Cutlass compared to sabre

[@Defengar]

Interestingly enough, the last known cutlass kill in war was preformed by a U.S. Marine at the battle of Inchon during the Korean War just 65 years ago!

[@scholagladiatoria]

Defengar Interesting - do you have any details for that please?

[@Defengar]

I read about it ages ago in a book called "Boarders away, with steel : the edged weapons and polearms of the classical age of fighting sail" by William Gilkerson. The battle of Inchon was was a daring amphibious assault by UN/US forces at the beginning of the Korean War that basically cut the North Korean forces in half. There were several fortifications at the location that had to be stormed, and apparently there was a Marine Corps Engineer who charged in with cutlass in hand and killed a North Korean defender with it. The Cutlass he used would have been a navy one (of course). The US navy had a cutlass commissioned in 1917 to replace the one they had been using since the mid 1800's. The Model 1917 was then slightly modified early in WWII and renamed the Model 1941. It was removed from official Naval armament lists in 1949 but apparently the Navy still had a bunch of them laying around so they were still occasionally distributed in the Korean War for field use. After that it became fully regulated to a ceremonial role.

[@TTfoley-ph4zh]

no the last cutlass kill was british commando in the norwegion campaign of world war 2.

[@TTfoley-ph4zh]

+scholagladiatoria world war 2 british commandos killed a lot of nazis with cutlass in the norway campaign

[@basilb4524]

may i know the name of this marine corps engineer?

[@Momo_Kawashima]

Alternative title: Cutlass - when a saber and a machete love each other so much

[@theguileraven7014]

The cutlass is meant for it's utility in addition to it's combat ability. It's like a machete, but with combat as the main purpose.

[@code066funkinbird3]

@@Welther47 but on a fashion style

[@I..cast..fireball]

​@@Welther47 So is a machete

[@brettjohnson536]

@@I..cast..fireballA machete is primarily a tool which is often used as an improvised weapon, similar to a baseball bat. It's not designed for combat though. A cutlass is a purpose built weapon that also have tool purposes

[@OfficialMINIm]

I love the cutlass! In general they are heavier than infantry sabers and pack a lot of cutting and cleaving power. Not to mention the shorter blade length. They're more applicable in todays world where many fights can happen indoor and confined spaces. They're One of the best cutting swords

[@LarsaXL]

I'm guessing that if you are on a boat, you don't carry your sword around most of the time. You store it somewhere on the ship and only get it out when there is a chance for battle. A lot of swords are designed to be easy to carry, if that no longer is a priority you can optimize it for the combat. Give it a wider and heavier handguard that protects better but make it more uncomfortable to carry on your hip.

[@BeKindToBirds]

From what I understand in my own research, most sailors didn't own their own swords and the ship had a collection of them in its magazine (armoury) to be handed out with musket when needed. Only officers would be wealthy enough to own their own weapons. However I imagine an experienced crew would gain their own weapons through prize or prize money. For marines I don't know.

[@LarsaXL]

@@BeKindToBirds Makes sense. A ship is an easily controlled environment. Having the weapons locked away most of the time would diminish the risk of mutiny and deadly fights breaking out. It'd also be easy to check the people disembarking to make sure they didn't steal any of the swords.

[@n.w.1803]

@@BeKindToBirds Officers would have been required to furnish a sword, either through some form of issue or privately purchased. It would have been part of the uniform (or a dirk or dagger for midshipmen). Not only was the sword one of the last chivalric marks of a gentlemen, ie, the officer class, but it was a badge of being an official combatant. Hence, an officer would have to surrender his sword upon being taken prisoner, to have it returned on release. Marine officers would likewise carry their swords, at all times while in presentable uniform. The enlisted marines had their bayonets.

[@SC-xt8lz]

You also needed a shorter sword because they'd be used for boarding, so they had to be usable in tight spaces

[@matthewwyman1581]

@@BeKindToBirdsThat’s true for government and merchant ships, but pirates carried their own weaponry, though I can’t imagine that they liked it on their hip all the time

[@1337penguinman]

The cutlass is the weapon of a working man. The saber is the weapon of a gentleman.

[@YamamotoKazuo]

cutlass is more practical

[@morriganmhor5078]

That´s definitively not. Do you think cavalry units were made only from gentlemen? If in Britain, then not in Europe main, especially in countries depending for hundreds of years on cavalry forces.

[@trefod]

I often hear references to the medieval messer. I find them interesting and would like to see a video dedicated to the messer or gross messer.

[@Calemad]

this! /\

[@LordPindar]

I concur

[@GamerGarm]

Aye! I want to see a kriegsmesser.

[@joaomelo7538]

I also like the idea

[@Yourantsally]

Lindybeige did one

[@crikycrocky]

As always, very informative and interesting info. Many thanks for your postings.

[@benjaminbreeg6214]

Not nearly as interesting as that beam in the corner though.

[@ivanlagrossemoule]

Benjamin Breeg Maybe he should do a 'beam in the corner' video.

[@ArnimSommer]

ivanlagrossemoule ...and how to cut it with a Cutlass?^^

[@Slarti]

Matt, am I dreaming or did you miss out what I consider to be the biggest difference between the cavalry and infantry sword - the curve in the cavalry sword.

[@scholagladiatoria]

jagara1 Actually both infantry and cavalry swords can be either straight or curved.

[@Slarti]

scholagladiatoria Thanks Matt! That's what comes from me generalising from information I receive. By the way - great channel!

[@michaelw7867]

scholagladiatoria But wait, in another video you said that a straight sword is a sword, not a saber, regardless of the type of hilt.

[@fanglespangle110]

scholagladiatoria Have to admit, I'm a little confused. I thought a sabre had a curved blade but the straight bladed infantry sword there you describe as a sabre.

[@nathanielrincon7907]

The Infantry sword here looks (at least to me) have a very gentle curve.

[@G1NZOU]

Same with leather handles, leather disintegrates in salty damp environments.

[@garethalford682]

I think a Cutlass would be a good zombie apocalypse weapon

[@daxmafesi]

Gareth Alford I concur

[@tiboosters9668]

A halberd would make an even better and more versatile weapon

[@imugi-16]

@@tiboosters9668 The only issue with polearms for zombies is transport. If you're mostly walking everywhere it's probably not as bad, but carrying it in your car or on your bike would just be pain in the ass

[@tiboosters9668]

@@imugi-16 Use it as a lance, no one expects the bike cavalry.

[@imugi-16]

@@tiboosters9668 Lol brilliant

[@GrayNeko]

Could you do a review of the sword fighting in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World? As regards it's historical accuracy? That would be fantastic. Great channel, sir! Very, very glad I found it!

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

From my limited experience with historical sabres, I would say the cutlass is very comparable to a cavalry sabre, very cut and chop orientated. Better for confined spaces on ships, where fighting space is limited. Sabres come in all shapes and sizes but generally speaking a cavalry sabre is just a cutlass that has been hammered out longer and a bit thinner, still a mainly chopping weapon, the infantry sabre is a different beast when it comes to martial application, very thrust focused, but still a cut and thrust weapon in the end. I love both the cutlass and the sabre, I am very interested in lead cutters, we don't see lead cutting in our HEMA test cutting methods really today, do you think we should bring lead cutting back into the mainstream? I will be happy to get the ball rolling, I have thousands of spent .22 pellets that are begging to be cast into lead tubes for cutting practice.

[@justsomeguy3931]

Real life instance in the Modern day of sabers being used in self-defense... vs. a pistol (and claw hammers)! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKi2qJd7j6mJps0 You (or your viewers )should check out the channel, there's a surprising amount of melee combat even in the 21st century, and I can tell by how the host talks and the comments that the discussion truly needs some more skilled advice and input. Also lots of melee vs. brawl and even some melee vs. firearms

[@brianfuller7691]

The cutlass was really quite well designed and practical.

[@Mystakaphoros]

You pointed out a lot of +++ to the cutlass that I hadn't thought about before. Cheers back atcha!

[@enjoythestruggle]

I really like cutlasses. Yarr!

[@PhiOpsAurelio]

He who controls the cutlass commands the seven seas, he who commands the seven seas conquers the world.

[@garethalford682]

The Cutlass looks like it protects your hand more

[@goyhlandstar]

Since 2017, I've always wondered difference between Saber(Sabre) ane Cutlass. Thank You Very Much for This 👏

[@christoffere425]

Looks like such a comfy and neat weapon.

[@Halinspark]

Im amazed how much customization people did to their swords.

[@alnullified1351]

scimitar, shamshir, I'd like info about these swords as well.

[@antyluminatynetzaryn6189]

this swords its beautiful

[@CollinInGame]

I noticed something while watching this video. If you're wearing headphones, and press them against your ears, the vacuum briefly muffles the sound as you press in, and when you let go.

[@mysticonthehill]

What makes a saber a saber. The infantry saber looks straight to me. Is it how it is wielded rather than the shape of the blade?

[@philsspace69]

I think it may be different in different countries, but the handle I think. Or maybe just what was decided at the time it was made.

[@nickoconnor2673]

I held a cutlass in the museum of the Royal Navy and it was much heavier then I expected

[@jacobm.f.2451]

What about the type of cutlasses depicted in film and television that have essentially a scimitar blade.

[@signegolash4091]

This was very interesting to hear about. I'm a sabre fencer myself, and want a good cutlass to kill some watermelons with.

[@WalkaCrookedLine]

I think part of the reason cutlasses were relatively heavy was because they were often used as tools for cutting away wreckage from battle damage. Understand that in the era of cutlass popularity ships were powered by sails which were held up by complex systems of ropes and masts, when this was damaged and fell to the deck it could render the ship unmaneuverable until cut away.

[@TTfoley-ph4zh]

very true my friend them ship ropes are big aswell

[@mysticonthehill]

+WalkaCrookedLine What I had read is that one of the main uses of the cutlass was butchering animals which might explain its differences.

[@ilikewasabe]

i know little to nothing about weapons.. but i always thought that sabers are supposed to be curved because thats what i always see in videogames and stuff.. im glad i subbed to this channel its very informative :) i hope someday i can have a collection of historical weapons my own to bask upon.. currently i only have have farm tools and a half assed knife made from a file.. someday!

[@sherrattpemberton6089]

so the blade listed under Albions bare blade section as an 18th century cutlass is much more likely a Sabre blade? Something I've been wondering about for a while

[@brendandor]

It would be awesome to see at least a short clip of you cutting with the cutlass or other weapons you talk about. Just to put the blade into perspective!

[@dawudbish3860]

What maker is your cutlass? Do you have suggestions on origional makers? I love all your videos by the way. So informative. Keep up the great work.

[@devlinmcbane7255]

Had to carry a cutlass in basic training for the USN... taco handed grip, made my hand diveted and sore as hell, had to polish and maintain it for duty...

[@Burt1038]

PFFT...everyone knows that the 1982 Cutlass Supreme is the Pimpin'est ride of all time, whereas a Sabre is a grannymobile. Debate over!

[@JohannVF]

Is there any real difference between an "average" cutlass and an average "hanger"?

[@arbhall7572]

I like the larger basket over the hand, guys I have sparred with before have always accidentally hit my hand. It makes sense, and the confidence booster gives you a more flexible swing.

[@newhuskytwenty]

Any link to a true "battle ready" cutlass? I mean, properly heat tempered decent steel.

[@nelumbonucifera7537]

Don't metal handles transmit shock to the hand, thus increasing user fatigue?

[@kike5186]

"Makes it practically *I N D E S T R U C T I B L E* "

[@RandyLeftHandy]

That cavalry sabre though. What a beautiful blade.

[@gpgpgpgp1000]

Love your channel, Matt! I was wondering, if Infantry Sabres and Dragoon swords are straight, are they the same as a Backsword?

[@scholagladiatoria]

gpgpgpgp1000 A sabre is only a sabre if it is curved - if it's straight and single-edged then you could call it a backsword, yes (or just a sword) - though the typical backsword people think of has to also have an enclosed basket hilt.

[@axer01]

Actually, British cutlasses are longer and heavier than most other regulation cutlasses worldwide. Compare with the French, German or American patterns. The Argentine cutlass is also heavier than most, having an all-steel construction, but the blade has (strangely) one-sided fuller only.

[@listsforthecurious]

There seems to be a slight issue with the idea that a sabre is a curved sword accomodating the idea that regulation British naval cutlasses are short sabres. Most of the British regulation pattern cutlasses have been straight bladed swords, more like short straight-sabres than short sabres, if we take curvature to be a defining feature of a sabre blade.

[@garynaccarto8636]

Cutlasses are basically short sabers either that or a short backsword depending on how you want to look at it.

[@Thagomizer]

Was there any practical advantage to using a naval sabre over a cutlass at sea? I ask because I've come across pictures of naval sabres, which causes me to conclude that Nelson era midshipmen had use for such things.

[@Lokarsh21]

I have a question... You mentioned the option to paint the metal to prevent it from rusting. I have a longsword that tends heavily to rust, possibly due to me living near the sea, as well. I grind it at times to remove the rust and polish it, keep it oiled, but so far it didn't help. What kind of paint could I use to prevent the rusting? Would it at all make sense to just cover it in black acrilic paint to sort it? I wouldn't mind it, honestly, I don't particularly care for the looks, but it really annoys me to see how quickly it gathers stains.

[@scholagladiatoria]

Lokarsh21 If you don't care about being historical, you could use acrylic clear varnish. Metal primer paint will be the most rust-resistant though. Or you could just go historical and keep the blade oily and keep it in an oily scabbard (you can make one from cardboard that will work).

[@Lokarsh21]

Thank you. I'll give it another month or so, try to keep the metal parts well oiled and see if it resists the rust a little better. If not, I might just paint it black and be done with it. There are images, I believe (Morgan bible comes to mind) where some blades look particularly dark. Was that a genuine historical practice, to burnish swords?

[@froschnmaximus9108]

+Lokarsh21 You may also try a thin layer of wax. Rubbing the blade with a beewaxcandle for longtime "storage", or "oversea-shipment", was a typical way by the german Hanse against rust. Also I know some Viking Reenactors who are using waxcoating on their handsmithed swords. Modern (read as nonhistorical) equivalent: car wax

[@karlkruger7310]

go to your local gun shop & get a tube of gun blue cream & blue the blade.

[@JZBai]

It's interesting to note that your points about cavalry vs. infantry swords in addition to British/French/American/etc. swords also had an analogue in Japan. Tachi (the sword used by mounted samurai) were generally longer and had more robust scabbard fittings than the katana/uchigatana used by infantry. You mentioned the length for the cavalry and infantry swords but not the cutlass. How long was the cutlass you showed in the video?

[@elgostine]

thank you (high five?) someone knows the difference between a katana and a tachi, although if we wanna be technical the only true difference between a katana and tachi is how they are work...you o have a point though that tachi tended to have much longer, deeply curved blades and also thinner blades too.

[@kefkaZZZ]

Sid Meiyers Pirates of the Caribbean!

[@peregrinatus]

Do we have many account of below-deck fighting? I've been assuming that it happened, but how prefab lent was it?

[@JinKee]

I wonder if it was so common it wouldn't be mentioned specifically. After taking the ship, wouldn't you send some men below to find any crew hiding below deck and pull them out? You couldn't risk somebody surprising you.

[@benjaminkeepfer8968]

Now I don't know a gigantic amount about cutlasses, but from the little I do know, isn't the example that you used in this video on the rather long and thin bladed side of the spectrum? Most of the historical photos that I have seen are of weapons that are rather shorter and have a wider blade. I don't know if that would fall under a different category, since some of the pictures come from varying dates and locations, but didn't the standard design of the cutlass change not much from the 16th century to the 19th century, regardless of the (obviously European/Anglo American) country of origin?

[@Tyler_Lalonde-]

scholagladiatoria what is the thickness of the cutlass and is it the same from top to bottom? great vid thanks for all he info.

[@haraldwanger1102]

The german word for cuttlass is "Entermesser" which translates to boarding-knife. That makes the comparison to the medival Messer even better.

[@broncoxy]

This title can also be on a Star Citizen video ;).

[@urbnctrl]

Looking at this video as a naval cutlass owner as well as a cutlass black owner I lol'd at finding this comment.

[@Eboreg2]

This video does leave me to wander whether a weapon with a katana-like bladed weapon with perhaps a more durable hilt and a better guard would be useful for naval boarding actions.

[@lancerd4934]

Eboreg2 There are japanese officers' swords from the meiji restoration that use french sabre hilts with blades that are superficially similar to the katana. The blades are quite different in their mass distribution though, to make them more agile for single handed use than a katana would be. You could probably do something similar with cutlass hilts for naval use.

[@nehcrum]

Eboreg2 First off, don't wander off too far... The katana is a two-handed weapon really, while cutlasses are one-handed. One reason of which is that in a fight on a ship you'd want your off-hand free so you can hold onto various things (for balance and for not falling overboard etc, but also for things like pistols). The katana, in it's original form would also likely be too long for the very close in fights that boarding actions tend to be. Sweden created "cutlasses" for the swedish navy by taking older army swords and grinding down the blades. Look up swedish m/1685 compared to M/1832. Boarding actions tended to be short and vicious melee at very close range rather than any nice long duels that katanas are more suited for.

[@MsDjessa]

Do you happen to have cutting videos of your cutlass?

[@StarlightEater]

Great videos bud ✌👍

[@K9Jacky]

I'll try to keep things short. The content of your page is huge, my knowledge of the matter is small, I don't know enough to know where exactly to look to find out what I want to know. So I'll ask: I want to learn fighting with the military saber you've been showing in the beginning of training tips and such. I've got a small tiny HEMA club, they do mostly lichtenauer and none of them knows much about saber fighting, yet there I can practice somewhat. So primarily I want to know what media in books or vids would be good for a visual-learning type like me to start learning autodidactical, and, secondly, what kind of saber am I looking out for / where do I get one for training. Thank you so very much for your time and the knowledge you share!

[@calibribody6776]

Thank you i have been confused for so long...

[@MrHansBen]

In a previous video you mentioned racks and racks of cutlasses being stored on royal navy ships. Were these weapons stored with scabbards? Were they necessary for "enlisted" (non-officer) swords? You mention that wood does inconvenient things at sea and wood was sometimes a common material used in sword scabbards. Also Did officers also use cutlasses or did they use spadroons (given the period that the cutlass you use in this video is from and that commodore Norington used one in Pirates of the Carribean)? I know that American naval officers used cutlasses for a while.

[@scholagladiatoria]

The cutlasses in racks were not in scabbards as they didn't need them. They did have scabbards in storage for cutlasses though, in case some sailors were required to wear them (for example, when going ashore). Naval scabbards of all types are leather without wooden cores. Officers in the Royal Navy had a mixture of spadroons and sabres in the 18th century and up until 1805 when there was a regulation spadroon introduced with a sabre hilt. Then in 1827 officers' swords became a standard sabre which is quite similar to that of the infantry officer. Officers did sometimes carry cutlasses instead of their official swords, simply because cutlasses are probably better fighting weapons.

[@infinitesheldon5710]

So, I know this is a kind of a very odd request, but I was having a conversation with a friend and remembered your reviews of movie and tv show fight scenes. I had been watching Star Wars with a friend. (The original '77 movie.) As we watched Obi-Wan fighting Darth Vader, my friend started complaining about the terrible choreography. It didn't take long for us to start comparing lightsaber dueling to swordplay in real life. As we talked, I began to wonder what someone who was actually trained in real sword styles would think of the duels in Star Wars. So, to get to my request, I was wondering if you would consider doing a movie fight review of the lightsaber duels throughout the Star Wars series, addressing what was done wrong, or perhaps done right. I'd love to see your thoughts on the topic, particularly for the differences in choreography between the Original and Prequel trilogies.

[@klyanadkmorr]

Totally surprised he didn't bring up the calvary sabre blade being curved for the slicing motion of the horse back soldier compared to a more straight infantry blade for stabbing.

[@MyPimpedOutMuslim]

Can you please do a video on Arabic swords and the fighting techniques and things like that? I can't find anything on the internet about it :|

[@dolbeeii7331]

Search for "Razmafzar". It's Persian but close enough, I suppose.

[@MyPimpedOutMuslim]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm more interested in just arabic fighting styles or if he could make a video on muslim warriors' style because I know that salahdin Kurdish and not Arabic but he still fought along side with arabs

[@darklanov]

Dr_Thugnasty من المؤسف أنه ليس هناك اهتمام كبير من العرب بفنونهم القتالية وبالمبارزة بالسيف التاريخية.

[@sameerthakur720]

Manoucher.

[@ElDrHouse2010]

That infantry officer sabre looks a lot like the one I own. Actually pretty much the same in the key areas: straight blade, samey guard with samey decoration, etc. I own a Toledo.

[@colinblick4903]

Have you noticed the Kings Troop swords....WW1 I think with rubber grips an a blade like a rapier much thinner🤨 I used to carry one attached to the saddle as a gunner😎💪🏼

[@justinprather8846]

Since you're getting to cutlass, a topic I was excited to here your opinion on, I'd love to here your knowledge and opinion of bowies.

[@justinprather8846]

Tomahawks as well.

[@duplicateyeti6883]

Hey Matt, for a book that I want to try to be at least semi historically accurate, when did sabres and cutlasses start being used?

[@nhichung1370]

Is it possible to do a future video on the British Pattern 1853 Light Cavalry Saber? What is your thoughts on infantry swords vs cavalry swords? By the way, awesome channel!

[@scholagladiatoria]

Nhi Chung Thanks - yes I have two examples, so can certainly do that. It relates to another video I was planning.

[@T0mN7]

Hey, great vid! I've got a question about sabres. I own one and I'm trying to identify it's origin and purpose. It's almost the same length as a regular infantry sabre, but the blade is half as wide and slightly curved. The guard is very similar to the one you hold on your right hand around 3:28 but it has five small holes in the shape of a triangle. Any idea what this type of sabre could be?

[@benaldo138]

My understanding is that the cutlasses are heavier and more beefy overall is because they were as much a tool to a sailor as a weapon for whatever cutting may come its way. Is this correct?

[@scholagladiatoria]

benaldo138 I don't think so - they had axes for that and the cutlasses were kept in store until combat was expected.

[@_XR40_]

benaldo138 There's also the factor that, at least in many European Navies, the majority of the sailors were literally abducted off the streets (press-gangs). In the British Navy, for example, a sailor's knife would have the point broken off so that it couldn't be used for stabbing. (In fact, British Navy pocket-knives to this day have blades shaped like a broken blade) There is simply no way a crew of involuntary abductees would be permitted to wander around a ship armed.

[@benaldo138]

XR40 Yeah shoulda remembered that bit, the royal marines were the ones that got all the arms unless shit was hitting the fan.

[@Jch79]

Just out of curiosity, are you planning on restoring that officers sabre or will you leave the patina on it? Is it even possible to remove some of the corrosion on the blade and guard? Love the channel, thanks :)

[@matthewdonoghue321]

Hi, thanks for the very informative video, I was wondering if you could help me with a question - everybody assumes that longer is better but I was wondering if there is actually an advantage to the cutlass. If you were in a situation where you came face to face with your opponent with the swords trapped between the swordsmen the cutlass is short enough that you can withdraw or un-trap the cutlass, I just tested this with a tape measure and with my arm length about 25" to 27" would be about the longest a sword could be to be withdrawn. Now if you opponent has a 33" sword then his sword is trapped totally.I was wondering if this "25 inch" rule had an influence on the length when they designed cutlasses? It seems to close to be a coincidence.

[@Altrantis]

Th eonly antique I've handled is a cutlass an uncle of mine has, very similar to that one, although probably spaniard beacue I'm in Chile. Brass handle. I didn't like it at all, it feels heavy and clunky and it vibrates a LOT on your hand when anything touches the blade.

[@steadmanuhlich6734]

Good video. Longer more curved blade better when on horseback.

[@Captain__Harlock]

Thank you for your video. I have been looking for represintations of what real cutlass blades's look like because I have seen two versions: The version you held that wasnt that curved and had a broad point, and a version that has a good curve with a flared head and clip tip point. Are both of those accurate or is the other version just a product of Hollywood?

[@lancerd4934]

Primus1985 British cutlasses usually have a spear point like this one. US navy cutlasses did have clip points on some models. You do see a lot of variation between nations in cutlass design. different sorts of guards (half, shell, bowl, figure eight), straight and curved blades, fullers and triangular section, and spear, clip and hatchet points. bit.ly/1MYhCXY bit.ly/1FfOJgC bit.ly/1GgSbwS bit.ly/1FvPbtG

[@Captain__Harlock]

Ah I see. The first one is what I think of when I think Cutlass, wide thick blade with a gentle curve and a clip tip point. The shape of the second of one seems Indian influenced, like it was meant to hack. I like its unique shape. the third looks more like a hanger, a British straight dueling saber. The forth looks like Cold Steel's 1917 Cutlass, which is surprising. The site Museum Replicas has a Scottish Cutlass www.museumreplicas.com/images/product/medium/284_2_.jpg Now that to me screams Cutlass. A Cutlass is meant to be a boarding sword, close quarters, so its usually shorter with a slight curve, a full hand guard for protection and melee, a very acute clip tip point for thrusting, and the blade is usually thick so it makes deep horrendous cuts. Am I wrong?

[@lancerd4934]

Primus1985 The first cutlass is French, the second is Prussian, the third is British and from the Napoleonic wars, the last one is a US cutlass, which is what the cold steel one is based on. I don't believe the MRL scottish cutlass is based on any historical sword, it seems to match a scottish broadsword hilt with a cutlass or hanger blade, similar to a dussack. Cutlasses aren't as short as you might think. You are looking at a 27-28 inch blade compared to a 30-32 inch one for a sabre, broadsword or arming sword. Certainly they are longer than a wakizashi or a gladius, for example. Not all have an acute tip, some earlier types do have hatchet points, but most later designs have spear or clip points. The blades are wide, but not extraordinarily thick. If you want to see a sword with a thick blade, the katana is thicker than just about anything made in Europe. Wide, thin blades are more ideal for cutting, while narrow, thick blade are stiffer and therefore better in the thrust so there is always a tradeoff depending on where you fall along the cut/thrust continuum. You are way off about hangers though. A hanger is not a duelling sabre. A hanger is essentially a cutlass made for land service. Both can be straight or curved, both can have any kind of tip, but have short, heavy cutting blades. The primary difference is in the hilt. Cutlasses all have large sheet metal bowl guards, while hangers usually have a guard constructed out of a number of bars. They also have an all-metal construction with brass or steel grips, like most cutlasses. Hangers were generally issued to enlisted men unlikely to carry a bayonet, like artillery crews, or those likely to see a lot of hand to hand combat, like grenadiers.

[@nehcrum]

Primus1985 Personally, I think you are being a bit too logical about it, compared to history. Names of weapons have changed over time, and the names of certain weapons are more tied to it's intended use, geographical area and time period rather than it's actual shape. I think the definition of a cutlass is "sword-like object used by naval crews in the 18-19th century" rather than trying to define it on basis of it's hilt and blade. It would not surprise me if you'd find the exact same weapon employed by the army and there it is called a "hanger" or "short cavalry saber" or whatever.

[@nehcrum]

lancer D Yeah...cutlasses have shorter blades on average. Compared to the other swords of the same era. Which doesn't really say all that much when looking at swords from all eras. Swords tended to get longer and longer, as well as thinner and thinner, depending in great part to higher skill and better methods for making swords. So cutlasses tends to stand out compared to other swords of the same era, but not so much compared to swords from earlier periods. It's just that swords in later periods started to become more and more specialized, instead of being all-around balanced weapons from earlier area. So you started to get more thrust-oriented swords like Rapiers, but also more cut-oriented swords like sabres and then also the even more cut-oriented cutlass, with a shorter but wider and heavier blade, for more cutting power in closer ranges. Sabres tended to be more of a cavalry weapon, needing longer weapons for better reach against pesky infantry that kept crouching down to make it harder for you to reach them, while close in melees of a boarding action means a long weapon is harder to swing around, especially when crowded in with your mates. And then things become even more trickier when the main weapon of the infantry is the musket and bayonet rather than a sword of any type, and swords only gets carried by officers who use it as a symbol for their authority as well as a way to signal their troops, just as much as for fighting with it. Why did infantry officers keep swords as sidearms long after they had been surpassed by rifles with bayonets and pistols? Because it's far more dramatic to draw your sword, point it at the enemy and yell "charge" than it is to do the same with a pistol.... Which in turn means you want a big, long sparkly thing that catches peoples attention.

[@woofalot13]

Chop your way on to the enemys deck . I imagine bording actions were the most brutal fights at times .

[@horvathbenedek3596]

Does anyone know if there are historically accurate cutlass replicas similar to this one, that are commercially available? I just love the simple, functional look of that weapon, plus the full guard is also appealing.

[@titanscerw]

these guys make British 1804 Boarding Cutlass replica www.militaryheritage.com/swords2.htm their weapons are over all decently made for good price, never handled this piece.

[@horvathbenedek3596]

titanscerw Many thanks! Although I was interested in one with a curved blade, this piece looks good enough, and I must say, the price is way below the average! So thanks, again.

[@rustybayonetcom]

Infantry blade straight, cav sword curved

[@plypox]

I noticed that the guard on the cutlass expands to protect both the left and right side of the hand while the saber expands only to protect the right side of the had. are Cavalrymen right handed in general?

[@VFD4u]

If there were no firearms, and people carried swords for self-defense and fashion, which sword would you carry?

[@JcqusClsu]

Soooo, basically, cutlass for Naval Combat, Sabre for Land Combat, amirite?

[@iplay9s]

What is that infantry sabre, specifically

[@randelldarky3920]

I bought an Italian Duelling Saber. Light and deadly.

[@Xanatos712]

Another reason cutlasses were so heavy was for, when sailors stopped off on an island to explore or collect water or whatever, they could use their cutlasses as machetes to hack through vegetation.

[@scholagladiatoria]

This is what Pirates of the Caribbean might suggest :-)

[@titanscerw]

machetes I have mostly of tramontina brand and some east block agri stuff - tend to be quiet light cause machete is really thin blade in comparison to these battle instruments of war ... primary design intention behind them is different really :)

[@Xanatos712]

scholagladiatoria Saw it on a sword documentary a couple of years ago. I don't think they every cut anything besides people/monsters and ropes in POTC.

[@PsylomeAlpha]

titanscerw that depends on the type of machete. many things fall under the category of machete, at least here in america, like the barong, the bolo, the parang, and the khukuri, that tend to be made more robustly than the "machete" style machetes that were meant for clearing light vegetation. all four of those machetes (defined as bladed instruments designed for clearing brush and generally clearing a trail) were designed by the people that originally made them to work for everything from cutting down trees to skinning the spoils of a hunt. yes, they're also meant to clear light vegetation. they tend to actually be used as weapons even to today in more tumultuous parts of the world.

[@titanscerw]

Well calling distinct cutting implements like kukri, barong, bolo, parang or golok for that matter a machette is totaly incorrect. Machette typicaly have thin spine in comparison to above named cutting implements - so as there are some models of diffrent makers who sell machette with thin spine in overal blade shape of those named types they are totaly different from what - golok parang kukri etc handle like Not every cutting tool is machette :) Golok, parang, kukri, etc. have thick spine are lot more tip balanced and can very well act like hachett - split because of their wedge grind Machette is basicaly sheet of steel with bevel of edge applied to it ...

[@yotubebossbossproduc]

I would take a cutlass or a chivalry sabre because the infantry one looks like an imbetweener. If I wanted something lighter I would take a Shamshir or a Italian Rapier.

[@Gongasoso]

*cavalry, not chivalry. Although the origin of the terms seems the same...

[@bobschiebel3325]

so a wider and shorter blade can be defined as either depending on the guard and handle used for the build?

[@MtnTow]

I've watched many of your videos. Thanks a lot! Just wondering if cutlasses should be distil tapered?

[@scholagladiatoria]

+MtnTow Usually, yes they should be.

[@difilippo28]

I can attest to the weight of the cutlass. Carrying one of these in boot camp was exhausting.

[@snipekrispiez3905]

What's the balancing like with a cutlass? I have a replica cavalry saber and all the weight is basically in the blade. Is a cutlass the same way or would the weight be more towards the hilt/guard since it's shorter?

[@Vonluchestein]

in spanish we just call the cutlass "sable de abordaje" with means "boarding Sabre"

[@bifutake]

In BCS (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian) it's just called "kratka sablja" which literally means "short sabre".

[@Vonluchestein]

i currently have an infantry sabre from a small fortress build to withhold the natives in the late 1800 and its shorter, similar to the cutlass, but i think it just was damaged

[@hugowilfredoguzmanhenrique8893]

the word cutlass and alfanje refer to the same weapon or are they different?

[@andersbenke3596]

Given that combat with swords is always dangerous to your hands, why would combat on ship require more hand protection than elsewhere?

[@ROBBEAUDOIN66]

Your opinion on the 1796 Heavy Cavalry Sword ? Like a long cutlass in many ways.

[@lancerd4934]

Robert Beaudoin He has a video about it.

[@petertremblay3725]

Pretty ridiculous to see people in the walking dead show using kitchen knife against zombies since by now they should all have a cavalry saber in their daily live!

[@tullyDT]

is there a particular reason for the infantry sabers tending to have straight blades while the cavalry sabers had a curved edge?

[@jmkbartsch]

Yep there is. Infantery want to stab or cut while cavalry tend to cut more often (at that time). Also the egde alignment is easier with a curved blade and while soldiers on foot dont have a problem with that its hard to care for edge alignment when you are on a galopping horse.

[@tullyDT]

very informative, thanks

[@LiamAcerbus]

Do you know of a replica cutlass that is very close to your antique?

[@Agorante]

It should be noted that Richard Sharpe the hero of Bernard Cornwell's series of novels about the Peninsula War always carries a naval saber not the infantry version. He is a big man and he likes the bigger sword.

[@scholagladiatoria]

+Patrick Boyle No, he carried the 1796 heavy cavalry sword.

[@Agorante]

+scholagladiatoria Well I guess you told me.

[@Master...deBater]

+scholagladiatoria Have you ever done a comparison of the European saber and the Japanese tachi or katana? I've never understood the urge to compare the katana to any of the double edged European swords, other than in the broadest terms. To me the Katana is just a two handed saber with a really short blade. The extra long handle makes one handed wielding difficult at best. I have no doubt that the warriors who wielded them were very capable, but I feel that the weapon is just outclassed by most of the European swords after the invention of the longsword circa 1400. To me the appeal of the katana is that it's like the straight razor of swords. I think the use of the katana was primarily that of a dispatch weapon. I think if they were used as dueling weapons you see many more of the originals with chipped edges. The only reason you would need such a hard sharp edge (58-60RC) is if you're cutting a lot of peoples heads off. I also think they were used as a terror weapon to the peasantry. The Samurai were allowed to victimize the peasantry virtually at will for the slightest of perceived insults. Blades of such hardness would only be able to survive encounters with flesh and bone. I would bet that most of the people killed by them were unarmed or already helpless by incapacitation. As we know the best katana's were inscribed with the number of bodies they could cut through in one swing. This implies that they were designed to cut way beyond what was necessary to kill in battle or a duel. Almost as if they were a ritualistic sacrificial tool. Any thoughts?

[@paulotoole4950]

+Patrick Boyle Actually I have pointed this out before he does not choose the sword, it is given to him by a officer in Sharpe's rifles. From Sharpe's sword onwards we are not sure what he carries except that it is a heavy cavalry sword which is remade by Harper for him.

[@Cynddelw]

I just recently found his Grail Quest series, am excited now to hear of this sharpe fellow. Looking forward to picking it up when I finish.

[@garethalford682]

What’s the difference between a Cutlass Saber and Hanger

[@cjthebomb5518]

so on average how think is a cutlass blade supposed to be?

[@claemiller]

youd think a thrusting sword would shine the best in this situation which makes me wonder why a cutter if space is a concern?