SMASHING a Spanish Rapier with a Japanese KATANA? Response to

[@catsplay1658]

I know it's been a long time since Matt presented some fencing on the channel. However, I would love to see Schola Gladiatoria gather some folks, some sparring made katanas and rapiers to present what he described in some of the previous videos. Unfortunately, all "katana vs rapier" sparring videos in the internet have been terrible (in my opinion ofc) so far :(

[@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699]

Yeah, when it comes to katana wielders they are either inexperienced hema people who aren’t used to a katana, a kenjutsu practitioners who has never sparred before, or a kendo practitioner who isn’t used to (fighting outside their rule set like) defending their whole body

[@jonathanh4443]

While Matt can pull in some decent HEMA fencers that will have Rapier looking good, he would need to go find a group that is skilled at the Katana or he will just repeat what is already out there. It would be best if he took his Sabre or longsword against a Rapier to demonstrate what you would ideally want to do. Then each school could extrapolate. Even amongst the Katana users they will approach the problem differently. I've taken my Rapier against a former Kendo practitioner and generally the fights had me landing a few decent thrusts to legs and arms (especially hands), eventually he just smacked me in the head while I ran him through to the chest.

[@null-cipher]

Yeah... I really wish JMA with actual sparring was more of a thing. At my HEMA club I'm just the court weeb for liking katanas X:

[@markfergerson2145]

Or, Matt could set up a match against Metatron. Seriously, there are so many SwordTubers that somewhere there must be someone proficient in practical Japanese sword fighting to put up against a rapier.

[@catsplay1658]

@@markfergerson2145 This is something really interesting for me to find the exact reason on why very few katana users participate in some full protective equipment sparrings with steel simulators. I also heard some of them (proficient katana users) saying that it was not the best duelling weapon as its form and origins were strictly connected with the battlefield dominated with heavy armours, black powder and hammering/carnage hence the wide, heavy swings in the kata drills. Also going to some battlefield I would prefer some side sword more than a typical Spanish duelling rapier. Some of the "katanas" from the Edo period looked more like duelling weapons. They were longer, straighter with a thinner blade. Giving you more control and reach - things that are crucial in duelling without protective equipment.

[@louisvictor3473]

The blunt edge vs sharp edge part also introduces another point of discussion. Not all rapiers were fully sharpened, some were sharppened only towards the tip down to somewhere in the middle.

[@Apepisaniceguy]

It’s worth noting that katana were tempered after being quenched. So still a comparatively hard edge but not quite so brittle as glass. I can’t think of when this practice started atm and different schools of course teach different techniques. Basically, yes, relatively brittle edges but I don’t want the misconception of an edge so brittle it explodes on first impact.

[@NikoMoraKamu]

all swords are tempered after the quench , with different times and heats , but is a must to if you want the tool to survive more than one hit

[@ravendon]

What people don’t realize is that the spring tempered blade bends in one plane on the flats. This is not where most sword techniques would have you parry or block, which will be along the edge. So springiness won’t help with edge to edge contact between blades. Both blades will cut notches into each other like interlocking Lincoln logs, with the harder edge digging in deeper.

[@PJDAltamirus0425]

Yeah, also that specific rapier is so thin in the edges that is kinda looks like the katana could take a chip and still cut through the rapier. If it wasn’t a big concern, I don’t think we would have had short broader blades on rapier hilts for sea use and that master Dave talks taking about the safe way to block and warning not to block the normal way with a rapier.

[@williambreazeal387]

The Miao Dao was known to break when employed against Japanese swords during the Japanese invasion of the Chinese mainland. This was not due to poor steel quality. The Chinese had a very good understanding of the requirements to produce a high quality steel blade, and the Miao Dao was used by elite troops. It had a relatively flexible pipe back blade. This information is from the Guo Changsheg lineage of Heyi Tongbei who developed the second (and primary usage form) for the Miao Dao. As an aside, the original Miao Dao (before a modern shortened version was introduced by Guo Ruxiang) had blade lengths of ~ 48”. Blades based on the modern shortened version (like LK Chen’s) only have a 40” blade length.

[@lalli8152]

You have such nice collection of original historical swords.

[@johnsmith-js9nv]

Nice does not begin to describe his collection. 😁

[@SeanMahoneyfitnessandart]

You would expect so from an antique arms dealer 😉

[@chhc9210]

Yes, but he has no idea what he's saying.

[@scholagladiatoria]

A response to @LondonLongsword ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5C1gnh6apqmd7s ) regarding breaking a Spanish (or other) rapier with a Japanese katana. 3 extra videos each month on Patreon, which hugely helps support this channel: www.patreon.com/scholagladiatoria Facebook & Twitter updates, info and fun: facebook.com/historicalfencing/ twitter.com/scholagladiato1 Schola Gladiatoria HEMA - sword fighting classes in the UK: www.swordfightinglondon.com Matt Easton's website & Pinterest: www.matt-easton.co.uk/ www.pinterest.co.uk/matt_easton/_saved/ Easton Antique Arms: www.antique-swords.co.uk/

[@Red-jl7jj]

how come you didnt pin this?

[@jonathanh4443]

There were some broadsword treaties that recommended battering the rapier to break it. I don't have those on hand at the moment, but what stood out to me was the term battering as beat meant something totally different. Point being it's not just a two handed sword that would break a Rapier. McDonald had a good section in a class he taught a while ago on that, basically you kept out of distance and just smacked the rapierists blade. The key thing for the Rapierist is don't let the blade get hit, you can disengage so fast with the Rapier there is no reason to ever take a strong dedicated hit. This part of the discussion reminds me of the Japanese helmet splitting fetish or people who say you can't receive a blow in St Georges as a strong strike will blow right through the guard. - It's foolish to stand under a falling boulder.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

"battering" the rapier is particularly dificult. The lenght of the blade and the style of combat is so that you'll practically never hit it 90°, you'll always hit it at an angle, so the hit will be deflected.

[@louisvictor3473]

@@neutronalchemist3241 Being on an angle just means it is not the full force that goes in the perpendicular direction, not 0 force. Also, neither blade nor the style of combat of a rapierist dictate how you move your blade to hit it. Sure, it affects you, but you're not completely bound by it, you can still move your metal stick towards that metal stick approaching 90s. It is on them to try to avoid you, it is on you to counter their counter.

[@neutronalchemist3241]

@@louisvictor3473 Even with a perfect hit, 90°, with the center of percussion of the heavier blade hitting near the base of a firmly held rapier, the rapier snapping is an improbable occurrence. Under 45° and/or in every other case is near to impossible. Good luck in devoting your entire style of combat in hitting 90° a long metal rod pointed at you without being pocked.

[@louisvictor3473]

@@neutronalchemist3241 No one said it is probable, that is jot the argument. Bice trying to move the goal okst though, have a nice life fanboying a metal stick over other metal sticks. You and I are done, I have no patience for this bs

[@neutronalchemist3241]

@@louisvictor3473 So you were talking about mere possibilities regardless how improbable? One can base his fighting strategy over a lightning striking his opponent then. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, crybaby.

[@ramibairi5562]

Matt it would be great if you do a follow up video demonstrating the techniques of Rapier vs Katana and vice Versa. We need to see what both fighters should do to win .

[@jordanhendrix2619]

Something people don’t realize is that, with increased hardness is increased brittleness. It’s a trade off, and metallurgists and engineers alike have to gauge the acceptable range of hardness for every application. There are even charts that give you a good idea of how brittle something is compared to hardness.

[@LondonLongsword]

For a moment I thought you were going to destructive test them😂 Lovely vid and informative as always. Very much hope I see you soon!x

[@NikoMoraKamu]

if that rapier is made in Spain in that period by a proper bladesmith most probably the sword is built with steel forge welded over an iron core so its more prone to bend than to break it springs because of the sleeves almost like the katana with the softer spine but in all axis because its easier to fix a bended sword that a broken one thats also the reason why most of old tools are on the soft range the steel was rare so you have to make the tools more durable it's not because they didnt know about heat treats they know a lot about heat treatments , they had proper hard tools for especific tasks

[@althesmith]

Toledo rapiers often had iron cores and would be very difficult to break. However, most rapiers were made outside of Toledo, often in Solingen where Toledo copies were sometimes made, and these were usually all-steel except for the tang and could snap more easilly especially if there was a stress riser, as you say. Some Toledo rapiers with an iron core could also bend if enough stress were applied. The un-chippable, un-breakable, and un-bendable sword hasn't been forged yet.

[@Dave-lx3vt]

What about striking technique? In kendo, we emphasize a snap in the wrist when we strike called "tenouchi" that adds force to the blow. Wouldn't this play a role when the blades clash?

[@louise1967]

You should watch the Hammer film Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter it has bad sword fighting and a katana vs. rapier 'fight'.

[@radivojevasiljevic3145]

Community fund rising and public "lottery", that is selecting one unlucky original rapier and unlucky original katana for blade versus blade tests.

[@MasterOfBaiter]

Sounds like a messy hypothetical, I mean we know that some Japanese swords talk about conserving the edge by avoiding biting into the opponents sword. So if we want to cite Thibault as to the need to avoid it I guess it goes both ways. The rapier is also less robust which may give it more flex to absorb force it's not like you are chopping it on a table after all. I think the blades definitely wouldn't come out looking pretty from it but I find it hard to believe either would snap in most cases.

[@MtRevDr]

About kabutowari: There was one such challenge some 30 years ago. The sword used was made by Yoshindo (said to be fatter than normal katana)[ katana that is fatter than normal swords do exist and is not rare. You just have to commission the swordsmith to make it that way. You can also see some cutter in mat cutting club and special meeting using such fat or broad, big, katana they own. It is not something disallowed.] The martial artist in that kabutowari I met in real life was not a stout and big person. Such activity is rare, as it requires a sword specially commissioned and built for the occasion, a kabuto to be cut for that occasion. It is a money money thing more expensive than mat cutting. Is cutting the head or the helmet some valid move in war? I think so. I personally use a metal cutting sword that I had cut iron with. Can a badly chipped katana still cut well? Yes. I personally own some badly chipped katana. And the katana I own that cut best is one of those badly chipped katana.

[@louisvictor3473]

Chipped katana is a serrated katana and you can't change my mind about it!

[@Tkoutlosh]

Hmm, 60 to 40 HRC is pretty big difference and if the object you hit with that katana is light, there won't be enough shock to damage the blade...

[@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699]

I think there is a problem particularly when trying to define what a katana is. If we are talking about the type that historically met rapiers then it is a very different sword than one made in the mid and late Edo period. He mentioned a crack in one of his examples and this relates to a problem many Edo period katana had: In this time they were often made with very wide, flamboyant hamon and would have deeper cracks/chips as the softer part of the sword is further away from the edge. Swords of previous eras tended to have the hamon closer to the edge so any crack would be stopped sooner. Edit: Matt actually went over a 19th century British account of a katana receiving a chip in the edge, and that, no doubt, was due to one of these wide hamon of the period (it’s towards the end of the video) kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKKle3etrNFknqMfeature=shared 6:32 If we are talking about a katana that would have faced a rapier in the 16th and early 17th century, it would’ve been far longer than the examples he has. They would’ve been within longsword range before being shortened in the 1630s. Matt did mention rapier facing katana but didn’t specify the time period or if it would be against a pirate or samurai which is a very important point, the katana had spread from Japan and had been adopted by various people across East and Southeast Asia. Context is needed. 8:40 Modern reproductions that are clay hardened consistently fail at adding niku to strengthen the edge. Niku was integral to Japanese swords and is always overlooked. I think it is standard for every togishi to learn it as it prevents the edge from being “glass like” and makes it quite rubust. Not just that, but not every sword school is the same; some also put a thin layer of clay on the edge as well to make it slightly softer. Also, while the softer part of the blade isn’t as hard as the edge, it’s still hardened steel just not to the same extent. I find hard to understand how the perception of them “bending easily” came about when the point of their thickness was meant to prevent from such. Finally, while the katana is overall lighter, the point of balance is typically a bit further up the blade than most European swords so wouldn’t it actually hit the rapier with more force? This is exactly why it is difficult to both spar safely with a katana substitute while also getting an authentic feel of its balance. Ik this is ranty but it is just frustrating when Japanese swords/swordsmiths are made out to be one homogenous thing of extremes with no diversity and without context. I always like the extra bit of caution and care Matt takes when talking about European swords but it seems absent when talking about Japanese ones.

[@Red-jl7jj]

Longswords in the 17th century were for the most part, really long. 4-5 feet for the blade iirc. Katana blades would have been closer to 2.5-3.5, so there would have been a sizeable difference for the 17th century. I believe katanas have balance points further up the blade due to being cut down. Ones that aren't have balance points around the guard iirc.

[@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699]

@@Red-jl7jj are you sure you’re not talking about greatswords? With a blade length like that plus the handle would be as tall as a person. How would you even draw that without an assistant? Also in terms of katana balance, I was referring to the “typical” edo period length.

[@vicnighthorse]

Hello again. Just here to bother you😉 I suspect that the POB is not the most relevant measurement for this discussion and that the center of percussion is. IIRC the pommels of European swords move the center of percussion further out on the blade even thought the move the POB closer to the hand. I am not at all sure that an average katana delivers more (or less) momentum, force or energy and does so further out the blade than an average European sword of the same period. I am not even sure which of those is most important for breaking, damaging or displacing the other sword. Too many variables. So uh, you are also not considering enough context on this one😏

[@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699]

@@vicnighthorse uh have we talked before or smth? Anyway, yeah there’s just far too many variables to account for there’s no way I was going to get everything

[@vicnighthorse]

@@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699 Yeah, I babbled a reply top one of your comments on the first or second vid of this series. You told me that the katana was not your favorite sword. I still suspect that some Japanese sword is though. I admitted my freaky love for the smallsword😅

[@charlottesimonin2551]

good explanation of the differences between the two types of weapons. You have made your points clearly. Your original point of discussion was in free and unconfined individual contact. Clearly a rapier stopped momentarily in a fixed position could be broken by the impact of a heavy hard edged blade. (as against a wall, rock, tree, or large heavily armored person. ) With a bit of bad luck to the rapier owner. On the other hand even a hard oak staff in the hand of an experienced user has often defeated user of Katana or other swords. Solid contact with a willow switch can be frustrating when carefully held by a mobile opponent.

[@johnadney2782]

Thanks for the video. It was very informative. I have always assumed that a rapier was more likely to snap vice a katana. I am glad to be corrected. Have a good one

[@merlball8520]

Great video, but without seeing evidence to the contrary, just going by what I see in the video I'd place that katana as an early 20th century or 19th century example at the oldest. Did you purchase it as an antique, or were you saying that it's a new katana made in the 17th century style?

[@chengkuoklee5734]

Make sense. Instead of performing a killing blow, it's more safe to disable first like attacking the arm/hand; or destroy opponent's weapon to put yourself in advantageous position.

[@issen2291]

Regarding the katana hard edge biting into softer steel, I felt personally addressed! Did you perhaps read my comment on his response video? Fantastic work as always, though I would have loved for your "katana vs rapier durability" analysis to make explicit mention of the katana's stouter thickness+width to length ratio and how this would affect the result.

[@markfergerson2145]

I was thinking about how the katana’s cross section would affect the outcome as well. Many SwordTubers have pointed out that there is no European sword that is an exact analogue of Japanese swords, their cross section being virtually unique.

[@NevisYsbryd]

​@@markfergerson2145Eh, some of the 'Swiss sabers' are pretty close. The swept hilts change the balance a bit, though, and afaik, the heat treatment is more comparable to European convention than to katana.

[@Dr_Wrong]

Which will snap first? Depends on quality, skill, and luck..

[@ScrappyXFL]

Form too. I was taking batojutsu for a bit. Never had my bokken broken, and through the years only bent one blade. 😂If your blade breaks you just have to fight closer with your now short sword. 👍

[@TalesForWhales]

How would a smallsword fair against parrying a sharp sword since it does not have sharp edges? I understand the triangular design gave it an additional parrying surface. Does it make a noticeable difference?

[@jonathanh4443]

There is a type of a small sword called a Colichemarde that has an 'extra wide' fort (base of the blade). It was designed to be able to parry the heavier sabres of the time while still giving you the nimbleness of a small sword. The existence of this weapons means the traditional small sword was found lacking when parrying a heavier blade.

[@TheEinargallardo1]

Hello! I enjoy each and every one of your videos. There is always a lot of talk about Japanese steel, but never talk about Toledo's steel. It was, probably, the most famous in it's time.

[@makoado6010]

japanise steel is trash to compared to european.

[@Rafael_4581]

@@makoado6010 I don't know if it was done with all swords, but the Tizona was initially forged in iron then carburized during tempering. It was a technique brought by Jews consisting of wrapping the sword in a goat fur and putting it into the fireplace so that the carbon would diffuse into it to make steel. Thus, complex shapes could be made at the expense of complicated manufacturing. Spanish rapier was lighter, longer, tougher and sharper than others, so that expertise passed on the Japanese whey they became allies. The key has always been the carbon content and its distribution along the profile.

[@ScrappyXFL]

Hey can you speak on the difference in fighting styles with the different blades. I took batojutsu for a bit and ended up getting tasked with teaching "swordplay" in ninjutsu, anything smaller than a bo staff. Hanbo was still taught by sensei. Even though a two handed sword is different from from one handed, still the katana can be wielded by one and is NOT fencing style.

[@ScrappyXFL]

For instance, taught not to block/parry with the edge of the blade. Turn your blade, then straight into them. Stances I've seen in fencers are totally different also. The contrast is... 🤔in how you used the blade includes just even walking into a fight and finishing it... the contrast shows why blades are used the way they are. I've only bent one blade, it was still serviceable test cut tree wasn't. Ima go watch the linked video.

[@derleichtglaubige4415]

I understand your point comparing "civilian" weapons against each other but what about the predecessor of the katana, the tachi which was signiicantly longer than the katana (in extremis up to more than 2 meters of blade lengths) whil using the same production processes as the for the katana? Also, the rapier didn't dominate european swordmanship at all because there were all sorts of longswords around and apparently it all lead to the sabres before "sword time" ended to be replaced by fire weapons, possibly garnished with bajonets.

[@arpioisme]

Matt, how do you know that at the 16-17th century swordsmith use oil for quenching? I would like to delve deeper into renaissance and early modern metal processing since the emergence of the rapier itself is often attributed to advances in metalurgy, which is logical, but i couldn't find the written source. I do aware the artefacts are there and has been destructively and non-destructively tested, could you point us at a source about this?

[@KenoticMuse]

I agree with most of what Matt says, but the rapier is only springy and flexible when striked againts its flat side, which is not what happen when swords strike against each other. Swords strike tend to be edge to edge (or close to that), and the rapier is not springy when striked against its edge. Yes, it's still more springy than a thicker blade, but there's not going to be as much bounce and flexibility as Matt demonstrates when he bends the rapier along its flat side.

[@jonathanh4443]

When a Rapier receives a cut/you thrust into the cut the Rapier will be hit at a 45 degree angel on the fort/portion of the blade closest to the grip, where the blade is strongest. That is if you properly thrust into the cut coming at you. Thus the blade will not be notched with an edge on edge nor whipped around as when you strike it edge on flat. Yes you can damage the blade but if the blade breaks during the cut, the pointy end is still sticking out of your opponent. If you use the Rapier as a side sword and actually have edge on edge contact, yes it has a good chance of failing. This goes against mostly all training of using a Rapier.

[@KenoticMuse]

@@jonathanh4443 I think we need to see practical demonstration of rapier techniques, both in ideal conditions and in practical combat conditions. I fenced competitively in college for several years, and while fencing is not the same a rapier dueling, I'm familiar with thrust and parry techniques. When using a thrust-based sword like a fencing foil or rapier, MOST of your blade actions and movements are not thrusting; instead, you spend most of your movements on parry and trying to catch your opponent's blade to exert some control over them before the thrust. That's because thrusting is a high risk maneuver if you fail to make contact, so you spend a lot of time setting up the thrust. In these parry movements, most of your blade contact is either edge to edge or, as you said, something more like a 45 degree angle. If you repeatedly hit against a thicker blade edge-to-edge or at 45 degree angle, I don't see how you will not risk getting your blade broken. It's just physics at that point, that a thicker blade will stand a better chance of surviving repeated head-to-head strikes whether it's edge-to-edge or something close to that. Thrust movements are safe for the weapon, because it's a movement that avoids direct contact with the other weapon. But most of the movements during combat are not thrust movements. Personally, having fenced for many years, I don't think thrust maneuvers are practical in combat fighting environment, especially if the opponent has any kind of armor and you're fighting many-to-many. I think thrusting makes a lot of sense in one-on-one civilian duels, but it's a unique combat environment that's different from battle environments. We should do some practical experiment or demonstration of this. I'm willing to bet that the thrusts will make contact fast and before other cut or slash movements; but most of that contact wouldn't deliver enough force to be noticed by someone wearing light armor. That's simply because real people have legs and they will try to move out of the way of the thrust when they notice a lunge is getting set up -- the picture picture thrust in fencing magazine is extremely rare, and most points are scored based on very brief flicks. If we take into account not only contact, but also the force per contact, then I will further bet that fencers will rely more on cuts than thrusts to score points.

[@shkotayd9749]

Its fascinating listening to the both of you go back and forth :D You may disagree, but many of us would consider this learned, scholastic debate thats good for the rest of us who are interested. Hopefully modern, sharpened examples can be tested as a sot of loose proxy!

[@thishandleisntavailabletrythis]

You call the hardened edge crystalline. But I thought iron and such was softer when it was crystalline, and deformities were introduced through work hardening or quenching to make the metal harder.

[@luisyanez6261]

An interesting, yet extremely expensive, experiencial archaeology experiment would be to make a number of swords with similar enough characteristics to Historical pieces and test how resilient are they to breaking in sparring. My hypothesis would be that even those swords would not be particularlly easy to break. Yes, swords break and both Historical techniques and materials make it significantly more likely to have a major weakness on construction that leads into an early breaking, but even then, aiming to break your opponent's Blade would be... Unreliable to foolish. Thus my interpretation of the context of Thibault's defence against a longsword would be more on the side of "do this to have a longer living blade" rather than "do this or your blade is very likely to break"

[@daveollerhead7521]

Just watched 'Reclaiming the Blade- History of the Sword '. What a surprise to see a rather young and dashing Matt Easton 🙂.

[@jellevandermaden]

So, would it be better to just blunt a rapier except for the tip? Also, is the fact that a rapier has less mass an advantage in this regard? (pushed aside rather than be cut into?)

[@ScrappyXFL]

👍Fighting styles are very different as well

[@MtRevDr]

Swords of different weight used by the same swordsman transfer the same amount of force or energy. For the same travelling distance of any heavier sword is not transfer more energy from the same swordsman than if he is using any lighter sword. A sword edge receives a nick (the sharp edge either melted away or chipped when banged onto another sharp hard edge) and this nick no matter how big caused by human force does not cause the blade to break with one other hit usually. [seen in my own experiment with sharp Japanese swords]. People are lying(no matter how friendly some claim . . . to be) when they claim swords break under such situation generally or always. Japanese swordsmiths put a lot of thick clay lines onto their hamon edge producing soft lines called ashi for stopping chips. Therefore a katana can be expected to chip in pieces as long as the length between 2 nearby ashi. From my experience, a chipped edge can still cut and function. Also, from my experience katana with softer back or body cut better or deeper than those with harder back or body. They tend to bend but can be straighten. That does mean they do not break at and after bending. A springy blade such as blades of spring steel or 1055 steel can also bend at high impact or force.

[@bardsamok9221]

Yes, spring in the softer but multi hardness metal is often a greatly overlooked advantage in popular conversation. And the clay, excellent points.

[@ScrappyXFL]

Fighting techniques using one blade or another are different as well. We were taught/trained totally different than fencers in batojutsu. Never parry with the leading edge, turn your blade, then disable, dismember, take 'em out. Always moving, only time you went forward, was to take him out, only time you went straight back was distance so he didn't take you out, otherwise it was moving sideways till you saw an opening. lol Sensei told us, if you're trying to hit the blade, you're playing 😂

[@MtRevDr]

Western bladesmiths started producing knives with a hardened line, yet void of drawing ashi(soft lines) into their hardened edge. Guess they generally do not understand what is going on(at least before this exchange.).@@bardsamok9221

[@alekz8580]

Very nice of you to let us see a little of whats behind the camera

[@alejandrolievano5573]

Thank you for always being Matt Easton. Cheers!

[@thallescastellani317]

Matt, firstly, thank you for your content. It changed my mind about many things and deffo helped me in my hobbies, home defense and professional insight (I'm studying to be a federal police officer and your videos helped me know more and get rid of bs regarding knife and machete fighting). Thank you. Secondly, I have a request: Could you make a video with an explanation and insights on why merovingian shields were domed and the functionality of this kind of shield?

[@LeCrawf]

The gun guys always say velocity beats armour (metal), I can't imagine a person being able to swing a sword fast enough to make a significant cut in another weapon, unless it was particularly crumby or inferior! If the other sword is moving it would increase the impact speed, but Id of still thought the swinger's or opponents wrist would break/collapse first, or even the stance. And the wind up and follow through would have to be huge, leaving you open to being kebabed, possibly by the sword you just broke! Id always thought swords got broken by being trod on or misused, and i wouldn't imagine the primary intent of someone entering a melee was to break the others weapon. Of course I've never held a sword and would probably of cut my own leg off in the within a few minutes of doing so! And this is why i watch your vids, really interesting, excellent discussion, thanks Matt, and Dave to, great content :)

[@MtRevDr]

Japanese swords before end of WW2 have very varied quality. Those made by poor smiths can be very bad, thus easy to break. Those we see as Art swords are made with more care and tighter tolerance; are more likely to be durable(practical tests proved that this is not always the case. Swords from some famous school broke profusely.)

[@addictedtochocolate920]

This is true to a certain extent, but a katana-like blade is usually easily damaged because it's not designed to go up against hard, solid targets. These days we could experiment and make katanas with better steel and techniques than what was used traditionally, but the traditional ones are simply not that durable because of many factors in comparison to a springsteel longsword, for example. Rigidity plays an important part

[@Aleksei_Lopatin]

​@@addictedtochocolate920totally false katana designed to cut thru armour. Kabuto wari is the test cutting of the helmet.

[@Aleksei_Lopatin]

I dont understand what are u talking about .. If u talking about war swords of 20 century they are not katanas its gunto If Sengoku or early EDo period then obviously sword may vary from very poor quality leased swords to exceptional with tamashigiri certificate...

[@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699]

@@Aleksei_Lopatin I may be mistaken but I thought kabutowari was meant to test the sword’s resilience rather than it’s damage to the helmet

[@Aleksei_Lopatin]

@@outsideiskrrtinsideihurt699 lol whats the point of hitting helmet then? Go hit rock or anvil:))

[@Rikki-Tikki-Tavi]

I'd really like to know how swords were service sharpened. I'd love to see the process.

[@tiexiaowang7939]

I find the idea that a katana isn't as likely to break a rapier as a longsword due to their lower weight to be quite suspect. While a katana is lighter, it is more forward weighted, hence why it isn't as nimble as people thing. That also means it has more rotational inertia than a longsword of similar weight and that should make up the difference in weight

[@grantsolomon7660]

I would like to see the two weapons going at with highly skilled practitioners.All I've been able to find is mediocre matches.

[@Wu-Jiayi]

I couldn't imagine a katana cutting through a rapier of quality during conflict.

[@jm9371]

Sparring demo would be visually conclusive; but great video. I have been teached.

[@caelestigladii]

Is there any translated account of the Japanese reacting to a rapier(or other swords)? I’ve seen european accounts on the katana and it was an interesting read.

[@tomvhresvelg9286]

That's how Japanese pirates have made Ming(before Oda adapts Arquebus) and Lee Chosun soldiers suffer. Despite they have more durable equipments and steels.

[@svenboelling5251]

This reminds me of an episode of Zatoichi from 1974(?). There was a small crack in the sword, which reduced the durability to a few more strokes.

[@easyalpha1]

You know if they ever make lightsabers…these debates will never end regardless..😂😂😂😂

[@Pidalin]

There is a story of some naval battle which really happened (I am not sure if they were Spanish or Portuguese) against Japan pirate ronins (samurais without master), European ships used canons and totaly destroyed most of pirate ships, rest of pirates were totaly destroyed by european spears and halberds, end of story, no rapier needed. 😀 How they fight in movies (edge of sword against edge of sword) is ofcourse wrong, they would destroy their weapons fast, a lot of people were already explaining it, but in actual history, they were trying to block with flat side of the sword. BTW, I am still waiting for some super hi-tech modern sword for zombie apocalypse. 😀

[@markfergerson2145]

The Hydraulic Press channel did some edge-to-edge testing of kitchen knives basically to see which brands available to them would fare best. Blade thickness did seem to be a major factor right up there with alloy composition. I’m not suggesting you borrow a hydraulic press to push those two swords against each other mind you, just a data point. The video you’re responding to seemed to me to focus on the tactical similarities between Japanese and European single edged swords more than blade geometry and composition though. So, it seems to me at least that he has a fair point in extrapolating from the manuals to a hypothetical match between rapier and katana. (Of course that assumes that a samurai would fight against a rapier-wielding European the same way a European wielding a single-edged European blade would. Did samurai fight against enemies wielding anything like the rapier before they met Europeans? Did they have their own techniques for doing so, and how similar to or different from the European methods were they?) But wait- as you said such matches are historical, not hypothetical. Have you found any first hand accounts of such fights? Your readings of old newspaper accounts of duels, murders and tomahawk usage were terrific. Surely in all of the early interactions of Europeans and the Japanese, there must have been at least one fight that was recorded and the record has survived.

[@mallardtheduck406]

Matt, I always enjoy hearing your commentary, this is a way off topic question, but how is Oscar , your Cat?? I miss hearing an update every once in a while about Cat Easton.

[@rene_falk]

This Rapier has a very beautiful hilt.

[@SMac86]

You've made the claim, now lets see a test. Also you said a sword that could beat a rapier was a Montante, so I assume you are extending that to the Nodachi as well? I do enjoy the back and forth between those with extensive expertise.

[@patron8597]

Love that you are engaging in the back and forth!

[@arc0006]

Hey Matt, on a somewhat similar topic...could you do a video on the Colichemarde?

[@aviationenthusiast2002]

relying on breaking the enemy weapon is not a technique, but rather a trick. It doesnt work every time, and there are no benefits in attempting to do so an failing

[@AveragePicker]

I was hoping this was a follow up to the old video where you beat the living hell out of a rapier to try to break it.

[@andreweden9405]

Oh, at first I thought it was breaking as in "breaking news"!😂

[@dallenhumpherys7911]

Scandalous!

[@ScrappyXFL]

Why does any one break the news 🤔? 😂

[@bardsamok9221]

​@@ScrappyXFL Unbridled melee tendancies.

[@ScrappyXFL]

@@bardsamok9221 😂Like "world star"

[@thenovideoman5886]

My takeaway is that blades are perishable and sometimes break.

[@alvarorodriguez1592]

Yes Matt, but what if A NINJA handled the katana?

[@MartinGreywolf]

I'm not even entirely convinced Thibault talks about literally breaking your sword. Here's the Greer translation: "This is what we plead before being accused of having lost our reasons, which are principally founded on the concepts of time and instance; for we admit that he who tries to parry the blows of a two handed sword with a plain sword will find himself deceived, and instead of a sword, will find himself holding a dagger instead." That is the only place that even remotely references sword breaking, and text before and after doesn't make it any clearer - it's all just a "listen to me because I am science" spiel typical for Destreza authors. (Okay, you could be more charitable and say it is constructed like an Aristotelian proof, but that is a tangent here). That text could mean a lot of things - sure, maybe he said your sword will break in a very flowery language, but maybe he said that trying to block a longsword with a rapier is like trying to block a rapier with a dagger (i.e. easy to go around and with a risk of battering through the guard). The only thing we can say for certain is that Thibault is saying that blocks and his standard subjection/atajo aren't a good idea - you need to use a specifically modified subjection/atajo instead. On top of that, the opponent (aka Zachary) never tries to deliberately break the sword of our Thibaulteer (aka Alexander), unless I'm misremembering. There is one chapter dealing with Zachary making a massive cut against Alexander from rear-weighted posta di donna, but all the text says is that Zachary is "aiming a mighty blow at Alexander".

[@ScorchedEarthTactician]

These are either historical battles we are witnessing, or just great marketing.

[@Tobascodagama]

You know, I feel like Matthew Jensen probably has both a katana and a rapier around that he could do destructive testing on. 🤣

[@Blutroth]

Next video: "Could a Rapier pierce through Yūjirō Hanma's skin?"

[@jameslightfoot1872]

So, you're saying that it depends on context?

[@rubentorre1345]

Me being Spanish at the start of the video be like Nah, that toothpick won't make it through Spanish steel

[@happyhourk12]

So….. why not you two meet up and play it out?

[@ScrappyXFL]

What about him and Metatron? 🤔

[@souppiyas6987]

I work with metal forming and cutting for years and can felt how a harden steel 60 Hrc tools can eat through 40 hrc or lower steel so I think with a very very good cut a katana can cut through a rapier but it will be very difficult or it will just leave a deep mark. However in a combat it will be even more difficult.

[@channingb2577]

Heavy, through-hardened tool steel tools are a very, very different animal than a tamahagane blade with a very acute angled edge that is differentially hardened to a much greater degree than the rest of the blade.

[@Kinetic.44]

Cutting with machine bits is not the same as two objects smashing into each other, hence the blade chipping.

[@Waggadudewagga]

This sounds like a topic for the great Matthew Jensen. I can't think of another living beeing that has broken more blades than that man (in the best and most entertaining way). :)

[@mikemckague9506]

You can still buy tamahagane katana but there really expensive

[@ballisticsquid]

Looking forward to Dave's next response video

[@MikkellTheImmortal]

The hilt of the rapier is quite ornate and beautiful

[@mose717]

I suspect that it all comes down to particular being used in particular ways by people of varying skill levels. Blades and the people using them were not of the same quality.

[@fernandoromero9906]

Beautiful rapier.

[@nickdavis5420]

Hmm the Ming smashing sword versus rapier .

[@Wolf-Wolfman]

Excellent points well argued.

[@GaleonHispano]

Los japoneses en sus crónicas decían de la batalla de Cagayan que se habían enfrentado a diablos. En las filas españolas habían españoles de la península y españoles de Nueva España es decir tlaxcaltecas..

[@EloyDeCuevas-gf3nj]

Verdadera destreza…

[@alexanderren1097]

Matt, there’s only one way to answer this question. You’re just going to have to bite the bullet and ship both of those antiques to Matthew Jensen for him to break on each other. The only stipulation is that you need to require him to use his “drunken review” voice for the video

[@tarlison2k1]

in short the katana might be able to cut the rapier but the fight will be decided by fist

[@bardsamok9221]

Matt, please, just get a strong katana and whack a sharp 40 Rockwell rapier with it.. give it 3 goes but I bet you'll only need one. Maybe team up with tom on this one to split the asset cost, in collaboration the views may be around 7 figure as the topic amazing to even lay people. Yes an old rapier might well be split and forever beyond combat use, but it's pretty much historical research (much like experts will sacrifice an artifact in metallurgical testing especially if there are many extant examples remaining). Plus it can be blacksmithed back together for non combat display purposes anyway. Let's show this for real, the pressure has built and now an answer is burning to arise from the clash of steel! Would make a great vid providing an additional short with the "action". The fascination, the intrigue, the brutal empirical science!

[@bardsamok9221]

Or even better, don't repair the broken blade as it will be an awesome exhibition piece to prove what can happen should a katana meet a rapier... Might even provide exhibition value, to others or yourself! Or the viewers to whom from that day forth will have video exhibition value extant in perpetuity! Break ground. Break a rapier. (If at a loss for old rapier's to "experiment" on, perhaps team up with the local council/ police connections and "for historical research" use a couple of their amnesty donated rapier blades before they inevitably destroy them. You could append a policy correct blade education message if the science and public service angle alone isn't enough to tempt them to use a weapon destined for destruction within the security of expert guidance.) Or just use a cheap one.. 40 Rockwell though of era steel of course. History. Science. Battle! To the colosseum!

[@peterfinland1370]

Someone needs to make a video where a rapier snaps by the blow of the katana.

[@rileyernst9086]

Anyone else waiting for the sign off when Matt is wearing a wig, a fake moustache and sunglasses and is like: "I am not Mat Easton, I have never been Mat Easton, and I'll never be Mat Easton.' 'HA HA!' (Throws costume off)

[@raphlvlogs271]

sword designs differed so much from each other because they were invented independently by different cultures

[@PISTOLERO1988]

🇧🇷PORTUGUESE TRANSLATION ALWAYS PLEASE🇧🇷🤺🇧🇷

[@MPRStig]

Excuse me Mister Spaniard, please allow me to dent your rapier before you stab me to death thrice while I raise my 5 pound piece of iron I call a sword.

[@deltabravo2678]

Hi, my name is Dave and i've had a blade snap while sparring.

[@pedroleote8637]

So, if I understood correctly, what you are saying is, you should get Dave from LondonLongword and Tod from Tod's Workshop, and do some testing to get to the bottom of this.

[@michael3088]

i'm not sure they'd to spend 10 grand on a base level katana to be forged in japan just for a destructive comparison test

[@jonajo9757]

​@@michael3088There's a ton to consider, since a lot of Japanese swords after 1600 are known as shinto or shishinto swords. These were mostly geared towards art than function. Afaik, there's only one smith in Japan dedicated in making Koto period swordd (before 1600, war swords) while acquiring his iron from high quality cast iron. (Japan used cast iron before bloomery steel became common by the mid 1500s?)

[@hulkthedane7542]

...if the steels and heat treatments of the day (say 17.th century) were less homogenous, weaker, "efficient" - which I do not doubt, they were -, would the "lesser" katana be better at breaking the "lesser" rapier, than the modern equivalents .....???? I know, the answer to that probably is unknown, for a number reasons. In your opinion, Matt, would the "lesser" materials of the 17. century suffer more (in general, each blade is different, each manufacturer has different skills.., surcomstance...) in the ability to withstand force during parry, OR would they be weaker at striking??? Ie., would the the "lesser" katana be more prone to break itself on impact with the "lesser" rapier than midetn ones, or would the rapier be more prone to break in the clash of parrying????? There are SO many variables. 👍👍

[@ScrappyXFL]

Yea 👍A LOT of variables. I come from a different background of fighting, you only parry to keep his blade off you and go for the strike. Disable/kill them, end the fight. I was taking battojutsu at the same time as ninjutsu. Took out sensai 3 of 4 times, no not the real thing, and a friend of mine 9 out of 10... Then was tasked with teaching the class "sword play". *_If you're trying to break a sword you're playing around._* The class got good 😂and it hurt 🤣 We only broke 1 shinai, that was early on. No bokkens broken.

[@jacqueslandry2319]

What about breaking an anime sword with a super katana?

[@birdwatcherlubuski]

Wow he still continues to be Matt Easton. Color me shocked 😂

[@kaoskronostyche9939]

Great discussion. Thank you.

[@bonjogurtak673]

have 1 question in japonese they had wery bad qulity raw steel from wich they were supposed to decrese carbon % to make it actualy usable... an hardness 60 rockwel had file and when you drop file to the ground it will break and that maybe should hapend to the edge of katana and when it is broken to soft-spring and you still in combat confused wtf hapend to my katana!? the oponend gona try to kill you and you must block his heavy atack wich might split becose the soft part will break and you gona die...

[@eagle162]

And so the saga continues.

[@kierankennedy7162]

Exactly right about the chipping, I'm going to send you a pick of mine lol you'll think I took it from a museum 😅 great vid 👍 aka kenjutsu sparring.

[@Kamamura2]

By the Grobthar's hammer, any blade can be shattered!