LONGSWORD VS GREATSWORD: What is the DIFFERENCE?

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The longsword is frequently compared to other swords such as the katana and rapier, but what is the real difference between a longsword and a greatsword? What is a greatsword (also known as montante, zweihander, spadone etc) and what is a longsword exactly?
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[@scholagladiatoria]

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[@popuptoaster]

I understand these days you need sponsors but this it not a good one, we know how scripted and regimented you are for this lot to pay you any money and personally I'd prefer a sponsor I could believe that you actually liked. Love your vids though, keep it up despite my opinion!

[@britannia2129]

@@popuptoaster I’ve heard they pay £10,000 - I’m willing to put up with that if it goes towards the channel

[@MisterCynic18]

@@popuptoaster I'm sure he really likes those boots

[@MrGShev]

Matt, if you haven't seen it already, you should watch this video, you might be very surprised by some of it's content (go to 5:07 if you don't want to watch it all) kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYiWpKJmqrysZtk

[@-smp-scientificmethodpersp838]

So why can't anyone find Captain Context in this game? I mean, it's the same as last time. Are you lying for Raid that you can be found on the game, so people will download it? No one, including me, has found you or your group on that game for weeks, since you first said you could be found in another video of yours.

[@johnstuartkeller5244]

All greatswords are long, but not all longswords are great.

[@munstrumridcully]

Nice! Who would've thought that Set Theory, with its "sets", and "subsets", and "intersections", could be such a good source of humor?! 🤔🙂

[@skjaldulfr]

Ever since the leather jacket video where someone said he looked like a vampire, I can't unsee it when he has a popped collar. And you know what? I like it. If there's any kind of person I want to watch discuss swords, it's a vampire. In fact, Matt, if you could intentionally dress more like a vampire, I would enjoy that.

[@ericamborsky3230]

Well, once when he was theorizing on something, he said something along the lines of "this theory was held by many other experts in the 18th century." I do not remember in which video he said this, so that quote was paraphrased and I am uncertain if he said 18th or 19th century, but my point still stands.

[@kerendri6136]

He could totally pull off the classic Nosferatu look, as played by Max Schreck in 1922.

[@skjaldulfr]

@@ericamborsky3230 Are you suggesting he's been undead since the 18th Century?

[@graywolfdracon]

@@skjaldulfr are you suggesting he hasn't??

[@grot777]

Oh yeah. Quite clear now really.

[@Vivi2372]

"unless you build a very specific and not historical type of scabbard and why would you do that?" *Stares in Shad 😂

[@kaiceecrane3884]

Because it's cool! Non historical things are cool too, Matt!

[@chirongodemperorof4127]

Themz fightin wurdz

[@heavyshoegaze2423]

I've always wondered if shad's backscabbard would work for a great sword. Would it be too unwieldy or hard to draw with just one hand? I think it could be interesting to test.

[@Alex_Fahey]

@@heavyshoegaze2423 With the way Shad's back-scabbard is designed, presumably the only change you would need is to increase the distance down the scabbard the slit in the side goes. As long as you are strong enough to lift the sword behind your back with one hand, it should work with any length of sword. Although, if the sword is much longer than you are tall, you probably won't want it on your back.

[@MorgorDre]

Because ... Draaaaaaaaaaagooooooooonsaaa

[@a-blivvy-yus]

"Obviously, one is great, and the other is just long" - dads everywhere on hearing what their kids are doing on KZbin...

[@jamesfrankiewicz5768]

In terms of military terminology, "breaking pikes" can mean "breaking the pike unit/formation", rather than breaking the implement itself.

[@Turgz]

That applies to today's terminology as well. For example certain weapons are used to break up an enemy formation.

[@19Koty96]

Yes, a formation is usually called after its weapon.

[@adambielen8996]

Yeah, I've always seen it as the Doppleschonders were meant to bat aside the enemy pikes so that they can close in and also give their own pikemen behind them an edge as their pikes aren't getting batted about.

[@OnlyKaerius]

Yeah you're basically not going to cut a pike haft with a single blow of any sword, even a bidenhänder, probably not even with something like a dane axe or poll axe(mostly because something held in hands has too much give, if you hit it hard you're just going to move it, at best disarm them). They can break from repeated blows, but it's not something to build a strategy around.

[@Conehead55]

@@OnlyKaerius i understand what your saying but in forged in fire they broke multiple pikes in one swing with a zweilander

[@DapperRaccoon]

If you're not sure of the nomenclature or typology, Swordy McSwordface covers all bladed weapons.

[@ronnoc5278]

Stabby McSpearson will help you identify pikes and polearms

[@chadfalardeau5396]

Sharp pointy bit of metal

[@assumjongkey1383]

Context

[@thegurem]

Stabby McStabbface covers swords aswell tho

[@smolknife]

I mean, it ain't cover daggers and knives. Or most polearms. Or axes.

[@ibalrog]

Every time I hear people argue about terminology, one quote comes to mind: "SWORDS, not WORDS!"

[@whoised603]

Ass kicking, for goodness!

[@AM-hf9kk]

@@whoised603 Minsc and Boo and YOU, Hamsters and Heroes everywhere!

[@alidesu8844]

Swords are just signed words

[@whoised603]

@@alidesu8844 You broke the combo

[@Blade_291]

Go for the eyes Boo! Go for the eyes!!!!! RAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!

[@tobiderbias2102]

The advertising for Raid got interrupted by and advertisement for Genshin. Not sure if i should watch the rest

[@LazyLifeIFreak]

Well obviously Greatswords have +10 damage vs infantry!

[@Lord.Kiltridge]

Imagine the shock and disbelief when I explained, (several times to many people), that Jon Snow being a bastard has nothing to do with his sword being a bastard sword.

[@grot777]

What?!? Now I have to re-watch the whole series.

[@Dracarot]

Yeah Jon I think may have noted the joke in his head about how he the bastard was wielding a bastard sword but even there he was aware it wasn't a bastard sword because he was wielding it, (well unless you were on the receiving end of it in which case bastard is probably the politest curse his opponent would throw at the sword).

[@assumjongkey1383]

Context!??!?!?!??

[@PaulHofreiter]

oh wow, haha I never even considered that people would think that was why it was called a bastard sword but yeah I guess people who don't know swords (or even haven't played fantasy setting games) might not have heard of it. Interesting.

[@assumjongkey1383]

@@PaulHofreiter context??!??!

[@Joe___R]

The easiest way to separate swords in my opinion is that a bastard sword is designed to be use easily in 1 or 2 hands, a long sword is designed to be used with 2 hands but can be used good enough in 1 hand & a great sword is designed to be used only with 2 hands & generally can not effectively be used with just 1 hand. The blade & handle length, design and weight are key to classifying European swords.

[@richlee3777]

This is the simplest summary. Tons of nuances, but it all really comes down to that. Only thing that I'd add is that typically the longsword or lower is designed to be worn, while typically a greatsword cannot. That's a significant addition.

[@spiffyracc]

Longswords are for dual wielding, like katanas, obviously.

[@jacklonghearse9821]

Miyamoto Musashi

[@blakexu4943]

I guess you theoretically cld wield something like two kodachis...

[@laterreurrouge1917]

@@jacklonghearse9821 didn't Musashi dual-wield a Katana and a Wakizashi ....? (Still a flashy set up)

[@Lo-tf6qt]

@@laterreurrouge1917 I mean it worked out for Musashi so if it's flashy but it works it's not stupid and makes you look slightly badass?

[@laterreurrouge1917]

@@Lo-tf6qt don't get me wrong: I do think it is quite a feat of skill to be able to effectively use two weapons at once.

[@MadNumForce]

It looks to me the very big longsword would be an ideal saddle sword for a nobleman. If your horse gets killed under you or you have to dismount for any other reason, you may find yourself surrounded by enemy troops very eager to catch you for ransom, and being able to keep them all at bay with wide sweeping motions of a large sword is rather valuable. But you obviously can't just strap a montante to a horse. So you just make the biggest longsword you can make, so that it can be used both like a montante when you're surrounded and like a longsword when you're more into frontal fights. And you don't have to bother about carrying it on foot.

[@andybelcher1767]

I was intrigued by the subject and am very pleased to learn of the difficulty in using black and white terminology as all of these swords were produced using pre-standard measurements. I thought that the method of production in a pre-industrial world might be mentioned in that many swords would be made to a one-off order and to a specification passed on by different people in the chain; when sizes are compared to the physique of the person ordering the sword may well be corrupted by the message being passed on by subsequent differing statures. Also, a design might be ordered from memory having seen a weapon at a bit of a distance. Of course, your comment about compromise is also entirely valid, and Matt does mention the context of the weapon's use. The training manuals were written some time after the introduction of a new type of weapon, and Matt mentions a century or so, giving time for people to learn the best way of using them, but also allowing for variations of dimensions. I am not in any way a scholar of the subject but have studied medieval British history. Britain did not field armies of mercenaries like the Germans and Italians, but I can imagine that doing so would provide some level of standardisation if the order for however many weapons was placed with a small integrated group of armourers, hence the preponderance of German, Italian and Spanish training manuals to go with the mercenary armies armed by a single person or small group. Just thoughts...

[@RobertGriffith9]

iirc it was the opposite. If you lost your lance, you'd want a saddle sword small enough to be used with one hand. So, you might choose a smaller longsword to make it easier to use single-handedly. If you were dismounted, you'd just grab your polearm (or greatsword if you carried one instead).

[@rlwrgh]

2d6 vs 1d8 depending on what edition we are talking about. And great sword was considered an exotic weapon so needed a feat.

[@NoName-lo9ym]

And why did Bastard Swords do 1d10 damage when a Longsword is actually a larger weapon! Backwards American definitions

[@grot777]

And you didn't need to make a half hour video. Underrated comment here!

[@nikkibrowning4546]

As a sword enthusiast an RPG player, and an American, I too find these definitions irritating.

[@grot777]

@@nikkibrowning4546 three great things to be!

[@carebear8762]

Don't get me started on 47 different varieties of pole arm, but no actual knightly poleaxe.

[@aggroalex5470]

Bastard swords are actually any sword made by a smith's apprentice without the permission of the master. Or at least that is the rumor I am starting.

[@texasbeast239]

KO swords cranked out while the master was away?

[@aggroalex5470]

@@texasbeast239 exactly! Help me spread this!

[@tortuga7160]

@@aggroalex5470 done, its on its way.

[@adambielen8996]

I big thing when it comes to terminology for swords (and Shad has brought this up before) is that we in the modern period just have to deal with WAY more types of swords than anyone in history who actively used them.

[@KurNorock]

The difference between a longsword and a greatsword is the difference between you, and the guy she told you not to worry about.

[@swissarmyknight4306]

Longswords are big, greatswords are bigger. Thank you for attending my TED talk.

[@texasbeast239]

Roight! Where's the bar?

[@PeterHoglund]

I think Tony the Tiger can answer that.

[@siekensou77]

Grrrrrreat

[@susanmaggiora4800]

PeterHoglund Theyyy’re grrrreat swords...

[@texasbeast239]

Good luck fitting one of these in your Frosted Flakes box!

[@Emelefpi]

Shad made a video on this a while back and came to a similar conclusion: basically, Longsword can be worn, Greatsword has to be carried

[@jackrice2770]

I was so wanting to hear Matt deliver the Dundee line: "That's not a sword...THIS is a sword!" as he holds up the great sword. Okay, so I'm stupid...guilty Your Honor.

[@BozheTsaryaKhrani]

One is long and the other is great

[@brittakriep2938]

Forgotten : A Bidenhänder was sometimes used like spear, between the guard and the ,parry hooks' the blades have been often covered with leather as a second grip for using a Bidenhänder as a polearm.

[@ironox8480]

Great Sword, Great Sword, Great Sword...no one ever talks about the ok sword.

[@BozheTsaryaKhrani]

Wouldnt be a Matt Easton vid with at least 1 sword joke

[@HebaruSan]

Still waiting for a zombie movie with a montante scene

[@gurthangorcus]

Bringing this into a more modern context - it's like pistols versus rifles. Pistols are useful enough and can be carried in a wide variety of social environments that would be non-conducive to full length rifles. On the other hand, if you're going to fight in a battle you want the rifle because it is a better weapon of war. Also, like longswords & great swords, a wide variety of basic firearms techniques (breath control, stance, aiming) are similar enough, and someone with experience in one type of weapon will be much better with the other than someone with no training.

[@Jonesin2386]

Rifle's technically fill the same role as polearms and spears of old. It's your general issue weapon for the bulk of your ground forces. But I agree generally with the idea that sword's are mostly like pistols and the "longsword" in the video is kinda like .45 or maybe .357 magnum. It's a big hitter with a lot of stopping power but still convenient enough to carry in a more "civil" environment than a battlefield.

[@johndododoe1411]

@@Jonesin2386 Would that make the Greatsword a Barret 50 cal / Squad Automatic Weapon?

[@Turgz]

That's very logical and i somewhat agree, but greatswords were for specialists they weren't general issue weapons. Meaning they weren't for every soldier like a rifle. The medieval equivalent of the rifle would be something like a spear, which was a weapon mass issued to most soldiers. The greatsword would be more akin to, say, a machine gun set up in a defensive position. Greatswords and axes were attributed to being good at denying entry for the enemy, so they're good for defending a position just like a modern MG.

[@DjDolHaus86]

And to further confuse things you have things like AR pistols where you've got the mechanical parts from what would typically be a rifle using a rifle cartridge but with a very short barrel and a different stock. Good luck explaining those, future weapon historians.

[@markfergerson2145]

@@johndododoe1411 Something like that. Remember Matt describing their typical use to fight multiple opponents or to break pike blocks? You wouldn't use a standard battle rifle or even assault rifle (the proper technical definition, not "scary black rifle") for that except in an extreme pinch, you'd want the assault rifle's rate of fire but more range than they are typically good at. It's something you'd use while holding a position, not so much "walking fire" roles.

[@jakubfabisiak9810]

To expand a bit on what you said: much of that fixation on types of swords comes from Dungeons & Dragons, and the game original D&D was based on - Chainmail (It says something about the historical prowess of Americans, that their medieval warfare game didn't even get the name right). Gary Gygax, in particular, was a chart-o-holic - he had charts for everything, and the original chainmail rules assigned different classes to weapons - the lighter, and smaller the weapon, the lower it's class. Weapon class was used to determine who struck first, and if your weapon was four classes lower, then you could strike twice, and so on. And from this, Gygax created Supplement 1 for Dungeons and Dragons, where he assigned various damage numbers, and other bonuses to different weapons. And apparently - Gary's approach to charts was "the bigger, the better" - the more comprehensive a chart was, the happier Gygax became.

[@gunnargunnhilt]

Just so you know, this is the only channel where I watch ads without skipping cause they're fun

[@evilwelshman]

I guess, a more prudent question is what counts as a greatsword, and what's just a so-so sword. 😁😁 On a more serious note, and this might be answered in the video, I do wonder how significantly a person's height affects how they use a sword. For instance, could a tall person's long-sword be used/turned into a great-sword for a short person, for instance.

[@richlee3777]

I think that he answers that, somewhat. First, the terminology is fluid and not fixed and honestly somewhat irrelevant. Second, your height and strength would dramatically change how it would be used. There's the kicker. Take a medium sized longsword. A smaller and weaker person might use it similar to a greatsword because of strength limitations. It's possible that a massive person might use it more like a bastard sword. They would definitely use the same sword very differently based on their relative strength. They might refer to the same sword using different terms based on usage, but the terms don't sound like they were ever as strictly categorized as we tend to.

[@TheAsj97]

He didn't mention it in this video, but I think he mentioned it in a previous one, but there are many longsword techniques that you can't use on a greatsword, not just because it'd be slower and cumbersome, but because the sword would hit the ground. Someone who's really tall and strong like the guy who played The Mountain in Game of Thrones could easily use Matt's greatsword as a longsword, but Matt can't because he's too short (and it's also a bit heavy for a greatsword of that size, Matt said this about that greatsword many times). So to answer your question, yes, very significantly.

[@texasbeast239]

Aye, it's a great question when you consider dwarven or halfling fighters. Everything should scale down. A halfling would call a large knife his "sword" (as did Frodo and company).

[@SuperOtter13]

Thank you Matt for sharing all this information with us. Great points. I do enjoy the mix of longer and shorter videos you've been putting out. Great swords have always fascinated me. Thanks again for taking the time to put all this together. Happy New Year!

[@XenosvonFaneli]

I needed this video, as I've been doing personal practicing I've found my preferences to sit between longsword and greatsword, especially as a very tall person. It's nice to see talk on the middleground.

[@lemminglobber1854]

I love the idea that they just called everything a sword, no arguments about whether that extra inch or two makes it something else, or whether the length of the quillions matters. Just a sword. I guess when you truly know what your doing with it the name doesn't really matter so much.

[@Lorgoth117]

I'm so glad that I pay money to avoid adds and then get them forced on me anyway... Thanks Matt

[@texasbeast239]

There's this thing called "fast forward"...

[@lowlandnobleman6746]

At least you can laugh at the heartless emotionless look in Matt’s eyes while he shills the game that he doesn’t play. Lol

[@Riceball01]

Matt: You really can't wear a great sword. Shadiversity: Challenge accepted.

[@scholagladiatoria]

You CAN wear most things, but it doesn't mean that people did, or that it is a good idea.

[@rlwrgh]

@@scholagladiatoria but what if I want to dual wield the great swords.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

@@Inquisitor_Vex in the boot. Of a car.

[@superkaiocant]

@@Inquisitor_Vex well if we're being serious you would literally just sling it over your shoulder and hold it in one hand by the pommel. Im sure if you were just transporting a greatsword then maybe you would sheath it on your back but you would never want to do that going into a situation where you expected to fight with it.

[@elementzero3379]

@@Inquisitor_Vex Items of those dimensions would likely be a bit awkward even on a horse. These were weapons of war. I imagine they often traveled in wagons with other weapons/materiel.

[@RealZeratul]

I am really thankful for that low-quality screenshot of different shades of gray, it *really* helped to convey your point... :D Awesome video as always!

[@moranjackson7662]

In germany greatswords are sometimes called "Gassenhauer", alley hewer/cutter. Imagine attacking someone in an alley with a couple of people. And he wields a great sword. Try getting past him with his reach. He can cut down anyone getting to close. Especially when letting the sword flow.

[@PrimordialNightmare]

I'm not sure if that definition of the word Gassenhauer is correct. I guess it makes sense - These types of swords have been used by body guards and the Landsknechts with the big swords have held breacherd walls (I thjink they did so in the siege of Vienna). But the definition I always had in mind for Gassenhauer was The Greatsword wielders striking an alley/opening into the enemy formation.

[@moranjackson7662]

@@PrimordialNightmare totally possible that I got the definition wrong. I had that conversation with a hema guy. But maybe I got it wrong.

[@PrimordialNightmare]

@@moranjackson7662 we will only find out after doing some research :D

[@Starless85]

People love certainty. So we love to nail everything down to particular terms. History is rarely so certain

[@badlandskid]

“He had a big fakkin sword...l ~the Hound

[@Jelly-ls1xp]

“You may have wondered what the difference between a long sword and a great sword” well I do now

[@whyjay9959]

Reminds me of some debate over whether the M2 Carbine is an assault rifle, with some saying it's not because its range isn't quite long enough, and some because it was meant to be used in a different way and the concept of the assault rifle is no less a doctrine than it is the gun itself.

[@richlee3777]

Exactly. Weapons care more about usage than classification. What matters is that it works. Terminology is incidental.

[@-smp-scientificmethodpersp838]

I had this conversation with my instructor, so thanks for this video to clarify and expand on details

[@anthonylamonica8301]

So, let me see if I summarized this correctly: Longswords are: (A) Designed for two-handed use, but of such a length and mass that they could be usable in one hand. (B) Proportioned such that it can be carried as a sidearm for personal defense without being obtrusive. (C) Intended, as a sidearm, for use against single opponents, though it can fend off groups in skilled hands. Greatswords are: (A) Designed exclusively for two-handed use, as one hand has nowhere near enough leverage to wield it. (B) Proportioned such that it cannot reasonably be carried or used as a sidearm. (C) Intended for use on battlefields against multiple opponents, though it can be used in duels by skilled wielders. Did I miss anything obvious?

[@LamiNalchor]

Quite beautiful how he deals with potential points of conflict or discussion.

[@Tork789]

Duh, longswords are long, greatswords are great.

[@houselightkell]

Okay, young Stalin

[@aginorchuain77]

Those swords with the very long hilt and blade (but relatively small guard) are interesting! Haven't seen a lot of those before. They kinda remind me of a Nodachi. I wonder if they were used in a similar fashion.

[@junichiroyamashita]

Which one?

[@aginorchuain77]

@@junichiroyamashita The Swedish ones or the one belonging to the armor, Matt showed the pictures.

[@johng1097]

So I’ve watched the video 3 times, and read all the comments - but can’t find the answer... What is the make/model of the smaller great sword ? (which makes an appearance at 5:06, 14:40, and 25:47)

[@Orgikan]

+1

[@poochkane]

I like the idea that the "best" of any type of weapon/gear is determined by the enemy/situation you are facing.

[@andreweden9405]

Glad to hear that you're getting some real winter weather there in England! It's been relatively warm here in the Midwest US. Not actually warm by any means, but probably averaging around 0⁰ Celsius, which is warmish for these parts.

[@matthewconner5545]

Friggin KZbin. They threw an ad in right in the middle of your Raid bit.

[@JenniferAutumn]

This is the best advert I've seen all year

[@Sophocles13]

Matt- it would've been helpful if you'd quickly shown the point of balance of each of the examples you were holding. It would've been illuminating. Especially when considering types which were similar but had slightly different intentions.

[@Matatabi6]

I’m never gonna play it but I do appreciate how genuinely enthusiastic you seem when plugging raid shadow legends

[@keithallardice6139]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience once again Matt ... always a pleasure!!

[@littlepug1417]

Thanks, didn't know something so similar could be so different!

[@gibrannicholau3447]

I used to prefer slightly greatsword-length longswords when studying German and Italian longsword, maybe it's just because of my posture. However I've started to prefer bastard sword length longswords when starting up in English lonhsword, maybe due to the frequent one handed strikes in the system. It seems to be true that different swords or sword length would be perfect for different styles, and it is not who uses the bigger or better sword that would win, but who can employ the better tactics and adapt to the technique of the adversary.

[@heretyk_1337]

War swords... my favourite swords... Can't wait for a video telling us about them, and their battlefield role...

[@BozheTsaryaKhrani]

Prolly more of a shad question Could u string a greatsword to ur back like what he did for the spear

[@peterclarke7240]

You can technically string anything to your back, but the real question is: why would you?

[@BozheTsaryaKhrani]

@@peterclarke7240 yes

[@scholagladiatoria]

You could tie a cow to your back, but farmers tend not to do it.

[@BozheTsaryaKhrani]

@@scholagladiatoria ya im surprised as far as ik that shad hasnt tried it yet

[@grot777]

@@scholagladiatoria surely in your hundreds of years experience as a vampire you've seen this at least once..

[@billyalarie929]

*sings to the tune of Two-Headed Boy* "twooooo handeddddd swooooooooorrrrrd..."

[@badwrongfun5541]

All floating in glass

[@susanmaggiora4800]

William Alarie Love Neutral Milk Hotel! I’m gonna have that stuck in my head all afternoon🤣

[@texasbeast239]

"Two...handed swor-ord..." 🎼🎵🎶

[@sealo97]

Wow that’s a GREAT sword !!

[@marlock77]

To add to the mix: Marozzo talkes about yet another sort of sword, the spadoncino. Which based on pictures seems to be somewhere between a typical longsword and a typical greatsword. My very limited knowledge of the Italian language would translate the word as "smaller greatsword".

[@Son_of_Thunder_2000]

Matt: “So you may have wondered what’s the difference between a longsword” *shows longsword* “and a greatsword.” *shows zweihander* Mordhau devs: **CONFUSED SCREAMING**

[@slimetank394]

Most anime-ish fantasy game developers: *CONFUSED SCREAMING*

[@joegillian314]

I didn't hear any mention of the bastard sword, but there was some talk of using the longsword 1-handed or 2-handed. A proper longsword cannot be wielded effectively with only one hand. The exception to this is if you're on a horse, or otherwise in a mounted position, then it's quite sensible and practical to give blows with the longsword 1-handed. A true bastard sword is a sword which can be wielded effectively with just one hand. It is a 1-handed sword with a 2-handed grip. A greatsword is really more like a polearm than a sword, and you really have to wonder if this type of sword was more of a symbol or status and prowess than some kind of highly specialized weapon. The cost to make a sword, and the skill of the smith required, would both be great indeed, which brings you to the question of: what specific advantages might a 2-handed sword have over a polearm (any polearm; long, short, sharp, blunt, etc.) in any of the contexts where a 2-handed sword might be used?

[@Dennis-vh8tz]

I'm looking forward to the videos of Matt hiking through wilderness and competing in a HEMA tournament wearing high spike heels. Let's investigate the practicality of such attire. :)

[@GhouraAgur]

Could you possibly look into the practicality of the gaffi stick as seen in the Mandalorian S2? Is a sort of combination mace/spear

[@ineednochannelyoutube5384]

Ricasso, double guard, long enough to be a spear, used as primary weapon by armoured footmen against cavalry.

[@Xiraia]

What is Claymore then? :O

[@CMBlessing81]

Primarily, Scottish.

[@frankharr9466]

O.K., that all makes sense. I like your definition of a longsword, and that leaves room for it be something different when it's used differently.

[@Varinr]

Great video Matt, looking forward to more demonstrations, especially with rapiers! I want to purchase either a side sword or rapier but I’m worried that the length will be hard to wield/carry with a military rapier compared the a shorter side sword. Would love an active demonstration of the two types in your hands.

[@Psiberzerker]

"It's a sword." What kind of sword? "A sword." Part of the problem is that we're looking through books like Oakeschott's, or the Albion catalog. There, there's centuries of sword design across multiple cultures, some contemporary, while others before and after each other. You ask a Viking what kind of sword that is, and he'll say "My sword?" Holding it up, he'll shrug. "A sword. It has a name..." Or the Viking word for Sword. Same thing with Axes, they called one a "Francisca," not because it was used by Franciscans, but because it first came to the region with the Franks, who threw them. Does that make it a Throwing Ax? Longsword, Greatsword, Bastard Sword, or sometimes just "My sword." It's not like they were being mass produced, and sold abroad on Amazon in the middle ages. On about the Renaissance, they did start mass producing swords, and they did start adding words to sword, but for the most part, it was just a Sword.

[@felixdzerjinsky5244]

I really like the Del Tin Great Sword, in fact I have one here hanging in my library. I've carried it to events, back before they started requiring that swords be tied into their scabbards....in other words, before I stopped going to events. It's a really nice and well built sword.....and very sharp, for cutting.

[@TyRex-dr6sf]

"And why would you do that because the never used it" Matt you really shouldn't call your Game-Master out like that. 🤣

[@ziweiwang1704]

it's essentially the difference between a modern light machine gun and a small machine gun. as with swords, modern guns also come in all sizes somewhere in between the two.

[@OnlyKaerius]

Greatswords can be carried in scabbards(or sheaths) worn on the back. You can't draw them while the scabbard is worn, so you unsling the scabbard/sheath from your back and then draw(typically discarding the scabbard/sheath).

[@Lashb1ade]

I recall somebody (Shad?) mentioning that one feature of the greatsword is that it is too long to do an underhand swing.

[@seanpoore2428]

When it says they were used to "break pikes" they probably meant to break/disrupt pike formations rather than chop through ash shafts (tho I'm sure it happened Sometimes, if you've ever tried to cut a long ash pole in a person's hands it tends to be springy). I imagine the greatsword was used not dissimilarly (in battlefield function, not necessarily technique) to daneaxes, pollaxes, nodachi, etc. But basically the weapons of shock troops/champions who would exploit gaps in the enemy line charge in and lay about doing as much damage as possible so your men can take advantage of the chaos you've caused

[@RonJohn63]

Before watching the video: besides the size difference the first things I see are that the great sword has a fuller, while the long sword has a reinforcing "cross" down the blade.

[@jaysblades]

Wow this is a timely video. I've recently started making in-roads on longswords and greatswords in my collection and the nomenclature for a "newbie" can be really confusing, especially on product pages because various terms are often used incorrectly, interchangeably, or both. Thanks for posting! Also I want to thank you for the Viking weapons video, tremendously helpful. I still wonder about Viking hammers - topic for a future video mayhaps?

[@Kaes.R]

Imma save my favourite timeline 20:48 here, that sword is definitely beautiful

[@thalamay]

Regarding terminology: The German term “Zweihänder” simply means two-hander or two-handed sword and it’s used that way in modern terminology, meaning the term does include longswords. The term that is usually used nowadays for greatswords is “Bidenhänder” which basically means the same thing though it’s an older root-word at the beginning which is no longer used in the German language. AFAIK, neither term was used contemporarily, at least not as a distinguishing term between longsword and greatsword. I could easily see “Bidenhänder” being used contemporarily but it would have encompassed both types of sword. My favourite contemporary word that apparently was used for the greatsword only is “Gassenhauer” which literally means “alley hitter” but is better translated as “something with which you can clear out entire alleyways”. As for the use: In the German context at least, the sword was mainly used by some “Landsknechte” in the Renaissance period. It was a rare thing though, the standard arm was a pike or halberd. The standard side-arm was a short, stubby sword called “Katzbalger” - quick detour: Katzbalger translates to “catlike fighter” as in close, ferocious and dirty. It’s a very cool type of sword, check it out - As a Landsknecht, you had to be certified as master of the greatsword in order to be allowed to wield it and subsequently, you’d be paid double the amount a regular Landsknecht would be paid.

[@brittakriep2938]

For fighting in frontline , the Doppelsöldner usualy had a good quality ,footmans armour'/ Knechtharnisch.

[@Elluem]

For me, the biggest difference between a "greatsword" and a "long sword" is how you can actually physically use it. Shad actually talks about this in a similar video where he's talking about different swords and the inherent gray area nature of trying to find an exact cut off point for long sword vs greatsword... but for me. It's only actually a "greatsword" if it must be used like a polearm, and can't be used with all the techniques of a two handed sword. Where that cut off is, specifically, actually depends on the height and strength of the user... but essentially, once the weapon comes up to your armpit, there's all kinds of movements you can't make with the weapon anymore (at least not without significant modification) and you really can't wear it on your side anymore.. at best, you could carry it in a specialized back carrying method just for ease of long distance transport to a battlefield. The "war swords" (as Shad calls them) that sit kind of in the middle.. where they're still too big to be a "longsword" but too small (and typically have less complex hilt designs) to be a "greatsword" are different from both because they can still do most of the things a longsword can, while losing a few advantages (carrying ease and certain actions are harder.. also the weapon is less nimble by enough that you have to use it fundamentally differently to a degree).. but it's still not a greatsword because you still don't use it entirely like a polearm.

[@thelonerider9693]

I can't help but notice that the type 18c longsword is close to proportion to some feders. I've noticed my blunt is a lot smaller in handle and a tad smaller in blade length than my feder. Is it that feders, not being sharp weapons, but training swords, were never worn, so they could get longer hilts and blades than most historical longswords tended to? Or is this just an artifact of weapons made for protective hema gloves. Just curious.

[@BCSchmerker]

+scholagladiatoria *The greatsword actually had different definitions for diverse theatres of operations.* In Great Britain (GBR), the Scottish Clans adopted bastard-sword-length blades on two-hand hilts; the Galchain _claideamh mor_ and its Lowland Norman counterpart were both well enough balanced for one hand and particularly fast in two hands. The spike-ricassoed two-handed greatsword of German Central Europe popularized by the _Landsknecht_ in general and the _Doppelſöldner_ in particular, was designed and forged to oppose pikes, thus its depth and weight.

[@genghiskhan6809]

That sword of Henry VIII at 15:20 seems to be very similar to a nagamaki, a Japanese battlefield weapon that lay in between the tachi/katana and nodachi/odachi. The nagamaki was characterized by a a tachi/katana length blade with a very long handle equivalent to approximately 2:3 to 1:1 ratios of handle-to-blade length which is where the nagamaki derives its name translating roughly as "long wrapping". The nagamaki on the battlefield came to overtake the nodachi/odachi because it could be used in a very similar fashion but was far easier to wield and could better utilize techniques normally found with polearms than the nodachi/odachi.

[@blairbuskirk5460]

A longsword is a sidearm able to be worn upon the body while a greatsword is a pole arm which must be carried . if one can't decide upon which to choose perhaps a war sword is right for them.

[@ciryatar]

I find the idea really interesting of a fictional culture that advanced to the equivalent of the European late middle-ages or early renaissance but never developed any interests in swords as significant cultural objects. Like they just treated them as bigger versions of knives, meant purely for backup and nothing else, placing instead much greater significance on polearms and axes. I wonder what the equivalent of the greatsword would be in such a situation? And I think there is a precedent from the early middle ages, namely the Dane axe: a specialised weapon not used in formation but by individual special units and high-status guardsmen - that's basically the description of a greatsword. I guess the reason the latter turned out to be a sword might have to do with the way these big sweeping motions in combination with a long blade are good at breaking up polearm formations and warding off multiple opponents, but that might have been possible with quite a different weapon, too, might it not? Perhaps some advanced version of a flail or a glaive with an elongated blade or even a scythe-like weapon or, heck, perhaps even a double-sided polearm à la Darth Maul, who knows? All of those might have done the job just as well or even better, had people not placed such significance on the sword as an object. I think this is a very interesting opportunity for worldbuilding for anyone wanting to make a realistic medieval novel or game or whatever but looking to change things up in a satisfying way - "big sword" is just such an overused trope, give us something new, writers!

[@casper1581]

Now that you mentioned pikes, I wondered if you could some day do a video about pike warfare, either medieval and early modern pike usage, or the famous hellenic infantry blocks armed with sarissas. What would it be like from the front row if two pike blocks clashed? What would it be like from the back rows? How do other weapons, such as great swords and ranged weapons figure into this kind of warfare?

[@brainypepper1621]

The very unnoficial thing I call the inbetween of the longsword and greatsword is “big brother sword”, as in the big brother of the bastard sword; somewhere between.

[@ilikeyourname4807]

Another (as far as I know) historically unused German term for the greatsword is "Großschwert". It's the most literal translation you can get and I can imagine that term being coined by video game localization companies, but I find it funny that it really just means "big sword" "Zweihänder" actually means someone with two hands, but in this CONTEXT it refers to the thing you use with two hands. "Beidhänder" means ambidextrous person or "both-handed person", but in this CONTEXT it refers to the thing you use with both hands. "Schlachtschwert" means battle sword. If you want to, you can find some less fitting translations such as "Slaughter sword" or "Butcher's sword"

[@britannia2129]

Even if I already know the answer, I can’t click fast enough on these videos!

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

Personally swords that sit in between the length of longswords and large two-handed swords I, for some long forgotten reason, refer to as great swords. It's possibly because of the Scottish two-handed claymore; given the Gaelic term from which claymore is derived means greatsword and the claymore is usually of the size in question.

[@artyombychkov2134]

Big and big-ass swords, obviously.

[@xenomorphphantom8991]

In my understading (and don't cite me on that,I'm no expert) it's a matter of weight. Longswords are more than a yard long and Greatswords are more than three kilos in weight (equivalences taken in account of course)

[@VirtualFechtschule]

Quick question: you use the difference between personal and battlefield use as a difference between longsword and greatsword (seems sensible to me). Given that we have no sources from German-speaking lands similar to the Iberian style, do you think greatswords would still be used in that wide and sweeping way by Landsknechts and bodyguards such as Pauernfeindt?

[@johnhanley9946]

That's interesting, if I had the time I'd like to go through all the material to find techniques that were unique to each specific type that could define them.

[@OnlyKaerius]

There's some swords in history that were definitely defined by specific words, at the time. Like the german(holy roman empire) Katzbalger.

[@vincentnasluchacz9328]

Thanks for the very informative video on Swords, Nosferatu

[@scholagladiatoria]

Thanks Nasluchacz

[@mwhyte1979]

So a long sword is a sword that is really long and a Great Sword is a sword you really like!

[@Koatl]

So, you mention sword shape numbers, like 15 or 18, can you possibly link a reference to these shapes?