Longsword Edge Bashing

Taken from the ARMA free public website:
http://www.thearma.org/Videos/NTCvids/testingbladesandmaterials.htm

This video shows the damage done to the edges of sharp replica European Longswords when they are hit against each other edge-on-edge.

The swings were not full force and the standing targets were not rigidly held in place, thus significantly reducing the amount of impact. Despite such reductions of force, the incredible amounts of damage can be seen.
The gouges and gashes done to the edges would have been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to repair in the Medieval and Renaissance times.

As a result of tests such as these, it has been strongly argued that one should receive blows with the flat of the blade and not the edge. The flex of the blades will absorb a significant amount of impact, thus greatly reducing the damage done to the blades, and the force is distributed over a much larger area when an edge hits a flat.

Note: The swords used in the test were already unusable for normal training, so don't fret ;)

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Longsword
• Edge
• Bashing
• ARMA
• Knight
• Sword
• Katana
• Blade
• Parry

[300warrior300]

Could you do the same thing with a katana to prove they dent just as much?

[tiamat9989]

@300warrior300

I hope someone would be able to shell out a few thousand dollars for such a thing; my hypothesis would be that the katana would actually dent exponentially worse than the longswords. It'll finally put this argument to rest.

There are a few other videos on youtube that feature katanas getting edge-bashed, i'll try sending them to you once i have time.

[halfassedfart]

@tiamat9989 watch?v=5Hy_A9vjp_s#t=5m55s

The most notable one, and the most fun because it shows it in excruciatingly slow motion. Imagining the look on the weeaboos' faces as they see the katana fail catastrophically...bloody priceless.

Personally, I envision it as the look on someone's face when you show him photographic proof that his girlfriend has been cheating on him and then punt him in the balls.

[tiamat9989]

@halfassedfart

Yes! That's what I was looking for. I'm going to try to link that into my video here. Thanks!

[MrNiceGuyNot]

@halfassedfart Ha ha ha ha ha haaaaa!!! Back yard and basement half-arsed experiments!

BTW I didn't see any katana fail in the link you provided. That fat arse nerd only tried some sharpened spike on some tin bin! Is that experiment relevant to the world wide comunity of bladesmiths? WOW! I think we all gonna throw away our hand made japanese blades and buy some from this retard! LMAOOOOOOO!!!!

[tiamat9989]

@MrNiceGuyNot

I'd be glad to see a better test video if you happen to have one. As of yet, that German documentary is all we've got, unfortunately.

Thing is, if real katanas can take the punishment you'd think there'd be more demonstrations of that. I realize they're expensive, but surely scientific communities can afford authentic blades for destruction tests? Perhaps most Japanese swordmakers know that their swords would fail, which is why these tests don't happen. Would be curious to see.

[Protherium]

There:

-- watch?v=QTv_xzav1Ls

The katana will chip and break finally. By the way; the katanas made of modern carbon steel are even more tough than old Koto and Shinto blades.

[WaverenEvermore]

Edge to edge contact should never happen. Swords were expensive even for nobles. Even if you could loot back the money for another theres no reason to do it in the first place. Using the flat of the blade is just as easy and doesn't ruin a perfectly fine sword. Besides, it's just a matter of time before it breaks and if that happens mid battle then your really out of luck. Edge to edge contact with any sword is a myth born of ignorance, and it needs to die.

[Halofreakanoid]

@seosaidh : Meyer primarily taught his students how to win in DUELS. In a duel the objective is to kill, and not die. His techniques can be used in the field of combat as well, if the fighting turns into a close combat mess.

If you read that essay made by who many consider a modern day master and genius in his interpretations of the medieval/Renaissance writings, he mentions MULTIPLE masters say that it is more advantageous to block and parry with edge to flat, INCLUDING Talhoffer.

[Halofreakanoid]

@seosaidh : I don't see a single insult there, other than continued accusations back and forth from you to I and vice versa.

Physics does NOT say that blocking with the edge is good, because the flat will not be cut or broken by another blade of the same or lesser metal. In fact smashing edge on edge is the most static form of combat and doesn't leave as many openings for you to strike your opponent. It also weakens the overall blade by causing microfractures.

[seosaidh]

@Halofreakanoid I see. We're going to devolve to insults.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I have studied longsword seriously. I personally don't study Meyer because he is a Schulefechten source; I am interested only in Ernstfechten (lethal combat, as opposed to Meyer's sportive system).

I have read all the arguments out that say to block with the flat. They're simply wrong- not because I say so, but because physics does.

[Halofreakanoid]

@seosaidh : Yes, SOME masters told to block with the edge, but only with CERTAIN WEAPONS DESIGNED TO DO IT. Most longsword type weapons are not designed to do this.

You're not supposed to block with the part of a blade that is strong and rigid, that will BREAK the sword. The flat is designed to flex and disperse. Not to mention the DOZENS of techniques revolving around blocking with the flat.

/watch?v=TtNZQBc4RpE

[Halofreakanoid]

@seosaidh : You've SERIOUSLY never studied longsword fighting in any actual degree. Try Meyer. You'll learn a thing or two.

Try this as well: thearma(dot)org/essays/edgemyt­h(dot)htm

[MrNiceGuyNot]

@Halofreakanoid Man I'm gonna tell you this: I ain't gonna argue with all the troll freakoids on YT. You believe whatever you want to cuz nobody gives a shit anyway, and I ain't gonna convince you otherwise. I know swords and I know metallurgy, I studied it. I ain't gonna waste my time with all freaks. Adios forever.

[Halofreakanoid]

@MrNiceGuyNot : That has nothing to do with quality of swords and everything to do with POP culture and people believing whimsical tales from the far east that are just untrue legends.

Here, let this historian educate you on reality: /watch?v=XLWzH_1eZsc

[MrNiceGuyNot]

@Halofreakanoid WOW! i missed the 'you' coz i was busy and you got your knickers in a knot over it.

As regarding to swords (and anything else for that matter): the proof is in the pudding - how many crap long-swords or bastard swords have you seen in private collections as opposed to katanas? Not many i assure you. So there you go.

[Halofreakanoid]

@MrNiceGuyNot : Maybe if you read earlier posts that you and another person made, then learned some proper English, you'd understand.