ONE REASON why AXES are HARD TO USE IN COMBAT

There is one particular reason why axes are actually trickier to use in actual combat than swords.
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#medievalcombat #vikingaxe #axe

[@Syphaxis]

"Fundamentally, an axe is a stick with a piece of metal on the end." It's this sort of deep, biting analysis that keeps me coming back.

[@skilletborne]

My favourite was "A sword or axe is more dangerous than a stick"

[@ThisIsNotAUsername-v3o]

There are really only three melee weapons: 1. Stick. 2. Hitty thing onna a stick. 3. Sword.

[@timothyhouse1622]

@@ThisIsNotAUsername-v3o there are pointy things on sticks too. Which happen to be the most popular melee weapon ever.

[@ThisIsNotAUsername-v3o]

@@timothyhouse1622 I put them under "Hitty thing onna stick", which may have been an oversimplification. *bubble pipe*

[@alexanderfriedman1968]

You forgot big metal boomstick.

[@Bob_Lennart]

I would just like to thank you for still being Matt Easton

[@stephens2241]

For now, at least. Next time... who knows?

[@Tom-sq2yy]

yes, it's very reassuring

[@LeonM4c]

Long may he continue to be!

[@philipzahn491]

That's very decent of you. May you also be yourself for quite a long time.

[@graham6774]

He looks like Matt. Matt has witnesses that he was somewhere else

[@rzxyz-c4h]

GoT Bronn: Do you know how to use that? Tyrion Lannister: l chopped wood once. No, l watched my brother chopping wood.

[@aqufn8908]

I saw you kill a man with a shield. You would be unstoppable with an axe.

[@Interrobang212]

​@@aqufn8908as crazy as that was in the show, shields are actually relatively good weapons 😅

[@zombiehampster1397]

But can someone with a sword say to an opponent "let me axe you something" with the same effect? I think not.

[@GrantHendrick]

😂

[@НиколайЛамберт]

But he still can put his point trough.

[@mouser4290]

swords man "Lets cut to the chase and get to the point"

[@oldschooljeremy8124]

Unless he speaks Old English or Middle English, in which case the word could be pronounced 'axe' no matter what weapon he was holding.

[@rikib3652]

Well I mean he sworda could.

[@jennacoryell4160]

Not many swordsmiths. Every town had a blacksmith. Every blacksmith could make axe heads. Every peasant conscript was well familiar with axes. Very few were trained with swords. So for raising an army, axes were cheaper, used less resources, and were wielded more competently by conscripted woodsmen and farmers. Thats a HUGE advantage to axes vs swords. The logistics alone could make the difference of victory in battle.

[@lordbubax3929]

bro just use spears

[@jennacoryell4160]

@@lordbubax3929 right. And operate in a regimented phalanx, to keep the enemy from being able to close in where spears are useless. You're talking about a well trained, standing army like the Legionnaires. Again, way more funding, resources, and training required.

[@sanjivjhangiani3243]

So, going with your argument, the axe filled the same niche as assault rifles do today. A simple, reliable weapon that can be mastered in a timely manner. Whereas the sword and the bow required a lot of training, like a sniper's rifle.

[@tgb-vf4es]

@@sanjivjhangiani3243 It's not only about mastering it, because "mastering" swords for use in fight is not that much difficult (actually it's easier to learn the basics of sword fighting to do it at a moderately competent level than it is to be moderately competent at axe fighting, for the reasons discussed in this video). The main factor behind the axe's popularity was that it was super easy to make. "Axes and forks" are historically the weapons of the mass conscripts in feudal times, or the weapons of the revolting masses later; meaning, weapons that are easily built, and most times are already found in most agrarian households.

[@jennacoryell4160]

A duel is won by skill and weapon capability. Battles are won by logistics. Many an army was defeated by poor shoe quality, water contamination, or scarcity of equipment/lack of repairs. I was just pointing out that the strengths/weaknesses of axes vs swords extends well beyond their use in a fight.

[@Parostem]

I remember that the video game "War of the Roses" is the only game I've ever played that accurately depicted this. If you were using an axe or hammer as a weapon then you would have to make sure your swings weren't too close or you'd just hit them with the haft. It added an interesting difficulty to combat, but it also made me appreciate why no other game has tried to replicate it (that I know of).

[@iopklmification]

man, that was a cool title you could also reverse weapons with 2 heads to use either the cutting or the the hitting bit also, as a rider you would deal much much more damage if your horse was galloping

[@winedarkemperor]

The first Mount and Blade kinda did it too. Haven't played the latest one, so can't comment on that. But I recall that when using longer polearms, if you were right next to a guy, you wouldn't be able to do damage with your weapon. There was a certain minimum distance that you had to be in order to get the attack to connect. However, it's been years since I've played the game, so I might be misremembering that.

[@nevisysbryd7450]

Some of the Dark Souls games simulated this to some extent. The damage weapons inflicted varied by where on the weapon's hitbox connected to the enemy and some of did more damage further out than others.

[@JoramTriesGaming]

@@winedarkemperor Bannerlord does have the same kind of system; iirc, KC:D does, too

[@Vykk_Draygo]

@@winedarkemperor Momentum matters in Mount & Blade. So it's not distance as much as how fast the particular part of the weapon is moving, if that makes sense. Essentially, the tip of the weapon always deal more damage as it has more momentum than the grip, and it takes in to account moving speed and rotational speed. So the good players would both move towards the target as well as spin in the direction the swing to impart the most damage. And counter to that, if you move away and spin in the opposite direction of the swing, then you do far less damage.

[@ChloeV-c3d]

Primarily over the years I've found that not many people are willing to engage in combat when I've been holding an axe. :p For legal reasons I'm obviously joking, honest!

[@JenSell1626]

My whole life they have sold me on the idea that deterrence is pacifism, I suppose 🤷‍♀️

[@eponymousarchon7442]

Never get your Chopper out in public.

[@cal2127]

i mean get off my land means alot more when you are holding an axe

[@Naptosis]

Similarly, the TV Licence goons are so much more agreeable when I'm holding my gardening Bowie or my horticultural crossbow. Once, the letters ceased for 3 months! 💅✨

[@gregordomer311]

i had the same experience, but i was holding a gun ;)

[@Cuccos19]

Very interesting video, especially for a Hungarian guy like me, as the first axe you are holding is very similar to the traditional shepherd’s axe (called “fokos” in Hungarian) what is a very traditional weapon in Hungary and countries around Hungary. The “fokos” dates back to centuries, usually as “poor men’s” weapon, or common, non noble people’s weapon. There are several things lead to have this shepherd’s axe developed and used throughout the centuries. First, it was easy and cheap to make. Only needed a little of the metal part, the head, and almost any blacksmith could make it. And even the cheapest ones were made off molded brass or bronze. They were really only last ditch weapons, and not much use as a tool. But the steel ones also were used as a tool. The handle could made by any man, not needed any special skills. The handle of the shepherd’s axe usually made of several type of woods, always some kind of hard wood. The black locust brought to Hungary during the late 18th century to tie, got immobilize the sand of the Hungarian Great Plains. Also, turned out it is a great firewood, handle wood for tools, construction wood and also do not forget about the now “Hungaricum” “akác méz”, the black locust honey. Before this plant was available the oak, the hornbeam, the ash and especially the “dogwood” (Cornus mas, cornel, Cornelian cherry, European cornel or Cornelian cherry dogwood) was and is maybe the greatest handle material. It is virtually impossible to break, it is heavy and very hard wood (I know, I have some walking sticks from it for excursions and outdoor activities). There were times when carrying weapons were strictly forbidden for non nobles. That period was when pocket knives, penny knives became common, and also, a special form of the shepherd’s axe. This version had no permanently fixed head on the handle. Its handle had different thickness at the two ends. Where the head was that end was thicker, and they put the head on the thinner end, and let the head slipping through the whole handle to the thick end, where it stuck - sometimes a firm hit on the ground helped the head stuck even more firmly - and it was good to go. During the everydays it was only a walking stick, the head was in the pocket, or bag (haversack, called “tarisznya” in Hungarian), and when it needed, it was place on and put it into action. The shepherd’s axe (“fokos”) was symbol of several wars, revolutions as well. Hungarian revolution against the Austrian House of Habsburg’s troops (the “Labanc”) Hungarian freedom fighters (the “Kuruc”) used the “fokos” many times during the Rákóczi's War of Independence. But the “fokos” still found its way to the battlefield, even during the Great War, aka First World War, where Hungarian troops fought (usually used in the trenches as a melee weapon). As for civilian use, the shepherd’s axe was very popular with animal herders, especially among pig herders (called “kanász” or “kondás” in Hungarian). Even there is a type of the “fokos”, which named after them, “kanász fokos” or “kanász balta” (“balta” is the term for small axe, or hatchet). The type of the head could be several type. There were some with pointy, peak like side opposite to the edged side. These were clearly weapons only. I think these were called “Székely fokos”, the Székely people are a Hungarian ethnic group lives in Transylvania. There were also some with hammer like, flat side opposite to the edged side. These could be used as tools very well. The pig herders didn’t carry much things with them, the “fokos” was their “EDC tool”, their tool hatchet as well. But also it made good use against wild animals - feral dogs, wolves for example - and bandits, outlaws (the typical Hungarian outlaw called “betyár”, and they were also among the users of the “fokos”). The shepherd’s axe, the “fokos” is deeply in the Hungarian culture. There was a dance, when two man, (many times the pig herders) did “symbolic fight” using the “fokos”. Also, Hungarian martial art, the “baranta” uses the “fokos” as a weapon of choice (beside the stick). Also, during traditional weddings the best man carries a “fokos” with (Hungarian national colored) ribbon around its handle what has written on the bride’s and bridegroom’s name, and the wedding’s place and date. Sometimes a simple stick is used instead of the “fokos”, but for the real traditional feeling the “fokos” is the right choice. There are several blacksmith in Hungary who makes very nice replicas of the traditional shepherd’s axe, “fokos” nowadays. Some of them are modernized, some of them are made like a ceremonial grade piece of art, but some are made like the original ones, “the poor man’s best friend”. One of them is Ádám Thiele (nicknamed as “Bucavasgyúró”), I put some link for his works. Anyway, he has a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering and doing blacksmithing as a hobby, and experimenting and studying the old technics. www.bucavasgyuro.net/home.html

[@ivobleijenberg3171]

I sparred a few months ago with a heater shield and an (blunt) axe similar to the one Matt shows here (maybe a slightly smaller axe head), versus a sword and heater shield in modern hema gear. (I wanted to experiment with axe-hooking etc). And in short it just didn't work out, at all! I am a quite competent fighter but I just couldn't use my axe in any competative way. The axe was light enough, but just because I couldn't risk knocking my opponent's mask in I needed to slow down a little bit, yet the axe felt quite flexible at first. But dude! my opponent just effortlessly and casually ran rings around me with his sword. Tapping and attacking me at will. I had absolutely no chance even though he did take it easy as well. It was hilariously onesided. It did leave me to believe that the axe, when used for war in this match up would needed to be used quite heavy handed and forceful or be at a severe disadvantage. Making it unsuitable for our sport context. It was a big eye opener for us.

[@ArmouredProductions]

I agree with the assesment. We have to give up some mentalities of combat for the sake of saftey. Safety first! We dont want to seriously injure our sparring partners, but then we lose the mentality of combat and warfare where you should be exceedingly agressive and violent. I definitely agree the axe is a more agressive weapon, you should be getting in really close fast and hitting hard, but that is an extreme risk to sparring partners.

[@ivobleijenberg3171]

@@ArmouredProductions agreed! Safety first! That why we just couldn't 'get it right'. Oh well. 😁

[@Armchair.extraordinaire-bo5mv]

Axes really are tools first and foremost. Some one confident using a broom handle could win against it. If no armor was involved.

[@ivobleijenberg3171]

@@Armchair.extraordinaire-bo5mv early historical warriors do not agree with you. There are many examples of fighting axes in periods that do lack armour. There is a huge difference between a tool-axe and a fighting axe as well.

[@zanderclark1461]

@@Armchair.extraordinaire-bo5mv A well made fighting axe will be a far, far nimbler thing than a regular hatchet or felling axe.

[@werder7540]

I have read through the comments and no one mentioned it. Technically the lower part of an axe is not a stick, but a club. The weight on the end does not vanish into thin air.

[@kelseylock3030]

It's a wretchedly bad club, the weight at the end moves the point of percussion near the far end, so hits from below the head are going to be inconsequential by itself.

[@cubonegaming1401]

​@kelseylock3030, let me hit you with an axe handle. You can have armor and a sheild. Your not going to have a very good time good thing it will be a short time before the next blow comes by

[@Etäinshewölf007]

I heard how a Viking armed with an axe held King Harold’s army back while defending a bridge till a soldier speared him from under the bridge

[@mel.3687]

it happened at Stamford Bridge when the two Kings met. What I am interested in is it possible that a Berserker did this. I am not addressing Etain when I ask you sir I have watched plenty of reenactments and find most of your videos interesting. I feel silly asking but have you considered reenacting that part of the Battle. Maybe even experiment with different weapons. But seriously if I was capable of demonstrating that a man really could defend a bridge or not. As all your friends have good knowledge of weapons it would help prove myth or not as well I hope be fun for you guys. I know I wish I could go on reenactments as I love learning about history and what it felt like to walk in their shoes as it were.

[@andreascarlberg3998]

Dont believe everything you hear or read...

[@mel.3687]

@@andreascarlberg3998Who rattled your cage lol

[@Etäinshewölf007]

@@andreascarlberg3998 If you choose not to believe what experts have said for centuries that’s up to you

[@vidard9863]

To be fair, people haven't really changed. Even if he had a six shooter, no one wants to be one of the first six.

[@LeonM4c]

Always love a good chat about axes, Matt! Cheers!

[@seanmalloy7249]

Not only do you have to judge the distance more accurately to put the head of your weapon on your target, but with the majority of its weight out at the end of the shaft, if you miss, you have a greater amount of momentum that you have to cancel in order to recover your weapon to a ready position, so while you can get a greater impact when you hit, it's not going to be as fast as a blade, where the weight is more evenly distributed along the weapon's length. It may not be a _huge_ difference, but it's like the observation you made about the 1788 pattern heavy cavalry sword -- if it's heavier, or more unbalanced, you're going to be slower with it, and therefore at a disadvantage against someone with a more wieldy weapon.

[@JerehmiaBoaz]

You can't fight offensively with a short axe, you have to keep your distance, keep low because you can't parry attacks to your legs, and keep circling and feinting until the opponent makes a mistake and offers you a chance to come in with a killing blow. Every time you enter the opponent's measure you're at a significant risk of getting stabbed so you better make sure you only enter on your initiative and stay out of the opponent's stabbing range otherwise (so circle the opponent just outside of it and step back if he comes in until he starts to overextend).

[@angrydragonslayer]

​@@JerehmiaBoazwith just a short axe against a sword, i mostly agree With a short axe against a dagger, i mostly disagree Against a sword but with shields on both sides? I will try my best to be close enough to lick you 😊

[@jonathanh4443]

When fighting with an axe, 'recovering to a ready position' isn't generally the optimal choice after you 'miss'. If you hit them with the haft of the axe instead of the blade, that means you have a hook on them. You're better off moving to manipulating them than recovering to a position to let them do anything in the next action.

[@crazylegoman]

I agree. When I read the title of this video, I assumed that overcommitting and recovery would be the reason why axes are hard to use in combat.

[@piotrp5668]

If you use one handed axe, you should have a shield in other hand - this will allow you to control how far is your opponent and hit him with correct part of the axe.

[@kimashitawa8113]

This one-handed axes unlike certain swords like sabers just don't work that effectively on their own as a duelling weapon

[@JerehmiaBoaz]

The point of axe fighting is that you come in with a swing while using your shield to protect yourself. If the opponent steps in you have to break ground and step back because you're at a huge disadvantage with an axe if you start a pushing match against someone who can stab you. Fighting with axe and shield is keeping your distance, keeping low, circling, and feinting until your opponent gives you a chance to come in with a killing blow. If you get too close to your opponent without striking you're as good as dead.

[@jtucker4462]

@@JerehmiaBoaz agreed

[@ushuyayageppeto4225]

I follow you for years, and still understanding new stuffs. Thanks.

[@NicklasForesti]

As a person who fight primarily with axes myself, I always find something useful to take with me in every special you do on axes.

[@kennyredgrass9318]

When it comes to the tomahawks in the Americas and difficulties in their use (as a native that does reenactment/living history and martial arts here and there) it really depends on the axe, a trade hawk from the French is going to behave differently than a Missouri war axe, which will also be different than an Apache hawk, etc etc. the weights, handle types, blade thickness and all will dictate that. But if I had to say if one was to have the advantage over the dirk or Bowie it would be the Missouri, if fact I think you you have your axe maker friend make you one, you would not be disappointed. It’s jokingly described by one of my HEMA friends as the Dane axe of the Mississippi

[@jhoughjr1]

Being from SW MO thats good to know

[@dustysaurus6137]

Something that highlights this kind of interaction in practice is Dequitem’s armored fights with maces, axes, and other hafted weapons. The striking distance and wind up greatly affects how hard they can strike with the weapons. And he highlights that with a long sword, that you can thrust without much windup, especially with the different guards and stances. It was fascinating seeing the collective narrative shift from swords being useless against armor and axes/maces being armor crushers to swords being a very capable weapons in armored combat and axes/maces being a bit more complicated to wield against another armored opponent. Something that’s not talked about or thought about much.

[@VladimirE.-is2ee]

I'll add one more thing. From personal experience, I was dismembering a dead goat carcass for the dogs (we found him cold so not great for human consumptiion) and I didn't want to get my good gear dirty or spend more time on it than I could, so I on a whim picked up the rustiest, dullest wood axe lying there, a short one. I was amazed at how well it chopped through flesh and bone, in a way other bladed tools don't when they're in ill repair. So there's definitely something to axes in practice.

[@johnnyjolijt2]

Ooh! I look forward for the Richard III episode!

[@wingardwearables]

There’s always exceptions-I’d recommend looking more into historic spike tomahawks. They averaged around ~8-10 oz (~250 grams), head and handle. A big knife of equivalent length winds up weighing more-requires much more steel for such a long edge. So historic spike tomahawks are faster and more nimble than knives of equivalent size, and they achieve maximum effect at maximum reach. I make tomahawks with chopping edges at just 1-3/8” long, and these easily bury into pig heads with arm motion alone. A big knife at equivalent reach is either raking the tip or inflicting a shallow stab-sure that’s having an effect on target, but not nearly as effective as a chop through the skull. The spike side of a spike tomahawk also opens up options for when targets get inside the arc of the chop-a simple twist and retraction can pull the spike into the opponent-the tomahawk becomes a meathook on a stick. Great videos-I always enjoy your content.

[@michaeltelson9798]

There was a video on Norse axe skills. Especially with a bearded axe is that can hook on a shield and pull it away. This also goes for hooking on to a sword and pulling it away.

[@cutterbacon]

Bruce and de Bohun faced off in what became a celebrated instance of single combat.[14] Bohun charged at Bruce and, when the two passed side by side, Bruce split Bohun's head with his axe.

[@heymr-matthewmaier]

Thank you for what you do matt.

[@WritingFighter]

I expected you to say something about options too. With the axe, or at least most axes, you must swing and hit with the small striking area against your target area, giving relatively limited movement. With a longer blade you usually have a lot more options: tip cuts, draw cuts, thrusts, swing, chop, and you can also arguably defend easier: there's more to deflect, parry, and block with while also still presenting a danger to the opponent. Feints are also easier, as you can redirect a blade far faster and easier than with the swinging momentum of the axe.

[@stonehorsegaming]

Did a bit of HEMA, used both axe and a sword. The Axe was fun, but lacked the versatility of the sword. The one advantage I was able to find with the axe, it is useful for hooking and pulling. Pulled a few shields down and Dane Axesz which allowed those in my formation to hit the target. Did leave me exposed, however.

[@Stamfordviking]

I never thought of it like that thank you for your thoughts and insight Mat keep up the videos love them brother

[@karlvongazenberg8398]

For context, the Hungarian part of the Austro-Hungarian army in WWI re-introduced the "fokos" as a trench-warfare weapon. Appearantly it enjoyed an advantage over long blades (bayonets, assault knives attached or not) and similar things and after some years of fighting, there wasn't a significant difference between the Italian, Russian and Hungarian conscripts' skills.

[@libertycowboy2495]

I do viking reenacting and when first starting out we have to use axes. I prefer the short axe because while my range is limited, I can more easily disarm my opponent with an axe, or pull his shield out of the way. Love my axe (her name is Sigrid)

[@tomisdead]

speaking from a early medieval reenactment context, i've been fighting with and training people use an axe for just over a decade and the thing that i've learned the most with axe over sword fighting, is that the axe fighter really has to think ahead in the fight, you really have to think two or three steps ahead and you have to work your opponent into the position you want to make the best strike, because as you rightly say, your area of hit potential is way smaller than a sword, so you need to use the axes advantages to move your opponent to where you want them. As i say i'm only speaking from an early medieval context, so axe and shield, i can't speak for later periods but i imagine the principles remain the same. just my 2 pence

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Thank you for another interesting discussion. Cheers!

[@dougsinthailand7176]

For a sword, the center of percussion, or that part of the sword that would contact your opponent when you’re trying to cut them, is as small as the cutting edge on any axe.

[@jennacoryell4160]

On an arm, yes. Across the chest or back, not even close. The sword would produce a shallow slash, the axe would drive deep.

[@temperededge]

yes, though the point is that even when striking with parts that are not the center of percussion, the sword will still do enough damage to create a wound. Possibly a debilitating one. This is also not figuring in push and draw cuts.

[@Carpatouille]

Yeah, I've gotten my first sharp sword a week ago (a Cold Steel Gladius Machete), and the borders are almost useless to cut from outside the target, only the edge is useful for cutting. The thrust is devastating though, and the borders help cut very well from inside once you have penetrated a target. Wasn't sure if it was because my blade isn't sharpened enough or not. Tried on empty bottles. The edge is still the size of my hand, so it's still usable, but I admit I'd like to have it cut with the borders too.

[@clintonm2357]

A truly devastating cut requires the blade and target to be at 90 degrees to each other as well. With a rounded axe head, all hits are 90 degrees, which is why shields were also rounded. It makes them terrifying against unskilled and unarmored opponents, though a draw cut from a sword against some poor villager would also have been devastating. 99 ways to die.

[@agogecoach8790]

Good discussion Matt, looking forward to that Richard III analyses!

[@MilesSchindler-eo1kh]

Lynn Thompson has done some great videos demonstrating tomahawks/axes. He mentions using the top of a spiked hawk like a T to block and parry as well using the beard to hook and control. This doesn’t fix the blade length issue but does point to some options a long blade may not have. (pun intended)

[@LuxisAlukard]

I have seen so much videos about ancient and medieval weapons that I learned nothing new in this video... But I still enjoyed watching it :)

[@katgirl3000]

Excellent video as always!

[@Gterr1971]

Several hundred years ago i held off a whole battalion on a bridge with an axe. It was definitely an upgrade from the jawbone of an ass.

[@andersbjrnsen7203]

And then some a**hole stabbed you in the nuts with a spear?

[@rpersen]

Lol nice.

[@23Disciple]

It wasnt about axe, but about tactical position (narrow bridge) and you were high on mushrooms. Btw. that accident on Stamford bridge when you killed 40 english men is probably myth, not historical fact.

[@Gterr1971]

@@23Disciple lol. The reports of my demise were greatly exaggerated.

[@theguywhoasked6869]

​@@Gterr1971 I understood that reference.

[@HHbehr]

Love the video. just a thought here... If you're a woodsman or somebody who used to using an ax... Your brain targeting system is going to be way better, right off... So I can completely understand how an axe could be a more difficult weapon for beginners, But for the farmer or the woodsman, it might be the right choice, even for their first battle, because they're used to it. For me, here in texas, of course, we love our guns and blades.Etc... I own rifles and amount them an AR15...But i've probably used my shotgun more than anything, because i've been bird hunting and taken thousands of shots at moving targets... Even though an AR fifteen might be a better choice for some situations like more than two or three people.... I'm so used to my shotgun. Hitting moving targets, reloading on the move quickly...I might would choose it, And it might be a better choice, as long as I didn't have too many enemies in front of me. The point is the things we think are difficult, like throwing a tomahawk... That might be the simplest and best thing for somebody who's done it from the time they could walk on.... I guess what i'm trying to say is the best choice of weapon depends on who's using it?

[@lkalaschnikow]

I mean it's "just" hand-eye coordination. That's coming with practice, same as in tennis or badminton, you'll relatively quickly adapt to the length and where to strike.

[@Carpatouille]

There's weapons more adapted to X ou Y situation, but I do agree, experience can make a huge difference.

[@aasphaltmueller5178]

Im from the Austrian mountains and used axes to process firewood and bigger ones to split logs from the day I was just physically able to do so - so I do not really see Mats point - you have to aim the ax head to hit where you want- yes, indeed - but that just comes natural after years of wood work

[@GMorgan84]

I'd guess this is somewhat mitigated against better armour in that swords and knifes really need to hit some kind of opening whereas that poleaxe is going to ruin an opponents day no matter where you hit them. Armour being basically invulnerable to blades but certainly not against a pick or hammer.

[@kimashitawa8113]

even then they aren't the anti-armour weapons that people believe they were. Like a guy in full plate could take multiple hits with a hammer before surrendering

[@adambielen8996]

@@kimashitawa8113 still a lot less hits than it would take with a sword. But yes, they didn't magically nullify armor's protective qualities.

[@markm5038]

Before I say anything I would like to state that I am by no means an authority on axes, melee combat, nor historical combat. It seems to me that axes would serve a totally different purpose in combat than a sword or a dagger would and to some extent would have different goals in terms of combat. From my limited understanding of the armored and shielded eras of combat, swords were primarily a weapon for the elite and occasionally back up weapons for archers, whereas axes would be more common in the melee along with weapons like spears. In a crowded space like a battlefield, it would make sense to me to have a weapon of variable reach like an axe that can be used to grapple shields and limbs as well as making lethal attacks. A sword (once again 0 experience in HEMA or any other relevant experience/knowledge) seems that it would struggle in the chaos of a close quarters brawl that I imagine the front line would be in. On a separate note, a sword's battlefield tactical philosophy seems to be to wound an adversary enough to disable them or prepare them for a lethal blow whereas an axe would be to get the adversary's weapon or shield out of the way or to grapple the opponent in order to prepare for a lethal blow. In short, an axe seems like it is made to be focused on the final strike where a sword would be more balanced towards wounding the enemy throughout combat.

[@ericb.4358]

Excellent analysis. Thank you. Both my weapons are for different scenarios. The short Kopis for defending and jabbing at close quarters.I think with my Kopis short sword in my right hand and my Council Tool Wood Craft hand axe in my left hand I could do some serious damage against a person with a Viking sword. My Kopis is for defending against weapons strikes and close-in thrusting as well as hacking and the hand axe for close in hooking of others' weapons and hard striking at limbs (any), neck and head. Torsos are fair game if hitting the rib cage and/or spine. As a former. EMT I know where to aim. This would have been common knowledge of hand-to-hand combatants using iron weapons. Farmers would not have this knowledge drilled into the. and not have long hours of weapons practice. Best for them to flee. SPEED is the advantage of shorter weapons and must be used for success. A small shield on my left forearm would still work with that 19" hand axe.

[@theg0z0n]

Great video, thanks Matt!

[@benjaminlabarge4899]

Im a hema practitioner, and one of the best illustrations of this point broadly is the video game Exanima. The game takes into account what part of the weapon hits the opponent, and the momentum of the strike. While I love axes and maces, they take a lot more precision impart much effect.

[@Driftingsiax]

Another consideration is the hooking/draw cut aspect of a bearded axe. I’ve heard that they were used to stab/cut should your swing go long and to pull shields off line to set up a second strike.

[@woff1959]

Nice to see you again, Matt! I thought I'd just mention something you might find interesting: In regions of Europe abutting the Steppe, like Poland, Hungary, Croatia etc., (not forgetting the Byzantine Empire), the cavalry axe was used as a secondary weapon by cavalry, along with the lance, estoc, sabre, bow-or pistol. Its main use was cracking the opposition's helmets. Just a little FYI.

[@DornishVintage]

As a layman, I'd like to express my thoughts: 1) Axes were (and are) obiquitous. Easy to produce, and up to the modern age, every farmstead had several in their posession. People were used to using them.. It was an everyday tool. 2) Axes were not used in 1:1 combat in pitched battles. They were a readily available weapon by the rank and file troops, at no extra cost to the bearer. In the medieval times usually non-warrior people were either summoned by a lord or hired for money. They were not used by people trained in combat-at-arms. And if Richard III proves that, then it's just another sign of that he wasn't succumbed by ordinary troops. Which, in itself, would have been a revolutionary discovery. 3) If you're a rank-and-file soldier in the medieval times, you are (hopefully) standing side by side with at least 10-20 people on both your sides, and many behind. And, as you have pointed out before, with a shield. So, the disadvantage of not being able to swing your axe around rapidly dimishes. You have an axe and a shield. You know how to use both. You're standing shoulder-to-shoulder with your regiment. As long as you're not left alone, it's a good deterrent. Was it inefficient? Yes, compared to what must have been elite weapons at the time. Was it economical? Yes, as you could get thousands of troops who were already familiar with how to use it, and they had their own. This is still a period where everyone had to equip themselves. (edit: most troops had to supply their own uniform and gear up until the 20th century. And is some ways, still do, if what they want is not standard issue).

[@AirLancer]

You're saying this like all this isn't stuff he hasn't covered before in some form or another. The man's gotta make content.

[@goblinrat6119]

I often hear people citing this idea of "It was a widely available tool", but the thing is that an axe intended for war is *not* a tool. A battle axe, or any other axe (terminology being what it is) intended to be actually used in combat has a blade far thinner than an axe intended for chopping wood. If you took a battle axe to a forest to do some chopping, you'd be mangling the blade, and it'd suck for that task anyway, being light and simply not meant for it. And if you took a normal woodcutting axe to the battlefield, you'd be swinging around an unwieldy, overly heavy thing. Which, obviously, did happen (plenty of people have been forced to use tools as weapons), but is by no means what you *want* to be happening. And before there's ten different people jumping on me shouting about how you could totally kill someone with a chopping axe, then yeah, obviously. You could kill a man with a rock or a pitchfork too. Neither is intended to be a weapon, and both are suboptimal. It's the same for a normal, everyday common use axe. I'm merely pointing out that this conceit that a battleaxe was interchangeable with a common tool (which goes both ways; I often see people claiming that carrying a battleaxe would mean you'd also have a good tool for various tasks you needed to do on the side, which is roughly as smart as saying the same thing about a sword), and that it was widely available as an utility thing, is false. Axes were ubiquitous. Axes *intended* to be used as weapons were not (no more than any weapon of war was, I mean).

[@John-ir4id]

@@goblinrat6119 Even bad pizza is still pizza. What I mean is, whether an axe is made for chopping wood or for warfare, getting hit with either one will accomplish the goal - you'll be maimed or dead either way.

[@AND-od5jt]

Since we're standing so tightly packed together in rank and file *imagining the nice description* that we can hardly swing... I think I'd prefer a spear (or a very light pitchfork/trident, which I know to use too, since I fish every lent) :D p.s.: I'd say the Swedish regular (non mercenary) troops of the 30 years war introduced uniforms, but mid 17th century french at latest. (I'm not willing to count "just capes" of some Habsburg regiments in the 16th, although those already had rank insignia)

[@goblinrat6119]

@@John-ir4id Exactly as I said, yes (and acknowledged this would be brought up, too). Point being, I think there is a misunderstanding of what a dedicated weapon of war like a battle axe is, often. When we're talking about why people wielded axes in war, saying that people had chopping axes available really does not cover it

[@radeksparowski7174]

mel gibson in patriot showed us the whirlwind style of using a combo of a hatchet/tomahawk and a big knife/short sword in a close combat situation....also in east europe in the olden days long knifes were considered swords and even butchers have had to have licence and pay fee for such devices, /mostly sheep/ shepards used for selfprotection against wolves, wild dogs and even bears "shephards axe" oftens a longer walkingstick /about from ground to users navel/ with a quick takedown axe head, it is also a symbol of defiance by famous slovakian highwayman juraj janosik

[@richardmcginnis5344]

When I was younger and hitchhiking back and forth between Connecticut and Arizona every year from 1984 to 2001 I would make a fighting"tool" of some sort, the last one I made was from 2 of those hay cutter blades and a piece of bed frame each triangular blade had 2 serrated edges and the flat part that was riveted to the cutter frame so I took a couple of bolts washers and nylon threaded lock nuts cut the bed frame at about a foot cut the corner in half because I wanted flat not angle drilled my 2 holes and made a tomahawk

[@elpsykongroo8308]

Great video....this reminded me of the Prince Oberyn vs Mountain fight on the GoT show....for most of it oberyn was making sweeping and swinging motions with his spear and the mountain was keeping his distance from them...but he didn't need to as he would just be hit with a long stick while wearing a full plate armor.

[@scottmills4164]

This video is almost ten minutes long to explain that a sword has more cutting edge...

[@dioclex7308]

I was gonna say… I enjoy this channel’s content and find them very informative, but he has a tendency to reiterate the same statements over and over just to arrive at a point that was essentially covered 2 minutes in

[@midshipman8654]

this is something i noticed in the new Half Sword playtest physics based game. you really had to consider where the “area of concentrated force” is on a weapon, cause too close and something like an axe or a mace becomes much less effective. And conversely you often see draw cuts being really useful when you get really close with swords. A tradeoff being that those concentrated force bits can often hit way harder in terms of pure concussive force. of course the game isn’t wholly realistic, but it made me apreciate a lot of the basic bio-mechanics in fighting. you should check it out Matt, its a really interesting experience. it also really made me appreciate how different degrees of armor effect how you engage others. (also don’t confuse the playtest with the demo like I did!)

[@-RONNIE]

Thank you for the new video I like one-handed axes myself especially the tomahawk and bearded axe

[@GrantHendrick]

Thank you for another amazing video.

[@SpectacularSuperSoup]

As someone who chops a lot of wood to heat his home in the winter, this is so spot on. Especially once you start getting tired, it can be hard to make sure you hit the log with the metal part of the axe and not the wooden stick.

[@bendevries5134]

nice vid and interesting take, ive only very recently started the sport Buhurt and its interesting that at least in my club that axes are more common and preferred over an arming sword or falchon because of the fact that you can grab the shaft, again i understand that one is a sport and therefore has rules that must abide by, in the case of buhurt its that no stabbing or piercing strikes , but the axe allows for a swing to the head and then into a grapple and takedown.

[@mightyone3737]

I made a billhook out of a beet hook (which is a short handled hooked knife), since I was a kid I had my dad weld the blade (which is fairly heavy, about 1/4 inch) to a shovel socket from a worn out shovel, and put that on a regular shovel handle, that proved sturdy enough to chop down trees, so if you use a heavy duty handle a poleax can be quite durable, but then it becomes heavy! Even now I sometimes miss with a sledge hammer (and hit with the handle), very annoying but more common the more tired you get! It's very easy to see why people didn't fight with big honking weapons, and for obvious reasons.

[@gozer87]

I used a axe quite a bit in my early SCA days. Because opponents are used to blocking a sword not something with an overbite, I would often be able to strike them with a telling blow that wouldn't have hit with a sword. As shield blocking became more dynamic, the advantage went away and I switched to a sword.

[@weirdguy564]

I think some of the reason they're popular is that they're probably easier to make than a sword. The other reason is that the can be used for chopping wood when it is NOT time to kill people.

[@NetSpectre]

Really informative and can't wait to hear about your Richard 3rd theories. Would you say a mace is therefore easier than an axe due to the 360 degree edge alignment compared to the axes bi directional 'damage' causing areas?

[@zyffrm]

I do a full contact LARP (Belegarth) and we hit each other with foam weapons. Very often the part of our foam weapons that we have to replace is the tip. I just had to repair a 34" sword and the only part of the foam that was *really* in need of repair was ~6" of the tip. I'd say it's very common that we're able to consistently fight with the tips of our weapons. With that frame of reference I think that someone who trains and fights with an axe would have no problem consistently fighting and striking someone with the pick or blade of an axe.

[@admiralgeorg8143]

Доброго времени суток, уважаемый Мэт Истон. Спасибо за ваши видео! Смотрю вас из России и занимаюсь HEMA. Спасибо что не забываете о зрителях, что смотрят вас не из праздного любопытства как развлекательный контент. Желаю вам всего самого наилучшего в жизни и фехтовании, а каналу -- процветания!

[@WhitefirePL]

As aways, so interesting! Thank you Matt.

[@daemonharper3928]

Great vid, thanks - very interesting. I think that I'd be more fearful of someone wielding that battle axe rather than a sword if i was in armour... possibly in error but eesh, that spike!

[@brinehound]

@4:40 Matt Easton speaks of those that practice forms of martial arts, specifically close quarters combat. I my self am a re-enactor (AMTGARD) and we use a multitude of lengths for our weapons or boffers and primarily these are “short” swords. What he is saying about range is entirely accurate. Just because we aren’t killing anyone doesn’t mean our game of tag has no relationship to really striking someone. 24-36 inches of stick, or sword, is still 24-36 inches. Now, in AMTGARD (google this for curiosity) we use various types of foam for our padding but mostly these are cylinders, so we generally strike at angles that a sword cannot and will not work (the edge does the damage) but we do have innovative weapon makers and many have created very effective axes. These tools hook shields, swords, pole arms, and legs. AXES are effective. And yes we have large battles with shield walls and sieges against fortifications (sometimes with trebuchets or catapults).

[@dirkerasmus6808]

I am impressed, again. thank you sir.

[@DrunkenDarwin]

I think in close in fighting that you didn't touch on is you can shift your grip up and down on the shaft of the axe which is what makes it terrifying in a close quarter range where you'd be using knives. It was known that it was extremely hard to predict where the axe blows would actually be coming from. Watch tomahawk technique videos and stories of why frontiersmen were terrified of fighting guys who were skilled with the axe.

[@Glottris]

yes, but if you use an axe as a tool daily you get very conferrable with the distance and edge alignment. some free training there you would not get with a sword ;)

[@holyknightthatpwns]

A woodcutting axe and a battle axe are different enough that I don't think the cross training is specifically helpful. Using a woodcutting axe will help you with edge alignment and grip strength and some swinging mechanics, but I think those apply equally to combat swords and combat axes. I don't actually have combat experience with an axe though, only woodcutting and swordfighting experience, so maybe I'm missing something.

[@chiefmagua7160]

@@holyknightthatpwns you are missing a lot

[@waelisc]

​@@holyknightthatpwns I agree - the trees and carving blanks that I chop don't fight back or move about very much 😂

[@dgoodman1484]

Well a baseball or tennis ball moves pretty fast and most don’t have much difficulty learning how to hit them with the meat of the bat or racket so 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@holyknightthatpwns]

@@dgoodman1484 projectiles move in much more predictable ways than people, and also aren't trying to hit you. I think there's a lot less complexity to be worrying about in those sports.

[@johnnewman2472]

Great stuff as usual Matt. Just over thought, is there any reason for the various different blade shapes on the axes. For instance the flat edge on the poleaxe you were showing and the curves on the other axe?

[@jonathanh4443]

About the 'hitting at one point'...point. In sparring most of the more 'seasoned' fighters hit each other with the same point on the blade when we are in the 'fight'. When we do our best to hit our opponent with the center of percussion or the last few inches of the blade, it becomes 'normal' that you will only really connect within a two inch portion of the blade. This is an aspect of proper distance management and proper striking 'ability'. I will acknowledge the new students are all over the place in 'where' on the blade they make contact, but the advanced fighters are not really hitting with the meza when they intended to use the last few inches.

[@elijahoconnell]

axe and knife fighting just makes so much sense as a weapon combo and i feel should be looked at more in sparring. i quite like to use a hachet to hook vines to add tension to cut with a machete. itd be a likely to have on hand weapon set

[@brianjones9780]

Seeing the vid name and watching the synopsis im like "single point of contact? ...single point of contact."

[@JT_Soul]

What are your thoughts on weapons like the Nepalese kora or the Congolese ikakalaka? It seems that they could have the best of both worlds: they hit hard like an axe toward the distal end, but they're bladed all the way down so they can still cut if you hit closer to the hand.

[@kimashitawa8113]

I am curious about his thoughts on blade shapes like the Ikakalaka

[@toddwhetton1959]

Got a question Historical how long would a blade hold it's edge. Would it blunt and then be used more of a bludgeoning weapon. Thanks

[@benhover9604]

I do a lot of Reenactment, and we use swords, and axes and spears other pole arms. We don't count hits in our system which hit with the haft of a pole weapon. This is almost never an issue with a one handed axe or mace, it occasionally happens with larger axes such as Dane axes but is only really frequent at all in trying to cut with glaives or halberds, long pole arms. The bigger deal with hand axes is catching the handle when it is swung at you.

[@benhover9604]

Well that and head weighted weapons are almost always shorter than swords and slower to change direction so feints are harder riposting is harder combinations are harder.

[@alexanderaugustus]

A longer axe or hammer has the advantage of having a lot of blocking and pushing power, can create range, and will have some concussive force even if you miss with the head - which is probably why it was a primary weapon. But a sword will almost always wound an unarmoured person. However, if you're facing armoured opponents, swords also have a disadvantage (that's of course why they developed thin thrusting blades to get into weak points) but there, the long poleaxe or even the single handed axe might have an advantage if you hit. But as you say, as a weapon on it's own, axes do come with a lot of difficulties and require training. Now, if you're a farmer accustomed to chopping wood or something like it, you may have an advantage because you're used to wielding the axe and estimating range. Anyway, great video, I enjoy your stuff!

[@wolfgangzeiler2605]

I'm really interested in the analysis of the wounds of Richard III. and the fight at the battle of Bosworth! I think another big advantage of swords is the ability to stab. Making them a much better weapon in an one on one, fully armored or not. Because the best way to fight armor is to hit the gaps which would be much more effective than hits to the armor. In a chaotic melee on a battlefield with several opponents that might be different. I still would prefer a sword.

[@lscibor]

Plenty of axes could stab pretty well, though. Even simpler one piece "traditional;" ones often had protruding horns that could be very pointy and pretty stiff. Later on, from 14th century, at least in Europe, many simply had solid top spikes, even one handed ones.

[@MarchalisVan]

Axe vs Sword is hard to gauge, because real fights would be a lot more dynamic and blundery than re-enactment, because any armour that can be use to block a sword, would be used to close a gap by a stronger and or better armoured opponent. An axe swung hard enough can break a sword block a lot easier, an axe can be thrown, followed up with a dagger. If you are bigger, you may choose to shoulder someone and enter a brawl, hoping to knock em over and, axe, axe, axe, rather than elegant taps while standing. Formation fighting, a smallish axe could be good as any short weapon in confined space, but in combination with spears etc from your m8's behind. They where pretty popular for a reason :)

[@flyboymike111357]

People used axes as daily tools. Sword like tools were a thing. But less common. And one of the best advantages of a hafted weapon, used in on hand or two, is that if you miss with the ideal striking surface you can use the head to hook the enemy. Where as with a sword you just get a shallow ineffective cut, which might not even pass though structured clothing commonly worn by swordsmen.

[@LupusSanguis]

While I was involved in combat, I can agree with Matt that targeting with that small area is difficult. However, I got to a stage that with my maces, hammers, and axes, I was targeting and hitting buckles on armour. It can be done, but as he says, it's difficult, and it takes a LOT of practice.

[@garryfromwallmart4263]

In Norway back in the day "Magnus Lagasbøters - Landslov" (Magnus Lagasbøters - Law of the land) from 1274, said that all landowners in Norway were required to own at minimum a spear, sword or axe aswell as a shield. A spear could ofcourse be used for hunting (But whatever you'd want to hunt in Norway except for bears wouldn't really be of any help by using a spear). An axe was rather prevalent off the time then, since you could use the axe in your daily life when not waging war, making it more prevalent. (Woodcutting axes rather than war-axes). We keep thinking of the vikings as warlike, but even if you go to war 3-4 times in a lifetime. That's still 4-5 years at war and 40-50 where you farm, fish and cut wood. Swinging a sledge at work, getting the head to hit is alot easier with something familiar than waving around a sword. Most warriors of the time weren't actually warriors...

[@michaeldewitt1896]

“It’s a question of weight ratios! A 5 oz bird can’t carry a 1 lb coconut!” Matt, weapons were built for their particular time. Clubs, pointy sticks, pointy sticks with metal tips, better metal tips, longer sticks with pointy metal bits, short metal bits with better training for a very long period, then back to sticks and metal bits. Again, humans fight with what will achieve the result. It nothing else, humans use tools because it’s what works. You wouldn’t be posting this video if axes weren’t anything but very easy and prevalent in its time. Reach, power and accuracy is all that’s needed. Cheers! Love your content!

[@edi9892]

No mention of bearded axes? Having an extended blade helps considerably, especially on onehanded axes and you can pull if you hit with the handle.

[@NeutralDrow]

That's what I was thinking when Matt brought up push/pull cuts. Sure, a sword could probably handsaw some damage onto someone, but an axe with a decent beard or point (actually, like the one he was demonstrating!) could help you get control of their body.

[@drzander3378]

There’s a secondary reason why axes are hard to use: edge alignment. It needs to be closer to perfect than it does with a sword. If your edge alignment is slightly off with a sword, you’ll still cut, just not as well. However, the same degree of rotational error holding a axe haft can result in no cut at all. The reason is that the blade’s edge on an axe is further from the centre of rotation than on a sword. So some edge alignment errors are still effective with a sword that are not with an axe.

[@SirConto]

I'm a bit unconvinced about this, and I'll admit I have no experience with battle axes, but I did my share of cutting firewood with a wood axe, and missing edge alignment never seemed that much of an issue. If you get the aim right, it'll somewhat self correct. The weight of the head also helps push the head forward, even if it's a little sideways. It's got that momentum that's hard to stop. Maybe that's a bit different with a battleaxe that's lighter and thinner? I don't know I haven't tried that. Did try some cutting with a katana tho; there edge allignment feels really easy to mess up. I'm guessing because you have less of that weight and consequent momentum, so even a little bit of force to the side of the blade's enough to stop it. Also with a lot, or even with most swords you need to do more of a cutting motion rather than just a chop, which is more difficult.

[@clintonm2357]

@@SirConto oddly, the curved edge of the axe results in all hits being at 90 degrees, which transmit full power into the strike. Like you said, self-corrects. The long, flat blade of the poleaxe he brought out would take us back to the edge alignment issue.

[@VladimirE.-is2ee]

I'm also very much thinking of valaska/fokos here - they were very much civillian tools/weapons - you'd use it for "inciidental" woodwork, as a walking stick and to defend yourself. Funnily enough they go in exactly the opposite direction - quite long haft, small striking head, still they were quite popular in Greater Hungary

[@Rusty_Shackleford1]

Can you talk about how much and what type of training soldiers received throughout history?

[@corro202]

Great video.

[@TheUncleRuckus]

I'm with you on this Matt, the langets on a pole axe definitely aren't to prevent cutting through the shaft, there's no way sword or another bladed weapon is going to cleave the shaft in half, they're there to prevent damage to the shaft so it doesn't break from a blade taking chunks out of it.

[@joshyaks]

Sticks don't hurt as much as sharpened metal - got it. The educational value of this channel is nearly endless! 😉

[@cchavezjr7]

He said that Filipino martial arts uses sticks to simulate bladed weapons. No, they will take the 2 sticks and use them as a primary weapon and beat the crap out of their enemy with them.

[@GemuMasta98]

Gosh, 13 minutes talking about "Swords can cut with most of the blade, axe has small blade, so axe hit needs to be precisely with that small blade to deal real damage, yes it's more damage, but if you miss, it is almost no damage at all" thank you. 6 minute video would be more than enough to explain that...

[@temperededge]

@@cchavezjr7 We have many different weapons in our martial arts. Twin sticks is just one. Edged weapons are pretty common, but since we're poor, we typically use the same bamboo/rattan sticks for training for long knife/machete as we do for stick fighting. To an outsider looking in, it might look like we only train in stick fighting.

[@cchavezjr7]

@@temperededge I'm well aware of what it all entails. I'm making a joke how he said that sticks are stand ins for bladed weapons when they are very much a weapon that's trained in and used.

[@kuystalheim5427]

Makes sense as the premier medieval naval weapon of the Vikings because the utility of it as a repair tool.

[@michaelrhodes6730]

Very good point. My big issue with axes is that if you block a sword, the blade will slide can cut yoir fingers

[@MrTommywammy]

If you hit the opponent with the handle of the axe, use it like a hook and pull him/her/it/whatever else of balance and hit "see above" in the back with your offhand axe aiming for the spine. An axe is a very useful hook in close combat.

[@stevefowler2112]

I grew up in rural central Florida, spending my boyhood either hunting, camping, scouting or tracking in lakes and swamps and wetlands and always carried a tomahawk with me...when I got to Vietnam as a U.S. Recon Marine I carried the same tomahawk the 18 months i was in country. I had to use it once in combat and when I pulled it out I think it scared the hell out of the NVA soldier that I hacked on.

[@DjDolHaus86]

I've snapped a few axes over the years splitting logs because of a few too many mishits on the shaft

[@fourgedmushrooms5958]

Have short sword and 1.5 lbs hatchet that are about the same length, it's been interesting comparing them, deadly in different ways. I'd probably prefer sword, but hatchet is lighter and a more useful tool. Great subject for a video

[@romanista77]

Curious on how Native American Tomahawks held up against European Sabres?

[@ricardorivera6092]

Great question

[@3st3st77]

Recently one of my HEMA buddies brought one to training and fought against a spadroon user with it while using a dagger in his off-hand. Now, he wasn't trained to use that weapon and lost most rounds because of that, but it became clear that the longer reach and better hand protection of his opponent were crucial advantages. It would be the same for sabers, I imagine. However, if a more capable person was able to consistently pull the opponent's weapon or arm to the side with the axe, things might look differently.

[@Raven-qj8xk]

Indians ambush against much smaller forces. Rarely large pitched battles.

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

The tomahawk would be at some disadvantage if you're talking about unarmored single combat between the two & don't include throwing. With throwing in the mix, the tomahawk possibly has the advantage if the wielder can throw well & they start far enough apart.

[@petriew2018]

that's kind of a tricky question because it really, REALLY depends on who's using what weapon, more so than usual. Outside of the cavalry, most european officers really didn't bother training to use their swords, they were just something to gestured with in combat for emphasis. The reality of european style warfare at the time was officers are there to give orders, if he has to actually fight sword in hand everything's gone terribly wrong so how well he can use that sword is pretty irrelevant.... Obviously you will find exceptions, but that's the general attitude most armies had contrast that to the natives who, more often than not, had a fairly strong warrior culture that put emphasis on feats of individual bravery, meaning the average tomahawk user is probably going to be fairly proficient with it. If he's going to war he's expecting to get his tomahawk dirty at some point, so odds are really good he's a better individual fighter than the guy with the saber If you're asking of a technical level, the saber is hands down a better weapon design for combat. That's kind of just a fact, the saber is one of the best sword designs out there and that's not really up for debate. If you're asking how the two matched up in practical terms you'd probably be hard-pressed to get a clear cut answer from historical sources. despite being technologically inferior, the tomahawk was likely more often in the hands of the more skilled user, leading to a rather murky conclusions.

[@innsmouthresident6802]

Enjoyed the video ,what you said is true I wish to add a little bit to it . I have had almost 15 years of early medieval style 9 to 12 century combat back in the 80's and 90's Using all types of weaponry . Axes were my favorite even over sword for a number of reasons . A hit with the axe head almost always ends a combat decisively , a miss can also be turned to your favour by pulling back so the axe head rips and snags your opponent enough to unbalance him . Parring can be done by using the width of the axe head to block say a sword cut , but one must be fearless and step in close at that time to parry close to the swords hilt as possible opening a brief window of opportunity. One can also thrust with the axe head especially to the face , even better if your axe head curves up at the edge into a slight point . I always found slightly shorter haft axes better but one thing a successful hand axe man does need in combat is a shield without it against a swords man of equal skill you will struggle . Even if you manage to avoid or parry the heavy blows he will inflict bleeding cuts more often. I could go on for quite a long time about this 😂but suffice to say , perfect your weapon use understand its limitations and strengths and see how an axe intimidates your foe.

[@robinshen8364]

The answer is at around 4:30.

[@thomasesau2376]

Philippines stick was used because a crushing wound is instantly painful. Combined with a disarm technique. A cut wound takes time for the nerves to react. One machete could supply several sticks in short order. Stick and knife was trained. Steel quality was also a factor. These are the warriors that Americans developed the .45 cal bullet to stop.

[@cchavezjr7]

I laughed when he said they used sticks to simulate bladed weapons when 2 sticks was a primary weapon in their martial arts. They were able to use them at an extremely fast rate of attacks that not only overwhelm the enemy but cause a lot of pain and damage.

[@TrueSighted]

there's a way to fix that. use a bladed edge as a reinforcement that runs down the shaft and meats up with the axe edge. Sort of an extension to the edge of the axe that sweeps up and to a hook where it meets the axe. a long bladed axe that protects and reinforces the axe head and shaft.

[@bubbagump2341]

One thing to remember with axes is that historically most people had experience wielding axes as tools and so had a lot of muscle memory for swinging them, so were better at hitting things with them!

[@kevinlobos5519]

Hitting a static object has absolutely nothing to do with trying to hit a person that's trying to avoid getting hit while also trying to kill you at the same time. The stress and adrenaline of a real fight to the death for someone who only ever used a non battle axe for chopping wood would have far more significant of an effect than the ability to hit a static object, which you can do with literally anything in any way you want, no problem.

[@bubbagump2341]

@@kevinlobos5519 So boxers don't hit heavy bags and they never used pells for sword training historically to build muscle memory . . .

[@kevinlobos5519]

@@bubbagump2341 I never said that, those are your words, not mine. I'm just saying what I stated in my comment. Which is that swinging a somewhat similar object to a weapon with the intent of chopping down other inanimate objects translate poorly to fighting. Might make you fitter and used to swing forcefully but that's about it, and can be achieved by numerous other jobs and tasks. Tool axes are only similar to battle axes in looks. They are handled and used in very different ways. Same could be said of someone who has trained to fight with a nimble battle axe but never in his life chopped down a tree or handled a tool axe, he would perform poorly at that task in particular and would only be familiar with a tool that looks similar but functions very differently.