Do curved swords cut better than straight swords?

[@duhotatoday3277]

The most obvious benefit of curved swords is using them while on a horse. Less chances of a sword getting stuck after a cut and consequently being pulled out from your hand while you're driving past the target. They didn't remove piercing potential and a whole second cutting half of the sword for nothing for centuries.

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Curved blades have a easier unstocking themselves in a target compared to straight blades. Everything else can be varied. Where you safely strike depends on blade geometry and target on the body. Straight swords can have curved edges, even very curved edges, then there curved hilts which changes things again. It is hard to see in a model or cutting pool noodles sense those targets don't grip things like clothing and meat does.

[@roguepoet6645]

Exactly!! That's why so many cavalry used curved swords. With good hilts to hold the hand in place better. A Long sword, arming sword, falchion, messer, katana, will just get pulled right out of a riders grip. Glad someone mentioned this

[@mansfieldtime]

@@PJDAltamirus0425 I'm not convinced that is what happens. Personally I believe the curved blade design redirects the shock momentum to travel up the blade to the tip instead reverberating though the whole blade. Meaning the mechanics transfer energy away from the grip but also reduces damage. Still, I would rather be able to hold my sword then have a numb hand... either way, I have now way of testing any of this, it's just my theory.

[@mansfieldtime]

@@roguepoet6645 I think it's more mechanical. But I have no way of testing... the result is the same it's just a more scientific explanation. I think.

[@Ranstone]

I have never seen a medical or physics source to confirm this. I've heard it all my life, but when asked to explain it, people just revert to spouting nonsense about draw cuts and "slashing motions" with not a single equation, or classified mechanical principle. If you want to explain it using one of the 3 classes of levers, I'd be more open to the idea. Not saying it's wrong; just saying there's a disturbing lack of evidence for something so colloquially thrown around.

[@bobmigarski283]

You see those warriors from Hammerfell? They have curved swords,CURVED....SWORDS.

[@rachdarastrix5251]

Hmm, imperial sword, scimitar. Same stats, imperial sword sells for far more... Well, guess that dictates which one I will use.

[@The_child-catcher]

There it is.

[@jonslade17]

Hey, someone had to do it

[@Chraan]

@@rachdarastrix5251 That's easy, you will use a bow because you become a stealth archer.

[@EnsignRedshirtRicky]

Heavily curved (e.g. scimitar) from horseback was also essential, as flat sword at speed would run the risk of dismounting you, or making you abandon the sword. I also think the curved blades were used so they did not get stuck as often in softer targets. When heavy armor became the norm, then they saw their decline.

[@simonfreeman8233]

the usual famous exception to that is when you look at swords used by the likes of the wingged hussars the koncerz and the palasz both straight edged swords used very effectivly on horse even the szabla husarska didn't have that much of a curve to them

[@gabesmith8331]

I'm sure you've heard of sabers before, they were used throughout medieval times, even into the 19th century.

[@aethulwulfvonstopphen8013]

@@gabesmith8331not everyone wore armor

[@sidecharacter7165]

Curved blades also hit at a similar angle each time similar to an axe if curved properly, like a cavalry sabre. Take 2 plates and try to make them hit at a separate angle to see what I mean.

[@GuitarsRockForever]

It is an advantage, but not essential. There were straight swords used for cutting from horse back. However, certainly curved swords would work better.

[@booshmcfadden7638]

I remember some ancient military show (History Channel, I think) with R Lee Ermy where he was comparing a katana and a broadsword. During a cutting test, he swung the katana over the shoulder and down onto some leather armor making a really deep gash and following through. With the European broadsword, he stood sideway and swung the blade from his hip upward into the armor making a dull thud and minor cut. His katana slice did a full arc starting from behind his back, the tip ending by the ground. With the broadsword, it traveled maybe 2 feet start to finish. Crap like that is why people say curved blades are always far superior.

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Oh yeah . I remember that. That show was crap on several levels . Ermy knows guns but he sucked with swords

[@h0m3st4r]

@@PJDAltamirus0425 I agree. And later, he did the same thing on "plate armor" which I can only assume was made of tin foil.

[@tomatopotato1136]

That’s history channel for you :/

[@reliantbelial2341]

​@@tomatopotato1136i remember seeing shad reacting to this video

[@TheRealAnarchrox]

Lee Ermy doesn't know shit.

[@radicallarry7044]

Whos here before the skyrim jokes.

[@Odinson224]

Curved penises, big curved penises. Wait I think I quoted that wrong.

[@Tam_Miri]

Right!? 😂 that is too hilarious!

[@shalltearbloodfallen310]

Have you seen those warriors from Hammerfell? They have Curved SWORDS Curved SWORDS!

[@myownmusic8182]

Technically, nobody who responds to you is here before the Skyrim jokes, since you just made a joke related to Skyrim... Why are you booing me, I'm right?

[@Odinson224]

​@@myownmusic8182Buzzkiller boo.

[@tylercurtis4710]

Who here would like a series reviewing unique weapons? Personally I'd love Shad's thoughts about swords and other weapons like the Egyptian Khopesh.

[@admirekashiri9879]

I don't think he is interested in covering swords that aren't European or Japanese. Which is fine mind you best to stick to what you know and what you're passionate about.

[@oldminerhro1934]

I think Shad analyzing the kopesh, getting into the materiel used to make it, and way it was used in combat would be interesting.

[@noway6633]

​@@admirekashiri9879he's done other things before. And once you know blades you know blades. It's not like it coming from Egypt means you somehow are no longer knowledgeable

[@admirekashiri9879]

@@noway6633 Really, other non-European or Japanese things like what? And I get what you mean, but certain weapons and blades, if you don't know the culture behind it, can lead to the wrong conclusion, such is the case with many African blades..

[@MiguelMedV]

@@admirekashiri9879 If you don't know the culture behind a weapon just do research then 🤷🏻‍♂️. No excuses, there's no reason why he shouldn't review other weapons...

[@metatronyt]

Welcome back to your homeland, I'm glad you had a safe journey. I need to up my game with swords. Maybe an Albion?

[@hha8356]

😮

[@assortedsubscriptions4012]

What a cool technical review! Had me thinking about geometry and their effect on engineering principles... It's neat to have your perspective I terms of both; the historical knowledge, and the practical experience across differently blade types... 10/10!

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

Best channel for us Medieval geeks

[@rhydonbeacham]

What about swords with curved hilts versus swords with straight hilts? Which sword hilt has the better grip?

[@thegreenxeno9430]

This guy is asking the real answers

[@TheSteam02]

@@thegreenxeno9430 the what 💀

[@doctorsketch7476]

@@TheSteam02 the real answers. You wouldn't get it.

[@benkayvfalsifier3817]

This comment needs to be pinned 📌

[@AlyssMa7rin]

Especially a Sword that has no weight in the blade ;) ;)

[@Thrand11]

This is Thrand! Excellent video I might do a reply to this one but for the most part this is 100 percent accurate but I may be able to add to it a bit from my experiences.

[@varanid9]

Like most people, I used to think the Katana was the coolest thing. Until I seriously attempted to learn to cut properly with one. It's more difficult than mastering a proper golf swing. So now, I have a staff that I just use to whack things with.

[@tabull8180]

Golf swing on other hand is surprisingly easy on casual or semi-casual level. Looks way harder than it is.

[@Modighen]

"The Archchancellor polished his staff as he walked along. It was a particularly good one, six feet long and quite magical. Not that he used magic very much. In his experience, anything that couldn't be disposed of with a couple of whacks from six feet of oak was probably immune to magic as well." - Terry Pratchett

[@thedyingmeme6]

Monks be like

[@Xrono666]

I think there is a lot of nuance missed by using generalized "cut". Cut can be a chop, a slash or a pierce. Curved blades are better at slashing. Straight blades are better at chopping, The angle of the tip of the blade determines how good the weapon is at piercing. Longsword/Broadsword is better at chopping and piercing than Katana. It doesn't mean that Katana cannot pierce OR chop. It can but it is a better slashing weapon than "straight" swords as there is a functional trade-off.

[@shinjiikari1021]

I thought that more tip heavy katana would chop better, as you chop with axe

[@arnijulian6241]

Forward/reverse curved blades like a cleaver, Kukri or kopis =hacking chopper lad. The more iconic backward/orthodox curved blade=mounted cavalry side arm. I could go to great length about this massive topic but all single edged blade with a curve slight or extreme are just sabres for Dao means sabre & the Japnese Katana evolved from the Chinese Dao. Cruciform European blades are=universal. Triangular Blades Longsword like blade are not specialised in anything particularly but can do everything with a greater internal structure hence why they can be used like crowbar/fulcrum/lever in combat. In time mind late middles age blades & renaissance blades specialised into the thrust hence Dress sword & rapier=Thrust. Complex thrust hilted sword 1 handed can be as long as 51 inches with full length of arm that about 70 inches. Reach is everything in combat & trust me a (swept hilt side sword) of western Europe in 1400's will wide the floor with any melee weapon outside of Europe. What cam later in Europe is sword wise even more advanced incomparable to the world! Mind the age of pike & shot made the sword a rarely used weapon let alone by the 1600's when the pike & musket was fused into one by the bayonet. By the 1800's only sailors, pioneers-sappers & officers used sword for the most part. Only way I could see swords possibly returning is in boarding warfare in spacecraft for firing guns in a paper thin craft is a quick way to get yourself & everyone killed.

[@zekeolopwi6642]

He's talking about slashing mostly, and his first point is that with a stronger curve, yes curved blades have a better slash. HOWEVER, the katana and two handed falchion do not have a strong enough curve to merit that advantage. I'm shocked people think that about the katana specifically when we know the curve is just a side effect of the hardening method.

[@zekeolopwi6642]

​@@shinjiikari1021Katanas aren't TIP heavy though so much as just BLADE heavy, so it wouldn't benefit so much from the heft as say a leaf bladed sword, a kopis, etc. which actually have more mass specifically at the tip.

[@arnijulian6241]

​@@zekeolopwi6642 Agreed! Katana on occasion are arguably slightly more tip heavy then the average blade but what most Japophiles don't realise real is Katana have blade taper even if not as much as other blades it handles nothing like their flat 'wall props'. Uchigatana being the specific name for a Japanese katana as in Japanese Katana means any single edges blade/sabre. Some Uchikatana have top blade presence while others have have the opposite as it depends on the blacksmiths incentive & swordsmen's personal request. I like a Blade with real hacking presence that Uchikatana would not deliver what I desire. On a seperate note a real falchion is nothing like a katana though a German Langmesser is somewhat. A real falchion if made correctly is more akin to giant cut throat razor as the tip is only about1/32nd of inch which is less then millimetre. & the blade edge is a fairly similar thickness with only the spine being thick 1/8'' to a max a 1/4'' just above the hale on the spine. A katana has a some armour penetration but a (falchion) without a thrusting tip have minimal penetration if non though great against fabric armour & flesh. If a decent sharp tip it would work well against gap in Armour especially the visor. You have to be a bit of sick pup to use a real falchion!

[@murdock8068]

New subscriber and loving it! Been a fan of forged and fire for years now. One thing they always pointed out with a heavier bellied curved sword is the weight behind the belly pushing more penetration through the object.

[@roguepoet6645]

Havve you seen those warriors from Hammerfell, they have curved swords. Curved! Swords! Hold Guard

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

As big of a fan I am of Katanas I'll always favor the Longsword

[@raicattivo]

My my sir you’ve really picked the hottest take to have here 😂

[@TihetrisWeathersby]

@raicattivo comes from playing too much Kingdom come deliverance

[@raicattivo]

@@griffinmckenzie7203 it’s a little thing called Sarcasm

[@raicattivo]

@@griffinmckenzie7203 what sorta mf says “my my sir” in regular speech?

[@Enaccul]

​@griffinmckenzie7203 He also had the laughing emoji at the end of the sentence so I assumed it was a joke or sarcasm, effectively the same as putting the /s but for people who aren't on reddit that much or use the /s symbol.

[@mansfieldtime]

The Kilij has been my favorite sword for a while. The look, the function, the location it was used. I mean Winged Hassar. That is some stylized uniform.

[@h0m3st4r]

My fondest memory of the kilij is watching Vaclav Havlik use a forward-weighted custom kilij allegedly based on one used by Vlad the Impaler to utterly butcher a pig carcass.

[@ayhanfedai5013]

i didnt know hussars use kilic sabers look like kilic maybe yea but kilic ? i know they inspired from Turkish akincis and helmets they use looks Turkish/Turkic but swords too ?

[@ham00d53]

@@ayhanfedai5013they used Kiliç and modified them into Szabla which has a different hilt and guard

[@mansfieldtime]

@@ayhanfedai5013 I didn't mean the hussars used kiliji... though they used a variant, the history of the area is fasinating.

[@mansfieldtime]

@@h0m3st4r I remember that as well. I liked the design well before the TV show but didn't know the name till watching Deadliest Warrior. I first saw the kilij in a history book about Vlad's cavalry. Then learned about the Hussars.

[@buckduane1991]

People can debate all day what a curved or straight blade does… but as Shad actually shows once again: the proof will always be in the pudding of picking them both up and actually striking. A certain Loporite approves of my analogy.

[@Ranstone]

Which is what ancient man did. Ancient man did not talk about angle of attack and center of drag vs center of mass. I think to fully understand this, we need to get back to the human senses, or jump straight into pure mathematics. I'm very tired of rank superstition being quoted, like how "Curved swords are better on horseback because a straight sword will deliver more shock to the wielder." Especially when many heavy Napoleonic cavalry swords were straight.

[@MichaelJohnson-mt6ey]

@@Ranstone Agreed. Roman cavalry used straight swords as well, to great effect.

[@anderporascu5026]

Butthurt fan kids will argue curved blades are superior till their finally adults. Oh the eternal debacles of these fandom communities who will battle out their point every which way till someone relents and somehow miraculously proves they are right.

[@bobwilliam2634]

​@@MichaelJohnson-mt6ey But don't you think it's odd that during late antiquity Romans, Sassanids, Arabs,.etc all throughout the Middle East, North Africa & Eastern europe, all used straight swords on horseback. But in the following centuries, under turkic and mongolic influence, the curved saber began to be favored heavily on horseback. Even the late eastern roman horseman favored the curved saber. This is an honest question, I have no clue on the actual benefits of one or the other, I don't test swords and I certainly don't ride horses, I just think it's an interesting inquiry. There most be some reason, other then culture quirk, that so many diverse people began to adopt the curved sword. (?)

[@Catman_CM]

But, the proof is not in the pudding. The proof of the pudding is in the eating! In this case, the term proof is using the less common definition of "to test", e.g. "The Proving Grounds". Which, in my opionion, our mutual chinchilla friend would be far more interested in "proving" his puddings :3

[@e-henne]

Loved the blade ratio part, it was literally my first question! Well Done!

[@robbiej3642]

In my experience cutting water bottles and pool noodles I've found the best one hander is a viking sword. Need a good oval grip for edge alignment and keep it very sharp, but yeah they work great.

[@aj.j5833]

Initial bite you get from curved sword is very significant against soft material. You can see this when cutting things like Tomatoes, clay, jelly and such. once you get slightest cut in soft object the rest of the cut is very easy. If you don't get that initial opening you are more likely to squish soft material instead of cutting it. It is a lot like why it is easier to stab something with a sharp point of sword then it is to cut with it. You just got to get the very small tip in and rest of sword will just follow through.

[@DH-xw6jp]

"Hand me my saber Martha, it's time to cut the Jello."

[@Neceros]

🎯 Key points for quick navigation: 00:01:05 *⚔️ Curved swords do not automatically cut better than straight swords; other factors like edge geometry and weight distribution are more significant.* 00:03:00 *📊 The cutting ratio is influenced by the curve of the blade, but a shallow curve offers minimal benefits compared to straight swords.* 00:06:20 *🔄 The idea that curved blades naturally align their edge is incorrect; grip and technique are more important for edge alignment during cutting.* 00:07:50 *🎯 The angle of attack in cutting significantly affects effectiveness, and curved blades may encourage better angle positioning in some cases.* 00:14:00 *🛠️ Curved blades provide more concentrated surface contact upon impact, potentially improving initial penetration but the overall effect varies by target type.* Made with HARPA AI

[@JaredaSohn]

As an aside, interestingly enough as Tachi and Katana developed and evolved throughout history so did the degree of curvature and where that curvature began and ended on the blade. Ofc some of those design elements came down to the individual smithery who forged the blade and less so designs popular at the time, but it is interesting to know that when katana were actually used in times of constant warfare it would be more typical to see them with a higher degree of curvature and that curvature would begin closer to the tsuka. Then when times were more peaceful the degree of curvature as well as where that curvature began is more reminiscent of what we see in modern katana.

[@StevieB8363]

I have no expertise in this area, but if what you are saying is correct, that does raise a couple of questions. Firstly, in times of relative peace, the sword fighting techniques would have probably graduated toward "fencing" rather than "killing." Scoring a hit would have become the key focus - and a straighter sword probably has a greater chance of doing that. But if you look at the combative side, things change. It's not about who can score a hit first - it's about who can do the most damage. And IIRC, the Samurai had lacquered bamboo armour - which probably means that a slashing attack had more chance of breaking through than a chopping attack with a straight blade. Just my 2c, I would be happy to hear your opinion. But the arms vs armor thing has been going on for centuries, and I'm sure that the men who actually used these things in combat would have rapidly found out what worked - and they wouldn't pay good money for a weapon that didn't do the job.

[@karukurokami]

​@@StevieB8363The curvature of Japanese swords tended to be affected more by "trends" and the individual smith than combat. There's quite a diversity of curvature in every era of Japanese swordmaking - ranging from nearly straight blades to extremely deeply curved, almost like a section of a circle's outline. It is worth noting that the earlier Tachi tended to generally be more curved than a typical katana, though, but they were also longer swords. The profile of the curve also varied but again, this was largely due to the individual styles of smiths and swordmaking schools. A correction on the armour - while indeed lacquered, most Japanese armour was in fact iron or even steel. There are many myths about both the scarcity and quality of iron in Japan, but there was certainly no shortage of it for weaponry. Understandably, then, swords are not very effective against full samurai armour, and much like in Europe one would have to try going for weakpoints and unarmoured areas, or otherwise use a weapon that can pierce through gaps or through the armour. Swords in Japan were more of a status symbol right from their first appearance in the yayoi era, and were carried as a sidearm, rarely ever being used as the primary weapon of a samurai (you would most likely see either the Yumi or Yari as the main weapon, depending on which era you look at) If you want to read a book that goes into great detail on Japanese swords I would recommend "The Art of the Japanese Sword" by Yoshindo Yoshihara, an accomplished Japanese swordsmith. It is truly fascinating stuff

[@StevieB8363]

@@karukurokami Thanks for the info. My comment was based on Shad saying that swords tended to be more curved during times of more war, and less curved in times of relative peace. So my perception was that the further removed from actual combat you are, the more likely you are to develop styles/systems that don't reflect reality. But from what you have said, it seems that wasn't the main influence. And call me ignorant, but until now I had never heard that the samurai used steel armour - every source I have read/watched said it was lacquered bamboo/wood. I assumed that this was due to the fact that Japanese smiths used charcoal instead of fossil coal and thus couldn't achieve the high purity necessary for hardened steel. I read that was the reason they folded their sword blades - to even out the impurities. Perhaps I'm wrong about that too? I'm happy to be educated here, so I hope you will reply.

[@karukurokami]

@@StevieB8363 As an aside before I reply: in general, I would take Shad's statements (and really most medieval weapons youtubers') with a pinch of salt - they are enthusiasts, not experts, and often quite opinionated. That's not to say you need to be an expert to comment on a matter - I am not a qualified historian either - but your area of expertise and ethics towards the accuracy of information are very important if you are educating people. In my case that expertise lies in blacksmithing and historical technology, so I try my best to educate others on that where someone with less knowledge on the topic might have misconceptions. To answer your questions: The shape of weapons can be influenced by many factors, and not all of them are hard-rooted in "logical" considerations. In Japan culture played a major part in the evolution of swords, almost overshadowing pure combat considerations, whereas in Europe it was somewhat the opposite (hence the sheer amount of different designs and weapons overall being less treasured as items) Regarding the armour, firstly, I wouldn't at all call you ignorant, there is an immense amount of misinformation in the mainstream media about medieval weaponry in general, and particularly about Japan. To answer this misconception as well as why steel was folded, I'll quickly explain how steel was actually made back then. Every culture aside from the chinese primarily used the same method with minor variations in specifics, namely the bloomery method. By using a large charcoal smelter (in Japan known as a tatara), a large amount of charcoal would be burned at high temperatures, and occasionally ore (which was usually iron sand in japan) would be thrown on top, followed by more charcoal. This results in a reduction reaction that turns the iron oxides in the ore into usable iron by removing the oxygen from it. This molten and semi-molten iron, along with impurities like silica and other metals in the form of slag, end up at the bottom of the furnace as a spongy mass. This mass is known as bloom. To create steel, suitable pieces of the bloom are broken off, and forged flat. This bloom has very variable carbon content and many slag inclusions, so this is where the refining step comes in. Pieces of bloom are stacked, heated until they are hot enough to weld together, and then hammered so they get welded. Then it gets folded back onto itself, and the welding step is repeated. This can be repeated up to 20 or so times, and each time you weld, slag (and with it impurities) is squeezed out. The Japanese variation of this technique is the most famous, but this is how all steel was made worldwide until blast furnices were invented. The chinese invented blast furnaces in the Han dynasty so they had other techniques, but generally speaking, there is not much fundamental difference between steel made in Europe and steel made in japan, for example. It was largely similar in quality. I hope this answers your questions, I'd be happy to elaborate further if you have additional questions

[@StevieB8363]

@@karukurokami Thanks for the history lesson! So basically it sounds like everyone had crappy steel until the blast furnace, and had basically the same way of dealing with it. The one big question remaining is: "Why have I never seen a picture of a samurai in steel armour? Or even seen any mention of such?"

[@Killingglorie]

Would love to see Shad try out Zoros three sword style from One piece

[@fullstackweebdev]

That would be awesome. Would love to see him try anime-style swords like Zangetsu and Yoru too

[@kaiper9982]

Killer B 7 sword technique from Naruto?

[@devincaswell4116]

Look up go ask shogo, Zoros.

[@tombgoblin]

Great video as usual shad!

[@legomacinnisinc]

This is interesting, because what I always understood to be the benefit of a curved sword is actually the point pressure argument. I always thought people where talking about point pressure when they were talking about curved swords being better at "cutting" but I see the difference now that you point it out.

[@RitzOriginal1]

Great video Shad, learned a lot! 🙂

[@Charlie-tt2tf]

Just like in women, curves matter!

[@DrWolves]

Cool. Looking forward to watching this through

[@danthiel8623]

Hehe my grandma was like "Is he catholic" I said no. Its funny

[@JustTooDamnHonest]

Shad continues to show the truth about the different types of swords out there.

[@TalesofDawnandDusk]

I have that story up I mentioned where the idea of tachi being primarily for slashing is relevant. It's about a nobleman slaying three bandits singlehandedly in a sword fight around the year 800 A.D or so in Japan. Enjoy. Also, Shad, keep up the good work and I consider myself blessed to belong to the same church despite being on the other side of the world.

[@briancall5819]

I hope there are more stories like the newest one coming. Everyone here is a fan of swords after all.

[@TyroneMcgregor]

If I don’t see the Skyrim meme I riot

[@Catman_CM]

Even before seeing this full video, my armchair gut instinct had been that swords with shallow curves would be more effective during a draw cut vs. a hack. However, the insight regarding the subconscious change in the swordsman's stance to encourage draw cuts more often hadn't occurred to me and I love having the chance to learn about that! Also, the science about the flattening of the surface as the blade makes initial contact leading to a slightly more efficient cut with a slightly curved blade may add up over the course of a day of battle, be it adventure or war.

[@StressLevel100]

I too love curves...great video shad!

[@Blue_Oysters]

This is a super misunderstood topic on the internet and I’m glad you finally cleared it up for me.

[@НовицаНоваковић]

Another Ingenious one... About angle of attack, Matt (scholagladiatoria) mentioned chronicler seeing janissaries training by swinging theirs shamshir swords in front of the wall while they knee is rested against that wall...

[@brotherandythesage]

Thank you so much for the demonstration of how you will actually grip a sword and where you cut with it.

[@xhagast]

I think that the best curbed sword is the rhomphaia. The way it cuts through whole boars like they were made of butter(in forged in fire)is AMAZING. But it curbs FORWARD.

[@mattsmith-dx1xm]

I really like this video, I'm actually glad you covered this topic. One thing you should take a look at is curve swords in cavalry

[@jeffk7881]

I like to picture myself sitting in an inner bailey for a demonstration or next to an experimental blacksmith’s shop in the shade of the castle walls when learning from Shad and the team or Tod Cutler! Great info as always!

[@rvcloud]

Excellent assessment. Definitely have experienced much of what you're discussing in my own test cutting.

[@postmodernmining]

Good job on the Lotus Eaters.

[@MrJamesbondo07]

i had my video on x1.25 speed for a full minute and thought shad was just really wound up

[@Saber64]

While I do personally favor a straighter blade, I'm not one to dismiss the pros and cons of either option. I feel a straighter blade with two edges is more of a versatile weapon overall compared to a single edged and curved blade but hey. Everyone's got their preferences.

[@EvidensInsania]

We stand with Shad.

[@deadseamonster]

Thanks Shad! Can't believe I get all this for watching a couple adverts!

[@yellowSmileyFacee]

Ahh, glad the short actually had the link. I hate it when videos say there's a link in the description, or elsewhere, and then it's not...

[@justinweatherford8129]

I am only seeing backwards curved blades represented. What about blades with a forward curve; such as, the kukri?

[@ballisticsdummy7331]

Only partway through but I'd argue its not 'the length of time of surface contact' that is of import to a curved sword. I'd argue its the 'larger angle of effective use' on a curved sword than a straight sword. As in you could have the same quality of a cut, assuming all other factors identical, when angling the sword, while staying inline, up/down relative to the point of contact through a cut. Random numbers in use for an example but if a straight sword cuts with the same quality with a cutting angle range of 10 degrees before the cut quality decreases but a curved sword might have a cutting angle range of 20 degrees for the same effect. *edit* I realized a term for it. A curved sword allows for maximizing the ability to follow the tangent of the blade properly on a cut.

[@trappyboi8678]

True men use a straight sword in one hand and a curved in the other. We call it Bi Fu, as you swing both ways.

[@jackhemsworth7515]

The cutting edge is force manipulation, so a fully bent blade like a shamshir, only has a tiny piece of the blade in contact with the target at any time, therefore the entire force of the cut, is focused in on that small contact point, the same way a toughened glass breaker works, or a thrust with a pointed blade. it is a small surface area. The straight sword has the same force multiplier but over a wider area if the target is not circular. There's a minor bonus to having a curved blade, but with enough knowledge of a straight blade you can counteract it. Plus a straight blade is usually longer, so you'd gain that extra bit of reach too.

[@xyreniaofcthrayn1195]

My heart says yes, curved swords are better but reality says: depends on what material your trying to cut or thrust if your so inclined to do so and the user.

[@Grasshopper567]

My heart says yes curved swords are better. But my body says ouch a cut

[@smievil]

think curved swords are prettier which to me, would be the most important feature

[@RealMoukeycat]

This is my first time seeing a Shad vid. I've only seen him on FNT. With the background behind him and the table in front and what he's wearing I feel like there is a big group of kids sitting cross legged in front. I get Punch and Judy vibes. I found that humorous.

[@snatchy9837]

As much as I like sabres, I'd probably choose a longsword or arming sword if I actually had to fight.

[@TalesofDawnandDusk]

I'm actually gonna be putting a video up next week about an ancient Japanese story that addresses the idea of curved swords (in this case a tachi) and how using them for thrusting was actually considered somewhat unusual. I'm assuming that once katanas came around which were far less curved, then thrusting became more common, but during the late Heian/early Kamakura period, thrusting was largely reserved for spears. Should be an interesting discussion.

[@alexanderstephens7175]

For Halloween you guys could discuss what sword work be the most effective on zombies

[@daanklootsema8327]

Look at that, Shad flying from England to Australia just to shoot a vid and then back to England to look at castles. Dedication.

[@j.v.7451]

Plus, he willed his hair to grow back out!

[@teguifer]

Plus, the angle you described on curved blades seem to reduce binds and the shape itself eases in retreating the blade by slicing, still pulling "down", while the straight sword is much more about pulling back. At least that's how I imagine it never having touched an actual sword😢

[@Gainn]

It's also easier to off-balance someone who has a straight blade if they try to bind you.

[@eMercody]

I’m fairly certain that the largest benefit of a slightly curved sword, is that one edge is cheaper than two.

[@andrewcatallo2698]

You know what would be cool to talk about in ruroni kenshin he holds his katana by the blade to compensate for his opponents short sword it was when he fought the oniwaban group

[@thekaxmax]

half-swording a katana has been been mentioned in previous videos

[@andrewcatallo2698]

@@thekaxmax he didn’t half sword he held the sword by the blade one handed

[@thekaxmax]

@@andrewcatallo2698 So he did half a half-sword in desperation. Cool, but I'd have gone for a butt-strike instead.

[@havoc1zero]

Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought the slight curve on a katana was the result of the blade being quenched after deferential hardening. I thought it wasn’t necessarily planned, just the way the blade cools at different rates due to the clay on part of the blade.

[@Candlemancer]

Yes, the curve just happened naturally in the transition from double edged (jian-like) to single edged Japanese swords. And they probably kept it because it looks better and didn't impact the effectiveness

[@StevieB8363]

@@Candlemancer IIRC, you are correct: it was just a natural result of the process, not intentional. And a while back someone (can't remember who,) raised that point, and said that the curve of a Katana wasn't enough to have any real impact on its cutting ability.

[@dariovirga7711]

Yes and no. The differential hardening does create a curve, however the swordsmith could still adjust the curvature, even post quenching (Sorinaoshi).

[@vortronicplays]

Also congrats of the imperious larp sword, it is awsome!

[@khodexus4963]

The physics of the curved blade assisting with edge alignment isn't to do at all with the 'moment of impact' it has to do with the weight distribution and momentum of the blade during the swing and the feel of it in the hand. You are dismissing the very real effect based on flawed interpretation of how you believe it is described as working.

[@thei3igtasty572]

Thanks as always Shad!

[@majornikita1464]

i mentioned this before on another video, but i always thought that curved swords are faster to draw as oppose to a straight blade of similar lenght. another thing i woul like to see you guys test, are curved sword wth faux back edges and their ability to go around shields vs straight edge swords of same lengh

[@ExtraBrightMind]

I'm quite surprised that it didn't get mentioned. The curved blade design is so obviously more ergonomic for drawing the sword that anyone who played with toy swords as a kid shouldn't have much difficulty remembering that.

[@joshuajohnson5121]

Are we going to get a fight scene autopsy of Ashoka?

[@sether_ton]

Hey Shad! Huge fan. Could you potentially comment or make a video on the Barong Machete, specifically in regards to the claim that it could cut through the barrel of a rifle? As someone with a basic understanding of metallurgy and physics, this sounds impossible. However, multiple sources (found via google) claim that this weapon was able to destroy a firearm, regardless of the fact that shearing the barrel in half wouldn't render any gun inoperable. Thanks for your work in dispelling weapon myths!

[@Langharig_Tuig]

You're forgetting the most simple and important question: Why did curved swords exist? Does it have anything to do with the possible differences in effectiveness and use? No, it's much simpler; curved swords are easier to make than straight swords. You can notice this in that most of the older types are more likely to be curved than new types; and as societies develop and people can devote more time to blacksmithing and gather more collective knowledge it becomes easier to make straight swords. In almost all cases people wanted straight swords because they are better weapons, but the differences are not worth it to not have a sword at all.

[@refan5876]

Could there be a psychological aspect to this, you see a curve and you try an emulate that curve with your cut which unwittingly causes a better form (if you are capable)? Also you look at the cut you have done and you allow yourself to see a better cut. Edit - Shad semi went there at the 10 minute mark. I should really finish a video before commenting.

[@seewn6046]

Interesting to see such shallow cuts with the Katana. At the dojo I train at, we try and "lead with the tip" of your sword to maximise distance and minimise your opponents chance to react to the attack.

[@rendstung1665]

Did you see those warriors from Hammerfell?

[@janaramparameswaran9352]

I would like to request that you review the nichirin blades used by Tengen in Demon slayer.

[@barryf7253]

Concerning auto-alignment. With a highly curved sword, the center of balance is actually behind the spine of the blade, meaning that when the sword is accelerated during the swing, the edge will want to go forward. It's sort of like when you attach a stick to a rocket to stabilize it. The center of balance is now below the rocket nozzle which will make the center of balance want to drag behind the rocket, while the nose of the rocket goes forward.

[@WJS774]

It's not quite that simple because the centre of mass is so strongly dominated by the heavy elements in the guard and hilt. The inertial resistance during the swing, that's going to be much smaller than the effect from the reaction force when you hit the target. That is going to be further away from the imaginary line the sword would follow if it were straight than the inertial force from the centre of balance. And with a longer lever arm, the torque is correspondingly stronger too.

[@barryf7253]

@@WJS774 I think it has more to do with "feeling" where that center of balance is rather than it just aligning by itself.

[@kylebooth2528]

The center of gravity being below the center of thrust on a rocket doesn't actually matter as long as it's inline with it. It's very common to misunderstand this to the point where it has a name, the pendulum rocket fallacy. The stick lowers the center of pressure the same way fins do. I agree about the sword thing though. Having the pressure on the blade near or behind the center line of the handle will definitely help line up the blade. I think Shad's example of holding the blade and handle and expecting it to rotate is oversimplified. There should be a torque on the handle, and when it's just resting the weight of the tip will keep it from aligning. Plus it might not auto-align if the curve isn't pronounced enough, but it will be easier to hold alignment as it meets resistance.

[@barryf7253]

@@kylebooth2528 Fins work to stabilize a rocket only when it's moving through air. But putting the center of mass behind the exhaust nozzle stabilizes its direction of motion. Leaving it ahead of the exhaust nozzle will make the rocket want to spin. It's like trying to balance a pencil upright on your finger rather than dangling it from its tip.

[@WJS774]

@@kylebooth2528 That's a passable analogy here too, if you equate the resistance from what you are cutting to the drag force, and assume that the pivot will be about the axis of the hilt. Then the stability depends on if the centre of drag is behind or ahead of the pivot point.

[@iberiksoderblom]

I like to think, he is actually standing in front of his suburban house entrance...

[@jamesmaybrick2001]

Having watched a few (a lot actually) of Seki Sensei video/lessons i feel qualified to point out some things. Obviously i am just another internet twat, but when you actually watch a master of Japanese weapon martial arts then its a bit of an eye opener. Re: the katana. You dont need to cut THROUGH anything. You need to cut ENOUGH to kill. The last 5/6 inches of the blade are all you need. Thats enough to disembowel, slice through a throat, open some quite important arteries, and you wont be getting the blade snarled up in armour. It seems to me that given the armour the swords were designed to beat then its just apples to oranges, Katanas are there to slice at the weak spots of your oponent. Straight blades are there to stab through armour or be a metal bar that still delivers a punishing smack even if the armour is intact. All that said its a matter of mechanically slicing, which a curve will help. We all know that a diagonal cut is what is needed. Just ask hundreds of thousands of dead french aristocrats about their experiances with Madame la Guillotine. Or that guillotine in your office. You know, that one over there. The one you use to cut reams of paper with. That nice sharp (but not that sharp) blade on the correct angle will go through anything really. It would have been a very dull video, but we could have just watched Shad use a humble office guilliotine slice through a few dozen sheets of a4 at a time for 20 minutes and it would have made the same point. But then i wouldnt have been able to be such a tool. :)

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

4:20 Pitnt? Never heard that before, but I wanna use it now KEKW

[@MaverickTF]

Bro you gotta do another video on For Honor, I think it would be super entertaining. The game has been out and changed A LOT since you last took a look at it and has a super broad range of historical martial arts in it's roster now. There's both good and bad in terms of historical realism, but the knight faction alongside the relatively new chinese faction in particular are incredibly good. Love the vids, keep it up man

[@mikemackay86]

Did you see that warrior from Straya? He has a curved sword... curved...sword

[@tenchraven]

When mounted, the curve lets you present the point directly to a footman, so you can more reliably thrust if you're stationary. At speed, less likely to get hung up. And, easier to draw. That two handed falchon is still sexy as hell.

[@StevenHouse1980]

Also some later dueling swords that were made more for sport than real combat used a curved pistol grip. I don't know of any older sword's that used a pistol grip handle, perhaps some kind of saber.

[@thekaxmax]

Indonesian and some other Asian and Pacific swords and knives.

[@WJS774]

Sabres and scimitars usually have curved grips, though they aren't the same as the pistol grips you get on modern fencing swords.

[@snakefabel]

i love that there's still a dent in the castle from when he went beyblade mode in that greatsword video lol.

[@2ny424]

I'm still looking for one of these sword youtubers to consider the possibility that curves swords actually "auto-align" due to the resistance of the blade when it strikes a target, rather than during the swing beforehand. It would make a hell of a lot more sense than the disingenuous theory that people are debunking, lol.

[@dallenhumpherys7911]

Skallagrim has said that he doesn’t think that the auto-alignment thing exists, Schola seems to believe in in, and Shad may have also talked about it in previous videos. People do talk about it, but there seems to be some disagreement on the matter.

[@meepdhctdjsh]

Yea, but the issue is that when you're holding a sword with enough grip so it doesn't slide out of your hand when you swing, it'll stop that from happening. No amount of "automatic edge alignment" said swords give you can compensate for a lack of skill.

[@huldu]

I think when it comes to sword design in general people were using what they had always been using. I doubt the first thing they thought of was how good something was, they had a selection of weapons and they picked what they liked to use or that they were good at. It's not like they had internet or had much information at hand to begin with. It boils down to what was available in the region you lived in. At most you might have run into a trader that told tales of fancy sword types that he came across.

[@timlowesmusic]

By the laws of physics, yes, it does happen. But edge alignment is one of the first things you learn when training to fight with bladed weapons, it doesn't make a difference for anyone who has had any training with a sword.

[@mansfieldtime]

If you think about it, ALL sword will "auto-align" when cutting. It's the path of least resistance. I don't know if a curve to the blade will help more but while in the target, a curved blade is in contact in strange ways.

[@Slopigami]

I think at some point a bigger curve would convert a cut to a chop.

[@YandreYak]

seems like the next test is all gonna be about chop motions with a rounded/curved axe vs straight axe -- onto flat mildly hard stratum. the move is hacking, but as it meets the material and begins to shift it or spread it -- more microcut instances occur.

[@haihuanlin97]

I'll always choose curved swords over straight cause I can't be bothered to sharpen 2 edges when I can just do 1

[@Leo.23232]

Another point i've only seen one person bring up regarding benefits of back curves is that when slicing a target, more of the blade passes over the same area which results in it cutting deeper into the target, i can link a demonstration if anyone is interested in seeing proof of that

[@masquerader101]

I wanna see you guys react to some of the great movie swordfights. Inigo vs Wesley has to be one for sure, but the others would be left to you!

[@TheRealAnarchrox]

Other factors affecting cutting ability: Friction. A more highly polished blade will provide less friction on a cut as will a sword that's oiled vs a completely dry one on certain materials. Friction is also reduced if the blade has a narrower profile. Mass: A heavier blade will generally cut better against a heavier target if swung at the same speed, edge type etc, as it delivers more force.

[@brianfuller757]

Thanks for a great informative and technical review.

[@Delseius]

The contact surface area would have its greatest affect against something with an outer surface that is harder than its middle. such would be apparent with something like a man covered in armor where the armor is a hard outer shell with a soft fleshy middle.

[@gabbermensch]

Hey Shad! Only just Subbed and I came here to comment whilst watching your video on "mall ninja weapons"...I haven't watched this particular video yet but my standpoint on weapons is thus - they get you killed. In three ways; either you brought a decent weapon to a fight with shitty training, or they brought a shitty weapon to a fight and know how to use it, or no-one really knows how to fight and somehow a person ends up sparked out before three days in bed then the morgue. The scariest weapon, I think, is the broken bottle. I ripped my leg apart on broken glass and the damage it can do is genuinely horrifying. Real fast, real deep and real hard to stitch back together. Anyway, I'm off back to Mall Ninjas,

[@tirionpendragon]

I have some considerations about this topic: - At even reach of the weapon, a curved blade has longer slashing surface than a straight blade. - The curved blade, due to its form, hits with less cutting surface on the average cases, this means that applies more pressure on the cut and so has better chopping capacity. (This is the reason why guillotines had a 45° angle from the point of impact instead of being directly parallel, because that causes the blade to have more slashing surface and impacting with less surface at time during the cut, so better chopping). - Curved blades having the features described before makes them better at cutting compared to straight blades and even better if used mounted on a horse, because thanks to the momentum and strength of the mount you won't need to use a lot of strength to strike but you could just evaluate the thin of the blade to slice through your target with a longer and more effective blade. So, in conclusion, why West Europe used straight swords and the East of the world instead preferred (on the majority of cases) curved bladed swords? The reason I think is on the quality of the armors, when you fight against heavy armors the cutting capacity is the first being countered, so you want to have other options when you find yourself in that situation, one great option is the thrust, because the armor is useless if you can find a gap where you can thrust through; the other option is the bludgeoning damage, that usually damages what is behind the armor and can crush it with enough strength so is really good for that... Now, if you are an European knight you want to be able to cut unarmored or light armored guys and at the same time to thrust through other heavy armored knights like you, so you will probably end on a straight sword as your backup weapon (lances and spears where the main weapons all over the world for melee combat). Instead if you were a noble samurai mounted on a horse (or a riding Nomad), with less protective armors and a ton of unarmored peasants, than, you would probably preferred a curved blade with heavy slashing potential as your backup weapon.

[@edi9892]

There's more to it. 1) cutting: flesh and bone can be chopped through rather easily, but even a T-shirt can stop a dull blade. I'd say that slicing is mostly relevant because of the clothes we wear. 2) getting stuck or damaging the blade: chopping is more likely to cause unnecessary stress on the blade and when you hit a hard, flat surface, a slicing hit will cause less damage to it. 3) combat dynamics: having an offset tip makes thrusting a very different skill and disengaging from a bind or how you parry incoming attacks becomes quite different with curved blades.

[@noahsibahi-jackson8757]

“Have you seen those warriors from Hammerfell? They’ve got curved swords! Curved swords!”

[@MrAngryThing13]

Isn’t it how “easy” to pull a sword out of someone where the curved sword would have an advantage?

[@timbarry5080]

I was just watching a Melanie video. She said you were canceled by Matt, who bowed to the wokies. I don't know what's going on but I came here to subscribe. I've been watching Matt for years and I'm not surprised that someone from academia would fold.

[@D_M_U]

This is curved sword gang-keep your doors locked. We're coming to curve your straight swords.

[@ham00d53]

So happy that shad finally said Shamshir, Kiliç, and Talwar instead of lumping them together as ScImItAr

[@Matthiass721]

Shad! You need to buy a damn scimitar already my man, please, you know you need some representation for the more unique blades you discuss for comparison if for nothing else mate. Cheers to many more years of great content… With scimitars! 😂