The Craziest British Officer chose this SWORD?

I specifically collect unusual British officer's swords, but this is absolutely one of the craziest I have ever got my hands on.
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[@brookechang4942]

"Craziest British officer" instantly means Mad Jack Churchill.

[@Specter_1125]

Hey, Adrian Carton de Wiart was also absolutely mad.

[@TheStonehammerFiles]

Second world war and he used a claymore and long bow.

[@bladedth3sis]

I knew before even clicking on the video. That's one of my *favorite* stories to tell people about WWII

[@brittakriep2938]

In a german Arms magazine, i am german and Brittas boyfriend, an italian officer of wwll was noted, who was a low rank nobility and in wwll an anachronism. He was a brave an unusual man, but His loyality was Not for Mussolini, but for official head of state, the italian king. About this man, forgotten His Name, is rarely written.

[@joemurphy1189]

@@brittakriep2938Amadeo Guillet by any chance?

[@rubyshine4930]

It's not ugly, it's beautiful and I love it.

[@bennettthomas4446]

I was expecting mad Jack's basket hilt sword too

[@a.bettik8698]

same

[@Colonel_Blimp]

And me.

[@kevvoo1967]

ME TOOOO!

[@barnettmcgowan8978]

I want to hear more about these "Sword Scandals".

[@allendowning470]

Same here. I think anyone who thinks the pipeback sword is just scandalous! 😂

[@allendowning470]

I mean if they think it's a good sword...😂

[@jellekastelein7316]

Matt has made a video about these before: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYe3fIqbnt2GeLs

[@barnettmcgowan8978]

Thanks@@jellekastelein7316

[@sameerthakur720]

Well there were swords which often went into scabbards meant for other swords. Then the original scabbards raised a hue-and-cry. Sometimes it led to duels between the erring sword and the sword which should've legally gone into the other scabbard. "How dare you enter my scabbard and befoul the chastity of my scabbard? "

[@kswindl]

It's so specific....its fun to think of how much that officer probably loved showing people his sword.

[@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699]

For a sec I thought you acquired Churchill’s actual sword

[@draven86]

Mad Jack Churchill i pressume?

[@roykliffen9674]

Same here

[@aceriverpirate9795]

I think he got everyone with that title and the picture.

[@chrisball3778]

I think he was trolling us a little. Jack Churchill was only born in 1906, and I'm not aware of any branch of the military admitting babies... so it's possible that the owner of this sword was still the maddest British officer at the time the sword was made!

[@juandemarko8348]

Same

[@KalteGeist]

Ah, "Dedicated thruster," my old college nickname.

[@user-wt7wd4oi7j]

Don't forget "Massive fingerings". I had to giggle a little when he said that. My inner 12-year-old would not be denied. 😀

[@seanpoore2428]

Must've been a big hit on the fencing team

[@NikeaTiber]

Despite being heterosexual and not named ben, mine was "Bengay" because of the tagline - _"8 hours of penetrating heat"_ :X

[@michaelpalmer8098]

Touché,

[@watch7966]

You guys had duels in college?

[@bradm.c.9569]

If in the 1880s they debated this topic through 'letters to the editor' in newspapers, then we should carry on the tradition through KZbin comments...

[@andrewrobjohns9395]

We all have different aesthetic tastes. I quite like the look of that sword, and nothing Matt said in his presentation suggested what was "mad" about it. In fact, all of the very good context Matt gave made it seem all the more reasonable to commission a sword like this in the early 1900's.

[@QuentinStephens]

When I saw the title, I immediately thought of Mad Jack Churchill.

[@artawhirler]

Same here! 😅

[@artbonnar239]

Skilled officer commissioned a tool from a skilled bladesmith, to me it seams if you want a tool to do your work you get one designed by you to do your work

[@j_taylor]

If the officer knows more about swords than the swordsmith, maybe the officer should find a better swordsmith.

[@Ironside701]

To be precise, the Colt automatic pistol was already on the market at that time. However, it was not yet as sophisticated or commercially successful as the 1911 model would become. Since watching your videos I have learned a lot of new things about edged weapons from different eras. Thanks! And keep it up Matt!

[@mutantemolina3708]

Customized weapons will never cease to fascinate. Thanks for sharing!

[@Lurklen]

Perhaps I have bad taste, but I think it looks quite nice. It has the air of something from a sci-fi or fantasy novel, without being over the top. I quite like it.

[@TheSaneHatter]

Indeed: it just needs a little refinement. It's basically just a sidesword with knuckle protection, brought up to date through DIY.

[@tranquilitybase7860]

Another great video by count Dracula. His experience of swords gained over the centuries is remarkable.

[@ironpirate8]

He definately chose the most suitable manufacturer. Well known in sword making Thurkles.

[@rogerlafrance6355]

There were some at Sanhurst, Hanover, and such who took swords, horses and such, very seriously until the start of WW2. Some one needs to dig in their archives.

[@danshakuimo]

Lol in Mongolia during WW2 many Mongolians still took the horse and bow very seriously

[@tatumergo3931]

As someone who was in the military, I would like to say that it's not so much the tool or weapon system, but how you employ it. It depends highly on the type of battlefield environment, combat changes radically a lot between open country and urban warfare. Specially in urban warfare and with today's international rules of war, the possibilities for any type of weapons are endless. In the case of fighting an insurgency is even more.

[@johnrhodes3350]

​@@tatumergo3931image the potential usefulness of a modern compound deer hunting bow with a nasty broadhead, or crossbow for a stealth situation.

[@tatumergo3931]

@@johnrhodes3350 . I don't have to imagine it, it is a thing in some leap units. Although mostly used as a survival tool, but sometimes employed in particular operations that require it. Today modern suppressors have about completely covered that requirement and afford the advantage of range and volume of fire. On the other hand during the Panama Jungle Warfare and Survival Course, compound bows and crossbows were employed as a means of obtaining food, without making your presence in the area to be noticed. Plus there was an infinite amount of material from which to make ammunition from. Which reminds me of another thing. In a survival or bug out situation, a blackpowder firearm ends up being more convenient if you know the formula for making the propellant.

[@simonbrooke4065]

My father's (second world war, artillery) officer's sword, which hung rusting in the toolshed through most of my childhood, was something like a small sword; which is to say, wire-wrapped hilt with knucklebow; rounded pommel (I think ribbed, but wouldn't swear to that). I don't recall a finger ring or a cross guard, but the shell guard was quite small, basically two identical wings. But what I do clearly recall is that the blade was extremely narrow, three edged, and essentially a pure thrusting blade. All the hilt furniture appeared to be brass. This MAY not have been standard issue - my father was always fairly eccentric - and was, I'm sure, primarily a dress sword. But as a data point, at least one other pure thrusting sword existed in the twentieth century British army.

[@yeahnaaa292]

Wow. Just --- wow. Thank you, Matt. Such incredible blades. Enjoy your acquisitions.

[@AdamOwenBrowning]

I've *just* finished reading the entirety of your piece titled "British Infantry Officers' Swords of the 1890s and the 1895 Infantry Sword Exercise." It was a good enough read that I went, oh, I remember that name! Hopped on over to your channel and here's 25 more minutes on this specific topic that you had just helped me to learn about. Lucky day. Great stuff, cheers!

[@daemonharper3928]

Great vid as usual Matt. A very interesting sword, the maker had their work cut out grinding those hollows...... beautiful work. The dude that ordered it knew his stuff, he's looked at infantry v infantry, bayonets and swords, some cavalry and lances......and he's chosen an almost perfect weapon in my opinion. I'm willing to bet that the Japanese despatches had officers single fighting with swords against the Russian officers, whilst the men were engaged en masse. So he's picked a long duelling sword with enough mass to parry a bayonet and get through thick winter clothing. What a great find.

[@KingTrouser]

Big props to the Neil Burridge bronze special there. I trust we all wish him well in his healing journey with cancer.

[@BreakChannelZero]

That sword is so weird that I kinda love it.

[@-RONNIE]

Thank you as always for the good information in these videos ⚔️

[@AdlerMow]

"What a great sword to be thrusted with! My honor, ugh..."

[@bobmckenna5511]

Great presentation. Grateful to hear the word "unique" used in its correct meaning at about the 23 minute mark. That word is often diluted in its use, even by Brits. 🙂

[@wavegun]

Brilliant review of a brilliant design. Never anything wrong with improved power and reach.

[@bogdanmariusz6384]

Cut vs thrust was solved by Polish Hussars by having two swords: 1 - the hussar saber ("szabla husarska"): mostly for cutting, curved, on the heavy side as sabers usually go, usually equipped with a "paluch" e.g.: a thumb ring (not sure if there are any other sabers with this element!) 2 - the "koncerz" (kind of an epee): predominantly for thrusting (depending on type, frequently ONLY for thrusting), straight and long, frequently with angled handle Both were the weapons of "last resort" used in melee and pursuit when the primary weapons (the lances and pistols) were exhausted.

[@johnnivek9653]

That's such a cool weird sword and I think I'm in love.

[@wisconsinkraut3445]

Honestly I agree that is a masterpiece

[@brucesnz]

I love how Matt structured this video. It's like he is writing an essay and building a convincing argument for his ultimate point. Also, swords are just so cool.

[@twodogsbob1786]

That really is the most non regulation sword I've seen you show...very cool, I assume you are keeping it? 😂

[@JC-Denton]

And the Craziest Matt Easton look in the preview... ⚔

[@Llongbow52]

He's absolutely mental! Lol

[@rikremmerswaal2756]

I love that sword

[@Macovic]

Very fascinating and thank you for sharing

[@user-re1hy6if7d]

It is gorgeously singular. Thanks for showing us all the details.

[@Benjanuva]

That thing is awesome! Totally something I would have done. This guy rocks.

[@CDKohmy]

I would've at least kept more of the regulation guard either doubling the knuckle guard for strength, or keep the entire original but add the quillon block.

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

It's nice to see that some folks continue to favor longer blades even in the early 20th century. A 39in blade would have been rather short for a rapier in the first quarter of the 17th century. That was when Girard Thibault complained about how folks wore rapiers so long that the pommel came to the armpit of the wielder if the point was placed on the ground.

[@brassbandmission1643]

Hope you keep this one!

[@UnCivilEngineerIRL]

Matt, if you're bored, you could press the blade into some plasticine and that'd really show the cross section. Maybe do it in 2 halves so when you put them together it would show up really well.

[@chrisd561]

Absolutely fascinating!

[@FranssensM]

That’s impressive. I picture a tall guy who really wanted to get amongst the enemy.

[@acethesupervillain348]

Also worth pointing out that there was LOTS of hand-to-hand combat in WWI, but it was done with clubs, daggers and shovels. If you try to look up things like maces, spiked clubs and flails, they are very likely to be from WW1 and not the middle ages. The reason why swords weren't popular in the trenches was because snipers figured out that people carrying swords were officers and specifically aimed for them to throw enemy units into disarray. (which was also a tactic on pirate ships and even Lord Nelson got done in that way) If it weren't for the policy of gladiuscide, trench swords probably would have come in very useful.

[@derskalde4973]

I find it so funny, how the Arrangements in the back make it look like the Zweihänder with the red handle has the head of a hatchet for a pommel.

[@knightforlorn6731]

I think its very cool, beautiful even. The hand protection is such a great design.

[@Knightstruth]

What a cool sword! I'd have wanted one much like that myself if I were a 1900s British officer.

[@Maxiius]

Love it! That blade geometry is just... 😘👌chef's kiss

[@jamesj4827]

What a stunning blade matt

[@markgregory3213]

Outstanding!

[@steveborgresistance8310]

Fantastic work, that is my kind of sword!💯👍

[@carloparisi9945]

I totally approve of this sword! I actually tried to put together swords with a thrusting blade, a ricasso, a pommel, and a sabre guard over the years, for fencing. I just would keep the blade to 36" to make it faster to draw.

[@JAKesler]

I absolutely love it! ❤. I could totally see this as a prototype for something that would be adopted. Also this unique stuff is what inspires me for fantasy writing, world building

[@JustGrowingUp84]

That is one of the most interesting swords I have ever seen!

[@AliceLucindaBronte]

First thought: This is going to be about Mad Jack Churchill. Second thought: This is going to be about a sword optimised for cutting. Third thought: O' totally misleading title, this is an awesome sword and not mad at all!

[@arnijulian6241]

You say ''ugly'' matt but I like it! That man had the exact same taste as myself with a stiff blade that has ricasso & a minimal practical hilt as anything more then a knuckle bow is usually over the top.. Even that mid rib is exactly the same as I would desire. This officer is very much my mood kindred!

[@Ws_minion]

Best ever sword? Anduril, flame of the west. Next question.

[@EriktheRed2023]

That is strictly for the younger crowd. Ringil, the sword of Fingolfin, is for the old guard.

[@crow4936]

Stormbringer Elric's sword is far superior.

[@Lurklen]

@@crow4936 I dunno, Anduril never killed anyone its wielder didn't want it too (including the wielder).

[@lordkell1986]

Anglachel / Gurthang Tragedy in perpetuity

[@silentandinvisible]

You take Stormbringer, I'll take Mournblade. Deal?

[@formisfunction1861]

Fascinating!

[@jimhood6889]

What a beautiful sword!

[@1guitarlover]

I love that advanced rapier-style sword.

[@SingularityOrbit]

Wow, it's a 20th century tuck or estoc! Just what you'd want if somebody charged you on horseback -- apply fencing tactics, sidestep the attack and strike at the horse's heart en passant. With a blade that sturdy it just might work against a jeep, too . . . (Well, no, of course not, but I'd accept it in the spirit intended if I saw it in a movie, it's too much fun not to.)

[@coffeepixel7650]

That's such a cool sword. Weird, but cool.

[@edbane1656]

It's beautiful ❤, if only it could have had much longer rapier like quillons.

[@ronalddunne3413]

nIce bronze leaf-blade! Love it!

[@MarroktheWarrior]

I love everything about that. Id love a replica!

[@AlexanderVRadev]

I love the way it looks. I don't understand at all how you can say it is an ugly monstrosity. Also thanks for the overview of all of those swords. Really cool. :)

[@not-a-theist8251]

Please show the Wilkinson sword you talked about!

[@jasonwarwick5062]

Thank you for the comparison with the 1897 I have a better understanding of the provenance of the blade I inherited from my grandfather in KAR 🙏

[@notfeedynotlazy]

Trivia: The way the Romans themselves descripted the original Iberian gladius _("gladius hispaniensis")_ AND the Iberian falcata (they wrote quite graphic descriptions about the capability of either weapon to chop a limb or gut a belly), one is a cut-and-thrust which is quite good at cutting and excels at thrusting, and the other is a cut-and-thrust which is quite good at thrusting and excels at cutting. Not bad, those Iberians. It wasn't until aound a century later later in Roman history when they (who heavily favored the thrust), without totally abandoned the leaf-shaped gladius, also developed a similar weapon with straight edges (nowadays known as "Pompeii gladius"), which was a dedicted thrusting weapon with a decidedly secondary cutting capability. The Romans called both weapons just _"gladius"._Thus the confusion among modern reenactors.

Hi Matt, I really like your channel and I was wondering if you could make a video about Hoplites, their weapons and tactics? I know this may not be your area of interest, but I would love to see such episode. Thanks and keep up the good work!

[@DerTypDa]

Now I can't help but wonder if perhaps there was a similarly cut-obsessed officer around who contrived to have a falchion blade mounted to a regulation hilt.

[@squatch2461]

Beautiful sword, from a functional perspective. Love it and the thought process of the person who bought it.

[@patrickporter1864]

The scene from Indian Jones to mind when you mention fighting with swords. Indie pulls his revolver an............

[@bigsiege1848]

Sword Scandal video when?

[@jellekastelein7316]

Three years ago! kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYe3fIqbnt2GeLs

[@Eulemunin]

That’s a very cool blade. The hilt is not ugly, it’s fascinating.

[@googleisacruelmistress1910]

I'd love to have a replica of that, that's such a weird and cool type of sword - a British infantry rapier

[@scarletskunkjob9842]

If you are a dab hand collegiate fencer and sign up for service... Why wouldn't you? It might save your life, might as well have the best fighting chance. Crazy sword. Loved the video.

[@rossdavies8250]

What a beautiful blade on that "service rapier." I would love to have been able to chat with the guy who commissioned that sword and find out the reasoning behind the design...

[@AWAL602]

Matt barely holding it together while saying ‘Ultimate Thruster’ 😂

[@robertkb64]

Heh, when you said people may think of earlier dedicated thrusting swords I instantly thought “estoc.” But you had to pick a sword with an actual blade, rather than a sharpened piece of rebar with a grip, didn’t you? :) P.S. for those not familiar with the estoc, it has no blade at all, only the point is sharpened, and the “blade” comes in many shapes including triangles, squares, rectangles, as well as unsharpened diamonds. It’s made exclusively as an anti-armor weapon which can trivially piece mail and is easy to half-sword because it has no edge and so allows one to simply charge and grapple even a knight in armor, then use your two handed rondel dagger replacement to wedge between the plates of your now downed opponent. It’s basically a pointed pry bar to attack armor with, and is comedically good against someone not prepared for it.

[@spanishjohn420]

thats so sick i want one

[@hazzardalsohazzard2624]

I'm sure there's a market for a decent smith making copies of this for sparring.

[@TheSaneHatter]

I'm . . . actually rather on-board with this idea. Being a fan of the Renaissance "sidesword" family, and the owner of a thrust-oriented model (one of Arms & Armor's "Venetian Rapiers," from back in 1999), I've long wondered if such a weapon could have been pressed into service for Georgian and Victorian purposes as a thrust-heavy cavalry weapon. It seems that our eccentric officer engineered almost exactly that!

[@diannegooding8733]

On D day, mad Jack Churchill also used a long bow and arrows with good effect. It surprised the Germans that some of their colleagues had arrows in them or had been “run though” by a swordsman!

[@RelativelyBest]

I actually rather like that hilt design. The only thing I'd do different is have the back quillon be longer and curve towards the blade. Just for aesthetic purposes, though (with saber-type hilts I always find myself wanting something sticking out on the opposite side of the knuckle guard) and I assume it's so short to keep with the regulation profile in this case.

[@Psittacus_erithacus]

… or comfort. Long quillons are a bother to wear. The longer, the more bothersome. Especially if you are ever required to bend over (ie keep your head down) or sit. Both of which seem like plausible parts of an infantry officer's day-to-day in that time period.

[@m_d_c_t]

The best historical pieces are the hideous one-off weird ones. Excellent find.

[@farkasmactavish]

Dude, you did such a good job of building up to it lmaooo

[@Maedhros0Bajar]

Damn it, I just bought a new sword (Cold Steel Kriegsmesser). And now I want one like that officer's sword. Honestly, I thought you were going to bring up the Claymore, as in the non-exploding, non-greatword kind, and Mad Jack Churchill. But that sword is awesome

[@kleinerprinz99]

One could argue the Russian-Japanese War from 1904/5 was fought anachronistically. Already the rifles from the 1860s period were too deadly for Line Battle distance and yet majority of American Civil War was fought that way which also explains the high number of casualties. Opposite of that we see Häuserkampf in the Napoleonic Wars of 1812 , a pre-cursor of modern day combat. Its stupid to focus on one single item like Bayonet charges when you view it out of context. Cheers. PS: Beautiful unique sword piece!

[@brittakriep2938]

In napoleonic era, some prussian Landwehr units started field service with more pikes and axes than muskets. In wwll some british Home Guard men at first got pikes.

[@taistelusammakko5088]

​@@brittakriep2938some finnish red guards got pikes too in finnish civil war. Thats because there werent enough rifles

[@brittakriep2938]

@@taistelusammakko5088 : Yes , when in 19th/20th century soldiers, mostly second line, militia or semiregular, got pikes or warscytes, a lack of firearms was the reason. I am not informed, bit i heared, that during wwll, local policemen in japanese occipied territoy sometimes used spears.

[@thatbeme]

Thanks

[@HypocriticYT]

Matt I thought this video was about a double edged narrow bladed Wilkinson that just sold at auction but this sword is exceptional.

[@MrPink-qf1xi]

You know in games where you have customization options and spend hours looking at stats and designs. Making something that so out of place but so good at that one thing. This is kinda like that.

[@emarsk77]

Is it possible that those quillons were originally longer, and he had to cut them off afterwards to meet the regulations?

[@kavasir7042]

Hope we get a video on Digby Tatum-Warners umbrella.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

MATT EASTON - Could you do a video on what sword type Jack Churchill carried in WWII?

[@ItalianAvalanche]

This is such a cool and unique piece! This is the kind of thing that a sword nerd would turn their nose at if they saw in a fantasy setting but now we can say WELL ACTUALLY

[@bobsmith9177]

It’s not ugly it’s beautiful

[@kennetth1389]

That is a beautiful piece of history. Truly a custom piece made to customers specification, wonder what the bladesmith thought of it.

[@Jayboyd1260]

Awwwwww the moment that sword came on screen, I said to myself "Oh that looks so cool!" then Matt goes "[the sword] is super ugly!!" (15:58) hahahaha

[@gehrigornelas6317]

Super neat. I wonder how it would perform against bayonet and other swords of the day.

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thanks

[@revdrjon]

Watched this entire video waiting for you to say it was Mad Jack's.

[@TheLasTBreHoN]

Would love to see a video about the most effective weapon for a immortal in the highlander franchise. It has to be able to behead and also easy to carry but also effective against whatever other weapon you may come up against.