How Long Were Medieval Swords Used For? Fashion & Development

Medieval swords were subject to fashion and progress, so how long were individual medieval swords likely to have seen use?

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[Vincere.academia]

I believe that some parts of the sword change more because they wear quicker that others, like "I am going to use grandpa's sword, I better regrip the rotten wood and leather, and while I am on it maybe fix that annoying rattling of the guard... What? To repair the guard I need to take the pommel away too and repeen it? Well in that case let's put a more modern hilt and to make everything right at once"

[thescholar-general]

Interestingly katana hilts and fittings were so easy to change that dating them by the hilt is not practiced at all because there is a high probability that the hilt was changed several times over the course of the blades use.

[darkwingeagle]

When Matt types, I bet he always types the word "BUT" in all caps.

[SgtMattson]

Reminds me of the Eric's chronicle which tells about the (second) swedish crusade to Finland in the first half of the 13th century, here's a translation I found:

"Many an old ancestral sword
was then from nails unslung
where it for many a day had hung."


The original IIRC explicitly says "grandfathers sword".

[Oracool]

This makes me think of the scene in The Good The Bad and The Ugly where Tuco builds his own gun in a gun shop, but now it's a medieval bandit throwing together different sword parts into his own sword.

[HoJu]

Would you consider looking at Hellish Quart? It's a fighting game developed by HEMA people with physics based swordfighting motion-captured from HEMA practitioners. It currently has a free demo on Steam. It's probably the most accurate translation of fencing to a video game format and it manages to be pretty fun at the same time.

[kanrakucheese]

Your point on the problems with period art are basically “It’s like trying to figure out modern firearms from comic books and movies.”

[jeremytitus]

1:14 This man really likes his crossbow!

[tiagodacruz]

This video would have been great 3 months ago.
I was training the actors and choreographing the fights for this TV series and the director tells me "this is early XVI scentury Portuguese Empire in India but I want them using bastard swords! That's all right, right? They still used them?" I was like... Cannons, guns, spears, short curved blades, one handed sword with finger rings, montantes, but sure bastard swords, why not... "With hand rings on the guard?" "No!" He said. Just the cross. Like Game of Thrones." And it all went down hill from there...
I have guys in chain mail using XII scentury one handed swords mixed with... No... It's too depressing. At least the actors' choreographies were not too bad, even though we had almost no rehearsal time (half an hour before shooting with actors that never held a sword before). The extras were from a group that does historical reenactment, but... Well, they did their best. I tried to guide them, but the actors safety was my priority. The rest is, as they say, historically inaccurate.

[evilwelshman]

I think, as it is a secondary/backup weapon, swords have more leeway to not having to keep up with the developments of other weapons and armour - compared to say, pole-arms - thereby extending their potential life span. And on the idea of swords being a status symbol, carrying an old sword could be seen as a way of showing that the bearer comes from an old, well established house of nobility.

Also, another factor that could potentially extend their life span is that as new technology and fashions arise that lead to people buying said new swords, their older swords could eventually be sold off and subsequently bought secondhand by those unable to afford new swords. Who would then carry them into battle before eventually selling them off to others further down the financial ladder and the cycle continues.

[Ghostselkie]

It would be nice to have a timeline where all this informations are visualized. Not only for sword, for armor too. So you can pick a particular style an see from on the timeline 1300 first known, 1350 common, 1400 out of date, but still around.

[casbot]

"That sword is so last period"…

[mikefule]

In most wars, most combatants survive. Therefore, we know that most combatants go through the war without killing anyone. Most combatants carry two or more weapons, and the sword is often the secondary weapon, so it is likely that most swords went through an entire war without ever shedding blood. They may have ben worn, or even brandished, but never actually used to inflict a wound. However, the sword was (is) often seen as a badge of rank and of honour, and it has a sort of talismanic feel to it. "My grandad survived Agincourt and this was his sword..." becomes "If I wear his sword, perhaps I shall survive too." However, people are people the world over. Some would show off by buying the latest thing, whether or not it was genuinely an improvement; some would follow fashion by upgrading what they already had; and some would make do with what they already had. It depends on whether you are carrying your sword as a "accessory or status symbol", a "tool to do a job" or a "precaution for if the worst comes to the worst."

[alphonsofrett]

Thanks again for sharing your hard work. I appreciate sword classes

[Jon.A.Scholt]

@1:14 is that guy doing a line on a crossbow?

[-Zevin-]

My now Wife " I like a man who has a good fashion sense." Me: *straps on arming sword.* Married 10 years now.

[louisjolliet]

Excellent video, Sir Matt, thank you.

[KonguZya]

More info on the Landsknecht-hilted Viking sword please!

[jesseshort]

This video just popped up in my recommendations, glad it did. I've been wondering this exact thing since I first found this channel. Seems I wasn't far off.

[btrenninger]

Similar point about sword blades being used for significant amounts of time in Japan. Grips were changed out a lot, blades less so.