Broadsword vs Schiavona

[@tuerkefechi]

I saw and used four different antique Schiavona in Solingen, two had a thumbring, three could be grabbed with the indexfinger (one also with the thumbring) over the cross and two had even Leather-protection over the ricasso to be more comfy. So here you Go, I can send you even photos, mate

[@daigoro1381]

little curiosity: the Italian word "schiavona" (pronounced in English as Skiavona) derives from "schiavo" (slave) in reference to the Slavic mercenaries who came to Venice from the Balkans. Populations that were enslaved in large quantities precisely in ancient times by the Romans. The famous Italian greeting "ciao" (hi, hallo) derives from the Venetian dialect "sciao" when two people met on the street in Venice they often greeted each other saying with respect: "schiavo vostro" (your slave) from there over time they started to omit "vostro" (yours) and only "sciao" remained. When this greeting spread throughout Italy the "s" was lost and only "ciao" remained To summarize "schiavona" means sword of the Slavic populations

[@francescofontana9707]

Awesome video! Quick note in the pronunciation : in Italian Ch is a hard K so it's skiavona

[@giacomobianchi5412]

Ho letto solo ora e praticamente scritto la stessa cosa ahahahahah

[@lancerd4934]

It's just a feature of the Australian HEMA community. They all pronounce it with a soft "sh" sound, they all think that's the correct, original way, and none of them can be convinced otherwise.

[@HappyBuffalo347]

@@lancerd4934 No we don't. No one in my club pronounces it like that.

[@lancerd4934]

@@HappyBuffalo347 that's interesting, where's your club? I'm on the east coast and all the clubs I've come across say it like that

[@StuartMcDermid]

@@lancerd4934 Half the branches of Stoccata don’t pronounce it like that. Anybody who said it incorrectly in my two branches would be immediately corrected and I would imagine it would be the same for the two that specialise in Italian fencing. :) This particular mispronunciation is rife though.

[@emarsk77]

From a purely aesthetic point of view, the schiavona is my favourite sword. Just a note on pronunciation: - "schi" has a hard sound, like "ski" in English - minor point, but "ia" is pronounced like "ja" in German (in other words, the "i" is a semivowel).

[@JainaSoloB312]

This is exactly what I needed, thank you!💜

[@didiercalin7126]

that's correct for Italian, but this sword is historically Venetan, where it's pronounced sh-ch-avona (and written s'ciavona) - with /sh/ as in 'shirt' followed by /ch/ as in 'chat'.

[@Lnace87]

Always loved the schiavona. What a very informative video. Thanks Paul.

[@darkmoonmiracle]

I think that thumb rings are very good for cutting, and finger rings are better for thrusting. Thumb rings provide better edge alignment and I think finger rings offer better point control. I’ve noticed this, comparing the polish sabre thumb rings, to walloon style hilt thumb rings, to even broad and backsword thumb rings. These are all more cutting oriented weapons, and the finger rings appear on rapiers, small swords, side swords, and some arming swords, which are MOSTLY (don’t @ me) thrusting weapons. I could be so wrong, but that’s my take.

[@anthonyclare6750]

Thank you so much for that comparison. I appreciate it. Bravo

[@darkmoonmiracle]

I would personally love to have a schiavona with both a thumb and finger ring. Or a side sword. My dream sword.

[@wiskadjak]

That is a beautifully made sword!

[@stevethegeckotv]

Is it possible that both blades were made in Solingen?

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Schiavona blades were typically made in the Belluno province, along the course of the Ardo creek. From 16th to18th century it was one of the main manufacturing centre of Europe for blades, and they were exported too (IE still exist a 1578 contract for the manufacturing of 7200 blades/year for ten years, destined to England). Several Scottish basket-hilts have blades made in Venice.

[@massimobrugnaro4236]

I fabbri armaioli della provincia di Belluno, realizzavano delle ottime lame in acciaio, anche perché il ferro che veniva estratto e lavorato dalle miniere del posto, era ricco di manganese, queste impurità dava maggiore resistenza di tenuta al filo della lama.

[@giacomobianchi5412]

Nice and interesting video! Just one little detail: schiavona should be spelled as skiavona. Thanks for the explanation!

[@Severius33]

Beautiful sword. I've always loved the schiavona.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

It has t be said that, thus many schiavona were broadswords, that was not exclusive. Several kinds of blades were used on that handle-hilt, depending on the preference of the owner. You have schiavone with rapier blades, estoc blades, backsword blades and curved blades too.

[@milesmcinerney5594]

My favourite kind if video

[@markvick6138]

very nice

[@jellekastelein7316]

FWIW, I was looking at a schiavona on auction the other day and it had a thumb ring.

[@vytas5584]

She of honour

[@lancerd4934]

Basket hilt with a thumb ring? Makes me wonder how it compares to a typical Walloon sword.

[@mars9550]

I just tested it with my Del Tin Schiavona - in my opinion, I have the most control over the blade, if I use both - thumb ring and indexfinger over the guard. If I try to leave out one of both, the front heavy blade is much harder to control. But of course - that is no original. There is a schiavona with an almost papenhimer-like guard near the guard: facebook.com/photo?fbid=10161153883867119&set=pcb.748507352506795 Or, a bit better to see, in a reproduction by Daneli: i.pinimg.com/originals/a9/34/55/a93455de60c626de8dd3fd7a6a3e0094.jpg In my opinion, these protection makes more sense, if used with the indexfinger over the guard Just my thought about the topic. I have not handled an original, so I could be completly wrong :-D

[@belyayevsfox4753]

I wonder how applicable Italian swordsmanship in general is to the Schiavona. Not just with the Bolognese style in general, but other one handed sword styles like Di Grassi, Lovino, Saviolo, and Marcelli.

[@Stoccata]

That's what's interesting - the actual Italian "sideswords" I've handled have all had thick, stiff blades, not broad wobbly cutting ones

[@belyayevsfox4753]

@@Stoccata The Schiavona hilt was attached to a variety of blade types, so it wouldn't be surprising to see a varied assortment of techniques employed with its use. This video might be provide better context than I can explain. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bITHn4uqrdd4hKs

[@mitago]

After a lot of years spent trying to guess which style fits best and after have studied a lot of paintings, drawings and aquaforte, I've discovered that the fencing style which fits better with schiavona is the german's style. If you handle a schiavona as a dussack, everything magically go in its place. And if you consider that the dalmatian mercenaries (and Serenissima too) had a lot of contacts with the German empire, this theory start to have more sense.

[@raphlvlogs271]

both of those swords probably have German blades. but the hilts were designed and made in other places.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

Schiavona blades were typically made in the Belluno province, along the course of the Ardo creek. From 16th to18th century it was one of the main manufacturing centre of Europe for blades, and they were exported too (IE still exist a 1578 contract for the manufacturing of 7200 blades/year for ten years, destined to England). Several Scottish basket-hilts have blades made in Venice.

[@vaporz109]

Why not pronounce the word correctly? If he has multiple swords obviously he’s aware of the accurate pronunciation but insists on butchering the name willfully. Oh well, to each his own. Great video asides from the bizarre mispronunciation though!

[@vytas5584]

It's Australia. We mispronounce everything.