Viking Two Handed Swords? - History vs. Fantasy

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The idea of a burly Nordic warrior / barbarian angrily swinging a large weapon in both hands is popular in fantasy and historical fiction, and people sometimes commission blade smiths to make a two-handed version of a Viking sword.
Every now and then someone speculates about whether longswords or hand-and-a-half swords might have existed in the Viking Age. There is a particular archaeological find and two interesting pieces in a museum that fuel such speculation.
In this video I talk about whether there is real evidence for them and why in depictions of battles (like on the Bayeux tapestry) you see a few two-handed axes but otherwise only spears and single-handed swords used with shields. There are some practical reasons that I find plausible as potential explanations.
The shield I show here is made by Vaughn Morphett (great work!)
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[@senyaborovikov1015]

"If it's cool, it's cool. Just don't claim it as historical. That's all." - Skalldad giving advice to all the sword kids out there.

[@metalchemik]

This is the best possible approach! I really love when people have this mindset. At one hand knowing what work and what doesn't, and on the other hand just being able to have some fun even whit the most unrealistic fantasy.

[@antlerr]

@Fishy Vagina a video game and your going to accept it as factual evidence come on next you want me to believe the sky is pink......

[@antlerr]

@@Leon-bp6kb your a bloody idiot i been up above the clouds how daft are you bubs????? a pink sky hahahaha soo far off your rocker.

[@antlerr]

@@Leon-bp6kb even without a single human alive to see the sky is blue and will always be fact kid a fact is always constant nothing changes it.

[@antlerr]

@@Leon-bp6kb all over the world same exact sky, same exact stars only stupid humans thinking there bigger then other life and smarter and all that matters in the vast realms heck the world right now is buying what told fear of a virus that has never been isolated so by the medical world itselfs theres no such thing as covid, yet the world still buys the simon told bullshit......... humanity is fucking stupid like you kid.

[@theodoreshisler9713]

There is something that endlessly delights me about the "Short answer: no; long answer: nnnoooooo" joke.

[@RomanLock]

I seem to share your pleasure in that 😂😂

[@michealdean3750]

Kind of doubling up on the idiots out there, because they will always be just that, idiots.

[@anthonyromanelli1392]

My favorite part about AC Valhalla’s two handed swords is that they are not two-handed, they’re one-handed swords that were blown up to 150% size so the handles are thicker than a regular sword blade and they look like foam paddles

[@gamer2101]

Lmao. That is so true

[@AlecFortescue]

That game is so garbage with it's visual design.

[@reptiloidmitglied2930]

I came to the conclusion to abondon the historical setting and how the older Assassins' Creeds depicted history and just see them as fantasy. Works for me.

[@Guythatyoudontknow]

@@AlecFortescue origins looked so good comparatively.. where on earth did they go so wrong

[@andredulac4456]

Is it still a two handed sword if you use it with one hand ? :p

[@rahimhunter5132]

'No, the Vikings didn't use two handed swords.' *gives side eye to AC Valhalla*

[@iCatCloud]

a game that is very inaccurate. :)

[@CreativeUsernameHere-r1k]

AC's accuracy went downhill after the reboot with egypt

[@ajayavsm7476]

@@iCatCloud tbh not as inaccurate as most other "viking" games, but the default armour and NPC outfits are shit, and also it has really weird time period inaccuracies, otherwise it's a pretty solid game which does a good job of portraying Viking culture.

[@CarrotConsumer]

@@CreativeUsernameHere-r1k The games were never accurate. AC1 was the best of them though.

[@andredulac4456]

Ok, so viking didn't used swords with two hands... but what about a two handed sword in each hand ?

[@robertstegmann9260]

The Gods gave you two hands, and you use them both for your weapon. I can respect that.

[@AxxLAfriku]

GAGAGAGAGAGA!!! I want to cut my toe nails... NEVER! I am the feet KZbinr. Thanks for being a fan, dear eob

[@baltazarriosdelbarco4230]

@@AxxLAfriku what

[@not-a-theist8251]

Nooooooooooooooo😂😂 classic

[@burgir250]

i rather use my other hand to perform rude gesture

[@keeganowens8949]

@@burgir250 Haha. I see you are a fellow Inigo user, yes?

[@gilzvit9112]

When I studied the battle of Hastings, If I remember correctly, Harolds Huskarls are the ones described with the Dane axe. Seeing that they were the retinue of the king and the nobles, I think they were eligible to wear more armor than the fyrd and with that have more freedom to use a two-handed weapon. I think they would go in the front when the cavalry and Infantry came, and hid in the shield wall during archer fire.(During that particular battle)

[@gilzvit9112]

@Berserking Bishop Yea, that's right. Harold put them in the center and at the front of the flanks, he had about 3000 of them. Still fucking terrifying to face them.

[@Nala15-Artist]

@Berserking Bishop That's a lot of conflation.

[@gilzvit9112]

@Berserking Bishop That's a long post for you? HA. Try me! Wait, weren't the housecarls introduced in Anglo-Saxon warfare through Sven Forkbeard and Cnute the great? That's already the time of the great Northern Empire. I know about Jomsvikings and I think it's not unheard of for Varangians to drop out of the Emperors service to go back to their homeland from which they left usually because of exile. Harald Hardrada is a good example. It's also a little bit tragic how, after the battle of Hastings, many Anglo-Saxons went into varangian service and died en masse at the battle near Dyrrachaeum in the Balkans. They fought Normans led by Robert Guiscard, and Emperor Alexios Komnenos I led the varangians. The anglo-saxons were eager for revenge against Normans after Hastings, but...they overextended themselves, and the Byzantine army could not keep up. The ones who were left after being surrounded fortified themselves in a church which Normans lit on fire. They did the exact same thing that lost them Hastings - they were too eager and overextended themselves, creating a hole in their defense. I think that the Anglo-Saxon may have won the battle of Hastings if they maintained discipline...and who knows what history would look like!

[@gilzvit9112]

@Berserking Bishop I know, had to check up to remind myself. :) It was a similar cause for both battles. Well, If nothing, it does potray those Anglo-Saxons as courageous and formidable warriors, who were also driven by passion, something that doomed them in those battles. (Not only housecarls)

[@ramanspeedballof930]

@Berserking Bishop just fyi, referring to the people of Great Duchy of Lithuania as "Lithuanians" is not entirely right.

[@dennisvandoorn6127]

Also, in the viking age, iron and steel was pretty expensive. This goes double for the germanic and scandinavian people, because they didn't have much iron in the ground. If you had the resources, it would be a better idea to invest it into armor rather than a two handed sword

[@kyle18934]

Or two swords, better for two people to have swords than one

[@Gilmaris]

The viking age saw a huge spike in iron production compared to previous eras. Iron was not rare by any means, but a sword is a complex construction, and the longer the blade the greater the risk of something going wrong. It would demand all the more skill from the swordsmith, and it would be a lot of extra work for very little payoff. An axe head, on the other hand, is much simpler.

[@erikjarandson5458]

There was (and is) plenty of iron ore in Scandinavia. Swedish and Finnish steel still have some "brand recognition". While not Scandinavian, Finland was crawling with Vikings and Viking allies. During the Viking era, most Scandinavian iron was made from bog ore, of which there's plenty, and which makes perfectly good iron.

[@davidp6913]

A good, solid axe also uses far less time and effort xD

[@nkyfong]

Plus a two handed sword wouldn't work with their shield formations.

[@exlibrisas]

What kind of coffee did he drink today? His editing is fire!

[@Edwardin1989]

Cocaine is one helluva of drug...

[@DontTrustBananas]

pure roasted spite

[@squidmanfedsfeds5301]

The three Skalls looked really well done

[@okankorad57]

hey, appreciate the extra effort on the editing.

[@tsk9277]

I noticed the phrase "copper alloy" in the forum post, Metatron is fuming in the background.

[@erwinspaan7754]

There is also a Metatron rant on the word ceremonial......

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@erwinspaan7754 "ceremonial" is archaeologist speak for "don't have a damn clue, but can't say that in a scholarly paper." "Fertility ritual tool" is archaeologist speak for "we know *exactly* what this is, but *absolutely* can't write 'dildo' in a scholarly paper!"

[@yamiyomizuki]

It's entirely valid to say copper alloy. You can't always tell if what you have is brass or bronze just by looking at it and historically they weren't always too fussed about what the alloy was, so it might be some weird hybrid of brass and bronze.

[@neurofiedyamato8763]

@@yamiyomizuki Well they can specify that.... Often times they call everything copper alloy rather they know the exact composition or not

[@Cormano980]

Megatron is using lasers from his eyes and high powered guns

[@atrior7290]

According to Roland Warzecha, head instructor of the DIMICATOR fencing school who focuces heavily on viking age fighting, in "viking" sword and shield fighting, the shield is supposed to be your main weapon, the one you fence and bind with. The sword is used to exploit gaps created by the shield. That makes a lot of sens and could explain why those swords didn't had a lot of hand protection and often had quite beefy / heavy blades if they weren't used to fence and bind. And that would explain why no 2 handed versions existed, if you have no shield, you can't effectively bind against someone who has one. So that would seem like a dumb idea in period considering that cutting into a viking shied would juste get your sword stuck in it. (Axes are a different story because they allow you to still bind with the ennemy's shield without getting stuck, and spears give you enough range and speed to metigate the disadventages of not having a shield (in melee only, arrows are always a concern). Two handed swords wouldn't give any adventage significant enough to be justified when most oponents are using a shield)

[@DraculaCronqvist]

I'm glad you tackle this topic again. Personally, much like yourself, I do not mind the Fantasy-Viking with the Two-Handed Swords a la Skyrim, but that's fantasy. It only gets irksome when people claim it as historical fact.

[@Leubast]

The weird thing about Skyrim is that it makes since for there to be 2-handed swords in Oblivion and Skyrim is set I think 100 years after Oblivion, so it would still makes since.

[@DraculaCronqvist]

@@Leubast Not what I meant, really. The point I was making was that Elder Scrolls makes no claim to historical accuracy, since all the people and cultures therein are only inspired by real-life people and cultures. The Nord might have a culture and ethnicity heavily based on Scandinavians, but they are not Scandinavians. They're fantasy people, so anything not befitting historical accuracy as far as the Norse are concerned is completely acceptable. But other games, like Assassin's Creed Valhalla do lay claim to historical accuracy. They claim that we are dealing with the people from the Viking Age, with the Danes, Norse, Swedes etc. of that time - and yet, they are nothing like the real Norsemen were.

[@Leubast]

@@DraculaCronqvist I was just saying it's kinda funny to think about.

[@filmandfirearms]

@@Leubast Two handed swords have basically been a thing as long as swords have. However, doctrine meant they barely saw any use, since shield and sword was better in pretty much every way and only very rich people could afford the armor to offset the lack of a shield. So, unless there was a massive economic boom meaning more people could suddenly afford great armor, or gunpowder came about, rendering shields largely worthless, then there would be no reason for two handed swords to become more ubiquitous, whether 100 years have passed or 1000

[@fredsuper6792]

That short answer long answer bit had me rolling. Nice job 😂😂😂

[@planescaped]

If you have two hands for a sword you'd be better off wielding a dane axe. If you don't want a dane axe, then a shield is a must!

[@Ironpine27]

Bah, as long as it can split a skull, it's good. ... That includes shields you bloody arrow magnet.

[@shawnwolf5961]

Not if I am covered head to toe in full plate. Then give me my favorite polearm, a halberd!

[@shawnwolf5961]

@@Ironpine27 Oh yeah for real. Stuff like that is how legends/myths are born!

[@matthias1031980]

@@shawnwolf5961 yeah but plate was much later

[@matthias1031980]

@@shawnwolf5961 and omg I would everytime take a halberd over any other weapon in plate too. It's like a Swiss army knife for knights on foot.

[@cynicalpsycho5574]

06:41 Holy smokes Skal! That editing is slick!

[@CreativeUsernameHere-r1k]

What do you mean? That's just the Skall Tiplets doing shieldwall synchronised dancing.

[@Tyme_Whyrlwynd]

Last time I was this early, Skall was still throwing pommels.

[@szpazdy6847]

Who says he still doesn't? 😁

[@DefaultString]

sadly, the pommels from wiking swords cant be unscrewed - so you have to throw the whole sword instead :D

[@ceoofwarcrimes4600]

@@DefaultString what is a sword but a pointed pommel

[@RyzawaVT]

If shields are still being used today in the form of a riot shield, I think it's safe to say we humans love feeling at least somewhat safe in battle.

[@filmandfirearms]

Riot shields are purely for defense. They completely eliminate any offensive capability. If you look at military or armed police, they rarely use shields because they're so heavy and don't provide all that much protection relative to just taking cover. Now, they will still use them in tight spaces where the enemy doesn't really have much of an alternative but to shoot straight at the front of shield, but even then, it isn't in every instance

[@irgendwer3610]

I like this video format, similar to the bone armor video. Its informative, not too long, the research is there and it answers interesting questions even if the answer is already obvious. Also its not boring

[@danilonascimento9866]

This is the type of content I like him more. He speaks with passion

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

Two handed swords simply makes you look cool

[@themanwiththebabyhands4650]

Who needs a shield when you look cool

[@jaketheasianguy3307]

1 handed sword is cool too. Looking at Polish swordmen spin their sabre around each cuts is a beautiful scene to look at

[@Omar-pu7fd]

Not youuuuu

[@ObsoleteVodka]

They are the "red makes you go faster" of the middle ages

[@genbeuden2114]

Godamn, anime videos, some video games videos, some workout videos. And even skal's video ? You really are everywhere

[@sevenproxies4255]

As a Scandinavian, I can't say that I've ever associated long, two handed swords with vikings. Vikings using shields is pretty iconic in the artistic representations of them. So if they use a sword, it would have to be one that permits using a shield alongside of it. In general though, the archetypical image of a viking is one armed with a bearded axe and a shield. It's the first thing I usually think of when someone says "viking".

[@whatTheFup]

The even longer answer: Skall holding a deep "NO" for 10 minuts

[@guywithdacap4713]

6:43 OMG! The Skalla-wall. They are so in sync, even the spartans couldn´t peril their formation! *literal shivers

[@disky01]

"Hop in your virtual longship and raid the isles of learning" is a flagrant stretch of the use of metaphor and I'm here for it.

[@stampsu]

6:45 This is getting out of hand! Now there are three of them

[@marcturmel924]

Glad to finally see the Skalla brothers reunited!

[@duragdan2000]

I always heard "hen and a half sword" and now I want to see one of those!

[@aaronsirkman8375]

Who has that much chicken to waste on a sword? We need some for dinner, come on!

[@mf8279]

Not to mention that in the late iron age, metallurgy was still in its infancy compared to the middle ages and that there were no pikeformations on the battlefield that needed to be hacked up by zweihänders :)

[@johndododoe1411]

Pike formations don't need metal!

[@mf8279]

@@johndododoe1411 But zweihänders do

[@Galvantez]

Skall was full o' beans in this video, I love it!

[@andrewsock6203]

Even more rare is the illusive three handed sword. 😉

[@TylerB-my1kr]

yea it's only illusive because I've hid hid it in my trousers for so long 😆

[@eyeballpapercut4400]

isn't it "elusive"

[@andyknightwarden9746]

@@eyeballpapercut4400 it is.

[@campbelld.1426]

Or illusive because it is an illusion that does not exist?

[@dicorockhimself]

@@campbelld.1426 No they exsisted one of the horse slayer sword from Japan that would take 2 guys to weild (zanbakto I think is how spell it?) Though its like the only one ive herd of

[@not-a-theist8251]

Lol that Matt Easton reference😂😂

[@NikozBG]

Oh I missed that. Can you give a timestamp?

[@VosperCDN]

@@NikozBG 0:45 should do it, right at the very start during the promotional bit.

[@marz6770]

Last time I was this early, Pommel comments were still funny.

[@justanotherbrickinthewall2843]

Stoneage?

[@Heylon1313]

I found the point about the 2nd row axemen hooking the opponents' shields down very interesting! I wonder how much this was actually done, it sounds quite effective.

[@jabberwocky9968]

Skal, did you already make a video on whether or not double bladed battle axes (as popularly depicted in fantasy) were historically ever used?

[@greggs1067]

He did, quite a while ago. I can take a look to see how easy it is to find.

[@fableblades]

Thanks for featuting my client's sword, Foler Frykt. You're right, these swords have been popular and have formed a considerable part of my portfolio of past commissioned works. I think many who like them were inspired by the movie 13th warrior. Demand for them has waned, but 10 years ago I was getting lots of requests for them. They are still an enjoyable form, despite the complications. They impart that feeling off power and pride when in hand; like many two handed swords do 😃

[@TheSonOfTheDragon]

While vikings didn't use two-handed swords their descendants, the gallowglass, did introduce the claymore to Scotland.

[@TheSonOfTheDragon]

@Lassi Kinnunen 81 Especially since parts of Scotland and Ireland were founded by vikings and Scandinavian settlers. I'm half half Scottish half Scandinavian so I'm kinda obsessed with the subject.

[@irgendwer3610]

by that point they were already very scottish but fair enough, you got a point

[@keeganowens8949]

There are several problems with your statement. First off, the galloglasses were in no way related to the vikings. Remember, viking is a profession, not a culture. It's roughly equivalent to a pirate. The gallowglasses were mercenaries, not pirates. Secondly, I can find no evidence that the gallowglasses used the claymore, which entered common use in the 1600s, while the first mention of gallowglasses is, if Wikipedia is correct, which it often isn't, is 1259. In addition, I don't see how this is relevant, as a claymore is not a two-handed sword. However, you are correct in a way, as the gallowglasses are reported to have occasionally used two-handed swords.

[@TheSonOfTheDragon]

@@keeganowens8949 By vikings I meant Scandinavians, the gallowglass are descended from Scandinavians. Just because they showed up at in 1259 doesn't mean they couldn't have introduced the claymore latter, and if the claymore isn't a two-handed sword then what the Hell is it?

[@ilikestew5719]

Dunmaglass

[@georgepapadopoulos3734]

I really enjoyed that video.I must say that it's been a while since Skall provided such an excellent video but it was surely worth the wait.Thanks again and keep it up..!

[@MaltGambit]

Great vid! Would be cool to see a video about indigenous warfare with some input from the Mi'kmaq since you live here in Mi'kma'ki :). It would probably involve an excessive amount of research though but hey, an L'nu can dream I suppose. Mi'kmaq vs Mohawk was a frequent occurrence up until we made peace (Wabanaki and Iroquois confederacies). Oh, and if you like D & D there's an indigenous game called "Coyote and Crow" you could check out, super cool concept I think you'd enjoy from an alternative history standpoint.

[@cyrilgigee4630]

I actually looked up Coyote and Crow after reading your comment, and the universe premise really grabbed me. As horrifying as it is to contemplate an alternate universe where I'm Bri'ish, it's also very interesting, and I'm not sure if there's ever been a TTRPG made about an alternate, colonialism-free Americas until now. I always love to see fantasy expanding into untapped territory. Even just from the Kickstarter page I feel like I can detect some genuine passion behind this project, so I'll be trying to keep an ear out for more about it. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@ScottKenny1978]

I don't think Coyote and Crow is doing late pledges, but I did back the KS. I'm quite looking forward to the setting!

[@junichiroyamashita]

Check out Malcom P L ,a channel focused on native arms and armors.

[@cyrilgigee4630]

@@junichiroyamashita I'm excited now, so if it turns out to be an unknown channel with 3 videos with terrible audio quality that hasn't uploaded in 2 years, I'm gonna be mad at you.

[@junichiroyamashita]

@@cyrilgigee4630 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpSqeHatj699aM0 better use this link then,since it is impossible to find otherwise.

[@Seelenschmiede]

Since good swords were very expensive, I can't imagine what a bigass long sword would have cost...

[@aubreyackermann8432]

Way to convince the entire battlefield you're compensating, too

[@F1ghteR41]

I can appreciate an unhealthy amount of editing that went into this video, but what I found really great is Skall's creative and sincere approach to advertisement.

[@biggiouschinnus7489]

The two handed Byzantine swords you showed look fascinating! I wonder what context they were used in. Perhaps a weapon for a dismounted cataphract?

[@mjengel84]

Thanks Skallagrim! All the pictures, personal swords, and research really brings the historical period alive.

[@hallofguns8174]

I will agree that the Vikings almost certainly did not use two handed swords. However, what about three handed swords?

[@malahamavet]

1:13 I actualy like this analogy

[@mauryknudsen5397]

I am so glad you made this video. I've been working on worldbuilding with a Viking inspired culture where one of the heroes uses a longsword with both hands. The great thing about worldbuilding is it's your own fiction so you can do whatever, but I was curious if that ever was a historical occurrence.

[@KonguZya]

Right, in fantasy you can have vikings or other barbarian types have two-handed swords as valuable trade objects or trophies taken from other cultures with more advanced metallurgy.

[@eurasiaacaci.-110]

People nowadays often forget that poeple of the past like us dont want to die

[@showsvod4234]

Sick editing today Skall! And the video is entertaining and informative as usual, keep it up^^

[@mnk9073]

Awesome video as always! The whole "arrows penetrating shields while on your back"-problem might not be as significant as we like to assume since we sometimes get led astray by the amazing videos of Tod showing how longbows manage to pierce shields with ease and forget how much punier the bow was for a long time before reaching the apex of the welsh longbow (not useless mind you, just used with the idea to hit unprotected areas of which there were many rather than punching through obstacles like helmets, breastplates or shields)...

[@sevenproxies4255]

Defining swords reminds me of when Baldrick tried helping Edmund Blackadder with coming up with a definition for a Dog. His deadpanned reply was "Not a cat". Ergo, a Long Sword is... "Not a short sword" 😁

[@gozer87]

I think the Dane axe and the hewing spear fill the niche in early medieval that longswords fill in later periods. I was sooo excited when I saw the ceremonial swords in the Danish National Museum in Copenhagen. Then I saw they were 16th century bearing swords. Still excited, but for LARP and cosplay opportunities instead of reenactment.

[@carlfabian4640]

Skallgrim: and this is the even longer version. But first a word from our sponsor! Me: No, that IS the even longer version!

[@skjaldulfr]

In Harald's Saga it says he has a two-handed sword at Stamford Bridge, in 1066. That was a head-scratcher for me when I read it.

[@dr05guitar]

Man I love all your backdrops in this one!

[@PavelSemin]

I hear the version, that it was just very difficult to make long sword in vikings age. But after progress with smiths we get more advanced armour, and more advanced weapon also

[@alicelund147]

I think that is correct.

[@101Mant]

More advanced armour means you don't need a shield as much and can free up the hand, and more advanced weapon making means you can make a longer sword more reliably.

[@PavelSemin]

@@101Mant I mean you can't just make reliable long blade with material available to vikings. And also with that material and technology, you can make advanced armour as well

[@Tobias5036]

I really liked the editing in this one skall. Cheers!

[@natmorse-noland9133]

Really digging the step up in editing! 👍

[@neilatkinson174]

Skall, if you havent already done it I would love if you did a discussion like this on flamberge swords in history. Much love

[@ulfhedtyrsson]

I'm making one right now. It's still like 8 pounds lol. But yeah, in actual battlefield conditions you're going to need and want a shield. Unless you have full plate or something that's big yet light enough to strap on the forearm and leaves your hand free and light enough to use. But still it would have to be so large it would be awkward

[@ScottKenny1978]

Shield? Yeah, those get heavy. But if you're talking about a sword, 8lbs is awfully heavy. That Chinese blade Skall showed is 3lbs.

[@Psycho_Badass]

Ad: Do you know what is the main turn on on women? Confidence? No, it's... (Skipped the ad) Skallagrim: a Shield!

[@sempi8159]

Glad this video popped up again! I missed this originally!

[@lucasgabriel4]

I'm watching you from Brasil, I love your work and I see you since 2016

[@YrnehLrak]

Upped your editing on this one. Really liked the style.

[@Skallagrim]

Thanks. It's very time consuming so I can't do it all the time, but I do like how it turned out.

[@C0ldIron]

In my time larping we would regularly use the "battle buddy" system for large scale combat. A sword and board player would take the front and focus on defense while two handed weapon welders would be in the rear striking from above sides. It didn't function exactly like the ax use you mention but it was the same combat theory and when I had a good partner I was nearly unstoppable.

[@eckhardson]

@Skallagrim: My club occasionally participated (before the modern plague, that is), in Viking Age reenacment events that inluded simulations of line/formation battles. Around 12:30 you mention hooking with a long axe. We always had teams of one axe and two spears in the second line. While the front lines clash, the axe hooks a shield and two spears thrust in the gap at the same moment, from left and right of the axeman (or woman). Works like a charm ;)

[@vargenfenrisson1164]

Your talk about the axe "which I already knew" also made me think about the cousin of the dane axe, the "long axe" I'm quite interestid in what you know about that one and what your opinions are about it.

[@youremakingprogress144]

Great video. Your screen presence and delivery of lines are at the top of your game. Some of the other KZbinrs talk too fast or seem less organized in what they want to say.

[@rumpelpumpel7687]

thx for another great video. very informative, liked the schemes of handle developement over time. havent really seen much about that before. Quite interessting. Also you have some really beautiful backgrounds in this video. cheers

[@shaidrim]

Great speculation on dane axe and shield wall! I liked it a lot

[@YondaMoegi]

Analyzing fantasy tropes/designs and comparing them to reality is both fun and informative. I enjoy latest videos a lot

[@sylvain7277]

Very interesting. I like your historical stuff I like the background music too

[@DanceswithBlades5]

Talking about Axes behind the shield wall reminds me of just HOW GOOD the Long Axe (In Universe Dane Axe) is as a backline weapon in Battle Brothers. Bringing all the power of an axe while having budies infront of you to defend you from archers.

[@TiredTransbian]

Also, long blades require a relatively large amount of high quality steel, something a viking would likely not have access to. An axe blade uses very little steel, making it much more economical than a sword.

[@EpiscopusArlien]

Talkin about two-handed broadaxe+shield combo - it was pretty popular in Varangian Guard of Byzantine, lot of textual sources mention it.

[@gamerchurl3639]

Gather one theory for Dane axes was that they were a response to the use of cavalry becoming more popular/organised from the 10th century.

[@julianmehlmann2996]

Liked the pronounciation of Zweihänder. Its good.

[@incredibleburns]

Nice to see some experimenting with the editing. Great video!

[@jensg2523]

Can you make a video about the gambeson?

[@SpaceCat_0]

Bastard is a longsword too, Skal. I also thought LS is 2h sword and bastard is 1.5h sword, but 2h is LS and bastard is LS.

[@alexm2537]

Another excellent video! Love your content. Keep it up my friend, You're awesome!!

[@gwennblei]

Excellent video once more, it was cool to hear your thoughts on the topic, thanks :)

[@danielduran523]

Curiously, the knight which was shown using a sword with two hands ALSO seemed to have a shield on his back, in a similar manner than he showed. Great video also.

[@Guardsman-sy8qm]

Talk about Iconic, think of Richard I, The Lionheart, rushing ashore at Jaffa, dane ax in hand.

[@YondaMoegi]

And the editing with memes and snippets from movies is fun too

[@chrisortiz8077]

I have no idea why I've been watching skall for like 2 yrs now, I'm not even particularly interested in swords lol. Just something entertaining and relaxing about his content.

[@jwrine3631]

This editing is awesome! Very entertaining!

[@Captain-Axeman]

One could make the argument.... Just kidding, the Viking age ended before two handed sword where useful. Also, don't really put much into what the Albion guy said. But I will say most likely Scandinavians did get their hands to two handed sword especially during the high medival period for Norway where Norway was getting quite rich actually. So, people most likely could afford better armor then.

[@chrisball3778]

One Viking saga I read mentioned a 'sword staff.' My understanding is that there are other mentions in literature, and they're not really sure what the weapon referred to was. Apparently the best guess based on surviving weapons from the archaeological record would be it referred to spears with large heads that could have been used for cutting as well as stabbing. So probably more of a polearm than a two-handed sword, but still a bit closer to one than a Dane axe.

[@fabio1160]

And, as for the question "Why 2-handed pole-arms were used and 2-handed swords not".... I think that also costs come into play, as well as the practical reasons that you have described

[@thekintheb621]

i love the new editing

[@VlogCandyMinus]

Hey Skall, I'm a big fan! I really enjoy your videos that go into discussion of technical appications and combat techniques of weapons. Im sure you get "zombie apocalypse" hypothetical questions all the time but in such a scenario other humans would undoubtedly be the biggest threat. If you were just an "average joe" only able to grab something quick and common (shovels, steel pipes, 2x4's, baseball bats, meat cleavers, butcher knifes, machetes, hammers, etc.), how would you fight against someone with a sword or a weapon actually meant for fighting? What techniques might be applied? Additionally what would be some suggestions for simple modifications you could make to these tools to make them more effective weapons in combat?

[@dogmaticpyrrhonist543]

An two handed axe also has a better chance of getting through maille than a two handed sword. And armour generally was a lot less common until the Normans, so, equipping a small group with lots of maille, helmets and Dane Axes makes them protected (except against arrows and spears) but powerful. Basically, what skall said, but with the "axes hit harder than swords" thrown in. :)

[@spartanxmonster]

Speaking of which, Skall you should do a talk about the Varangian guard. For hundreds of years, norsemen were the personal bodyguards and shock troops for Byzantine Emporers.

[@Csatadi]

Long answer is very funny :D 0:20

[@williamberne]

4:07 Chu(楚) was a big and strong southern kingdom for quite a long time, during zhou（周） dynasty it was more independent, during han it was a fiefdom to prince or brother of the emperor, but never a dynasty. Great video btw!

[@KnightLincoln]

I'm a commited early two handed swords enjoyer and what I love about them is that they were obviously possible to make at the time, just weren't in dark age Europe because of culture. Your video about chinese greatswords got me thinking, I knew about falx and now you show hint for similar byzantine swords. They carry this identity of weapon owned by noble, bodyguard, champion or high ranking officer.

[@RoulicisThe]

Not just for "cultural" reasons, but for more practical ones : Two-handed weapons leave the soldier more exposed than using a one-handed + shield set, especially against projectiles (arrows, javelins, etc...). Shields are very valuable as a defensive asset, against arrows of course, but in melee as well. They bring so much value in keeping people alive, but when you're using a two-handed weapon, you have to put aside this value to wield the weapon correctly. Simply put : armors weren't advanced and available enough to allow many people to use them, they were pricy. In order to use two-handed weapons on the battlefield, to be able to compensate the lack of the shield this style imposed, you needed very good armor, the reason why, when armors became much more effective and accessible, two-handed weapons became much more common.

[@KnightLincoln]

@@RoulicisThe If you were right dane axes wouldn't have existed, Dacian falxes wouldn't have existed, neither Chinese greatswords or Japanese tachi. Second half of the very video you commented under deals with two handed axes on battlefield, as well as possible use with shield for missle protection. And neither Dacian falx warrior, nor Chinese greatsword wielder I gave for example had 15th century plate or brigandine.

[@RoulicisThe]

@@KnightLincoln You didn't pay attention to what I wrote did you ? I said they weren't widely spread, not non-existent. There were two-handed weapon users : those who could afford to stay protected while using these weapons. You truly think these guys were going butt naked in the middle of battle ? Of course not, unless they truly wanted to die in this battle of course. Good quality armors existed in these times as well, but they were expensive, so not many could afford to buy one. Those who could were usually nobles or lord's retinue (whose equipement is paid for by their lord). And carrying a shield with you doesn't negate all the downsides of two-handed weapons either : like he explained in the video you have to put your shield on your back to wield your main weapon, which is great to not get shot in the back, but still prevents you from using it's protection against the opponent you're facing. There are exceptions to this of course, since some shields can be used alongside two-handed weapons, but viking shields weren't designed for this. Two-handed weapons became more widespread in Europe not because good quality armor started to "exist", but because the advancements made were such that the overhall price of protective gears went down, allowing more people to afford it.

[@KnightLincoln]

@@RoulicisThe I did. You've needlessly repeated value of shield in historical combat that everybody is aware of (from as little as watching the video) and claimed lack of armor developments were responsible for small presence of 2h weapons on early medieval European battlefield. On which I disagree because it was the culture and tactics - Japanese footmen used 2h spears and polearms with little to no handheld shields while poorly armored and left pavise-like standing board shields for their archers. Practical reasons for unwillingness to ditch shield come from shield wall tactics dominating - that's culture reason. And even there Dacians with their rhompaia and Anglo-Saxons with dane axe would be outliers coming up aganist Roman and Norman shield formations respectively.

[@harlequinems]

Hey Skall, quick question based on your background scene, would bladesmiths have had swords and wares just hanging up around the shop, or were they just made to order because of the work involved and the cost of resources? Love the vids 😁

[@manofthemon1689]

Huh, I didn’t get this video as a recommendation even though I watch all your vids. I saw this while scrolling down your channel.

[@didopretends7491]

Hey Skal! Nice vid as always! On a different topic though, do you think a full set of plate armor would give an edge or be a disadvantage to a fighter in an unarmed combat situation against an unarmored opponent?

[@kylerenneberg3069]

I appreciate all of the videos that you make brother! What about Nordic people having two handed swords for ceremonial purposes such as weddings and other ceremonies?

[@ivocorte1580]

I think that in popular fiction the scots Highlander and the skandinavian Viking blend together a bit, both being percieved as fierce northener warriors, often depicted as raging barbarians favoring fur clothing. But hey that's just my theory. Thankfully we don't see kilts in viking fiction.

[@leonpeters-malone3054]

I'm reminded of a comment from a book in regards to merchant goods of the time. In particular consumer durables for a more durable consumer. In particular, iron helmets. I'm also going to say, suggest, rather it's also a product of metallurgy of the period, there's only so much you can do with it. Armour, small sections of plate over a fabric backing, mail armour, no problems. Larger axe blades down to seax, also doable. Even if you're producing limited quantities of steel, all of it can be done. Sword blades..... are a bit harder to get right. Especially the longer the sword blade gets. Not to say they couldn't get it right, we've got plenty of finds that say they could do sword blades. Of a particular size. We've got proof they understood how to work with the material they had access to and made some very well crafted pieces with it. I would wager even if they had wanted to make a two handed sword, a longer sword blade for a particular tall individual, they would have tried and failed. It's not that they couldn't make a sword, they didn't have the material to make a sword of a man's height for the battlefield. Combined with it being an out of context issue as said above. I can't see them wanting to, needing to or having value in such an item. Especially if I could have that much superior steel to make so many spear heads, axe heads, things that would give me an advantage on the battlefield, in the raid. Call me practical, call me boring, call me strange, call me whatever you want, I think they would make the same choice. When it's the choice that means more people come back home.