a visceral and emotional way, the value and importance of whatever it is he's looking at. This isn't just history and education-- it's joy and love and excitement and it shows in every video. Thank you Adam and Tested team!!
You worded that so briljantly!
The enthousiasm of these gentlemen is infectious! Makes me a little kid again when I was totally all about the medieval era.
This is so awesome. Adam savage was my go to after school watch, the OG myth busters. Glad to see him still around, killing it.
My new favorite channel. Theres so many great old videos too
One: Holy cow those are absolutely beautiful swords. Two: The absolute inquisitive wonder and joy Adam shows here is just so refreshing to watch.
The joy these guys have is just infectious. You can’t help but smile watching Adam geek out.
I've been into swords and the study thereof for over a decade, so it makes me happy *in my soul* to see a video that covers 500 years of sword history in broad strokes without saying anything too misleading or horribly wrong.
now we need a clip of Adam swinging a sword around like Aragorn saying "this is a good sword"
When he picked up the civilian rapier I was hoping he'd say, "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!"
Speaking of Aragorn, at 9:41, That sword looks very much like the sword of strider.
@@redbarret123 Yeah you're right, it kinda does!
@@woopimagpie right? I wonder if that sword design drew inspiration for the sword used by viggo mortensen in the movies
@@redbarret123A medieval sword inspiring swords in an Iron age and early medieval inspired fantasy? Who'd have thought....
What a wonderful episode. The excitement is contagious!
This channel exposes me to so many awesome things I would never think to look up on my own!
Oh, we really appreciate your letting us know that. It’s comments like yours that keep us going. THANK you.
Even from a viewer's perspective, the detailed overview of these swords' weights and dimensions was incredibly interesting and informative. Like Adam said, the way swords are depicted by replicas and in media makes them seem so much bulkier and more cumbersome than they apparently really were in reality. The balance and flexibility of the large longsword and the unbelievable detail on the mourning sword is truly fascinating
I love the absolute joy and fascination in Adam's eyes as he truly admires the craftsmanship of these wonderful swords. I don't blame him for liking the flimsy one!
6:18 bends the fuck out of the blade...why????
@@adamgreene831 to show how elastic real blades have to be. If it doesn't bend, it's going to break.
As an historian who recently worked on the topic of swords, i can say that we need to demystify the utility of swords in ancient organized warfare.
History itself proves how bad swords were during organized warfare :
- The qin empire was able to unify china during the warring states period because of the use of longer spears and Ji plus crossbows despite using bronze against iron and steel.
- Alexander the great used the reforms of phillip 2 and with the sarissa he steamrolled over half asia.
- toyotomi hideyoshi advocated the use of long spears and under his "reign" during the imjin war japanese boasted that their spears were longer that those of the koreans.
- A text from the sengoku jidai period stated that 80% of the weapons on the battlefield were yari spears and around 20% yumi bows... yeah katanas were not considered a main weapon but a backup weapons...
- the vikings encyclopedia for kings even says it in "the king's mirror"
"You must also be specially advised, when you are in the line of battle, not to
not throw your spear unless you have two, for on the battlefield on land
A spear is more effective than two swords."
- the Jouvencel written by jean de bueil describes the hundred years war and it says that the lance and spear dominates the battlefield for infantry and cavalry :
"A spear is many and subtle, and is so small an entrance that it passes through;
where it arrives, it is merciless. The most dangerous weapons in the world are
horse and spear; for there is no stop for it"
- In 15th century because of swiss hallberd and pikes germans tried to used the zweihander to counter them but without success. The same goes with the odachi which during the kamakura period began to be used as an anti cavalry weapon as the zweihander did. Spears countered them.
- Because the swiss pikemen destroyed the Bourgondian knights which were the best knights of the world => cavalry was over. Most of europe began to use long pikes like the sarissa.
- Swords gained prestige because of the myths around them and because they were symbols of prestige, power and wealth. Only nobles and soldiers could wear a sword and a beautiful sword was just a way to differenciate rich and powerfull from poor. They were the main weapons during gorilla warfare before war was organized in battle formations. Which means it was primarily used during the bronze ages and after the Roman Empire collapsed due to the disappearance of organized armies until first European kingdoms were born.
- During the middle ages the only time swords were the main weapon on the battlefield was between the 8th and 10th century ad. After this swords began to be a secondary weapon.
- The superiority of the roman gladius during ancient times is only due to those factors : romans mastered iron and they often fought against bronze/iron mix of weapons and armors. Their oponents often had inferior armor and weapons. Their pilums rendered oponents shields useless. The romans had a well organized and permanent military which is perhaps one of the first real military organisation in the world : with strict rules, organisation, some forms of standardisation and regular conscription. Most of the states during ancient era had normal citizens which could purchase armors and weapons (like hoplites and regional chiefs with their troops). Finally if we remove spartans from the lot few of them had already fought a real war compared to a legionnary which was a professionnal soldier. Even if in the Greek world (with the descebdant generals Of Alexander) there were organized armies they didn’t have the training nor the same Quality of equipment + phalanx made of sarissa were mostly only used in macedon. Romans won against the sarissa because of 2 main factors the terrain, the sarissa dominates flat ground and the equipment was really outdated.
- Range is the best indicator of power. If you have greater range you will always win. Genghis khan conquered the biggest empire in the world because composite bows + horse = insane range and mobility during middle ages.
hollywood more like trashwood destroyed reality and accuracy about ancient warfare. However pike and lance fight would be boring that's the reason why the sword is prefered over the pike and the lance.
The Royal Armouries in Leeds (UK) is a really good day out if anyone's in, or visiting, the north of England - free entry, several floors of this stuff. Big fan of the horse armour, personally, and the painted helms. I also had a lot of fun at a longsword workshop once, you really do need to heft one of these bad boys around to appreciate them fully. And wearing a full helmet and chainmail is quite an experience. The old steel was lighter than most modern repro. OK, spam over, watching the rest of the video now :D
I live not far from Leeds & got to go behind the scenes at The Royal Armouries when I was studying film design & it was just incredible.
This is so great, brother! Love your MET series. More, more, more! Arms and Armor!
Very nice progression through the style, age, and design. Swords are such an interesting topic as historic items go. There's as much personal taste of the master as there is of the maker. Both stories, forever intertwined in a piece of wood, leather, and steel.
Not all sword users were masters, many were regular men of sufficient status for whom it was just their EDC or combat weapon . Notice in particular the sword that was shown in both army and civilian versions, with the civilian having extra decorative features and neither being associated with a famed master .
style had nothing to do with useable swords.. only the ones that are so pretty there completely useless as a weapon.... hence pointless
@@harleyme3163 Pretty sure he’s talking about something more than just decoration of the swords.
Easily my favorite series. The knowledge and enthusiasm all of these conservators have is truly mind blowing.
It’s crazy to think that such old pieces are still in that good of condition. Supremely impressed and grateful they are being preserved.
This video hit hard, one of the best ER lore videos hands down. Made so many seemingly disjointed things make sense, well done.
Nice to see such an ornamental federschwert, and Sean clearly knows his stuff
I love watching two people who are in love with their job’s geeking out on a subject having fun.
This is easily one of my favorite UA-cam videos to date, absolutely loved every second of this!
I love Adam's enthusiasm and his appriciation of these beautiful weapons. We need MORE!!
the Alexandrian sword is one of my favorite historical pieces! I'm super glad to see Adam handle them and marvel at their weight and balance :)
I love how Sean trusts Adam to handle these blades, I`m here with eyes WIDE OPEN with every move Adam makes, and Sean is just... Chilling, doesn't bat an eye
Absolutely amazing. I'm loving this series you're doing with medieval arms and armour. Beautiful pieces of craftsmanship. I'll have to make a trip out to the MET to check these out myself. Thank you Adam and Tested team.
What I really like about Adam is his genuine joy at seeing these swords. It is infectious.
If you ever make it to Cleveland, Ohio, go to the Cleveland Museum of art. They have a HUGE room dedicated to various forms of armament. Swords, suits of armor, jousting, horse armor, various weapons…it’s quite spectacular.
We’ll add it to the list!
It's the most impressive armor collection I've seen (at least to the untrained eye) and definitely comparable to the Met!
The second with Arbnic inscription was outstanding. The thin blade, the width of it just says this would be an outstanding cutter. Beautiful!
The lightness and balance of these things is [are?] further evidence that our ancestors weren’t just some ‘backwoods dummies’ lol. So fascinating.
Yes, they found out what worked, and did that and developed based on that.
I don't think anyone's really called them that. Perhaps more credulous in many respects, but not dummies.
@@DaveDexterMusic The common belief, especially among younger people, is usually that we, today’s humans, are far superior to the people who came before.
“Backwoods dummies” may not be how they specifically refer to them, but it’s a very comparable phrase to what they would call them.
Yea, there is this myth that swords were heavy, for some reason perpetuated by "historians", media. and hobbyists. When in reality they did pretty good engineering to get as much as they could out of what they had. Wasting steel by overbuilding something that didn't need it, cut into profits and gave you more work. People also did not want to swing around heavy things during long battles, they wanted enough to do the job and no more.
@@DaveDexterMusic The same goofballs that think knights had to be craned onto horses also think swords are really heavy and everybody in the past was a moron. Mostly US high school teachers
I really enjoyed this. The look on the face of someone holding their first real sword is priceless.
soooo jealous, and at the same time I really am happy that Adam is allowed to have one of my childhood dreams fulfilled, holding a real ancient sword and I can enjoy it with him 🤗. Adam is someone who I believe deserves good things happening to him
The enthusiasm of both these men is infectious. I have to say that a well made fighting sword is quite a thing to hold and swing. It almost wants to do a swing itself. I never held anything this old but early 19 Century cavalry swords are easy to distinguish from the later copies just on the basis of their balance in the hand.
This was fascinating and I feel like I learned from it, this series has been charming and enlightening!
Thanks so much for your comment! We’ll pass it along to Adam.
Boy how I wish I could own an actual antique like that. That display alone just reinforces why I love swords. In only a few swords it shows such a range of combat and design and style, a raw evolution of combat arts and techniques. So much to look at and discover, and you're only looking at a handful of swords from Europe. Never mind the variety of styles and forms if you expanded the era of time and took from around the world. Swords are wonderful.
For anyone interested in getting their very own version of that Alexandria sword Albion has an amazing reproduction called the Principe. There's also one called the Balaur Arms Type XVIIIc Alexandria that's in a more affordable price range.
yes the principe is a beauty problem is albion wait list jaja, though the balaur version is is a bit narrower than the original one, also just for bonus the maker is LK chen a well know company for their chinese reproductions, they have been on the rise you can get one in kult of athena.
My god.... Adam I got choked up too! I think about the beauty, the death it caused, the craftsmanship. It's just overwhelming
Would love to see Adam speak or meet up with either Matt Easton of Scholagladiatora, or Skallagrim.
Adam trying some HEMA basics! (HEMA = Historical European Martial Arts = sword fighting)
@@WMfin was my thought as well, I can imagine the sheer joy if he got to do some cutting.
I feel Matt is the most qualified here.
I'll never get tired of watching Adam nerd out over anything 😂 the passion this guy has is very contagious and I love him for it.
I love this!
Adam should try sword fighting basics at some HEMA club! (Historical European Martial Arts)
Adam's giddiness at seeing priceless artifacts is the reason I keep coming back to this channel. He isn't working, he is living his dream and being paid for it.
I would be just as giddy, seeing them up close and actually being able to hold them. Feel the weight and history to them. I was smiling just with the first camera pass. Love all these videos from the Met Arms and Armor section.
So glad! And we spent the WHOLE day with them this visit. We even ate lunch in the employee lunchroom! Thrilling, truly.
Amazing! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this video. Jim Bell (Australia)
Great video - Sean is fantastic communicator!
Isn’t he, though?!!! We think so too.
Nice SKX009! - had mine for years :)
It should be noted that there are many fine craftsmen of replica swords who do include the distal taper which is what makes it so nice in the hand and not overly heavy. There are also some larger manufacturers of historical style European and Eastern swords that also get the weight right as people who do things such as hema or are just hobbyists want historically accurate weapons. I can definitely understand where Adam is coming from though as he has likely dealt with mostly props which weren't made with much other than looks in mind.
Outstanding! Thanks Adam, and to The Met!
Seeing how light they are makes you appreciate how well they could actually be handled in combat, and how easily you could take your own leg off.
This was a fantastic host. Amazing job, sir
I feel Adam would love to do a TV show visiting Britain's history museums based on armors and weapons
It’s almost embarrassing the amount of times I caught MYSELF smiling while watching this video. Thank you so much to the team at the met and adam savage for providing such fascinating info on varying eras of arms and armor
The sword that Adam holds at the very end is an absolutely amazing cutter. Albion has a replica based on a very similar sword type and it's so easy to cut with that cutting competitions have banned it's use because it's simply too good at cutting.
The smallsword or Longsword?
@@Nesymafdet The alexandria sword with the arabic writting.
With joy I listened to the knowledge and understanding of 'how it was'. With a fair amount of jealousy I applaud Sean's dedication to understanding the technology and art of those who came before us. His dedication to keeping alive the past for us to be amazed.
These episodes going over historical museum pieces are really interesting. Thank you for sharing!
I have an original 1822 model French infantry officer saber that weighs 1 lb 10 oz and balances about 5” from the guard. It measures 7.9 mm thick at the base and 2.56 mm just after the fuller (6.5” from tip). I also have a reproduction napoleonic French infantry officer saber of very similar dimensions including the curve of the blade. It weighs 2 lb 4 oz and balances 8” from the guard. It is 7.06 mm thick at the base of the blade and 5 mm just after the fuller (6.75” from tip). It isn’t a perfect 1:1 comparison, but it gives a pretty good idea of how different the weight and balance can be between originals and reproductions.
two history geeks having fun. love it. im sat here just loving the energy of both
I don't think I'll ever really get tired of Adam geeking out over things. His enthusiasm is incredibly infectious.
Seeing Adam’s reaction is why I’m here I get to live vicariously thru him
I recently saw a demonstration by a local sword fighting school. It was really interesting to learn how actual sword fighting occurred. There is a lot more grappling than I think most people realize and the stuff you see in movies with huge swings that leave a person open to getting grabbed or punched in the face with a shield really is just for movies.
5:14 Bending it like that freaked me out. I knew they were flexible but seeing it is different entirely.
I've held swords with that much flex, and I've used one in practice combat. What has always just amazed me even more than the ability to bend is the fact that a properly constructed blade will return to true, even after far more significant bending than you saw here. It's like magic.
Do you reckon some guy in 1419 was doing the same and thinking "man this is so weird I gotta send it to the museum"
One of my Ancestors, Sir. Thomas Holcomb, traveled in the Crusades as a knight, sent by the King of England to protect the Christians. He carried a big sword like the second one, around this same time, and is known for severing the heads of 3 Muslim attackers in one fell swoop.
I absolutely love the second sword, what i would do add that to my collection.
Albion make a few swords that are extremely similar based on swords that were kept in the Alexandria collection. The Alexandria and the Principe in particular are very nice pieces, the Principe has actually been banned from HEMA cutting competitions for being too good.
I've always loved the middle ages since I was a kid, seeing Adam's face light up as he holds the swords is honestly really wholesome and a slight tearjerker for me :D
I love the he is so nerdy about this genre of armory
Adam you are one of the coolest guys in tv history. Your enthusiasm is great
Yeah he did pull some good ones for you! We've studied the long swords there and have made similar-ish versions! We use those and others from museums all over (Royal Armouries, Wallace Collection, Louvre, etc) for our blades. Hard to really make good historical based swords until you get the originals in your hands! We'd love to have you on our Sword Talk podcast someday on our tiny youtube channel :) It would be cool to hear more about your experiences working with Peter Lyon! He's a great guy!
Sterling is another maker of fantastic replicas, again very true to the originals.
As an ex Australian Army man l am sooooooooo envious to see and hold those magnificent swords.
Amazing, the work of master craftsmen/blacksmiths from 100s of years ago still having their works of art/tools of war marveled over.
If you buy a weapon from a company called Arms and Armor, what you get are museum-quality replicas that are made to be indistinguishable from the original by anyone other than an expert. I've had the pleasure of handling some of the weapons they had at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, and they're exquisite. They're also not cheap.
I doubt it, museum originals are characterized by rough work, you can't sell that low quality to a modern public. Tod's Workshop discusses that problem a few times. On a technical level it's also blacksmith versus whitesmith products.
Thanks Adam & Sean bean a great episode on swords, amazing how they started so big and ended so light and fancy....thanks for all the fun knowledge we learnt along the way...Peace and love to everyone
It would be amazing to see you do some videos with Tod's Workshop youtube channel. He makes authentic medieval weaponry (he even made a real trebuchet!) and does interesting tests with them. His channel is great!
Good chemistry between these guys! Bring him back for more videos!
The practise sword type is known today as a Feder (Federschwert) sword. It is the training weapon for the longsword and replicas of these are used widely today in HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) sword competitions/events. Modern Feder replicas usually have a bent tip.
Intrestingly there is no evidence that they ever were called "Feder" before modern times.
such fun. great to have two passionate people giggling over swords
The second Sword that they picked up is of the Oakshott XVIIIc typology. It's known for its ability to cut.
A sword company by the name of Albion makes a really good replica.
I laughed when Adam picked it up, because everyone had that reaction when they pick up an XVIIIc 😂
Was once at a Swiss gun-show that had an Albion-booth, already fairly familiar with them myself it was funny to see the reactions of the many lifting up a historically correct sword for the first time.
1. Tense up the shoulder-muscles, expecting to lift a heavy chunk of metal.
2. Lifting the sword up much more easily than expected, confused only needing a fraction of the strength anticipated.
3. Moving it around being fascinated and relaxing the muscles. .. and then being kinda discouraged and hesitant looking at price-tag a few times.
I apologize in advance for this post being so long, but I have to know if anyone else is as nerdy as me? I guess what I mean by that is does anyone else, if ever given the chance to hold a piece of antiquity, like the swords in the video, think of the person who once owned it? Or the last person to hold it before it was lost to time? And why it was lost? Was it lost in battle? Was it buried with them? Did it fall off a wagon while they were marching? Or do you think about the wars and combat it must have seen? Do you think if this sword ever drew blood?!?!
During my 3rd deployment to Iraq in 2012, Al Qaeda had started systematically destroying ancient Babylonian artifacts and what was left of ruins and monuments. Coincidencely, they were also trying to seize and smuggle more valuable pieces out of the country for monetary gain. Apparently, their moral objection to their historical caliphate only goes skin deep. Everything has a price, I guess. Please note, after Al Qeada's defeat in Iraq, ISIS took up the mantle in destroying historical sites. This all came to a head in 2017 when it was brought to the worlds attention. Its unfortunate that Al Qeada and ISIS were able to destroy so much history.
Anyway, I was fortunate enough, possibly because my leasdership knew I was a humongous nerd when it came to history (that and I was in school at the time for Anthropology), to get assigned to one of several units tasked with securing various historical sites and providing secuirty for the transportation of pieces that could be safely moved. Being able to be the first person, in 2,500 years, to run my hand down the wall of what used to be a temple. Or to be able to hold an Akkadian clay tablet (with gloves obviously) makes you think of those that created it. Like the swords in the video. I can't describe just how incredible it is to hold something and know that you are sharing a moment with someone that lived thousands of years ago.
Somewhere, Shadiversity is drooling.
Chudiversity
These videos from the Metropolitan Armory are my favorite videos of all, the craftsmen from those times where incredible and the History lesson is also incredible! Thank you so much guys that was awesome ❤😊
Without wanting to mythologise too much, I believe I'm right in saying that the second sword's (longsword from the Alexandria arsenal) blade type has gotten such a reputation as a "cheat code" for cutting that many modern hema clubs and competitions don't allow it because it makes it too easy. When I first saw the blade profile I assumed it was intended to optimise thrusting, but the blades are so thin and broad they cut like crazy as well
I've got an Albion Principe. Can confirm it cuts like a dream.
I don't think I know many HEMA comps that actually ban it - it's a very good cutter but I've seen people lose in the first round with them still. It definitely has the "cheat code" rep though
“Ancient” is an overstatement
Yeah, my definition of ancient is BC.
@@TwiskaEven then, much of that is late-antiquity.
@@Twiska by your pfp, I assume that you just love swords so much
This quality of craftmanship is stunning! And this hundreds of years ago.
This is one of the most interesting and most informative videos I have seen. REALLY enjoyed it. Thanks to you both.
If you are interested in Swords and all kinds of related blades, if you happen to be in Germany I suggest a visit to the Klingenmuseum in Solingen. They have a huge display, among other things, of all sorts of edged weapons, especially those made in and around Solingen.
What I find so fascinating about those, especially the more elaborate and decorative ones, is imagining how someone a few hundred years ago made those, with the materials and knowledge about materials they had back then and obviously all hand tools. No Power Hammers (maybe lateron a water powered one), no CNC, no grinders, no Dremel tools etc.. I cannot even imagine how long it might have taken to make some of those. Not the forging itself, which may actually be the least part of time spent, but all the grinding, filing, possibly scraping (the fuller for example) or planing, engraving and whatelse that went into the hilt. I can hardly imagine any of todays craftsman being able to recreate it the same way. from a crafts perspective there are a few who will sure be able too, but it would need such an amount of money and dedication, unbeliavable. And then, not sure if they would get it as light and flexible, although with todays materials we would be able to make even lighter, more flexible and especially more durable versions.
The rapier @17:30 reminds me of a sword I once saw at an SCA event as a "Look but no-touchy" antique display. the whole inside of the hand guard was encased in (I believe) crushed red velvet or similar material. The cloth was thick and voluminous and reminded me of a catcher's mitt. I imagine it would keep the wielder's hand nice and warm in the winter. Those rows of small chain loops look like thread lashing points used to attach something similar. I bet it must have been an absolute delight to hold before it's cloth components succumbed to the weight of time.