A Renaissance RAPIER that can OVERPOWER enemies with specialization

[@gworfish]

The car antenna comment made me feel old.

[@sanalzam1]

You are in good company!

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

How many of you lost an eye? Ahh, what great times!

[@FiliiMartis]

Bunny ears antenna on a TV? How's that making you feel, knowing that those (annoying) things used to exist. 😀

[@MrBendylaw]

Maybe the German interest in dueling scars as socially significant extends back further than we believe? Because that blade seems optimized for inflicting that sort of light injury.

[@TheDickBurglar]

Exactly where my mind went too. That small edge looks perfect for delivering a cut to the face that would lead to a dueling scar.

[@NotMeButAnother]

That, or more generally for duels to first blood.

[@carlcramer9269]

This was my first thought as well.

[@michaelsmith8028]

Game devs will see a sword like this and then proceed to give it a slashing animation

[@jaega4247]

That, and every strike will be telegraphed by a huge overhead swing.

[@Njasey]

or let people dualwield them.

[@MasoTrumoi]

​@420Pezz-qc4ntI guess conservatives try to conserve everything which is why they only have one joke for all eternity

[@michaelsmith8028]

@420Pezz-qc4nt Or sell it as an overpriced dlc that's just a reskin.

[@AjayBlanco]

@420Pezz-qc4nt Not everyone who is conservative is a supporter of the Conservative Party or part of the Conservative movement. Somebody who is conservative is somebody who is averse to change or innovation and holds traditional values,

[@KlausBeckEwerhardy]

In Solingen you can also visit the 'Klingenmuseum' (Museum of the Blades), which we quite like to do. Sometimes they even have workshop days - e.g. Montante.

[@andrewshaughnessy5828]

Sounds very interesting!

[@horsebattery]

The fact that it flares ever so slightly towards the tip might help create a slightly bigger hole in fabrics to get the square cross section part through with less resistance.

[@bobrobinson1576]

That kind of tip is called a stramazone. Yes I know it's an Italian word but made in Germany but that's the only name I've ever heard for it.

[@CZOV]

Stramazone is the cut delivered with the tip, not the tip itself :)

[@midshipman8654]

italian was sort of a high language at the time. I could see it still being used in germany like how a french word for a particular subject might be used even in english (like en garde).

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Cool sword. I am absolutely loving this series. The great swords, the great background, along with your educated and learned commentary. Another great tidbit of wonderfulness. BTW, you are doing a god job of containing your complete delight at being there. I bet you feel like the proverbial child in the metaphorical candy shop. I know I would. Cheers!

[@simulium85]

As a cattle surgeon i know that having sharp edges at the tip of your needle is very important when trying to penetrate Cattle skin. You are not able to penertrate the leather with just the tip alone. The body of the Needle has to follow, and it can be very annoying when the tip of the needle is poking out at the other side but you can not follow through with the rest of the needle because the edges are to blunt.

[@Redeye308350]

Yes! I've got leather sewing needles that have a sharp triangular cross section near the tip, which is slightly larger width than the round shaft. They work much better than a basic round needle. The tip needs to cut a larger hole otherwise the shaft has too much friction to push through. I've broken quite a few round needles that have got stuck.

[@-ManusAdFerrum-]

A saddler's awl. When the shape ( rhombic crossection) and the point (rounded, but sharp) are in correct condition, you are able to cut a hole into two layers of 5 mm cattleleather to sew it together. And some more holes too. Without using force or pressure.

[@Vonstab]

An interesting weapon indeed. I have a Swedish military instruction from a bit earlier in the period and it spends some time laying out which sidearms were allowed and not allowed for the cavalry (the men were responsible for providing their own arms). The author spends some time in banning not only 'rappirer' (rapiers) in general but also names a number of types by names which are almost impossible to connect to a type today but were clearly well known at the time. Among the types that were regarded as particularly unfit for military service were the Braunschweig thrusting swords and "four edgers". I wonder if the four edge name is a reference to this type of square blade?

[@mountainhobo]

Weren't some duels fought to the first blood? Perhaps that tip was for such a specialized application?

[@albertpolak786]

That really is a clever blade profile and beautifully executed on this example! Somewhat surprising it isn't more common, seems excellent for the fencing style.

[@thomasrobinson8789]

The problem is not all rapier masters went that direction. For example, Spanish masters still used a lot of cutting and used swords that weren’t particularly long for rapiers.

[@classifiedad1]

I read another comment here from a cow surgeon that a sharp-edged tip is essential to piercing cow skins. I’m guessing it’s to better pierce leather-based armor like buff coats or brigantines.

[@fgtrbhwerth3w]

the craftmanship displayed in this rapier is breathtaking. Literally state-of-the-art of that time.

[@Rakkitt]

We used to play musketeers with the old car antennas :)

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

My friends and I all used to have two eyes.

[@NinePillar]

Heh, ouch

[@thomasrobinson8789]

@@kaoskronostyche9939, skill issue. Now my friends and I used to be potent.

[@Rakkitt]

@@kaoskronostyche9939 now we all play pirates!

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

@@Rakkitt Of course! Cheers!

[@brianintexas1108]

Your latest videos from the auction are fantastic! thank you Matt.

[@kermitthorson9719]

love love love the truly historical material in hand

[@ppduque9607]

Furthermore, congratulations on the channel I've been following since I discovered it

[@DawnLenn]

Love it! Thanks for showing us all these fascinating swords from the auction!

[@HairyGaul]

That is utterly fascinating to me for a slew of reasons. As far as the tip, Bill Bagwell's old book on designing, making, and using Bowie knives as dedicated fighters has a lot dedicated to the thrust. The tips on his knives aren't points but a small radius that is sharpened all the way around.

[@jansdelossantos7353]

In essence, chapped more like a squared, very oversized stiletto. The tip was very interesting, and so is the pommel.

[@valkoharja]

That is genuinely a really fascinating sword.

[@wingardwearables]

Reminds me of the Micropike multitool-it’s a spike tipped with a leaf blade, but shorter and curved to conform along one’s waist.

[@emblemarms]

Wow I’ve never seen a rapier like that thanks for sharing.

[@phileas007]

Smith: How long would you like the blade to be? Customer: Yes!

[@BaronVonHardcharger]

Wonderful! What an interesting and specific design!

[@hughbennett5342]

Another great tutorial! Love your knowledge of swords!

[@JustClaude13]

An advantage of the flattened tip is also to widen the wound. more bleeding decreases the time before the opponent is no longer able to continue the fight. Plenty of duels ended when both participants bled out and died.

[@Ve-suvius]

7:18 Exactly this. Wide/broad tips are not efficient in that at all.

[@user-eq8ww1gr6v]

Would it be possible to do a follow up on blades you covered on what they went for at auction to give us insight on that these antiques are valued at today?

[@homemadehistory7537]

For Solingen and the Bergisches Land area, the manufacturing was divided often in two stages... The forging was done in the main company but the grind was done in litle grinding mills spreading thruout the smal rivers in the area. Oh and please do not hesitate to tell me if I am wrong cos I am not a historian but intersted unprofesional... Much more profesional I am in steel making.... The steel for the stuff made in the Solingen area is mostly from the Siegerland area, specialy in the early days. The sigerland area is famous for iron ore mining since about the 11ct and iron smelting for sure. There were mines in nearly every hill and on the riversides were many iron smelters and water driven hammers to purify the iron from the smelters and forge them ino usable barstock. At least in the 15th ct the deforestation reached its peak and the lokal nobility interfeared with a law or rule for foresting buiseness caled "Haubergswirtschaft", that means simply the buiseness of hacking on the hills. Since then the free forests were devided in plots for foresting but not per family or noble. Every famaly gets a schare and a coucill decided what plot is ready for harvesting. Biside that there are always some trees left to have more building material. Thin stock goes into charcoal making. The bark goes for tanning leather. And for sure some gose for build out the mines, Sad to say there is nothimg left of this tradidions except the names of vilages and places. Before I forget... the legend says, that the famous smith Wieland came from my reagon ( I am actualy living there 😆) who forged the sword for..... was it Hildebrand from the Siegfrid saga? Thank you for the nice video.... I always enjoy watching.

[@kanonierable]

Thanks for the interresting information! Btw. The famous sword of unmatched beauty and sharpness that Wieland made to compete against the armour made by King Neidings master blacksmith Amilias bears the name "Mimung" in honour of his first teacher, the dwarf Mime. Wielands father had put him there as an apprentice because of Mimes reputation as the most skilled of all metalworkers. The problem was, that at the same time young Siegfried was also working in the forge and he was abusing his coworkers by administering heavy beatings to them on a daily basis. When Wielands father heard about the situation he took his son out from Mimes workshop and instead made an arrangement with two other dwarfs, who were most famous for their skill in working steel. gold, silver and precious stones into objects of exquisit beauty and superb quality and after three years Wieland had become so proficient that his craftsmanship surpassed that of his teachers. The two dwarfs then tried to kill their student but failed and were slain themselves. The sword Mimung finally ended up in the hands of Wielands son Wittig who became one of the companions of Dietrich von Bern. The Wielandssage was always one of my favourites.

[@cnm757]

I uncharitably thought the tip may not only increase penetration ability but would certainly increase damage from a thrust. The difference between a broad head arrow cutting blood vessels compared to a target arrow, say, that would only punch a hole.

[@dblair1258]

Beautiful car antenna. I want one!

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

That is one beautiful sword. Love the hilt.

[@tombrown4683]

BTW , Matt, loving this series ! Beautiful swords, wish I could buy one.

[@kennethquesenberry2610]

My only suggestion to all the other comments is that the unusual tip of the blade was, among other things, to strengthen the tip. Very sharply pointed blades have a habit of breaking at the tip. The F-S fighting knife was known for that, apparently enough for subsequent designs to have a shorter blade. Anyway, nice description. I'm an American, by the way, and I'm starting to pick up some proper English from you and certain TV shows. I was forever asking people to repeat themselves when we visited the U.K. a few years ago.

[@stephenlevan6032]

Also as a cattle surgeon: A little inside baseball: many of us prefer "swedged on" suture which results in far less effort to pass through tissue which also reduces trauma to allow greater healing. This might be an opportunity for the very knowledgeable Gentleman to discuss the origins and applications of the terms: "forte" and "foible" - quite revealing.

[@kennethquesenberry2610]

@@stephenlevan6032 A rather late comment here, but upon rereading your post, which mentions suture, I was reminded of a couple of operations I've had. One incision, which was on my abdomen and about two inches or so long, was actually glued back together. I was told there were a couple of sutures underneath. Recently I've had some minor surgery for some skin problems that involved removing skin in a circle about 1.5 cm in diameter. One was on the back of one hand, the other on my forehead, which is just about healed. Since they were basically large circular wounds, though not deep, they were stitched up like you might stitch up a hole in your socks, leaving at present a kind of a bump. I didn't pay any attention to what was used for cutting, but I've been getting a lot of mileage out of telling stories about it. It's interesting, though, how you can get a shot with a needle and, if the person giving the shot is any good, feel almost nothing.

[@Snikwald]

Great video Matt! Love the auction review series. I know it is impossible but are you ever tempted to fence with these original artifacts from the era?

[@frankharr9466]

How interesting. Thank you.

[@viarnay]

You needed very high skilled weaponsmiths in the medieval era... 😊

[@philparkinson462]

Fascinating..you can see where the schlager derives its form from.

[@brittakriep2938]

Schläger. The word Schlager also exists, but this is a music style.

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the video ⚔️

[@Mark-jp9dz]

Time you had a rapier or two in the Royal Armouries line. This one would be a good start!

[@patrickkelly1070]

There are some absolutely choice examples in this auction. It must be wonderful just to be able to examine them.

[@Oldtanktapper]

I watched a couple of videos on German, particularly Prussian, duelling scars and the highly ritualised styles and regulated protective clothing they used to prevent too much damage. I wasn’t paying much attention to the actual style of weapon used but this item feels like it might’ve been used in a situation like that.

[@brittakriep2938]

Please, accademic fencing was and still is, practiced in german language countries. This means current Germany, Austria, Switzerland. On small level also Belgium, Poland, Lativia and Lithuania. Before 1866 all German states had been , German Federation. In 1866 Austria, Luxemburg and Liechtenstein left Germany . Liechtenstein had no university then, Luxemburg i don' t know. So it is nonsens to make in case of accademic fencing a difference between Prussia, smaller german states with an university or Austria/ Switzerland. The basics are the same, but some universities or unions of fraternities ( Burschenschaften, Landsmannschaften, Corps), called Waffenringe have different rules for Mensur bouts, so students, moving to annother university , sometimes need some time to learn other rules.

[@axinite2545]

Looks like the blade could really have been mostly for the purpose as others have said for first blood kind of duels. The tip of the blade is definitely important for aiding in penetration, but could also conceivably be used for draw-cuts, as opposed to slashing.

[@zenhydra]

That reminds me of the tip Albion Swords had on their Zorro-themed colichemarde, and I very much want to commission a sword with a similar blade to that Albion partially because of how striking that spear-tipped smallsword element is.

[@ppduque9607]

good morning I'm a big fan of swords and the like and I was very impressed with the sword in this video. Not sure if you still have it and could you provide me with as many measurements as possible on it, especially on the blade?

[@trychydts]

A beautiful weapon.

[@peterebel]

great series

[@behdodbaniahmad9775]

Just wanted to mention; feel like that broad sword on the is also worth a video.

[@4850937]

Why do some blades not have a ricasso? I think it can allow a thicker tang through the guard.

[@CZOV]

Brilliant dream killer duelist blade!

[@MendocinoMotorenWerk]

Matt Easton goes Ian McCollum - roaming auction houses armed with knowledge and a camera. Very nice.

[@esgrimaxativa5175]

Oh my God!!! John Clements was actually right about flared tips!!!!

[@Ninja_Storm220]

Rapiers are badass

[@killerkraut9179]

Maybe it make the wound channel bigger!

[@kensmith5694]

I think the square bit that is thicker up near the guard must have a purpose. If not they would have tapered the transition or something.

[@FiliiMartis]

The square blade transitions to a square blade when it rotates by 45-degree angle. The only reason to do that is to align the tip for cutting, assuming you want to make the cutting edge on the edge of the rectangle. So that's another (weak) evidence for the cutting tip hypothesis. If it wasn't for those last few inches, I would have challenge this as being a sword altogether. It qualifies on a technicality, but that's one strange "blade". 😏 And that's how you can rank antique dealers and collectors. Some get excited when seeing a good piece of the most common known types, that ideal evidence of what it was. Other love to see outliers that were probably unique then and are unique now. P.S. When he asked the country, I was like: Germany, but I see the cup type on English transitional rapiers (but not so much that pommel).

[@davidbradley6040]

my new favourite sword

[@JD57R]

I've seen the Three Kings Heads of Solingen on swords, they go back a long way

[@johncullen9436]

When will Windlass / Easton be making a reproduction of this Solingen rapier? Very much like this rapier.

[@matthewmckinney5387]

Just amazing

[@KJAkk]

My eye has been constantly drawn to this sword on the wall behind you. Lot number 152.

[@demoths]

I have a replica trench knife made by Boker Solingen, absolutely beautiful little knife, far more precise and well fit than any of the dozens of other handmade knives i own

[@andreweden9405]

It's unusual because it actually has a sharp point!😃 Honestly though, I think people are going to become so accustomed to seeing rapiers with blunted training points on the KZbin HEMAsphere that they're literally not going to know what to make of one that's actually sharp! For whatever reason, this does not seem to be the case with arming swords or longswords, but it definitely is regarding rapiers.

[@benjaminstevens4468]

Looks perfect for the mensur.

[@eddys.3524]

I'm Jealous.... it's way out of my budget.... but I want it !!

[@dynamicworlds1]

I assume the square cross section makes the blade more ridgid in the thrust as well, right?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Probably, though I'm not certain without testing, which obviously I can't do in this case.

[@dynamicworlds1]

@@scholagladiatoria of course

[@jonathanyaeger2289]

You made a video years ago about rapiers used in tournament being too light to be considered effective cutters. Do you still think that’s an issue? At what weight per length would you draw the line?

[@thomasesau2376]

When did the Heidleburg fencing scar come into vogue? This looks like a great tool to get or give a scar.

[@brittakriep2938]

The townname is Heidelberg. Berg means mountain, and Burg means a medieval fortified castle. Many german towns end with -burg, because a Burg was first building there. And german name for Edinburgh is therefore Edinburg.

[@knate44]

Windlass needs to get on this

[@johnbennett1465]

Just making sure that I understand correctly. You said that the base was actually a hexagon because of flattened corners. Did you actually mean octagon, or are only two flattened corners? In any case, interesting video.

[@crestdazoltral7705]

Could this have been optimized to draw first blood in a duel with the option to go for letal thrusts if desired/required?

[@gorbalsboy]

I would have thought that having the blade as a diamond point would be more effective for thrusting, then flare the blade out a couple of inches behind it for some cutting ability,were their a lot of blades like this or were they purely custom work I wonder , anyhoo cheers big chap😊all the best from sunny Troon

[@r.h5550]

Reminds me of hunting swords I’ve seen

[@brittakriep2938]

The Sauschwert has a tip in style of boarspear/ Saufeder.

[@gussie88bunny]

Mr Easton, a question: blade made in Solingen, understood. Was the mounting cutlered in Germany too, or could it reasonably be from other countries too? Or is that Papenheim hilt so gosh darn German? Nice sequence of videos, appreciated. Regards, Gus

[@scholagladiatoria]

It's been described as Northern European in the catalogue. I suspect it's German, but it could have been hilted in a neighbouring country....but probably it's all German.

[@ppduque9607]

My attempts to get the measurements from the images were not very correct. measuring in three different places I got three different measurements

[@richardmcginnis5344]

Quick question,how stiff is the blade?

[@forteandblues]

Wow, love it!!! 😍

[@Layla_r0se]

Lupa dah secara Maya.. lebih kepada live session.😊😊😊

[@aesopstortoise]

Why do the twiddly bits on the end of the handle face in opposite directions? (Excuse the technical terms).

[@zbigniewgurak8261]

Because they do... Good enough answer ? Just because they do.

[@landslide5485]

That is the "guard" in name and function. The front curves down to protect your fingers and deflect strikes away from you, the back curves up to catch strikes to your wrist and arm, and also control the opponents blade with leverage and friction by pinning it between your blade and guard.

[@Microbiologist2023]

I am curious - can an opponent grab the blade of such rapier with unprotected hand?

[@Alastair510]

Is it a rapier or an estoc? Yes, I know that the hilt is rapier style. The tip looks like an estoc or the sword used by bullfighters.

[@holstensolar4648]

Muy linda hoja.

[@roaxeskhadil]

That's no a rapier, that's a fence post from one of those old-fashioned wrought iron fences ...😁

[@jackdelvo2702]

What a lovely blade for an unexpected draw cut. Perfect for a first blood duel, honor satisfied now let’s go have a beer and the loser is alive and well enough to buy the beer. So perfectly German.

[@merocaine]

Those things are too dangerous even blunt to mess about with.

[@CitizenSmith50]

A broad-head arrow is optimised for cutting once it GOES INTO FLESH, slicing internally. I surmise that this blade is flared and edged for the same reason !

[@Rikki-Tikki-Tavi]

That blade looks as narrow as a modern sport fencing epee!

[@davidchilds9590]

Possibly a naïve comment, but it seems to me that the tip is ideal for civilian self-defence. If I got attacked by a footpad, I would probably prefer not to skewer them - corpses mean paperwork. However, the ability to slice a hand or a cheek could be a real deterrent.

[@bucc5207]

I'm your huckleberry. Just gimme ten seconds to draw my five-foot sword.

[@raphlvlogs271]

what would you do with this sword if the point brook off during combat?

[@MaximillianRobesphere]

Sometimes it made a sharper point to prod with.

[@crestdazoltral7705]

If it’s hard/brittle enough to break the new point will likely be sharp enough to poke holes in humans.🩸

[@JeffHays]

Clearly the blade was flattened to flip small flap jacks for breakfast. 🤣

[@GenericName4561]

Forgotten Melee Weapons

[@adamrobbins2091]

Im gonna make that, I happen to have a bar of cpm-3v that is 80% of that blade lol very cool

[@salimufari]

This blade also seems to support the idea of "civilized duels". The goal of which was to win by "first blood" but not to end the opponent.

[@kanonierable]

I think the exact opposite is the case, this blade is all about running someone through the body with a thrust. This is an extremely deadly weapon. Everybody thinks that a duel with "heavy sabers" is the most badass, serious kind of encounter and that the so called "Galanteriedegen" was merely a toy worn by fops. A cut with the first kind of weapon is seldom fatal but a thrust through the torso with the slender, extremely quick blade worn in the second half of the 18th century will most likely kill you.

[@cypherfunc]

"Offer me money. Power too; promise me that. Offer me everything I ask for." "Anything. You. Want." "I want my father back you son of a bitch." - Inigo, demonstrating proper use of this fencing style

[@elliotsmith9812]

So this creates the option of non lethal combat and gives the user the ability to deliver a wide range of options. How much are non lethal fighting talked about historically?

[@carlcramer9269]

The tip of this sword reminds me of German "academic fencing". This is much later, but the goal in academic fencing is to get scars on your cheeks you can show off to brag with.

[@ryanlang1548]

That is suuuuuuper interesting!! Kinda genius to. Im not normally a rapier guy but that sword is styling😻 Hell, if one were good enough or lucky you could even whap an assailants finger off with that bad boy.

[@shark8837]

Шикарная рапира !

[@xirensixseo]

that blade shape has a nicer transition than i do aaaayyyyyyy amirite amirite edit: i know a couple of people that could also be classed as "edged weapons" lmaoaoao i'll stop xd