How Medieval & Renaissance Swords Were Gripped (Sometimes!): Sabre Grip

[@HS-su3cf]

The medieval manuscripts are very accurate on how to fight giants snails. We know this, because the giant snail is now extinct.

[@johnladuke6475]

Maybe that's backwards. The techniques were ineffective and the breed of adventurers who are intrepid enough to track down and fight a giant snail are the ones who became extinct.

[@Muritaipet]

We need an analysis from Matt on the best weapons for fighting giant snails. After all, they are armoured ........

[@shorewall]

@@Muritaipet Same as on the battlefield. Polearms. A good halberd will keep you out of range of the Giant Snail's massive strength and mucus attacks, and the heavy axe head and spike on the back are ideal for getting through its armored shell.

[@Muritaipet]

@@shorewall I'm not sure. The soft exposed tissue might absorb heavy damage. And where are the vital organs of the Giant Snail species? You may need a better cutting weapon (sword?) to chop off the exposed bits & disable the snail, before getting in close with a Snail Hammer to crack the shell.

[@InSanic13]

@@Muritaipet Shadiversity is more the kind of KZbinr to analyze fantastical creatures and what weapons would work best with/against them.

[@robinthrush9672]

Just so you know, I handled this video with a thumb up.

[@malahamavet]

Good comeback!, I take off my imaginary hat 😁

[@benjaminabbott4705]

George Silver used a thumb-up grip in his variable fight: "Remember in putting forth your sword point to make your space narrow, when he lies upon his Stocata, or any thrust, you must hold the handle thereof as it were along your hand, resting the pommel thereof in the hollow part of the middle of the heel of your hand towards the wrist, & the former part of the handle must be held between the forefinger & thumb, without the middle joint of the forefinger towards the top thereof, holding that finger somewhat straight out gripping round your handle with your other 3 fingers, & laying your thumb straight towards his, the better to be able to perform this action perfectly, for if you grip your handle close out- thwart(?) in your hand, then you cannot lay your point straight upon his to make your space narrow, but that your point will still lie too wide to do the same in due time, & this is the best way to hold your sword in all kinds of variable fight. "But upon your guardant or open fight then hold it with full gripping it in your hand, & not laying your thumb along the handle, as some use, then shall you never be able to strongly to ward a strong blow."

[@DontKeeptheFaith]

Originally entitled "Thumb Wars," this video was renamed after a copyright dispute with Steve Oedekerk.

[@stevethegeckotv]

As someone who trains in Meyer’s dussack and rapier, I use a variety of grips depending on the sword and techniques I am using. I own a longsword, two rapiers, two dussack and a messer. I use the thumb up on my messer and wood+leather dussack, switching to the thumb on the flat for the crooked cut (krump) or for the squinting cut (schielhau). My steel dussack (from Bloss) is a little harder to do the thumb on flat when wearing gloves but is possible. My “Meyer” rapier doesn’t allow an Italian grip due to the lack of finger ring, but I can thumb the flat for short edge cuts or for flat parries (pflug guard is thumb on flat, quillons east-west. Good for hanging parries and snap cuts). My other rapier allows the Italian grip but I can’t change grips to rheumatoid the flat when wearing gloves.

[@bretalvarez3097]

I think it's high time for Matt and Roland Warzecha to make a video together.

[@scholagladiatoria]

We did try to make it happen, but since about 2008 we are rarely in the same place at the same time. Which is a shame, because we used to be at a lot of the same events before that.

[@bretalvarez3097]

@@scholagladiatoria That's awesome to hear, hopefully you guys can meet up soon and make an awesome video.

[@johnladuke6475]

See, this is why there needs to be a conference of youtubers who focus on swords and HEMA. Imagine Matt, Roland, Lindybeige, Metatron, Todd, Skallagrim, Thrand, Shad, and I'm probably still missing some... all in the same place for an event. Maybe annually. It would be damned hard to organize but I bet it would crowdfund in a heartbeat.

[@bretalvarez3097]

@@johnladuke6475 Matt does fight camp once a year, that's closest thing to what you're talking about

[@PalleRasmussen]

@@scholagladiatoria the iron age event you and I communicated about in spring was to include Roland as well. And he sent me a ton of ideas that I never got around to reply to because my leaders shut it down, my father died and my ferrets died within a month. And then we got news that the city council would close the place down, and I moved to Greenland to be a teacher. So yea... sadly, I would have wanted you, him and Mikkel Mønsted and Tom Jersø together plus a lot of reenactors, etc. Sadly it did not come to pass. I do have connections at Fyrkat Viking Fortress, and Hvolris Iron Age Centre, so perhaps some day...

[@Dumbo8234]

Remember, the right grip can lead to a fingering.

[@joanignasi91]

Don't forget to lead the thrusts with your finger

[@leemcgann6470]

Always informative & entertaining Matt! Thank you

[@Ssatkan]

Yes! Finally a video featuring Dussacks. Always thought they are fascinating and such a niche thing.

[@daaaah_whoosh]

I've recently started using the thumb-up-the-back grip for longsword. Seems like it works pretty well, since using two hands makes the weapon feel light.

[@alpharage1090]

It's good to mention that when you are using a sword you are switching your grip constantly anyways. I'm almost always defaulting to handshake grip regardless of implement, but I regularly switch to hammer grip, pommel grip, finger over grip, thumb on blade grip, or even letting go of an implement to wrestle or sweep. I'm convinced medieval swordsmen wouldnt fight with a constant static grip either.

[@gregorstamejcic2355]

Matt, there are easier ways to ask for a thumbs up...

[@joegillian314]

In my experience of being an animal with thumbs, the point of putting your thumb onto the grip instead of wrapping it around is that it allows you to engage more arm muscles, the muscles of the forearm in particular, but also the wrist. It is not possible to grip an object like a sword strongly while also being able to manipulate it with dexterity without using your thumb. Without the thumb, there is nothing for you to press against in order to get the rest of your arm working. Grabbing a sword with a cross guard in this way seems like it would be difficult (I don't have a sword just now to try it...but later) because the cross guard is in the way, and if you were to put your thumb around the side your hand would be vulnerable for much of the time, so if ever you did hold the cross hilt sword this way it would be only situational, I would imagine.

[@If-ish]

Few weeks back I was using a waster with a relatively round grip thumb up, went to make a snap cut and it popped right out of my hand. That's a bloody good reason to only use it for lighter swords.

[@benway23]

Man, that was great. Thank you for your work. I gotta get me a sword like the one next to your black and gold shield. You did a vid on it once. Need to rewatch some old videos. Thank you again.

[@HeroicSport]

nice breakdown!

[@LurkerDaBerzerker]

*Relevant and Supportive Comment*

[@robinthrush9672]

*Irrelevant and negative response*

[@joanignasi91]

@@robinthrush9672 *Insulting comment to negative reply suggesting commenter's mother was a hamster and father smells like elderberries*

[@robinthrush9672]

@@joanignasi91 *overly defensive response filled with typos pretending comment didn't get under my skin*

[@INTERNERT]

irreverent innuendo with repetitive in-jokes!!

[@00Trademark00]

"Tesák" is the Czech name for dussack. It also literally means "fang" in Czech.

[@judofry]

Cool 😎

[@dreadnought8363]

“Fang“ maybe a tiny bit like “Hirschfänger“ in german?

[@00Trademark00]

@@dreadnought8363 Yes, the etymology seems to be similar. According to wikipedia: "The Czech term [ tesák] entered German usage in the Hussite Wars, after the sidearm used by the Hussites." So that's where "dussack" comes from in German. It is interesting that German word Hirschfänger conjures up the same sort of image. It could be due to cultural proximity or simply because these swords and knives do look a bit like a fang. By the way, the Hussites are a source of several weapon-related Czech loanwords in German and (through German) English. Pistol ("píšťala", literally flute...which is what early hand-held firearms looked like, modern Czech uses the word "pistole" for "pistol" and "píšťala" for "flute" though, so the loanword returned back :) ) and howitzer ("houfnice", literally something like "crowder"..."houf" means "crowd" in Czech and the 15th century cannon was loaded with shrapnels and used sort of like a huge early shotgun) are probably the best known examples.

[@dreadnought8363]

@@00Trademark00 the thing is hirschfänger comes from “abfangen“ which means to kill a charging or previously wounded animal So maybe the czech word could have some origin in that?

[@00Trademark00]

@@dreadnought8363 I see. But the tooth is called "Fangzahn" isn't it? The weapon is named after the tooth (it is exactly the same word in Czech) so the etymology would be the same. But it might be that the German etymology is the one you suggest.

[@ericjohnson6784]

Love your vids cannot stop watching.

[@imstupid880]

Here's to hoping for an update video on those Easton sabers!

[@Morbak546]

I think having the thumb up the grip would help get a good edge alignment while doing a pushcut or drawcut.

[@susannekalejaiye4351]

fascinating! I've just started drawing a rapier fighter from a German manuscript and one of the first things I noticed in the original was the position of his thumb. in the case I'm working from it overlaps the forefinger. Anyhow, your presentation is very interesting . Thank you.

[@radicasterian]

i know this is an old video, but i was reading through a book on swedish military infantry saber, and there you are taught to move your thumb from thumb up to handshake and the other way around depending on the cut, thrust parry etc. However i myself tend to use even axes thumb up if it's light enough that the grip feels sturdy to me, otherwise handshake, feels much more flexible than the hammer grip, and even though i have fairly weak hands it tends to work very well for me even with somewhat heavier implements

[@DMRaptorJesus]

*hears Matt say Lightsaber* "Oh shit! I had no idea was a Jedi master. Its all starting to make sense now."

[@ariochiv]

"All about context, it is."

[@Sk0lzky]

Sabre grip is love, especially the polish ringed variation, I have a tendency to grab almost everything this way. It's actually really good for cutting with knives. When handling straight swords, on the other hand I overuse the "finger on top" thing, it just makes it feel a lot more secure and maneuverable. And painful when I get hit on the crossguard :/

[@chopstick1671]

Hey Matt, I have a question: what’s your opinion on the Swiss double-handed saber? I have never used it, but it looks rather interesting...

[@chopstick1671]

Colin Cleveland I have no clue, that’s why I’m hoping Matt will honour us with an answer. I was browsing armouries on the internet to look at some swords, and somehow when browsing the two-handed section I ran into what was called a “Swiss Saber” and it was a complex hilted double handed single edged sword. It seems pretty interesting, so I would want to know more about it as well, if I find out more about those types of swords, I’ll be sure to post it here. Edit: I’ve found an example on the site of Tod’s Workshop which refers to the Wallace collection: todsworkshop.com/blogs/blog/reproducing-the-wallace-collection-a489-sabre

[@robinthrush9672]

@Colin Cleveland I think a guard in an episode of Rouroni Kenshin two-handed a saber for a fight.

[@robinthrush9672]

@Colin Cleveland Either Skall or Shad (maybe both) have done videos on some of the weaponry in the show. Most prominently, Kenshin's reverse-blade katana. The blade's on the concave part of the curve as opposed to the convex.

[@justsomeguy3931]

@@chopstick1671 When I first saw the Swiss 2 handed saber on Tod's channel, I thought, "It's a European katana..."

[@Sk0lzky]

The curve is so gentle I don't think it warrants a comparison to a tachi and even less an average length katana since they tend to be really short. It also seems to be very delicate, light and nimble so I guess it's lacking the "oomph" you get with more point balanced sabres. If I were to compare anything to asiatic two-handers - be it sino-korean, japanese or sino-japanese designs - I'd definitely consider two handed messers waaaaay before this one.

[@QuantumPyrite_88.9]

A very interesting video and I wonder how many people have read the works of Sir Richard Francis Burton . Thanks for the video .

[@justsomeguy3931]

I love the grip (and guard) on that messer. The grip reminds me of the Gavilian de Incolma Colombia machete I learned on from the age of reason. I felt like child Link in the Kokiri Forest. At first I choked up way too high on the grip, getting the wrong idea from TV. After a little while my hand naturally went to the right spot a bit down and in hammer grip After over a decade of slinging that thing around and harvesting large Alaskan trees (chopping them up into sharp sections for the wooden palisade wall around my fort, worked great for LARP) my grip had migrated down to the very bottom, pinky resting on the little protrusion at the bottom. When I saw Musashi style dual-wielding Japanese sword people holding the sword by the bottom of the grip, I could totally relate. Over time and 10s of thousands of chops, I could manage the weapon further and further down. Even trying to go back to a hammer grip near the (non-existent) guard, my hand involuntarily migrated to the bottom in a handshake grip very quickly. I think this is possibly the origin of people thinking Viking swords were held by the pommel lolz. My machete never once flow out of my hand, that little nub by the pinky worked very well I know it's just a matter of time before I get the damn arming sword on farm the same way. Right now the right hand has all the dex but not the str, and the left hand has all the str and not the dex. Frustrating and surprising lolz. I'd be a lot more effective with a messer or even Cluny falchion type 1 hander, unless armor got involved. Personally I think a basket-hilted broad/backsword is what I was destined to use lol. Still love that buckler BTW, thx for the source. Makes me happy to see it hanging up there, distracts me from the aching hand at half shield lol

[@catocall7323]

Yeah having used a machete on farms for years I adopted similar styles. I think anyone interested in swordsmanship should definitely spend some time working with a machete. It gives a nice baseline on how to handle blades and what they can do.

[@positroll7870]

I am sure that Matt knows a hundred times more about sabres and swords than I do. But it strikes me as pretty strange to claim that German Langmesser were at the root of the sabre. AFAIK, cavalry sabres came into the HRE in the 15th century via the Poles, Croats and Hungarians whose cavalry was in turn influenced by the Ottomans etc. Yes, the Hussites used dussacks during the Hussite wars, but the Germans adopted those mostly (as shown) as a training weapon, while the Croat light cavalry of the Empire already used real sabers at the time ...

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Yeah, essentially since their is a video on his channel where he shows a hungarian saer and talks about how they were around since the flipping 9th century when the Avars were around.

[@MatthewBixbyabiding]

Mr Easton, question do edges clash when sword fighting? and if they do how does the edge survive? I've often wondered why edgescare not all dented etc. BTW love your channel very informative.

[@paulpolito2001]

I love the deep dives on "fundamental/foundational" aspects of proper H2H combat. Grip is second only to footwork, in my experience -- and like footwork, I routinely refine/improve my own techniques, even after ~30yrs. Had to grudgingly Like, tho. I don't recall "Context" being said once. I let it slide, cause of context. It's off topic, but speaking of footwork, your active 'shuffling' (constant, small movements... ya know, cause you're good at *not getting hit*, lol) makes me less self conscious of the fact that I do the same thing. Cheers Cpt. Context. P.s. Have you done an overview of footwork? Its, sadly, somewhat common for otherwise knowledgeable, competent fighters/instructors to go on to demonstrate atrocious-to-adequate footwork, and yours is quite excellent.

[@PilgrimBangs]

I would note Roland is using that grip on the Viking era broadsword not the longsword with it's long tang and grip. The almond pummel on swords from the period are by design off centered to specifically fit the right handed hind of the palm. & which only works if you use the grip Roland demonstrates. I'd like to hear your take on that design of the pommel and shorter grip found on that Viking era swords.

[@leoscheibelhut940]

Context.Context. Context. "a degree, a pinch of salt' I appreciate your constant reminders that there are exceptions to every rule and situation .

[@carlosdelsol76]

As a medieval expert (warband player) I can say it the best grip is the left swing spam grip

[@TonyfromTO]

Im learning to wield my "mongol sabre" and this is much food for thought!

[@_malprivate2543]

What kind of 14th century depictions of messers are there that you mention? I love the messer but since I mainly do 14th century I thought I was out luck when it came to those. Your mentioned of late 14 thcentury messers gives me hope! :D

[@matheushenriquearantespere5659]

Matt, how about a video on sword and kite shield combat?

[@dast1979]

Hey Matt, just a quick Tip. Use a mono Microphone or bounce the Stereosignal into a Monosignal. I'm an Audio Engineer, sitting in front of good Studio Monitors and your Voice travels from left to right, which is pretty irritating. Getting kind of Seasick ;) It's subtle but once you hear it.....Otherwise i really like your Channel. Great Content

[@JeffHays]

So some prefer a handshake, and others prefer a thumb up!

[@UnholyTerra]

Jeff Hays and some prefer a good Finger-Ring.

[@JeffHays]

@@UnholyTerra 'Cause if you like it, then you shoulda put a ring on it

[@LamgiMari]

For some reason I have just watched 13 minutes of talking about the thumb position on a sword handle. And I haven't even held a sword in my hand in my entire life.

[@OhioCruffler]

I was waiting for a double entendre to come out when you said "Thumb up the back".

[@davekingrey1009]

I never used to like the look of lang messers but the look has really grown on me and now I think the look badass. Funny how tastes change. Also I have always wondered if a lang messer as well as the bowie knife are decendants of the broken back seax. Maybe its the clip and the fact that both the lang messer and seax are of germanic origin. Anyone have any insight on this?

[@benmorris7276]

Can you do a video on Salvatore Fabris treatises if you haven't already please?

[@LorannaPyrel]

Question Matt. You say that the Germanic sources show the use of the thumb on the flat of the blade far more than the Italian sources. Do you think this potentially means earlier Germanic/Migration Era swordsmanship might have included techniques using the thumb on the blade? - Loranna

[@alexanderguesthistorical7842]

To my mind, you just touched quickly on the main reason for the sabre (thumb up) coming into prominence in the video. It was to change the ANGLE of the grip of the sword in the hand. This is something entirely possible to do with the wrist, but with the thumb up sabre grip, not only is it using less muscle power (it's "easier") than a hammer grip, but you can achieve a greater, more acute angle of sword grip using the sabre grip, than a hammer grip. Why would people want to do this? Very simply, it is to increase reach of the blade. A) to favour the point of the weapon, rather than the edge B) to keep the opponent at MAXIMUM distance, to increase your own defence. Even though there are a myriad of different sword types in existence from different historical periods throughout history, the "sword" has followed a general broad-brush, overall development over the centuries. Starting with relatively "chunky" weapons, ideal for slashing, but far more challenging to create in order to favor the point, due to the relatively low quality materials and manufacturing abilities of the time (compared to today). All the way up to early modern times when the general, broad-brush development stream produced more point-centric weapons, which were deadly effective, but were LIGHT and compact enough to be worn in civilian, and non battlefield situations. Yes, there were MANY exceptions to this rule, but I'm talking about a general OVERARCHING process which took place over European (at least) history. Hence in history there were stout slashing bronze age leaf bladed swords, falcatas, Kopis, broadswords, etc at a time when thrusting swords were generally pointy versions of their slashing counterparts - as the metallurgy necessary to make ultra thin pointing blades was not extant. Then later in history there are swords like the rapier, epee, foils and smallswords, all made with excellent quality steels (in comparison to earlier ones) which enabled them to be wielded favoring the point, rather than the edge. And due to the quality of steel, their length grew as well, going right the way out past 34 inches. Imagine a dark age smith tasked with creating a robust, yet thin, light, elegant, exceptionally quick and flickable weapon, with a blade length of over 34 inches. He'd just laugh at you, because it couldn't be done with the materials, tools and techniques in use at the time. But by the 17th century they could achieve this. The point being that as this general overarching TREND towards lighter, quicker and LONGER blades happened throughout European history, so indeed the techniques of holding the grip changed, slowly over time. Putting the thumb up the back of the blade "naturally" extended the tip of the blade forwards to increase reach. This is compared to something like a "Viking Age" broadsword where the hand was forcibly kept in a hammer grip, by means of the upper and lower guards. Squeezing the hand around the grip inevitably increased the width of the palm slightly, LOCKING IT IN PLACE between upper and lower guards. This is no doubt the reason why these grips were made purposely so short (in comparison to later types). And the wrist was locked in a 90 degree angle (to the forearm) thus, when brought DOWN upon the enemy, would induce a powerful draw cut, the swing emanating from the shoulder, not the wrist. Proof of this technique is the fact that if wielding a sword of "Viking Age" type if you flex the wrist to extend the grip, the upper guard will "tell you off" by poking you in the wrist! But the key point is that with this fighting system, the reach was extremely poor, due to the exclusion of the ability to "give point" due to the design of the grip would not allow it (if held in normal fashion). So basically, over time, lighter quicker, more nimble, and LONGER bladed weapons were developed with the help of better steels. The sabre grip was developed to capitalise on this process, by "naturally" presenting the TIP of the weapon. Achieved by nothing more than a change of angle of hilt in the hand, by putting the thumb up the back of the grip, rather than wrapping the thumb around the grip, which tends to bring the tip back in towards the body.

[@superrobotmonkeyhyperteamf3194]

Interesting it reminds me that ive read that in joachim meyers Rostocker Manuscript there is a Chapter which used the Terms Dussack Messer and Rapier interchangeable which further reinforces the point made in the video. I also tried out the "thumb grip" on my Gustav Messer from Landsknechtsemporium and noticed that the part of the Guard which is curved and points to the short egde of the sword seems to fancy the thumb for some reason is that purely coincidence or is there some information?

[@bombardboxing]

As far as trusting medieval art or not, one thing may be considered: drawing hands is difficult and subtle, and hands in general may not be an aspect the artists paid close enough attention to, due to the subtlety.

[@georgiyyamov5827]

"Wrong number of hands, wrong number of fingers". You never know, we have myths. Time to believe!

[@eljanrimsa5843]

The combined hammer-thumbs-up grip works well for the two-thumbed hand.

[@pib8298]

Maybe a video about forward curved saber hilts?

[@morriganmhor5078]

Matt, excuse me, but what about this line of thinking: it has "pistol" grip and curved blade = saber (šavle,); straight hilt and curved blade = family of dussacks etc.; straight hilt and straight blade = sword family. Unfortunately, from this point of view some japanese "katanas" are spadroons/dussacks and some are sabres ;-)

[@fisadev]

Hey, Marozzo shows plenty of thumb on the blade! :)

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

0:10 Ok bye. Only joking.

[@marlock77]

You neglected mentioning that a thumb up grip was common in the Liechtenauer school of german longsword fencing. You did mention some of the strikes from that school like the schielhau and the scheitelhau. wiktenauer.com/wiki/Johannes_Liechtenauer

[@1jotun136]

Interesting. With the Chinese dao (broad sabre) it's a hammer grip, with the lao jin (scholars straight sword) it's thumb on the guard.

[@drummanicman]

Is it possible that the weight of the weapon, with the increase of quality of steel. Changed the grip over time?

[@seanmcguire7974]

Wouldnt the larger curve make it harder to cut or shorten your reach?

[@josefbroz5531]

Hallo Matt, can you make video about "archers swords" ?

[@benjaminodonnell258]

What role did thrust-centric swords, rapiers and transitional and small swords, have in the rise of the thumb-up grip?

[@warrenokuma7264]

Why isn't the finger rings under the cross guard?

[@shawn6860]

I was wondering that too. My guess is control of the blade during thrusts.

[@arpioisme]

If you see achille marozzo book two, in the figure explaining guardia d'entrare, you will see something akin to saber grip

[@OptimusPat93]

Is that a Patu on the wall near the shield on the left? An old Māori weapon from New Zealand?

[@johnladuke6475]

I think so? He did feature it briefly in a video forever ago but it's on the long list of things that he'll cover in more depth in a later video.

[@OptimusPat93]

@@johnladuke6475 Cheers thank you

[@overeasymode]

They remind me of the different tennis grips. I'm wondering if that's where tennis got it from.

[@scholagladiatoria]

I think having numerous ways to grip a tool in different circumstances is quite widespread.

[@mikesummers-smith4091]

Keep it clean.

[@mikesummers-smith4091]

@Gunner M249 Whip it in, whip it out, and wipe it.

[@estranhokonsta]

I have no doubt that the tennis grips origins are complex. They have been developed in many ways and by many peoples. Probably even being 'independently rediscovered' many times. But on the other hand, the early history of tennis is full of people that practiced sword. Tennis, in its first variations, was an exclusive of nobles. And in particular, a British military officer is recognized as one of the founder of what would be modern tennis. There are stories on how he promulgated it everywhere and in particular to its fellow in the military. So there should be little hesitation in assuming that sword grips certainly has influenced tennis grips.

[@mikesummers-smith4091]

Are you suggesting that the nobles and the lower classes grip their tools in different ways as a matter of heredity?

[@frozenturtlefarts1025]

The guard doesn't hurt your thumb when you stab?

[@Kobolds_in_a_trenchcoat]

I've heard that, due to a rounding error, the average number of fingers is more than five. Having a sixth finger is not all that rare and many people with a sixth finger can use it perfectly well (like a second ring finger). Maybe in the medieval period some people were just born with extra hands? Obviously I don't actually think people were born with extra hands in the medieval period but the extra finger thing is true and not even THAT rare. Maybe the sabre grip is functionally better for single edged swords? Most sabres and messers were primarily single-edged (clipped points notwithstanding).

[@kuesdav]

Out of curiosity, which arming sword is that?

[@sportsboy5570]

Matt, great vid. One idea for a future video; how about covering the arms and armor of the Christian military orders (The Templars, Hospitalers/ Knight of St John of Malta and the Teutonic Order? SO much history there and it would be great to explore their respective tactics and combat techniques ect. Just a thought. Cheers!

[@hazzardalsohazzard2624]

I think Metatron has done a video on that, he might be worth checking out.

[@sportsboy5570]

@@hazzardalsohazzard2624 Many thanks, yes I have seen them and they are good; I would also like to see Mat's take on the military orders though

[@Ironkovacs]

- What kind of a weapon does a fat Jedi use? - ??? - A HEAVY sabre

[@dukeofburgundy4229]

Is that the Del Tin St. Maurice behind you? If so, what are your opinion of it?

[@scholagladiatoria]

Yes. They are quite overweight. I would not recommend.

[@tonyrenshaw3143]

what a gorgeous messer, who made it and what are its stats please

[@messeringaround1426]

It's the Günther messer by Landsknecht Emporium.

[@feagal612]

So are you saying you should put your thumb up it as often as you can?

[@EmilReiko]

"with a degree of pinch of salt"

[@PrimordialNightmare]

I wonder If there's application of the sabre grip on two handed swords liek the longsword.

[@morriganmhor5078]

Btw., sabre is much older than dussacks, not the other way, and it came to Western Europe from the East through Hungary and Poland.

[@Glimmlampe1982]

The A in Nagel is pronounced like "au" in laugh. And the "ch" Landsknecht is pronounced like an angry hiss of cat Easton ;)

[@faradey1234]

Speaking of early sabers, wasn't the Russian shashka around a century or two before the messer?

[@alpharage1090]

I give this video one thumb up because I'm gripping a medieval hammer with my other hand.

[@mallardtheduck406]

Bowie didn't create the Bowie knife, just shrunk the messer down.

[@chucknorris202]

the Messer looks like a sword length Bowie knife.

[@earltheartist3697]

first! I give this video a THUMB UP.

[@londiniumarmoury7037]

You win this round.

[@scholagladiatoria]

If you come first then you know you'll leave happy, but if you come second then you both should leave happy.

[@shawn6860]

So moral of the story is even medieval people were as less knowledgable about weapons as we are today. lesson learned. Hence why you Shad, Skall, and Metatron are on my KZbin Subs.

[@johnladuke6475]

Illuminated manuscripts share a lot of similarities with Hollywood movies.

[@AlricOfRahls]

Funny thing, you said that dussak is sometimes called tessak, which is very similar to Russian word tesak, which means cutlass, or some other heavyish bladed weapon.

[@SirFancyPantsMcee]

Are you saying I cant trust that swords didn't go straight through helmets and chain mail? I mean I saw it on a painting... lol

[@MaxTaleYT]

From where is the art of the image at 8:09 and 11:00 ?

[@killerkraut9179]

after my knowlege there was a knuckle guard pessant defence version of the dussack

[@Vampiracho]

Isn't that a club at 5:10?

[@miliciades101]

Hey matt, dont you think that have a notebook near you every time you record a video would help you? I say it because since ever you say “that is a topic for another video” and those videos never come to live 😂 is only a recommendation, cheers.

[@dtm6190]

At the 9:50 mark in your video the person on the right in the picture upholds your thought that art is sometime incorrect. The way in which the person on the right side of the illustration is holding the weapon is physically impossible. Put a weapon in your right hand with the thumb on the back of the grip and the only way you can do it you will see the back of your hand and not the palm. If you can see the palm of the hand then the thumb would be pointing at the person holding the weapon so the weapon would be being held in a vertical stabbing grip. Could just be a strange birth defect :-)

[@johnladuke6475]

Well when you consider the amount of inbreeding between medieval nobility, a thumb on the wrong side of the hand might start to sound plausible...

[@nate_thealbatross]

Medieval Matt Easton stood up in the town square and critiqued the accuracy of medieval sword art.

[@random2829]

I held my finger over the quillon. Now they call me "Nubbie".

[@balasaashti3146]

Me: Man I want to try this with my sabre. Sabre: I'm Polish with a thump guard. Me: I need more swords.

[@MrPanos2000]

What maker if I may ask?

[@balasaashti3146]

@@MrPanos2000 I wasn't able to find one in America that I wanted all the cool sabres only shipped to European countries. So I ended up with the cold steel polish Sabre.

[@MrPanos2000]

@@balasaashti3146 Well its true you need a new sword then hahaha. All jokes aside, have you looked up any makers like Vladimir Cervenka? I think I have seen American forum dwellers own products of Czech and Hungarian makerz

[@balasaashti3146]

@@MrPanos2000 no I haven't thank you I'll need to look him up.

[@MrPanos2000]

@@balasaashti3146 He isnt specialised in sabers, just mentioned a name on top of my head. He makes excellent sideswords and meyer rapiers and dussaks etc. generally Central European 14th-17th century swords. He also makes cool Schiavonas. If you want a Polish or Hungarian style saber there are craftsmen in those countries for that, you will have to look for names in forums like myarmoury.com

[@oldschooljeremy8124]

"With a lightsaber"? Didn't know you di 'Star Wars' larping. ;P

[@raybellows9851]

I thought dussack were more of a western version of the eastern saber.

[@metamaggot]

by the handle of course

[@frankharr9466]

I am not a HEMA person. I plan on learning something. When I use a hammer, I do it with the thumb up. Am I hammering wrong? No! Not the point of this video! Also, I don't think I am doing it wrong, because when I didn't, I couldn't reliably hit the nail. Oh, look! I did learn something. Cool.

[@loods2215]

That italian accent was priceless

[@martinseelig585]

the "a" in nagel is pronounced a bit like the "au" laugh

[@00Trademark00]

"nahgl" is probably the closest to a fonetic transcription to English (though English is not a very fonetic language).

[@SuperCasualPleb]

8:46 reverse grip

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

But I thought you held the sword upside down like a dagger. (Just joking, that looks very stupid)

[@simoneriksson8329]

It is shown in medeival artwork though... but from what I k ow only showing cavalry using it like that

[@johnladuke6475]

The key to that technique is that you hold both the swords that you're dual-wielding in that manner, of course after drawing them from back-scabbards but before you perform a lethal spin-attack.

[@johnladuke6475]

@Colin Cleveland I don't ululate in public anymore, I got a ticket for it once when I was drunk.

[@markfergerson2145]

Notice the fellow at 8:46 using a reverse grip is about to lose his head...

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

That only works if you’re dual wielding longswords, the most underrated weapon in all of HEMA.

[@Anathmatician]

French and Italian grips?

[@Drew_Thompson]

The only difference between the French and Italian grip is that with the French grip you raise your pinky.