Cuts vs. Thrusts - Which is Better?

[@rasnac]

Cut is better for cutting; but thrust is better for thrusting.

[@sarahblack6118]

rasnac Huh? I don't really get the concept.

[@E1337N3SS]

Instructions unclear. Dick stuck in toaster

[@fueeewry4114]

rasnac the fuk

[@romolus7255]

Xavier that actually made me lol

[@Makiruot]

This is correct.

[@storyspren]

"There is no perfection without both blow and thrust." I'll see myself out...

[@WastelandSeven]

And Cara didn't even laugh when he said it either! LOL Woman has self control, gotta give her that.

[@devinm.6149]

Wasteland Seven it wasn't funny.

[@BeedrillYanyan]

No, don't leave. You're fine.

[@DZ-1987]

God and Bennet... My dirty senses are tingling. (Dirty joke for one, wise words for the other)

[@no_nameyouknow]

@@WastelandSeven If you practice fencing or any sort of sword fighting you can't giggle every time someone says blow or thrust. Also once you get a bit beyond your teenage years those jokes tend to not be as funny. There is really only so many times you can laugh at the same joke, when you are a teenager you are just becoming aware of sex and so these sorts of jokes are new to you, but ten years later they just aren't as funny. I am not trying to be all superior, just explaining why some humor is considered juvenile. Don't get me wrong, I like a good that's what she said joke as much as the next, but it's gotta be at least a little clever. Fart jokes are somehow always funny, exceptions to every rule I suppose.

[@bleeem]

if you have a katana you can cut through time and space, and if you have a pommel you can destroy existence itself

[@syndicalist-0]

@Nob the Knave a weapon to surpass metal gear.....

[@isectoid9454]

Hear me out: A sword, where the blade is just a really long pommel.

[@monkeykong6230]

@@isectoid9454 so a mace.

[@isectoid9454]

@@monkeykong6230 _How could I be so blind?_

[@VenerhiaStellarvore]

@@isectoid9454 literally just a staff lmao

[@TeamKhandiKhane]

"Better for what?" -- Skall *Matt Easton sitting on the edge of his seat waiting for context.*

[@Ordo1980]

Best part: "There is no perfection in the true fight, without both blow and thrust" - George Silver 1599

[@kieranfitz]

Which is better? Well.......CONTEXT.

[@JkaaraKoDi]

BUT!

[@Son_Daughter_of_Slaanesh]

i assume you had an matt easton for breakfast?

[@SnarkyZazu]

Why not both?

[@planescaped]

That he even gets a question like this is pretty good proof for my theory that Dark Souls is the closest a lot of Skal's audience have ever come to touching a sword. XD

[@kristafinch2369]

I mean at least its a video topic

[@Swedishmafia101MemeCorporation]

*tfw you're debating a man from the 16th century*

[@Skallagrim]

Yes. Take that, Sir Silver! :D

[@isectoid9454]

Extreme necroposting.

[@SharkByteOfficial]

@GLTR lmfao!!!!

[@zerozeroone4424]

@@isectoid9454 i just necroposted your necropost

[@isectoid9454]

@@zerozeroone4424 Is your necroposting augmented?

[@praenomenXcognomen]

In thrust I trust.

[@stormlewis5214]

Thank you. If 2 people fight one uses a Messer and the other has a rapier you are going to loose to the rapier using butthead

[@francescogulisano2917]

For future reference, I think that putting all the notification and patreon stuff at the end of the video instead of the beginning gives off a better impression. Also, great shirt, man

[@edi9892]

I'd like to add a few points: 1) it highly depends on the context: thrusts were hardly ever favoured in *hot regions,* whereas in Europe civilian *clothing* was often resilient enough to turn a deadly cut into a scratch. even today people survived attacks with machetes because they wore biker gear etc. If your opponent wears mail, you can forget cuts all together. In case he wears a breastplate and a helmet, you'll need to be very precise with your cut to get the head without hitting any metal. 2) humans tend to favour big slashing motions over thrusting motions by *instinct.* This sucks, when you got a rapier and have to fight for your life. 3) *Thrusts got a much larger range* than cuts. If you take a 90cm cut and thrust blade, then the outer 15cm are for thrusts and the next 15cm for cuts. From my own experience, I highly dislike starting with thrusts. Thrusts are way to easy to anticipate and stop or doge. You can even parry a rapier thrust with your arm and with some luck, you don't even get a scratch. Moreover, I reach far higher tip speeds in cuts. In fact, some blades I can move with my wrist so fast that the blade becomes practically invisible. Even, with a bigger, sluggish blade, it can be very hard to prevent someone from hitting you. As Skall said, it's harder to block, but what he didn't mention is, that people tend to make banana-cuts, which look like e.g. coming 45° and suddenly go straight down etc. In a *thrust you can block pretty much any part of the blade* and you succeed, but in a cut, you might block it, but the blade still hits you because of the angle. When I thrust, it's usually a follow up from a cut, or from a bind. That's a quick reaction and very hard to avoid.

[@scelonferdi]

Also, ig guess, the cut can only come from a very narrow direction (inner Circle) whereas the cut might hit you from verywhere except straight ahead (outer circle).

[@edi9892]

I was thinking of Europe vs Africa and South-Asia (India, China, Philipines...). Hot or humid places definitely prefer slashes. Why Germany and Poland have a Messer and Sabre tradition compared to the Mediterranean is actually an interesting question. Sadly, I have no answer to it. However, regarding Ukraine, I'm pretty sure that their traditions were imported from the SE. Especially the Tatars got clothing and weapons quite reminiscent of Persians. Again, why they copied it and why it withstood the test of time, I don't know.

[@edi9892]

German Pepe Not quite. It was less of a weapon law and more of a copyright thing. The guild of swordsmiths didn't want competition by knifemakers...

[@edi9892]

I doubt that the average European sword did cut as well as as a Tulwar or Katana. Sure, there have been some amazing blades regarding their quality and sharpness, but those were rarely the ones, which had the blade-type which is particularly suited for cutting like the messer- and Falchion family, or the zweihänder. There's a reason, why these Asian blades had been famed for their cutting capabilities....

[@diegog1853]

Nice, you pretty much solved a doubt i had, if cuts and thrusts were equally important then why in early modern europe the rapier was the most popular weapon. And thats the answer, with any kind of armor or even thick clothes, cutting is very uneffective, you might aswell better use a war hammer if you are going to make a blunt impact.

[@yuusha2150]

"put generic throwing pommel joke"

[@darrianweathington1923]

can a pommel defeat plot armor?

[@rawovunlapin8201]

Darrian Weathington an immovable object meets an unstoppable force.

[@Devil-tm4nu]

Darrian Weathington Nothing stops a pommel.

[@321cheesedude96]

Another interesting point in the thrust vs cut debate is that cuts come more naturally to people in a state of panic. This may be the reason why thrust centeric swords were often preferred in duels but for the chaotic battlefield people would opt for cutting swords

[@Skallagrim]

Tell that to the Romans. ; )

[@321cheesedude96]

Yes very true haha Roman discipline is OP please nerf

[@VanRukh]

I understand thrusts. But how does one cut with a pommel?

[@ImperatorNocturne]

take pommel, move pommel from right to left = cut

[@davidsalvador6031]

Pommel cuts automatically through the time-space tissue of reality when deployed...obviously 😒

[@darrianweathington1923]

you sharpen it

[@riograndedosulball248]

With the pommel of the sword video Skal released today

[@ctrlaltdebug]

One does not cut with a pommel. One ends the opponent rightly with a pommel.

[@curtism-w6b]

Great visuals. Confined spaces make a big difference. That's why most cultures who carried long, cutting swords also carried a short sword or dagger of some sort.

[@noobandfriends2420]

I'm trying to redesign a d20 table top system that takes into account realistic weapons and their effects on armor and your series has been a great help.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Damn, Skall, you’re getting really close to 1 million subs. Congratulations, my friend. I’m really happy for you!

[@frostthefoxxo7192]

Do they have armor? Ye = thrusts Ne=cuts

[@edi9892]

Quite like it. Though even civilian clothing can act as armour at times.

[@adog1205]

Frost The Foxxo um pommels win

[@scelonferdi]

how do you explain the rapier then?

[@frostthefoxxo7192]

LennoxPoodle Because its faster to stab someone with a long skinny piece of metal. And when you aren't wearing armor, and both you and your opponent have long weapons, you want to be fast as possible. And at that time period, the people carrying rapiers weren't wearing armor.

[@edi9892]

Frost The Foxxo I wouldn't necessarily say that a stab is faster, especially considering tip-speeds.

[@Striker-sd4dv]

You let your Girlfriend thrust towards your face with an sharp unprotected Blade.... you're a brave man dude!

[@stormlewis5214]

He is such a Chad

[@bestiagrama1276]

I really like this type of video/discussion about hystorical text of combat wounds or tecniques.Awesome work, please keep it up and do more of this!

[@HebaruSan]

I wonder if there have been armors that sacrificed flexibility for protection. Suppose you're a very important noble and also a terrible fighter, maybe it would make sense to turn yourself into a metal statue and let your companions do the actual killing.

[@LurkerDaBerzerker]

HebaruSan Closest thing to that I can think of, would probably be jousting or specifically designed tournament armour.

[@zeroblade6599]

Yes, it's called a castle

[@flameconvoy7424]

HebaruSan I believe it’s called not taking part in battle

[@joost1120]

His Honer, Special Council Covfefe Chocker Not entirely. Stechzeug armours were typically very heavy and unwieldy. Armours could weigh 50kg, and didn't have nearly as much movement. The head is fully locked, the shoulders and arms only have minimal articulation. The intention with Stechzeug jousting was to hit the opponents crest, while Rennzeug was all about hitting the shield. Rennzeug was much less armoured and featured mostly regular armours with a large gardbrace.

[@AerdernixLittleDragonMacDane]

HebaruSan There is a mention of a gladiator armour that was lite protolaminata (lorica segmentata/laminata) that was quite limiting. But I agree with The other statements that it wotld be more usual in tournament and jousting.

[@creeping_thyme]

Both aren't viable techniques, throwing a pommel is the best strategy

[@CZProtton]

Your name really fits this overused goddamn joke... It stopped being funny at least a year ago.

[@creeping_thyme]

Protton oh so you just decide when a joke dies?

[@stalinthetrain9547]

Just Stop

[@frostthefoxxo7192]

Cheesy Child Yes. Now quit

[@aldor9357]

What is dank may never die

[@srspower]

So what you are saying is that they basically had the 9mm vs .45ACP argument even in medevil times :)

[@corwinhyatt519]

Lol. Both are technically thrusts, just from longer range. So a better simile would be rapier vs short spear in the case of 9mm vs .45. Short spear has a heavier and larger/broader head so would have more 'stopping power' (as in the .45 today) while the rapier is more nimble with a lighter end (not always a lighter weapon though) and a smaller/narrower cross section which can be utilized more rapidly and more often. Otherwise ya. (In my opinion 12 gauge slug trumps both, but shotguns tend to be a bit more unwieldy than handguns so would be roughly similar to saying "Well a Pike beats both" in a Medieval version of the argument.) :)

[@aldor9357]

9mm is hands down superior though

[@SplitWasTaken]

srspower it's more the good old argument between .223 and .308 or 5.7cm vs .45 ACP

[@Greendayfan666GD]

Real men take 50bmg for concealed carry.

[@SplitWasTaken]

Doki Doki best I can do is 20mm

[@celston51]

The real question is, "You're using Bonetti's defense against me, ah?"

[@FuelDropforthewin]

I thought it fitting considering the rocky terrain.

[@brandonkohler6677]

@@FuelDropforthewin You beat me to it!

[@matthewcooper4248]

I think what says the most is that cutting sabers were still used by militaries throughout the 19th and 20th century. The English had one thrusting sword for their cavalry, but everyone else was using an at least somewhat deeply curved blade used for cutting.

[@jasonbrennan9918]

I always found, thrusts easier to defend against due to their relative predictability. In any case, it would seem like the only any difficulty seeing a thrust over a cut would only be applicable in relatively advantageous lighting.

[@jnzupka]

The answer : It really depends on the context

[@mc0422]

One of the only people on KZbin to make an 18 min vid interesting

[@mittnavn6480]

Absolutely love these types of videos! Keep it up man! :D

[@williamvictory3180]

If no one ever told you this then let me be the first. You're one best KZbin channel there is. Watching your videos has been fun and also therapeutic at times. Please keep up the great work you are doing.

[@anderwmarcell9503]

May I postulate, it seems that thrusting weapons are easier to master and are still with us today. The lowly spear outnumbered swords through the ages. It was deadly, easy to use and cheap. It was a thrusting weapon. As time went on, swords disappeared as weapons in front line service, but the bayonet still exists. A rifle with bayonet is a form of spear. You are correct, thrusts are faster than slashing weapons. In modern fencing, equally matched fencers, one with Sabre and the other with epee, the epee, a thrusting weapon, is faster. Another consideration, modern street fights with machetes, produce fearful wounds that while horrible are survivable. Knives, thrusting weapon, produce wounds that tend to be fatal. I therefore say that thrusting weapons have an advantage.

[@Kragatar]

Good observations.

[@voltekthecyborg7898]

Spears have mass in them. Polearms have more mass in them. A 5 lb. billhook thrust is hella powerful

[@Nachtkalmar]

the machete and knofe example is dumb

[@game-enjoyer13]

Thrust has always been better, period (Maybe except for ancient ancient humans who didn’t have knives, and had to bonk things with rocks and clubs). Think about it. The truth is very obvious, you are correct. Knives for quick and close quarters encounters, you stab. Spears for normal foot soldier combat, you stab. Arrows for normal foot soldier ranged combat (literally just spears shot from a release of tension), they stab. Halberds and lances for heavier and more aggressive combat, stab and slash, but stabbing more effective. Bayonets are just gun spears/knives. Even modern bullets are just high powered thrusting mini-spears shot from guns. Axes and hammers and great swords are cool and all, but will never be as good as good ole thrusting. I’d say only things like zombie apocalypses or other “undead” scenarios are where thrusting is dog-shit.

[@gregcampwriter]

"In a world of cut and thrust I was always taught to trust."

[@jtnachos16]

The real question though: Why not both? There has to be a good reason most 'standard' swords throughout the ages were capable in both categories, right?

[@dex6147]

12:55 you know it's love when she softly graces your face with a rapier

[@leviethen]

I always put it that thrusts are more likely to actually strike the target because they’re actually hard to parry because it’s so easy to disengage. But the cut is easier to parry but can do more damage. The reason cuts are easier to parry is because as he said there’s more blade to come in contact with than a point. The best cut to the head could do more damage than the best thrust to the head.

[@skynyrdjesus]

What I've always disliked about the rapier is you're automatically telegraphing to your opponent what your strategy is just by using it. It may be an incredible thrusting weapon, but it's harder to surprise an opponent because they know to expect a thrust.

[@IndigoWraithe]

Great video, and solid points made on both sides. I like that you showed the footwork, too. Honestly, if you haven't already, footwork would be a great topic to make a video for.

[@arcturus0448]

very nice video, would love to see more in-depth looks at hema subjects by accompanying the arguments with actual historical texts like here.

[@pawncota8578]

Heeey, skall is finally coming up on 1 million after all these years, steady progress man

[@Cxdfc]

May you please do a video on undulating (wave) blades? Flamberges and such. Was it just for looks or did it do something?? . . . EDIT: Ooo the comment got highlighted so I’ll elaborate. (Wall of text incoming) I recently got back into roleplaying (DnD 5e) and made a character named sir Falone. I describe his way of carrying himself to be more historical based on some light googling, and skallgrim/shadiversity that I have aeen lots of videos from it. He carries his Greatsword on his shoulder unless he is going into town, in which he uses the sheath so guards arent all over him. And in that case he wil use the mace/shorts word on his hip for personal defense. In all the googling, the only practicality of the renaisance blade I saw was it makes vibrations when parrying? I’d rather ask someone with more research than a few hours of google though Falone is a paladin of war god Tempus, whose emblem is a flaming sword. So the best way to show this is with the flamberge. The other people playing haven’t heard of undulating blades before, my DM allowed it because he deemed it completely appropriate, the NPCs that would see it would always question it and be in aw of its design and how deadly falone can be with it. But that is through game mechanics. When we reduce something to 0HP, DM asks us how we would like to kill the thing cinematically. I usually describe falone’s motions like he is using an actual 5ft blade greatsword, so he will murder stroke, half sword etc. unless we are fighting unarmored targets. Dor example I chopped a goblin in half by the trunk but I halfsworded through the gaps of the orc’s armor, striking his throat, even though this is fantasy and if I wanted to I could say he cuts though an armored guy. I will wait until he gets a magic sword for that. When he uses divine smite and kills something, I say that tempus animates the sword and it essentially chainsaws through the enemies armor and grinds through their body. A brutal death befitting the horrors of war in my opinion. I have yet to find a way to end him rightly ;)

[@christophersavignon4191]

World's Biggest Booty Hoes KZbin accidently trolling people again...

[@hammatron8403]

but what is an undulating blade/how does it work/ what's makes it "better" (or different) from other types of blade

[@kh3rb]

@@hammatron8403 from what i know, it was a way of the blacksmith to show how good he is, and for the user how rich he is, wavey blades cuts better but they're really hard to repair and mantain, it's also pretty much impossible to make a scabbard that fits, so they were commonly seen used in two handed swords (greatswords). T.L.D.R: it cuts better and it also was a status simbol.

[@hammatron8403]

@@kh3rb thank you :)

[@kh3rb]

@@hammatron8403 your welcome! ^^ It's all i know, so i dont know how conplete this is, it probably was also used to assist in the bind and do more damage to pike formations but i'm not sure :3

[@angelrivera-lr4nu]

Great video Skal. Super fun to watch

[@windhelmguard5295]

i've seen a documentary on swords throughout history which mentions that, after the napoleonic wars, the british millitary actually reviewed the performances of cavalery units on both sides and concluded that the french, who where using dedicated thrusting swords, had killed more enemies than the british cavalerymen who where using sabers, on the other hand the british outperformed the french when counting the number of incapacitating injuries being inflicted, so much that cuting was deemed eaqualy as important, whic hcaused the british cavalery to adopt a sword which could do both as the situation demanded.

[@kennethheggem7631]

Interesting! You should make an episode on sword combat survivors throughout history and around the world. Maybe a top 5/top 10? Would be facinating!

[@fransthefox9682]

Sometimes I practice different cuts in my tight bedroom. You could see some cuts in the wall and ceiling.

[@symbolsarenotreality4595]

With the steps involved they can be as fast as each other because you can chamber your cut to prepare it as you are stepping

[@MrTryAnotherOne]

That's why we had cut-and-thrust swords. ;-)

[@nightfuryyassamaru1683]

MrTryAnotherOne Good at both, not great at any.

[@MrTryAnotherOne]

Of course not but you can't carry two swords.

[@JAIRMOREN0]

You can, as long as they aren't longswords.

[@ravensmansand8285]

Would it be effective if you thrust through inbetween the ribs directly through the heart?

[@pappyman179]

I always have a lol moment when I see your wife's hands (or props) appear from off-screen! These sacrifices that she makes for your videos are surely appreciated.

[@PepeULT]

best channel that dodges the question

[@kluuuuh]

watched a 2 minute ad for this. i got your back skall!

[@TheMiseriaCantare]

In cut we thrust.

[@KundelX]

6:01 I don't know why, but I got chills watching this It just looks dangerous, even though I know it isn't

[@milosdmann]

me too, i was going trough comments to see if anyone else noticed, but that second thrust demonstration was .... bone chilling. Please be careful Skal.

[@KundelX]

He IS a professional, but it doesn't take much to lose an eye

[@mway5061]

I felt chills too, but it was probably because of the sound

[@DC-yh1on]

The blade is actually further away from his face than it looks on camera. But yeah I get what you mean.

[@matteussilvestre8583]

Cutting has an edge over thrusting if you don't have the Leo Ring on.

[@blakebailey22]

Great video! This deserves more views

[@levifontaine8186]

You can cut effectively at point blank if you lay the blade on them and draw it

[@airwaves9611]

Thrusts in dark souls are OP cuz lag

[@isaiahperry6574]

Demon souls Estoc

[@darrianweathington1923]

"Thrust" "lag" aaaaaaand now im falling through the world aaaaaaaaaaand now my account is banned because the game thought i was cheating

[@BeaTime1]

Oh boy, I can’t wait to see Silvers response video!

[@robohippy]

I took a little bit of Thai Chi sword. Interesting to me, it is a thrusting weapon, but when withdrawing the thrust, you are always trying to slice tendons, fingers. and draw blood with the sides of the blade. For sure, they are not for removing limbs. Top half was razor sharp, and bottom half was blunt for blocking.

[@Chaosism]

I think you could have gone a bit longer to compare the simultaneous defense capabilities between thrusts and cuts, as in covering oneself with one's strike.

[@Morfbuscus]

Hey, Skall, watching yafor like a 2 years. From the last vids this was one of the best. Good job. Really interesting. Plz more vids on fencing tactics, logics or moves.

[@TheFarnhem]

Great vid, nice in depth analysis.

[@michaelblacktree]

I subscribe to the Indiana Jones school of swordfighting. 😆

[@richhartnell6233]

He’s saying just shoot the bad guy lol.

[@nishanthsurendran7721]

Good. You'll end up winning every fight.

[@mrslinkydragon9910]

You know harrison ford only did that because he had the shits and wanted to get the scene done quickly

[@gregtheredneck1715]

m.blacktree never bring a sword to a gun fight!!!

[@michaelblacktree]

Rich Hartnell got the reference. It's an old meme.

[@Tach-vc2gy]

Which strike: thrust or cut, is conditional upon the situation; the blade shape, thickness, length, your opponent, their blade, their armor. So many things that determine wether a cut or thrust would be better.

[@nikitaonassis6090]

Very good presentation.

[@DmitriyLusin]

Thrust, with a dedicated weapon, IMO has more range - therefore even though your thrust can be "easily deflected" it won`t leave you vulnerable. Estoc is bestoc.

[@animalxINSTINCT89]

Amazing shirt! Please tell me theres other versions with chainmail and plate

[@BattleF08]

This is also something I wish to know!

[@kevinnorwood8782]

Thrusts can reach vital areas quicker, but they are more easily blocked. Cuts can tougher to block, especially if they have a lot of force behind them, but only by targeting specific parts of the body can they inflict as much damage in as quick a time as thrusts (i.e. decapitation). So both are equally important, hence why training manuals include BOTH techniques.

[@sleekeditingco8741]

im studying for my final exam for cognitive neuropsychology, decided to take a bit of a break to calm down, what better way to do that then listen to skall's soothing voice rambling about something :) cheers skall your saving my life right now haha. would the speed of the tip of the blade not be faster in a cut than a thrust? also check out the case of Phineas Cage who had a railway spike impale him through the front of his face and out the top of his head. He survived and made full physical recovery however he was quite cognitively impaired and behaviourally impaired noticeable in later years.

[@gyu-y7h]

Excellent quality video!

[@bar0nger]

Both at the same time. Stab, then apply pressure toward the edge as you pull out. Done properly you could cut someone in two.

[@QuackenArt]

There are ways around cutting in a confined space, in short iaido, because it's precisely for confined spaces and engagements with little time to react. Essentially you take advantage of the forward space to accelerate the sword forward and then swing in the intended direction and back a little to whip the sword into target. A little more grace than just "whip sword at target", but you get the point I hope. Obviously in a narrow corridor, vertical cuts are really the only cuts you can make.

[@warpdriveby]

I found it required several times more effort and concentration to be effective with a sabre than a foil in western sport fencing, and that didn't seem to change much with pre-HEMA "historical" fencing. This biases me towards thinking thrusts are faster, require less body motion, and cause more serious wounds with the same effort.

[@primerib01]

Consider Arteries : Carotid, Brachial and Femoral. Cut & Thrust can be combined as an angled thrust to slice across these arteries with both a quartering push or pull movement. I have found this to be effective in sparring, with very short 3-4 inch edged contact with the Viking sword. All you need is a 'Nipping' effect and the blood pressure drops very quickly theoretically speaking. I believe the Vikings likely understood Arteries very well, hence the design of the Sticklestead sword, among others. Muscular power in the arms and hands is important too. Cheers Skallagrim

[@waltercarillo8916]

hi just saw this you tbe video: Akademia Szermierzy - Fior di Battaglia - im amazed how the used old fencing treaties.

[@kevinlobos5519]

very enjoyable talk, great video!

[@luxource]

Great video, very informative. If you researched enough material on this topic, what about focusing a bit more on the periods of time (and space) where thrusting / cutting was the preferred way? Can be interesting to hear the logic in these different cases.

[@CZProtton]

Skall that shirt is awesome! I want one!

[@carbonado2432]

No its not! and that particular combination of 2 shirts is atrocious.

[@toonbat]

I think you mention the advantages of swinging cuts while on horseback in one of your videos, but I can't remember which.

[@kristafinch2369]

Actually the fastest way from a to b is the brachristicrone(severly misspelt)curve if gravity is what moves this random thing from a to b

[@giantdad1661]

Depends on the sword and situation. But I noticed a lot of attacks can be ride off a thrust.

[@cringeyidiotterry]

It's true, a thrust does go faster than a cut just as a straight punch (jab or cross) goes faster than a hook punch and a straight kick (push kick/teep) goes faster than a roundhouse kick. In fact, there is an abundance of MMA footage where straight punch was used defensively against a hook punch and a straight kick (push kick/teep) was used defensively against a roundhouse kick

[@Thane36425]

It may have been the Romans who said that a thrust of two fingers depth could be fatal, in the right spot, but that men often survived severe cuts. Again, plenty of context needed there since even if someone survived a severe cut or amputation, they probably wouldn't be a front line soldier anymore. I've also wondered if the angle of the tip of the gladius wasn't so much to penetrate armor as has often been speculated, but to help the point slide up the protected chest and into the neck or under the chin. It could also have been a simple way to mass produce the swords over some precise curves.

[@McAppleWar]

I think Matt Easton said something like "thrusts are quick but easy to block, and cuts are the opposite". Or something similar.

[@WarlandWriter]

I have to admit that I'm still longing for a definitive answer to the question posed: Which of the two - cuts or thrusts - is most effective in most different contexts? (Different weapons, different situations, different opponents)

[@ladwarcoffee]

WarlandWriter thrusting, spears and bows were the norm of militaries of the past for good reason, range. Cutting weapons were used when the thrusting ones broke. I'd go with thrusting but having the choice of both would be the best.

[@devineaton170]

Depends on the situation / what armor your opponent is wearing.

[@ToxicSkull0]

Basically a long cut across the flesh that is barely deep and can cause functions of certain body parts to be negated Vs. a small cut with that is extremely deep and can cause internal bleeding Can you guess where im leaning

[@DamonFyrian]

I only have one think to say about thrusts vs cuts, in defense of thrusts not incapacitating limbs: A well-placed stab through the thigh can nick or even pass clean through the femoral artery (and all the arteries that branch off near it), the major blood vessel in the leg, which would lead to, at the very least, massive bleeding, if not some form of hemorrhaging. And that's not even accounting for potential nerve damage. Add in the fact that you do this once for each limb (a well-placed thrust to each thigh and one to each elbow, where the major artery for the arm passes through), and your opponent would RAPIDLY bleed out. On top of that, if it's just a duel, and not two people in armor, a good stab to the jugular or carotid (there are actually two carotid arteries, one on each side of the neck) and the fight is over.

[@lindaliljecrona4404]

What about a cut and thrust side sword that has hand protection and use both rapier techniques and the traditional techniques of fencing (Like Silver's back sword)? You can both trust and cut well.

[@allangarcia5886]

I read that a thrust is dangerous to not only the opponent but the player himself due to open space. If the opponent dodges blocking the thrust stroke, she can do anything with that open space to that player fencer, most likely with a thrust of her own.

[@carlosmorera0924cm]

I would say if you are the attacker you want to thrust because you have the element of surprise and can be more precise. If you are defending yourself you want to cut because of the stoping power and it will be better at creating some distance

[@tbtk]

Tis but a scratch! Fun fact: if you cut off a limb (a hand for example) the pain reaction of the body will close all the cut ends of blood vessels and therefore not letting out a single drop of blood. But when the patient (knight) is brought to the maester and receive milk of the poppy in two minutes a Tarantino movie will occur.

[@allengordon6929]

When it comes to plate, could one attempt to cut or slice at the gaps, or are thrusts the only effective way to exploit those openings?

[@RelativelyBest]

Question: What's up with those swords in the illustrations at 15:21, with the spiked pommels and scary guards? They look like something a bad guy in a fantasy movie might use. Do we actually have historical examples of that design? I've certainly never seen any.

[@Psiberzerker]

My first question in "answer" to this FAQ is about Armor. Is there any armor? Individuals may favor one over the other (With, or without eliminating either) for various reasons, but the single greatest one I can think of is: "Am I going to be taking Armor, and if so, what kind?" Same with shields. Slash away a full riveted and butted maille over a gambeson all day, and you will quickly find yourself with a dull blade. Maybe some welts make it through, I highly reccomend flipping over the (Single edged) blade, and going for the clavicles. If they don't have any shoulder protection, you have a good chance of ringing their helm, or bringing their arms (Including weapon/shield) up defensively, but you're just not going to cut through it with something like a Katana.

[@Psiberzerker]

I generally favor a Tuck (English for Estoc) because Reach. Reach is gamebreaking, if you're in an open enough field to use footwork, and take advantage of it. The trade-off of this is you're basically limited to the point, tip slashes, and rather stiff welts with the full length ricasso. I also carry an axe (This is full-time re-enactment/role play. Historical survival camping, with "Bandit Attacks." It's fun!) as a sidearm, because sometimes you have to cut, sometimes they have a shield, and so many other reasons, it's not even possible to cover all of them. Not the least of which is that I forged it myself with a Fuller on the back, so I can beat it into a stump, and do quick repares with it. (I have another hammer/fuller for the other side of the piece) That's me, with rough reasoning behind it, but context are the only important factors. It makes all the difference. Who are you planning on defending yourself against? How do you carry it (Tucked through my belt) what other purpose can it serve? (My Estoc also has "Lucern hammer" prongs, and a curved beak for quillions...) Are you going to be running into any dangerous animals? (A Tuck makes a very poor boar spear, unless it's a Boar Spear Tuck...)

[@vi-pro_plays]

Depends on your weapon and target in means of which part of the body of your opponent do you intend to attack

[@TheCompleteMental]

I kinda let my prefrence toward thrusting originate from what other blade shapes I like, double edged for versatility, defensive upwards facing crossguard(I like bastard and greatsword ranged sizes), and the ability to get through armor

[@diegog1853]

But... this leave me with a question that i hoped you answer in the video. If cut and thrust are both useful or even equally useful. Why do a huge part of Europe, not only Italy, france, Spain, used the Rapier as one of the most popular weapons between the 16th and 17th century if its a weapon that is has a clear cutting disadvantage? What was different in that time that made focusing primarily on thrusts the better choice?

[@randelldarky3920]

I don't want to experience either. Both would seriously hurt. Have You seen " The Duallist"? Good movie.

[@CosmicG777]

It seems that Thrusting has slight more advantages than disadvantages. Both Cuts & Thrusts may be necessary but there's more opportunities for thrusts to more efficient than not.

[@andywilson8698]

Skall have you done any test cutting with rapiers yet? If not would luv to see how effective a rapier cut could be , I know there were definitely cutting techniques in the old manuals .

[@burner27]

Your voice calms down my kid.

[@Tutorp]

At around 8:30, you say that the text discusses how thrusts are more lethal (but has less stopping power) - but from what you quote, it sounds a lot like the author is making the claim that a cut is actually more lethal than the thrust.