Underappreciated Historical Weapons: The SWORDBREAKER (the European and Chinese)

What is a sword breaker and why is it called that and where does it come from?
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[@politianospolitis862]

Actually you wouldn't have to "grind away" you just hot cut the teeth with a chisel and it's not so difficult.

[@shadiversity]

Ah, this makes much more sense. Clearly I'm not a blacksmith ^_^

[@umanee2987]

maybe it just wasn´t so promenent in literature because folk saw it more like a dirty cowardly way to duel rathet than a awesome weapon

[@FastJohn443]

So the question now is, why wasn't the sword breaker more promenent in history?

[@Megalopros]

hmmmm...if is not so difficult then...that gives more weight to the question of why weren't these more prominent/common

[@FastJohn443]

@@umanee2987 was that a big deal back then? You know, the "don't fight dirty" kinda thing.

[@vereinigtekonigreicheoster35]

“Parry this you filthy casual” -China after inventing the gahn

[@oguzmen5451]

- Horse Archery intensifies

[@carpedm9846]

"Did you bring a sword to a gun fight?" "Well. Technically."

[@Legalizeasbestos]

The comedic timing of “In Chinese this is called a GUN” was too good.

[@Ublivion01]

“THIS IS MY BOOMSTICK SIR!”

[@Corvaric]

"I call it Gahn"

[@johnt6773]

Cut to that scene from Indiana Jones

[@BreakerX42]

Guns kind of do break swords

[@user-fp6ng9ec8u]

*G U N*

[@nyan2317]

Shad: "Jian.. Gian... Xian..." Chinese guy: "GUN"

[@gunjchowwiwat8357]

Jian also means sword.

[@gmxealot6236]

Gahn

[@Intranetusa]

Chinese is actually a collection of multiple languages rather than a single language, so they could both be right. In Mandarin with the standard dialect, a sword is pronounced something like "jian" in English. In Cantonese, a sword is pronounced "gim" or "geem." The pronunciation for that weapon could be totally different depending on what language they're talking about.

[@dickychan8610]

Jian:sword Gun(Qiang) :spear

[@ProfX501]

Intranet This is a 锏 , not a 剑. In Cantonese it would be ‘gaan’.

[@johannes4123]

basically the European sword-breaker is a thing that break swords the Chinese sword-breaker is a sword that break things

[@InSanic13]

Still not sure that the Chinese sword-breaker really qualifies as a sword...

[@IanHsieh]

@@InSanic13 It's more like in-between sword and hard whip.

[@Ken5Masters]

@@IanHsieh hahaha "hard whip" XDD so a sword? :D

[@huaninifkw525]

@@Ken5Masters It just an bar-mace actually, nothing about against swords. There's tons of mistakes in Chinese weapon translating, I've seen a spear named "saber" in museum! MUSEUM!

[@Ken5Masters]

@@huaninifkw525 yeah, i can see how translations can be a problem. But hey, i worked at the museum and i saw a ton of mistakes there too haha.

[@King0fYou115]

“In Chinese, this is called... a gun.”

[@brianp6859]

That's confusing historically....

[@snowpearl5908]

@tmWasted is that cantonese or mandarin? I speak mandarin, but I don't know what gahn is.

[@levendefjorder3239]

Never bring a sword to a gun fight.

[@tskmaster3837]

@@levendefjorder3239 Unless you're in a Japanese production. There, never bring a handgun to a katana fight.

[@warwickthekingmaker7281]

@@tskmaster3837 never bring a katana to a matchlock fight

[@shoopydoopy6062]

Ah yes the ultimate sword breaker: a gun.

[@Jest1447]

Gun beats scissors.

[@thedootlord]

I mean your not wrong

[@daroldharold6665]

Skal knows something about that

[@ddunfuh9239]

*human breaker

[@totoru4ever]

Nah, the ULTIMATE sword breaker is the preemptive orbital bombardment.

[@Fivetothefive]

Friend: What’s your favourite sword? Me: The G U N

[@TaurusTheCrazyBull]

Friend: ''I'm sorry, i think i misheard you, what was it?''

[@AoharuObby]

@@TaurusTheCrazyBull Me: pulls it out of another dimenion in china this is called a G U N

[@jungleinsectspikewall4474]

This gives a whole new meaning to “dont bring a sword to a gun fight”

[@TMsonjakopp7006]

LMAO! this deserves more likes.

[@thetruedodoking4518]

Slowly pulls out Gun Sword

[@MiloWildfire]

@@thetruedodoking4518 **pulls out WW1 riffle with that knife thing on the end**

[@hamz5791]

@@MiloWildfire bayonet?

[@MiloWildfire]

@@hamz5791 yes

[@Ravigyne]

Wow, even in the Renaissance there was buy to win. -.-

[@Donnie_Oculus]

That and the RNG to find a blacksmith that would/could make it must've been ridiculous..

[@SevenPr1me]

lmao funny but technically you still needed skill with a blade. just buying a swordbreaker didnt automatically guarantee you victory in duals

[@Shadow25720]

RenEAssance

[@Groovemonkey-pd4ht]

Always was like that bud

[@juanfranciscocosta5387]

When has it not been that way?

[@Tevatron044]

Mob Boss" "I said bring your gun, not a stupid sword!" Chinese Man: This IS a gun Mob Boss: .........

[@wanderingshade8383]

I read that as "Bob Ross" I think I'm still in grief

[@2huUuuUUUU]

Oh no...

[@rikospostmodernlife]

"Let me check if it cuts your arm"

[@mandalortemaan7510]

Gahn

[@alvincarter9686]

Kahn!!!

[@simonaspalovis1204]

Swordbreaker - when someone took the phrase "Parry this, you filthy casual" too seriously.

[@kvjqxzz5905]

a European sword-breaker has to be made of the highest quality steel given its cut-in construction and heavy-duty binding action on a much larger sword - thus adding to the expense and difficulty of manufacture

[@TheGerudan]

That would be my guess as well. Those things were probably highly expensive and only very experienced smiths would be able to make them in a decent quality.

[@TheStonehammerFiles]

punching holes and then using a chisel to cut away the rest of the material is very much in the realm of the average smith which would be the construction method of choice. And I doubt you would need super high quality steel for it. It would be the same steel as the blade anyway.

[@FreeOfFantasy]

Some what low grade steel that you bend straight again after you are done would work fine. All you really want from that thing is to bind your opponents sword and not break.

[@Hyperus]

@@FreeOfFantasy this: you are not trying to use a lot of force with it, just some angular force to lock the opponents rapier

[@Jake-sg2ty]

It wouldn't need to be made out of best quality possible There is no taper on the catcher. can be thicker to compensate for strength weight shouldn't be affected that much coz fear bit of material taken out for the cacher and is not a full size sword But yeah lot more ex work to make one vs other dagger /sword nothing based off facts just my thoughts

[@lowkeyarki7091]

From watching forged in fire I learned that grinding that deep in to a blade is really risky. One small crack can cause the blade to break 3 hits later and seeing how deep those are, I imagine the bladesmith grinding his teeth as well as he grinds the the gaps into the blade.

[@FreeOfFantasy]

It is not a choper. Forged in fire does abuse the blades pretty seriously. You will never get that kind of force by blocking a blade. Your arms have to much spring it them for that. That said, the part of the blade that is still there is reasonably thick and wide, so think of it as a knife blade with bits sticking out on one side.

[@WeerdBeard]

Also given that tempering wasn't an exact science those days, they might have been prone to breakage, which might turn the fight the other way when you're stuck with a glorified hilt in your off hand.

[@FreeOfFantasy]

@William E you don't go through plate armour, except with a lance while charging or a heavy crossbow from low range. You don't generate enough force for it in general. You can dent it on with a mace or something like that. The anti armour daggers are for getting through the mail in the joints.

[@lowkeyarki7091]

@@FreeOfFantasy I know but some of those blades broke on the anvil while being forged because of cracks so... I guess that answers Shad's question of why they were not commonly used.

[@jkre]

@LagiNaLangAko23 No. Molded steel is sicnificantly weaker than forged steel, so no, you cannot make a sword or dagger by molding steel. It has to be beaten in to shape with hammer to get the necessary strenght. You can make a bronce sword by molding, but it still needs to be hardened by hammering. And bronce doesn't have enough strenght to make functional swordbreaker out of it.

[@Davidpoggers]

The Chinese sword breaker "鐧", is actually a dual wielding, anti armour weapon for the most part. So basically, a pair of dual wielding mace with longer striking portion.

[@Redpoppy80]

I could see the logic. In your off-hand, you deflect and blade lock the opponent and then you strike the weapon with your dominant hand using your off-hand as leverage to break the sword.

[@seretith3513]

With what was it usuly Dualwielded ?

[@rikospostmodernlife]

@@seretith3513 dualwield= use two

[@seretith3513]

@@rikospostmodernlife no brainer But i asked for what it was weilded with With itself, a Sheild, Knife or something else?

[@rikospostmodernlife]

@@seretith3513 since they're very sturdy and (as far as i know) kind of short, you use 2 of them: block with the left and hit with the right, block with the right and hit with the left

[@theimperviousfirecracker7934]

"In Chinese, it's called the Jian - I don't know how to pronounce it." "In Chinese, this is called, a *g u n* " I don't know what to believe anymore.

[@darkdogzstudioz]

even medieval Chinese were brutal. swordfight? just pull out a gun. zero fucks given about chronological technology advances.

[@Nurk0m0rath]

I had to look this up and funnily enough, a "jiàn" is a lightweight straight sword, what you might call the Chinese equivalent of the rapier, and "Gun" apparently translates to a staff. The weapon he's describing is called a "jiǎn". Apparently it's one of two types of commonly recognized clubs, the other being a "biān". I had to copy the names out of the article to get the special characters right. It's no surprise he can't pronounce it, seeing as he hasn't studied Mandarin as far as I know.

[@darkdogzstudioz]

@@Nurk0m0rath even the chinese guy says gun.

[@Nurk0m0rath]

@@darkdogzstudioz do a google search on Chinese sword breaker, and bear in mind that Chinese words often aren't pronounced the way they're spelled. All I did is share what I found on an article about Chinese weaponry when I looked it up. I have no idea where the pronunciation clip came from, but what I shared is the spelling.

[@ProfX501]

Cedric Johnson The guy in the video was speaking Cantonese, Shad had the Mandarin romanisation

[@iamwhatitorture6072]

Shoutout to Shad's editor You're hilarious xD

[@auzdas6201]

Why thank you sir!

[@ninesquared81]

especially at 11:45

[@mohawkmeteor7189]

2:30 is hilarious too 😂 Way to go mate!

[@merendell]

Lol I had to pull this back up on my PC. I couldn't manage to pause in the 3 frames on my phone to read it. I saw it flash by but couldn't tell what it said.

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

"you are going to include that in the video aren't you?" "What no!" "Whatever I can remove it in post" "He won't" lmao

[@silent_stalker3687]

The Swordbreaker The name given to Shad whenever he tests swords.

[@tigrebleu7458]

I can imagine two reasons for the swordbreaker's lack of "popularity." One, the swordbreaker might be more "fragile" than a solid dagger. The grooves may weaken the physical integrity of the blade, which in turn might weaken its resistance to stress-bending, impact, etc. Second is...well, as far as I know, fighting with two weapons wasn't so "popular" to begin with (even though it wasn't "unpopular" either). Using two weapons simultaneously-say, a rapier and a swordbreaker-requires a lot more skill than using just one weapon. Few people are gifted enough (like being truly ambidextrous) to use their non-dominant hand well. Spending time training to use the dagger/swordbreaker and the rapier simultaneously can seem inefficient when it is possible to spend that time becoming better at parrying and counterattacking with the rapier alone. Just theories.

[@silver_]

If you watch Alec Steele, he's currently working on making a european sword breaker and it snapped during heat-treating and this is all with modern forging and grinding gear, so imagine making one in a more restricted period...

[@mrbigberd]

A swordbreaker seems heavier which is also a disadvantage. Likewise, partial catches could be fatal. Dagger vs shield is much more cut and dried. A dagger is easier to carry everywhere and for most middle class people likely had a more utilitarian design that could be used for other things.

[@Steph-sk3xb]

Also they'd be expensive as hell and complex to learn how to use.

[@joevondenhuevel8915]

It wasn't until the mid to late 1800's that european steel was readily available. Essentially only the British could manage it until the Krupp company also figured out the process in Germany.

[@willysbakery6878]

you got a point

[@neowild]

When sword breakers were introduced to the meta renaissance combat became P2W

[@TheBen1tez]

I guesss E.A has been around longer than we thought.

[@wolffuryfun355]

@@TheBen1tez ikr

[@lordofdarkness4204]

I mean, plate armour broke the combat system a long time ago, so I would say it bar and pay to win way before the Renaissance

[@augustmagbon]

Why do I have a feeling, that if swords could talk, they would call this toothy lad "Traitor!", or "Cheater!", or "Sneaky git!", or something of the kind 🤔

[@Greideren]

"You were suposed to stop them not to join them!" "Reeeeeee!"

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

Zero no Tsukaima have a talking sword. It's a Japanese light novel. Also Maria the Virgin Witch featured a sword breaker

[@carriestovall8687]

@SuperSimba6 can i get the name of this light Novel you talk of? X3

[@thefinalday5858]

@SuperSimba6 ever heard of sword dad “That time I reincarnated as a sword " this scenario really sounds like something the mc would say

[@OMKaehn]

Lucilio Augusto Or maybe “Hacker!”

[@Khorvalar]

Wow, a dagger with crenelations. Now we need a dagger with... MACHICOLATIONS!

[@DracoDovakiin]

A blacksmith named Alec Steele had a video series where he made a sword breaker. About halfway through, they snapped the blade (in heat treat, if I remember properly) using modern day technology. That is probably a reason they weren't too common.

[@BrutusAlbion]

Sword breaker is pay to win ...

[@InSanic13]

Nah, just follow George Silver's broadsword build and you're good to go.

[@pauljohnson7548]

Imagine the sense of pride and accomplishment its user must feel!

[@elproson1]

Hahaha

[@theangryaustralian7624]

Fuck EA

[@Sip_Dhit]

Life is pay to win

[@PHENOXSPARTAN]

"Oh, you have a big sword? Here, let me break it in half with this dagger."

[@ushankaman6143]

*pulls out gun* in my language, it is called GUN, parry this u fkin casual

[@Chrono-bo4zc]

Casul

[@sengiko]

Dude you are like in every video I see. From now on I’ll say “hello there” in your comment

[@Godnando00]

Never saw him, but I gonna do it too

[@Boom12]

Makes me think Indiana Jones for some reason...

[@alred9699]

Anun Batbold Oh Yeah Yeah

[@jus_VAMPIRE]

Me to this sword “You have become the very thing you swore to destroy”

[@toasterpastries5811]

*The Sword-breaker is one of my personal favorite weapons.* *Wielded with the cup-hilt rapier, you become a killing machine.*

[@speedy01247]

until someone brings an axe or mace and is in full pate armor.

[@alwayswatching5545]

speedy01247 but what if you desing your sword breaker with a pummel?

[@zacktoor1591]

@@speedy01247 Hmmm... great-sword, perhaps? Maybe we could go Japanese here with a nodachi... Or spears! Oh... and thrown pommels as well, if you want to end them rightly.

[@imugi-16]

Someone needs to name their rapier swordbreaker then use it in conjunction with an actual swordbreaker. Now *that* will confuse their enemies.

[@eldrenofthemist2492]

How about Dual wielding the Chinese Sword Breaker. with the European Sword Breaker. "COME AT ME!!!"

[@imugi-16]

@@eldrenofthemist2492 Now that's the level of mind f**k I want to see

[@theblackfrugo4741]

@@eldrenofthemist2492 Use the european one to catch the blade, then bash it with Chinese one until it...breaks. All that remains is one furious(although disarmed) opponent. What a glorious, rage inducing combo...

[@leonardogerbassi8030]

200 IQ

[@Gr3nadgr3gory]

The sword breaker is named "the big stabby"

[@UUGamez]

shad: I'll make my entire channel about swords! guns: am I a joke to you?

[@henrypaleveda7760]

no, he just has discussions "from a more civilized era"

[@RikuIshmaru]

A note on the Chinese sword breaker. These are typically made of a very tough steel that has a shallow hardened surface that serves as a super hard shell. The result is a bar of metal that has the general length of a sword that you can just take chunks out of and make dents in the enemy’s sword. It might not break the sword in one shot - but it will chew it to death as you defend yourself.

[@stranger6822]

I suspect it's rare because it's so specialized. It wouldn't work against polearms, maxes, axes, hammers, projectiles, or even most heavy battlefield swords. It's limited to rapier duels. And, for that purpose, it may have been considered cowardly or dishonorable.

[@codymullin8328]

Ah the most deadly weapon of alll. Max from accounting

[@MikaeruDaiTenshi]

You could probably catch some polearms too.

[@stranger6822]

@@MikaeruDaiTenshi Maybe. I have major doubts about catching a long, fast-moving weapon like a spear or partisan with a dagger. I suspect it would be easier to catch a rapier given how much of the weapon is blade compared with a polearm which is mostly pole.

[@robertvecchiarello4863]

It would also work against a katana. A sai in one could catch and lock a katana and a strike at the middle of an immobilized katana could theoretically break the blade.

[@stranger6822]

@@robertvecchiarello4863 if one used one of these with a mace, then maybe. It would more likely bend the blade badly. Personally, in a situation where someone is trying to kill me, I'd rather bash the user and take his weapon. But Europeans didn't fight against katanas very often.

[@kayrosis5523]

Chinese Swordbreaker: A really cool club European Swordbreaker: The Comb of Aywin Yuluze

[@PhyreI3ird]

I don't get the reference, could you please explain?

[@kayrosis5523]

@@PhyreI3ird say it out loud :)

[@christesterman]

Oh God I had a good laugh over The Comb of Aywin Yuluze.....it took me a second to figure it out.

[@kylestanley7843]

Quite clever spelling there, sir :^)

[@PhyreI3ird]

@@kayrosis5523 OH! I'm an idiot.

[@alexcoopman3182]

Hey! If you do another under appreciated weapon you should totally do the Lantern Shield. It comes from Italy.

[@johnwhite1534]

those things got hella weird

[@rawkhawk414]

It looks like a Bloodborne weapon. 10/10

[@themomoleflore]

I always get so thrilled when you mention wheel of time! Absolutely love that series!!

[@brianleblancart736]

The Three Musketeers movie from the early 80's had Christopher Lee wield a rapier and sword breaker. First time I've seen one.

[@DedicatedSpartan]

I thought of that as well

[@deathking1019]

you mean sir christopher lee he is a knight

[@matthewkern496]

@@deathking1019 you mean the legendary immortal Sir Christopher Lee

[@89Keith]

@@deathking1019 hmm, as much as i love the Legendary Christopher Lee, in all due technicality he WAS a knight, but ceased to be one upon his death and so losing the title of Sir

[@bluejellosuu9583]

Dar.tan.yan (for corect spelin and sayin) and the three musketeers cartoon anyone did watch it ?

[@Sophia-vk5bq]

Shad "What...are you?" Christian Bale Batman voice "I'm swordbreaker. Boo!" Shad "Aaaaaahhhh!"

[@igneous061]

....what are you...what are you here stalker,.....

[@Sophia-vk5bq]

@@igneous061 Ok? I don't get the reference if you're quoting something.

[@Zachomara]

Bane: "And I'm Batman breaker!"

[@Sophia-vk5bq]

@@Zachomara Him and Cat Woman. And life after Joker apparently.😶

[@pisse3000]

Literally just put down book 7 in the "Wheel of Time" because I wanted to know what Juilin's weapon looked like lol

[@Thomas-rk4rl]

Three years later and I'm here for that too, did not expect it to basically be a saw lol No idea why you'd carry it as a primary weapon, though

[@redfist2988]

Your channel is really great. Giving information about all these uncommon yet super useful and cool weapons. Keep up the good work.

[@poilboiler]

You could also use the sword breaker as a comb.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

poilboiler That’s what I thought too 😂

[@vincentemerson765]

poilboiler done

[@Smerpyderp]

You would look pretty sharp

[@kylestanley7843]

@@Smerpyderp lookin sharp ;D

[@Vostadues]

Chinese "Sword Breaker" is called "鐧 - Jian", That guy calling it GAN is from Canton, and he is talking in Cantonese, not common Chinese... And Jian is more of "Armor Breaker" but a "Sword Breaker", it were commonly used by mounted trooper to whip enemy armor with the speed bonus from their steed.

[@GuitarsRockForever]

I think 锏 is also more likely a backup weapon than primary weapon.

[@Vostadues]

@@GuitarsRockForever Not really tho, the most common sidearm when Jian were commonly equipped were still 橫刀, I'd say it can be a situational weapon, that will be used when facing heavily armored infantry units that give blade type weapons a hard time... Well, it wasn't too rare for soldiers to carry more then 2 weapons to the war tho... :P

[@Vostadues]

@@GuitarsRockForever Jian were used most commonly at Tang, and the mounted troopers were using 槊 as the main mounted weapon, that is a polearm with a board sword on top of it, and they were also carries 橫刀, that is why I'd say Jian is more of a 3rd weapon to be carried into battle.

[@theghosthero6173]

The real name is Tie Bian(or Tie Jian) btw, not Jian, Jian just mean sword (straight double edge).

[@Vostadues]

@@theghosthero6173 LMAO... If you don't know what your are talking about, then don't cut into other people's conversation~~ And if you don't even speak Chinese, then don't try to show off a skill that you does not have... 劍/Jian - Sword, double edge weapon 鐧/Jian - Sword Breaker, metal rode with inner curved side, FLAT TIP. 鐵鞭/Tie Bian - Metal Whip, metal rod with bamboo like section, POINTY TIP 鐵尺/Tie Che - Metal Ruler, fork metal rod, shorter then all other rod weapon, only equipped by Law Enforcement units, also have another more well know English name called "Sai".

[@Nezha_Main]

Sir they brought guns! Sargant: they always brings guns you maggot! :No i dont think you understand sir they brought GUNS Sargent: OH FOR FACK- ok listen all armies have guns what kind of guns :Uh well sword breakers? Sargent: thats not a gun i heard of :Oh the gun isnt a gun it's a sword: Sargent: what DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!?!?!

[@maskofmany9208]

0:52 “in Chinese this is called a *GUN”*

[@buzdygan5488]

DOES THAT EUROPEAN SWORD BREAKER HAS CRENELATIONS??? I'm happy that Shad says that swordbreakers are not made to break swords, but to control them. BUT WHAT ABOUT DRAGON BREAKERS?

[@2MeterLP]

The real question here is, if that sword has crenelations, would there be a way to also implement *deep inhale* MACHICULATIOOOOOONS?

[@harumisakura]

@@2MeterLP dang you beat me to it MACHICRENELATUONS

[@MrAranton]

The dragon breaker is not a weapon at all; it's a small but vital part inside a dragon which regulates the fire-breathing; without it, the dragon would incinerate itself.

[@TheLiamis]

Look at crenolations on a castle. Clearly they are dragon breakers.

[@CubicApocalypse128]

Last time someone tried to make a dragon-breaker it fucked up time and accidentally their entire race before they could even finish it.

[@hans_von_twitchy1014]

@2:55 "These tooth-like protrusions, like a comb." I can't believe you missed the opportunity to say, "just like CRENELATIONS!"

[@wouldhave4998]

Imagine a machiccolated sword. With a machiccolated pommel.

[@spinnyspinel9725]

Shad: My goodness, did they have an edge Me: PUNS QUIPS JOKES

[@puffingamer9870]

Me: wow cool sword Chinese dude: It’s a G U N Me: *facepalms*

[@thatsguy1111]

puffin gamer Well the Chinese “gun” came from america so really the Chinese dude should be face palming

[@puffingamer9870]

That S Guy I see your one of THOSE kinds of people. Just HAVE to try to correct me don’t you. Get out

[@thatsguy1111]

puffin gamer Welp that was an oof on my part

[@tianxiu]

The Chinese Sword-Breaker is more of a battlefield weapon rely on brute force, while the European Sword-Breaker is more of a dueling weapon. Perhaps this explains most of their differences (weight, size, shape, and cost of production). The Chinese Sword-Breaker (Character: 锏) is basically a metal beam. You can see it as a sword-shaped mace. In records, most 锏 are dual-wielded to simultaneously parry and break the opponent's guard and weapon, and of course, ultimately whack the enemy to their demise. In culture, 锏 is a symbol of justice as well as the punishment to the unjust. It also got a nickname as 善器, "the Weapon of Benevolence", as it could resolve a conflict in a non-lethal way. I couldn't help but image what if you have a European Sword-Breaker on your left hand, and a Chinese Sword-Breaker on your right hand? Lock opponent's blade and whack-away? Hmmmm..... ComComComCombo Breaker!!!

[@nuadathesilverhand3563]

Lior Goodspeed, yeah, trap and smash would very possibly snap their sword. Then that's game because they can't fight you on even footing anymore.

[@theghosthero6173]

Tie Bian (鐵鞭) and Tie Jian (鐵鐧). Those are the historical term to refer to them

[@user-ud8zy2dv1k]

best idea ever

[@shadfacts6465]

Shad Fact: Shad has recently climbed the tallest known mountain without an oxygen tank. Yes Shad scaled Olympus Mons.

[@cryptic3675]

He's also living on mars now!

[@chefboyardee2223]

Im beginning to think these facts are mad s u s

[@mattware9627]

You hit the nail on the head. Given their production capabilities back then, it would have been insanely expensive to make. I have some smithing experience, and those barbs would be am absolute pain in the ass to cut out, temper without burning the barbs or melting them and would require hours of fine detail work. It would have been expensive, impossible to mass produce with their tech... and would likely annoy the smith to no end.

[@BimBamHeidi]

I clicked on this because I read about swordbreakers in WoT and then you mention it! Amazing!

[@birubu]

Best tactic against a swordsman Make sure he doesn't have a sword

[@user-qf6yt3id3w]

Shoot him.

[@kuruttakatherine6532]

Honestly the European sword breaker should be used more. I’m currently writing a graphic novel and have been watching your videos in order to keep the setting accurate. So thanks

[@nethercore9934]

What's your novel about?

[@Pauler54]

@@nethercore9934 sword breakers

[@cardescomedioses3674]

What’s the name of the graphic novel?

[@kuruttakatherine6532]

@@cardescomedioses3674 It's going to be called 'becoming your prince'. But it's going to take a while to get ready.

[@emperorlokire7648]

Kurutta Katherine Cool, I might give it a read if you release it to my country.

[@wouldhave4998]

"My goodness, did they have an edge." I see what you did there.

[@davidbergfors6820]

Great hearing a shoutout for my favourite book series! Wheel of Time! It's been a while since I read them though, probably time for that.

[@alexanderjohnson1210]

7:23 "you should call it a sword-catcher" But SwordBreaker sounds so much COOLER.

[@cezarcatalin1406]

Alexander Johnson Meanwhile the chinese one is actually a sword breaker

[@alexandresobreiramartins9461]

Shad, you interact with the "green screen" better than many Hollywood actors. You should star in some fantasy movie, preferably one written and directed by you!

[@merlinrweiss24]

DON'T call him shad, that'll attract the wrong kind of people

[@alexandresobreiramartins9461]

OK, I won't. Thanks for the correction!

[@jeffh1276]

@@merlinrweiss24 why shouldn't they call him "Shad"?

[@ChaosPootato]

I was thinking the same thing haha "Wtf is he actually looking at when looking at the picture added in post?"

[@alexandresobreiramartins9461]

That's why I say he plays the role well. He actually seems to be looking at the overlapped picture.

[@Reddotzebra]

So basically it's like cheat codes for rapier duels.

[@darkdogzstudioz]

less cheat codes more pay to win.

[@_cyanite]

imagine the stab wounds made by that sword breaker, especially during that time period with no micro surgery crap

[@carrott36]

Yes, but that may be why they were less common, especially on the battle field. I mean, it can no longer be used as a real offensive weapon seen as you would have immense trouble pulling the blade out

[@kingduckdodo6672]

28

[@Xoruam]

"This sword is useful to give you an edge" "This is much heavier, a whacky kind of weapon" Dear God, the puns...

[@ScientistCat]

Yeah, and some of them didn't even make the _cut_

[@isitnotwrittenthat1680]

I see you got the point

[@ScientistCat]

@@isitnotwrittenthat1680 gotta stay sharp out there

[@trentwerner7398]

"For those who could afford the weapon, my goodness did they have an EDGE"...

[@barnabyjones3708]

Your sword has crenelations? Bah, my katana comes with machicolations!

[@siristheslayer1923]

Barnaby Jones my kite shield has *D R A G O N S*

[@SparkRattle]

@@siristheslayer1923 My Buckler has a friggin' BUTTON!

[@masayukitachibana2756]

My machicolation drops pommels

[@dariustiapula]

I have a gun.

[@TiaTam]

I really appreciate this channel for differentiating between the medieval and renaissance periods and trying to inform about them accurately- I've seen so many KZbinrs, specifically larpers or people who're just uninformed that see the medieval age to be the same as the renaissance (mainly referring to the many renaissance faires in the US and Canada that are basically just medieval festivals)

[@alexsm3882]

My history is a bit dusty, but I rember my history of arts professor saying that though the middle ages are considered to have ended with the invention of the press, some still considered the rennaissance period as medieval times... I wish I had paid more attention, can't really give specifics :$

[@TiaTam]

@@alexsm3882 It doesn't really matter what people consider it to be, fact is, the renaissance was the period after the middle ages starting at around, I think it was, 1480 to 1500. (I stand corrected, the beginning of the renaissance in Italy was around 1420) In the late middle ages, antique scriptures were found, that they ended up following. A lot of Greek and Roman styles (and other stuff, I'm not that much of an expert) started to be brought back and that is what first marked the beginning of the renaissance. Doing research and all of the information is *not* adding up. The following periods are periods of art history, the Baroque, Rococo and Classicism. But they were ultimately all part of the early "Modern Times" - in German we refer it to as "Neuzeit", which isn't the same thing but whatever, which ended roughly with the beginning of the industrial revolution. I think. Anyway, yeah.

[@alexsm3882]

@@TiaTam I know I have mentioned it already, but still you shouldn't overlook the invention of the press, without it there would be no Rennaissance...

[@TiaTam]

@@alexsm3882 Printing press - ca. 1440, puts it in about the same timeframe I mentioned. But the printing press wasn't exactly what marked the beginning of the renaissance, it was actually the increasing amount of people interested in human history, who started to research and find remains of Greco-Roman culture. The printing press was a revolutionary thing because it enabled these people to spread their knowledge farther across Europe and also made it cheaper, so that more people would be able to read it. Also, the printing press was not invented during the renaissance, it was just a further developed tool (the woodblock) which was invented in China over 1200 years earlier.

[@alexsm3882]

You refute what I say and then go on to repeat it, though more specific, I'll give you that. But the invention of a mass printing press, which in turn is what led to the possibility to access/spread all that knowledge you speak of, not only to nobility but also merchants/others, due to the ability to easily reproduce documents/books, that was Gutenberg. Because you speak of the rennaissance starting when people started taking interest in these humanist subjects, but they would have never had such easy access to all of it without Gutenbergs printing press. Hence why I say the rennaissance started with the invention of the printing press, which is not anything you haven't heard before, I'm sure. Also, the chinese printing press was a predecessor at best. You can't compare industrial production of clothing with tradicional looms, or sword smithing with silexes, or even bronze smithing with iron smithing. Everything is an evolution of something.

[@eviljesus84]

Shad: points out how the European sword breaker, was actually meant more for catching swords also Shad: admits that the Chinese sword breaker could conceivably break a thinner sword in two finally Shad: "In my opinion the European one is the true sword breaker" ...wut?

[@Razealim]

You forgot the Jitte, the Japanese swordbreaker used by Japanese police.

[@rem8771]

Looking at it I think the Jitte would be more efficient and defiantly cheaper

[@rem8771]

@Nikeimizhong You do realize that its still a big ass club right?

[@Scriptedviolince]

@Nikeimizhong Old comment I know, but thing is, you can't have an unsheathed sword around the Emperor. The Jitte isn't a sword. Perfectly acceptable. And even when the emperor isn't around, you can use it to bludgeon unarmored idiots. If things get too difficult, then you go an call for actual samurai with actual swords, yari ashigaru, or gunners.

[@tuskinradar8688]

@@rem8771 I would correct and say it's definitely* cheaper, but defiantly not only works but sounds like it has such personality that it now sounds better that way, you've won me over with that portrayal, pat yourself on the back bucko

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@Scriptedviolince that rule only applied inside the castle. The jitte was a police man's badge in Japan. Only the top ranking magistrate was actually a samurai and able to carry the daisho.

[@randyortonsdickbulge]

Shad owns swords to fight Giant Spiders and Kangaroos.

[@TheLiamis]

And serpents.

[@fernandoii8000]

And birds

[@RealBearFace]

Fuckin 'stralia mate

[@shawnwolf5961]

username checks out

[@gearandalthefirst7027]

@@shawnwolf5961 I didn't notice good gods... wait that says edited... did you.....

[@anonymousanonymous-cl8nr]

I had no idea you had a editor and I love them so much for that clip added in

[@blackstone1a]

“In Chinese, this is called a Gun!” Me, an American: “Now yer speakin my language, pardner!”

[@evrypixelcounts]

so it's a battle comb?

[@SubliminalEncryption]

Not as crazy as my combat spoon (yes, this is a real thing)

[@rokkfel4999]

@@SubliminalEncryption you mean the war shovel?

[@SubliminalEncryption]

@@rokkfel4999 That could be considered a spoon in certain circles i'm sure! However, my war spoon is a plastic spoon from an MRE with the handle sharpened to a point that I kept on me while over seas.....you know....just in case i needed to shank a bitch in the neck who interrupted my meal. Remember folks, always be prepared!

[@danconrad920]

@@SubliminalEncryption Neat As I'm a civilian, I keep a knife under my pillow, you know, to open midnight snacks...also handy if someone trys to steal your snacks

[@mrman517]

I laughed really hard at this, christ

[@skyfawkes7844]

The Chinese version seems likes its if a mace and a rapier had a baby

[@HBHaga]

Kind of, yeah. It's a heavy bar with a thrusting tip, not so much a sword breaker as an armor breaker. I've seen demonstrations where one of those things punched through steel. They are heavy enough to deform or break a sword if you get a solid hit on one but that strikes me as more situational.

[@darko6666]

Damn even back in ancient times pay to play players had a “Edge” over the poor folks

[@Kealen69]

Kinda obvious since rich guys wore armor arrows couldn't penetrate and poor ppl wore cloth or leather armor

[@alexhage8092]

Stfu no one cares what you think you degernatre satanist

[@darko6666]

@@alexhage8092 Haha

[@darko6666]

@@alexhage8092 bro you can’t even spell degenerate right

[@yamum6498]

Sword Breaker, bloody awesome, thank you for bringing this knowledge to us all. and plus, it looks so cooooooool.

[@cassuttustshirt4949]

Well THIS came out at the perfect time. It's Sunday Night Gaming tomorrow, and our party just got a bunch of loot and our last session ended as we were heading into a large city to sell the loot and buy gear or whatever for ourselves. The GM told us to think over what we wanted in between sessions. And guess what? My character fights with a rapier and parrying dagger. With the money I have, I think it's time to trade my parrying dagger in for a swordbreaker. Gonna send this video to the GM tonight so he can watch it and figure out stats for a swordbreaker =) I'll also let him know you do awesome vids like this all the time, and maybe make a Shadiversity fan of him! (You need a name for your fans, a'la Noble Ones from Metatron)

[@taylor_green_9]

The Shadiversions?

[@cassuttustshirt4949]

@@taylor_green_9 I like that!

[@Fragtastik]

Depending on your version either a +2/+4 or Advantage on Disarm attempts. Retain any dual wield defense bonuses you have and give it a d4 damage. If sundering is going on then give it reduced hardness from a standard dagger. No throwing ranges since it's horribly unbalanced for throwing.

[@gekolvr0734]

Mackrels?

[@brobmiller8384]

Shadows

[@AlabasterJazz]

I always thought the prongs of a sai, or a parrying dagger with a curved guard, were designed to trap sword blades: block with the long prong and funnel the strike towards the hilt, and then twist the sai to catch the blade between the center and side prongs. It seems like it would be much more effective at catching blades of varying width than a swordbreaker

[@lancelambert9124]

The sai would've been better used as a defensive weapon against a bo staff. The jitte was used against swords.

[@Ryaurezh]

@@lancelambert9124 Problem with that is a bo offers a lot of leverage and momentum to the user, especially since it's a two handed weapon with a grip that extends through the entire thing. You would probably have your arm broken trying to catch a swing. You might be able to catch on a thrust, but would be at a disadvantage with one hand on a sai vs two hands on the bo. Skallagrim has a video demonstrating the effectiveness of a bo compared to swords.

[@theghosthero6173]

THE SAI. ISN'T. A JAPANESE. WEAPON. IT WAS. NEVER USED. IN. MAINLAND. JAPAN. How often will this keep happening!? Okinawa *isn't* Japan, the saï was a Chinese weapon imported to Okinawa, it was never used in Japan because as others said rightfully, the jutte is the police weapon in mainland Japan. Kobudo and karate aren't Japanese, it's like calling traditional Spear fighting in Hawaii American. Technically it's a American territory, but it wasn't created and used by American at the time

[@prodigalmanifest7650]

to do that you'd need to twist the sai quite a bit, i'd rather a sword breaker

[@ericm3327]

AlabasterJazz sounds good in theory but it is so wide it would be too difficult to keep your wrist twisted with a short blade where someone else has a long weapon with leverage

[@patmacken5130]

This just caused me to dream up at least 3 new enchanted versions for my home brew D&D campaign.

[@kennethfinch4009]

I enjoy your historical insights😁

[@simonmorley4816]

I laughed at the "he wont"

[@SvendleBerries]

Sword breaker, eh? What about pommel breakers? Im trying to thwart someone who wishes to end me rightly.

[@mursuhillo242]

Bad necro, shoo

[@robertdicke7249]

uh... use a baseball glove.

[@NameHierEinfuegen]

Oh god, I can't believe that I type this ... but can't ... resist: Just take the pommel like a man!

[@dynamicworlds1]

Aren't those called katanas?

[@thelordofcow5639]

This is a for honor reference right?

[@Raptor-ew6to]

Have you ever hear of the Ranger's Apprentice series? It's pretty cool, nice mix of fantasy and some realism, but I'd like to know if you would do a review on how historically accurate some of the parts in it are. I'd also like you to review the double knife defense that was described and introduced in book two, I think it is interesting but I don't know how realistic it is. @shadiversity

[@danielobrien8100]

I just discovered your channel, it's awesome. Have you done a top 10/20 favourite fantasy book series? That would be amazing

[@cjwrites]

6:13 "For those who could afford it, my goodness did they have an edge." Best line. ;D

[@Guderian2]

Crenelations! The Breaker of Swords! Mother of Close Combat!

[@baniguy]

I have a Dragon Defender. It has great strength bonuses 👍🏼

[@KaiTheGuy]

baniguy LOL

[@mattc1647]

I upped the anti and got an avernic defender

[@baniguy]

Matt C True baller status

[@brettmagnus6332]

Shad, I think the bar mace makes a great sword breaker. That's definitely my favorite! Take care!

[@VampirkoOrus]

Swordbreakers don't hold an edge over regular parrying dagger. In fact, parrying dagger have 1 more edge than a swordbreaker.

[@MrChocolatecow]

@@peeblekitty5780 issa joke

[@nggaknormal]

lol nice one

[@kimcarrier9834]

The Chinese "Swordbreaker" 8:50 is actually not a swordbreaker but a battlefield anti-heavy-armor weapon. While being used it can ignore the target's sword but it also can't make lethal damage.Thus it's called the weapon of mercy.

[@BestAnimeFreak]

I would not want to get struck by 'the weapon of mercy' though ... Sounds not very merciful to get plunged to death with it xD

[@kimcarrier9834]

@@BestAnimeFreak The Chinese Swordbreaker or called "Jian锏" is mainly for cavalry to break heavy armor including the weapon of target. The horse gives it enough lethality. But as a infantry in the video, people need a harmar to kill the target, with a swordbreaker, normal soldier can literally break sword, and hurt the target with heavy armor instead of kill it. VS light infantry, spear and dagger axe is dominant, swordbreaker is an unnecessary move.

[@RhapsodicXStyle07]

The idea of swinging one at me makes me cringe but swinging from horseback is evil

[@TheMightyMcClaw]

I've only ever heard these called "Swordbreakers" when Cold Steel started selling them. I usually see them referred to as "bian"; literally, "whips". As in, a similar shape to a horse whip, but made of metal.

[@kimcarrier9834]

@@TheMightyMcClaw exactly

[@afinoxi]

One way I can see this being forged is using folding tools to make u shapes on the back of the blade during forging , and before being hardened , given the desired shape using files. It'd take a lot of time either way but it would be faster than grinding them off.

[@CWunderA]

Speaking of the wheel of time, one of the earlier characters, Hurin the sniffer, also uses a sword breaker. And speaking of fantasy, it looks like you have a lot of great books on your shelf, ever thought of doing a video walking through them? (I see you featured hedge knight which is a personal favorite of mine.)

[@SkywalkerAni]

Woo, Wheel of Time reference! I knew you had good taste in books!

[@KalRandom]

Yeah, it got me into reading in the late 80's. R.I.P. Robert Jordan

[@Tommytwotall]

Ah yes, the WOT, nice read at first, but it went to long, too many books...

[@GideonStahl]

I'm very surprised that a weapon like this existed. Never have I heard of this weapon and I have learned something new. Thank you for sharing this and continue to wish you well on your future endeavors. Cheers Mate.

[@DevilsDeal]

I would love to see that experiment put to the test.

[@skylord6481]

I remember reading about this in a book series called the Obsidian Chronicles. Very good trilogy

[@hyenafur]

Shad, Wanted to say that I have greatly enjoyed our videos. It's greatly helped me with my work on my own fantasy works. Please keep up the videos.

[@hethwilliams2810]

Rewinding and playing at 0.25x speed to catch the news page at ~11.46, completely worth it. :D

[@universall8731]

Like Seriously, he didn't even watch Black Panther.

[@jamesforgie6594]

I didn’t watch black panther, simply because I live way out of town and never got a chance to.

[@universall8731]

@@jamesforgie6594 that's what the Article said..

[@christopherpie8559]

Hitting the , and . keys goes frame-by-frame through videos FYI. (It's been helpful for me at least!)

[@INeedaName-cb2qw]

Thank you Christopher! I've been DYING to know of a way to work around those youtube videos that have a bunch of text that only appears on one frame!

[@shawnb5899]

Thanks for the deep dive on this strange weapon! True story - My first time hearing of it was when I read the Tunnels and Trolls rulebook. I’ve been fascinated with it ever since. One thing comes to mind about the rarity of this weapon: Perhaps it was difficult to track down someone who knew how to craft one properly? Given how the notches are designed, I could see it possibly compromising the strength of the blade if done incorrectly. Having your own sword breaker snap or break during a duel would be very unfortunate indeed.

[@crimsonraen]

Hey Shad! This is actually perfect, as I'm reading through the Wheel of Time series right now (for the first time.. I know, I know..), and I've been wondering what exactly the sword breaker looks like! ^_^ Also LMAO at the little picture you threw in there.

[@reidate7274]

This series is quickly becoming my favourite one, thanks Shad! A little info on the Chinese swordbreaker, I did some research into it, and apparently, it's more of a mace than a "swordbreaker". It has a variety of weight and sizes etc., and it became popular after heavy armour was adopted around later-Tang dynasty (around 907 C.E. when the last Tang Emporer was forced to resign). Some text suggests that it's usually used in both hands, and some models have a gunpowder triggered mechanism built in as well. The character for this "swordbreaker" is 锏, pronounced as the "Gen" part in "Gentle" or "Gents", with the vowel prolonged and with the tone dipped down and raise up again.

[@reidate7274]

​@@jkosch I did, it's very simple, just hollow out the tip of the steel/iron of the Chinese mace/swordbreaker (the documents I saw says it's usually 5 inches or so) and they load gunpowder and three lead bullets into it. There's a little hole for inserting slow match or some other sort of trigger. It was a little innovation during the Ming dynasty, I don't think it works too well tho lol. There's a unearthed one in Xuzhou Museum if you are interested to visit, sadly I didn't find an English site with the picture. It's in this exhibition: www.xzmuseum.com/ezl_detail.aspx?id=2219

[@cjohnson3836]

@@reidate7274 锏 is the one-handed version. 鞭 is the two handed weapon that was used as a club against armor.

[@ghnna]

Where did you find that pronunciation? I'm pretty sure it is pronounced "jian", cuz that's what I type to get that character ;/

[@evelynwu3909]

The character for the sword breaker is written as (gan3) in pinyin, according to what was said in the video, but for those who don’t know the system, it sounds similar to ‘gun’ in British English. If you said gun in American English, it actually sounds more like the Chinese pinyin ‘gen’

[@ghnna]

@@evelynwu3909 can you type it out? I cannot find the character you are referring to with your pinyin

[@JacquesOF]

Europe: sword with crenellations America: wooden sword/club with stone China: sword with a loophole Australia: sword with MACHICOLATIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON

[@tobysstandpoint]

the sword breaker was not very common, probably due to it's shape (hard to forge), as well as it might not have been very reliable (the user would try to constantly use the tangs, instead of just perrying it, which could leave them open in attempt to lock the opponents blade)

[@the_stray_cat]

2:00 when you pointed to the books i saw the star trek book and smiled as i subed. live long and prosper .