I think it's time to expand the collection of metals with sodium, potassium and lithium. Those cubes could be very interesting when interacting with things.
@@rachdarastrix5251 suggesting one of the Samurai's main weapons is boasting about how they're gonna kill you, I'm sure the legionaries would get sick of it real quick...
You know a bit of trivia, in post gunpowder era they did actually do a pretty good job making effective shields and armor to stop gunfire. This arms race eventually lead to guns going all the way up to 75 caliber. I kid you not, 75 caliber.
@@TheRyujinLP If you had a full set of armor there would be no need to justify it's use, after all, who in their right mind would question the decisions made by someone that has all the tools (and the mindset) to go full medieval on you
Well obviously your katana was folded only 999 times, otherwise it would've cut through a tank, let alone that helmet. It's true, I read it on the internet.
The katana was a backup weapon for the samurai anyways. The samurai's primary weapon was the bow and polearm. A samurai using his katana would be like a Roman soldier resorting to his Pugio (dagger) because he lost both his pilum and gladius.
@@konstantinivanov1717 I get the joke. What I don't get is why Metatron decided to test the katana in the first place. He should have tested the Samurai's primary weapons, not a backup weapon like the katana.
Any chance you are planning to do some videos about the Byzantine era? Though it lasted quite a long time, it tends to be an underappreciated period of history for most people. I'd be very interested in a video highlighting some of the differences between the culture/military/architecture of it and classical Imperial Rome.
Aparment Neighbors, banging on door: WHAT"S THAT NOISE!!!! Raph: *Opens door dressed as a Samurai, with a literal museum behind him. * Qual è il problema ?
@@neutronalchemist3241 @paul72002 Very true, I expect a minimum of padding to prevent being literally scrubbed and cut to the bone by the web of metal rings or the (relatively) sharp edges of the metal bands. (btw, I think there is a joke to made in one of the things I just said)
the samurai would clearly block the legionary's chi flow by a series of quick but precise pinches before backflipping over the legionary's scutum and whispering "omae wa mou, shindeiru" as he digs the glorious nippon steel tanto into the crevices of the inferior Roman armor
Como dice Riven, me refiero al daño que pueden recibir las correas esas, los romanos se enfrentaron a iberos armados con falcatas (para mi, la mejor espada en cuanto a corte junto a la griega esa y el kopesh egipcio), por ello, mejoraron sus escudos y posteriormente armaduras para poder resistir esos golpes que solían ir al hombro (que es a lo que quiero realmente decir con “parar falcatas y hachas”j por eso no he especificado que realmente sí que las podían perforar, pero es muy raro que una de esas dos armas le dé un tajo en el torso frontal a un legionario en un combate real, estos iban a los hombros. No se si me explico
@@celtibero599 through the power of automated translation I think I understand your reply. The main thing to remember about contemporary weapons was that they were faced in formation. A falcatta required room to swing, and Roman's fought in tight formations mostly eliminating the power of the weapons. In a hypothetical one on one fight I believe a falcatta would be much more effective than history would indicate. That said I imagine the Roman would be aware of this and seek to close and gap and bully his opponent with his shield.
The katana was a backup weapon for the samurai anyways. The samurai's primary weapon was the bow and polearm. A samurai using his katana would be like a Roman soldier resorting to his Pugio (dagger) because he lost both his pilum and gladius.
Metatron: Let me show you a little animation of a modern soldier shooting a roman soldier...for fun. RU-vid: Well that just sound violent so we gonna put this Grammarly ads here.
It does doesn't it. Shame they couldn't find any Japanese actors to act as the JSDF. And the one who can speak Japanese was the imperial who threw the Pilum.
I mean, the romans were absolutely terrified of the Dacians and their Falxes, and from what I recall the dacians used more guerilla tactics, so I think samurai would do well against the romans
"Keep yourself hydrated." The video has barely begun and I'm already laughing audibly! 🤣 Can you imagine, on a 'medieval' battlefield, razor sharp steel arcing at pace toward you, from all directions - hearing, (though, NOT seeing) arrows whistling past your head - commanding your troops to _'keep yourself hydrated, boys'!_ It's Monty Python-esque! (And that, coming from a 40 year-old British man - whose father raised him on an abundant comedic diet of _Gilliam, Knowles, Palin_ and _Cleese_ - is HIGH praise, indeed.) Thank you, Metatron. You bring knowledge and wit in abundance (in a 'second' language, too! _Wow!_ 😮) Big respect, sir. ✌️😎👌
@0:25 Keep yourself hydrated... you know even your deadpan asides are a hoot. You always make it fun to get learn, think, and just be open to the wider world. Stay awesome!
I think you're my favorite RU-vidr to watch when it comes to Roman stuff, mostly because you're actually Italian. When we look at you in Roman armor, it gives us an idea of what a real Roman might have looked like. Maybe that's a strange reason, but I love it.
You said, "13th century knights most likely didn't wear any padding under their mail". So the Gambesan/Aketon didn't come into use until the 15th century? Since it was cloth and easiest to make I would think it would have been one of the earliest armors. btw, you've got me started with a fanatical interest in armor. I've built dishing stumps and wooden mallets and am pounding 16 gauge mild steel into Samurai armor. What a way to spend a pandemic!
Hey, just found your channel and watched your take on Barbarians and this video reminded me of the movie Dragon Blade, which I really like, I couldn't find your opinion about that on your channel and wanted to ask if you had ever seen it and/or wanted to talk about it :)
3:03 When Metatron showcase that cube with *BRASS* written on it... Then the sun for some reason just happened to get lined up and the light reflected too strongly on the *BR* part.
Love your work, Metatron! I have a bit of constructive criticism right off the bat. I find the method you use for nuke (thumb-flick) to be inefficient and somewhat hazardous. Notice how close your thumb is to the edge (:ha:)... One could more easily get a superficial cut that way. I find it better to completely wrap the hand around close to the koiguchi (scabbard mouth), then move the thumb sideways into a thumbs up position. The thumb comes to rest atop the tsuba, well away from the blade and maintaining light pressure on the sword before drawing. This motion is more of a partial opening of the hand rather than a push with the thumb. It takes practice to train the muscles, but is better overall imo. It's a difficult motion to train one's left hand to do, but a little twist of the wrist can help. If you still wish to push with your thumb, then I highly recommend pushing on the edge of the tsuba so your thumb still rests on top of it rather than on the side just above the blade. Just want to share with you as you graciously share with me! Cheers!
I know this is a test specifically about armor vs katana but I still wanna give my two cents here for anyone it might interest. I say this as someone who has been learning samurai swordsmanship among other things for a long time (I am going to keep my schools name out of this for privacy reasons): 1. The strength of your blow was lackluster, this isn't to be disrespectful. Someone that is trained with a katana will certainly do more damage. That said, penetration is still not something I would expect. Realistically you would be able to inflict some decent head trauma with a good hit, maybe even knock someone out if you really get a decent blow in, but I would never see a katana being able to penetrate that in a reasonable amount of time. 2. That being said, attempting to penetrate a helmet with a katana is something a trained user will rarely attempt to do, unless he has no other choice. As you had correctly talked about, it's far more likely that a samurai will attempt to cut your neck and other unprotected areas. If anything what is far more likely for armor penetration would be stabbing with a katana. I know a decent amount of stances that allow for some pretty powerful stabs. Then again, I am not knowledgeable about metals so how this would play out in reality I do not know. 3. I am generally not a fan of these "warrior comparison" type of videos, but I can see the fun in them for others. Combat is so incredibly nuanced so listing up pros and cons and doing some tests is hardly enough to make a reasonable conclusion, in my opinion. That said it was an interesting video (this was in my recommended) and I wish you good fortune. Kind Regards
Samurai had steel, full body armor, and firearms. Deployed as part of an army, they were elite command troops leading well ordered and diverse forces that had a balance of capabilities. A Roman Legionary is a line soldier equipped and trained specifically to be an efficient component of a unit. Iron, not steel, less armor coverage for months in the field if necessary and ability to better function in the unit. No firearms. Away from his unit, he becomes much more vulnerable. Samurai has all the advantages one on one. As deployed armies, Samurai still have the advantages of more advanced technology. The closest matchup would be later Eastern Roman cataphracts. And they would still be two hundred years behind technically.
You do realize that the guns came later? Might as well compare a WW2 solder to the fighting capabilities of a samurai. That Indiana Jones scene comes to mind.
A more interesting question would how would a cataphracti compared to a Samurai. Roman ended up employing heavily armor percussive weapon and lance into their legions after wars with the Parthians, Sarmartians, and Sassinids.
i believe they are designed to be 'flappy' to make the helmet more confortable (you would wear it all day, not combat only) and still protect your face
@@themobstar58 Well yes. I meant that they are supposed to close underneath the chin WHEN they are tied together. (They can just be kept loose while on march)
Those metal cube scenes reminded me of those jewelery tv-adds that used to scam old people. Only thing missing is the salesmen and tv-text plus phone number with ludicrious per minute fees. The cubes are stunning though. And I think you are right that the best weapon for a samurai would be the anti-armour one or the spear (I dont think gunpowder counts here).
I know this is not related to this video, but I would like a suggestion from you. I'd really like to learn japanese, (I'm italian but I know a bit of English as well) and I want to know how to start. I'm already practicing on hiragana and katakana, but I have NO IDEA on how to proceed after. P.s: I would love to see this kind of videos on different armors from different social classes but same historical context.
Next time in Metatron channel: Everything vs Primas Space Marine! Spoiler alert: Metatron show us perfect cube of Ceramite, Adamantium and Plasteel material.
I agree with you 100% on Romans fighting individually. Alot people forget that Roman soldiers who did a full 20 year or more service became hired hand mercenaries who protected individuals like politicians, aristocrats and trained their slaves to become gladiators.
hi i am a japanese in japan. i visit a lot of japanese castle. my life long hobby. recently, so many people working in museum or castle are unfortunately not interested in history. i can see them they are just there to be paid. i understand. job is job. but i feel sad for those moments. i keep watching your contents every day. so much fun. thanks a lot to cover japanese history.
Did the Japanese experiment with copper metal like the Romans did during the Bronze age? I'm curious to know what kind of metals were available to the Japanese during ancient time whether it was from their land or from trades with neighboring countries.
4:10 all I’m thinking about is what if you had that long katana (idk what it’s called) but with the hilt and lugs of a Zweihänder... a ‘Zwei-Katäner’ if you will... I want to see someone try and make one now
Alright, I’m sorry Metatron, I have watched and loved your videos for years now, and I know you’re Italian. But, what is your accent? I sense some English, but unless I’ve missed something, I don’t recall you saying anything about you living in the UK. PLEASE HELP
Sono relativamente nuovo del canale ma per caso ti ispiri al metatron di Supernatural? I'm relativley new to the channel, is your name inspired by the Supernatural's character of Metatron?
Quick question? I don't have experience with many Western weapons, but a Katana has some significant weight in addition to its edge. Looking at the dent on the helmet with even a low to mid powered swing, it seems like a slash to the torso might not actually cut, but the impact might break ribs or cause other solid organ damage? What are your thoughts?
Katanas are 1000 years newer than roman armour, a more fair comparison would be medival playe armour and there is not a single sword that could cut or stab through a the plate(outside of joints) of a proper set of armour
@@docmike8601 well european sword are more often ballanced towards the hilt for better point control, but ofcourse there are swords with heavier blades, greatsword, messer and zweihänder etc. Also if you dont have a polearm or a hevier sword you can use a mordhau grip with european swords
@@einar8019 I still do not think you understand. I do not mean about the penetration or slashing. I mean about the blunt force transfer. In the video the dent on the helmet seems to indicate the sword is functioning more like a mace than an actual bladed weapon, and it is this phenomenon I am asking about. Could the blunt force transfer of a katana (or heavy bladed sword) transfer enough energy on a non-penetrating hit to cause debilitating injury if used against such armor?
@@docmike8601 if theres not suffisient space between the armour and wearer and it dents the force will not be spread out enough and could cause internal damage. Even if it doesent dent it could cause damage but that is more on the head and less on the body. The force has to go somewhere if armour doesent spread it enough it can cause damage
The Roman vs modern soldier was cute and all, but I have a minor quibble. Modern soldiers also wear body armor, metal or ceramic plates designed to stop smaller caliber bullets. I'm pretty sure it will also stop a spear. The soldier will almost certainly be knocked down but will return fire from the prone or supine position to good effect. Oh, dear- now one of Matt Easton's patrons will have to send him some level IIIa body armor to test with his pila!
Like the cubes of materials for reference. A really good idea for these discussions, though your music is a bit... porny? It's humorous, but perhaps that's the point :)
Would you consider doing a scenario where a combined force of the Roman Empire, Alexander the Great’s Greek Empire, and the Mongolian Empire work together to fight against the evil forces in The Lord of the Rings instead of the good guy armies in the movie? What would the final conclusion between them be?
Can you make your presentation based on your toughts and maby some writings on psyhological inpact of battle during the battle and afterwards in roman times comparing to modern day wars? Ps. i admire your work.
Ciao Raf. Una domanda. Piuttosto che valutare questo equipaggiamento rispetto a quello. Come pensi che queste popolazioni avrebbero reagito per rispondere alla differenze di tecnologie?
Big Shields are nice and all but are not always necessary or needed depending on fighting style or tactics, Romans use it because their armor did not cover a whole lot, We see knights started out with a large kite Shield but it was dropped and replaced with a smaller Shield as armor got better eventually dropping the shield all together with the development of plate harness, And also In favor of two-handed weapons which offer better leverage and control, samurai also had a number of weapons that could manipulate or control The Shield, large big shields would also not be that strange to Japan and Samurai had faced opponents that use Shields. gunbai-militaryhistory.blogspot.com/2017/12/tate-tedate-japanese-shields.html?m=1
I just noticed your katana has the menukis at the wrong position. I know to some people (like Skall), the right menuki positions could be very uncomfortable for the fingers. So i wonder did you ordered the manufacturer to put the menuki in the wrong position on purpose or was it already look like that when it got shipped to your house ?
Metatron, could you make a video discussing the equipment of African civilizations? I only see them using primitive weapons and no use of steel, I know Egyptians used bronze and steel, but not the civilizations of Black Africa. Was it only the Saara that prevented the Romans to take all of Africa?
I’m by no means an expert and know little about historical weapons apart from what I have learned from Metatetron, but it seems like cutlasses were prevalent toward the end of the days when the people warred with swords. Why is this? It’s not the best design overall, is it? I doubt it, because Metateon never speaks of cutlasses. Was it stylization? Did it have something to do with sailing?
Hey Metatron, this is off topic but, do you know how a Roman contubernium would form up in their Century/maniple/cohort? Would they form up as a column, line, mixed with other soldiers or something else?
On neck attacks: even if a samurai avoids the backplate of the helmet, the one you have has cheek pieces that flare out. Then there's the scutum. Samurai could theoretically get around all that and get to the neck, but he'd probably be better off going for thrusts to the face. Especially with curved blade that can go around the scutum.
