Underappreciated historical weapons: THE EXECUTIONER SWORD 

Oh, and an additional thing I just remembered you didn't mention: The mystery of the three tip holes. Noöne seems to know for sure what the fuck their purpose was. Some theories I know of: - Disturb the path of running blood to stain the audience a bit less. That's what I heard of most in museums. Never seen proof of that effect, though. - Supposedly people believed that weapons caught fragments of their victim's souls. As executioner swords have an unusually high score, those holes should help letting some of the caught soul fragments escape, so that the sword's yielder does not get possessed after the how-many-th kill. Fits other superstitions of that time I heard of. - To make a more dramatic swoosh. This seems to not be true at all. - To attach extra weight to the blade's tip if needed. Never heard of proof like scratches in the holes from screws, never seen any depictions of such a practice. Sounds plausible, though, although just one or two holes would have done the job just fine. - Just a stylised remnant of a Gothic Trifoil or a symbol of the Holy Trinity, i.e. artsy or spiritual decoration. Also very much plausible. - To prevent someone from re-shaping the tip into a sharp one. This one I think makes no sense. I can imagine lots of ways to work around this. I also think that it is not that much more expensive to just forge a new sword if you need one. The idea, however, of having some mechanism, practical or not, to prevent making a "weapon of justice" into a "weapon of war", sounds plausible and "in character" for people of that time. - Or perhaps it made the executioner sword into a punch card for the local punch clock. Okay, I made that one up. Sooooo... which is it? I dunno. But I do know, that the holes were a very German fashion.

How did people forget about this sword? I mean it restores FP for every kill it's perfect for 1600's ganking

The engraving on the sword at 1:40 says "Ich schone niemanden". This is german for "I spare nobody". The more you know

He actually touched on the reason why this took over for the axe, that being that a sword is more likely to get it in one swing, some executions by axe we're known to take, I've heard as many as 17 hits to behead to victim.

*Slave Knight Gael wants to know the location of your dark soul*

as much as it's clearly not designed for battlefield combat, the image of a knight clad in black armour with a steriotypical executioner's hood appearing on the front and cleaving several warriors in half with one fell swoop is still awesome af

Me: *watches ONE Mordhau video* RU-vid: Hey look you seem to be a medieval weapons expert have some of these!

One really interesting fictional character that uses an executioner's sword that I don't see a lot of people talking about in the comments here is the Leper from Darkest Dungeon. He is - as the name implies - a man with leprosy who wields a (broken) executioner's sword and is an incredibly powerful if somewhat inaccurate front-line fighter. It always seemed weird to me that a guy with a degenerative disease would use such a heavy weapon and be such a physical powerhouse, but strangely enough after watching this video it suddenly makes more sense. This sword was meant to be used for a single killing swing, not meant to be used in long-term combat. Based on the Leper's physique, he was - and still is to an extent - a very strong individual. However, his condition's effect on his heart and lungs would make sustained effort very difficult for him. Instead, he carries this massive weapon around on his shoulder and channels short bursts of might into massively damaging overhead swings. On the same note, a lighter and more dexterous weapon would also be very problematic for him as the nerve damage to his hands, arms, and eyes would render him incapable of the kind of finesse and coordination needed to utilize such weapons effectively. This sword was also obviously not meant to have much in the way of defensive value, being designed for use on individuals who can't fight back. It's heavy and clunky enough that you couldn't block with it quickly, and it's two-handed so it would be troublesome to try to use a shield with it. That would make it hard to use in actual battle without risking serious injury. The thing about the Leper though is that he's already dying - and he knows it. Despite his body literally falling apart, he chooses a fighting style that puts him at the front of the battle. He is one of the only characters who will only willingly move forward in a fight, never switching places with people behind him. He is also the ONLY character (besides the Flagellant, who... has issues) whose "getting hit" animation is just to stand there and take it without even trying to block or dodge. The Leper is a former warrior king beloved by his people who willingly exiled himself to prevent the spread of his disease to his people. Most of the playable mercenaries in the game seem to be fighting the horrors of the Dungeon because they are on a holy mission, they are running from a dark past and seeking redemption, or they're simply in it for the money. The Leper seems to instead be trying to just do some good in his last days, destroying evil and taking punishment so that those with a potential future can live a little longer. The executioner's sword seems like a potentially powerful weapon, but not one that you would use in battle if you were planning on a long life... so it's perfect for him.

I assure you that Mordhau players do not underappreciate that sword AT ALL

What might make the execution sword as a weapon of choice even more interesting in a roleplaying scenario - executioners were considered unclean, they were outcasts. So even if the weapon is a marvel of slicing power, it might come at a cost reputationwise depending on the setting. Someone fighting with a execution sword might be anything from off-putting to downright insulting to NPCs and opponents.

Dark souls 3 has the executioner’s sword, actually. Interesting too that you said it’s dull because in dark souls, it does strike damage instead of slashing.

Leper: "My trusted ally, unphased by my aspect!"

In Dark Souls 3, you can find an Executioner Greatsword in the opening half of the game. I think this is an interesting example for multiple reasons, the first being that the playable character *is* technically an executioner. You seek out lords who shirked their duties, kill them, and bring their heads back to their thrones. It felt like the most appropriate weapon to me, and I used it the whole game. The DLC actually makes this more relevant, as it introduces a character you meet in the same area you pick up this sword, who uses one himself throughout the game's story.

I was hoping you'd address the three holes on the sword's tip. Allegedly they are there for the executioner to tell if the cut is perfectly straight, since a misaligned cut would cause air to whistle through those holes. I've always wondered if that's hogwash or their actual intended purpose.

"There was no murder! Ulfric challenged Torygg. He beat the High King in fair combat."

“the design shows this sword was never meant for thrusting” Dark Souls characters: how ‘bout I do it anyway

I don't know if you're familiar with it, but there's a series called "The Book of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe, whose protagonist, Severian, is a torturer/executioner by trade. The masters of his guild give him an executioner sword called "Terminus Est". It's hollow on the inside and filled with mercury, which is supposed to help distribute the mass as he swings. Because his sword is very valuable, a lot of other characters try to steal it from him and he uses it to defend himself. When he does, the narration usually comments on how it's no good for thrusting because of the square tip.

This is completely missing the point

Why does it have a crossguard?

Always loved the design of the executioner sword since playing Dark Souls 3. It's currently the weapon of a paladin themed villain in one of my fantasy stories.

If they really hated you, it was the executioner's spoon!

Wrong. It's a giant spatula for icing giant medieval cakes.

When you mentioned that it would be a plausible weapon for Orcs, I immediately thought of the swords used by the Uruk-Hai in the Lord of the Rings films. They have that bit of a hook on the end, but aside from that they appear to have many of the same attributes of the executioner sword, albeit as a one handed weapon as the Uruk-Hai are often seen with shields.

Shad: Nobody remembers the executioner's blade. Markus Kruber: 🧐

1:45 The lack of tip was either because jackasses kept on saying "Just the tip" and making everybody laugh, or because the smiths thought capital punishment was pointless.

So the weapons I have listed for future episodes in this series are these: Underappreciated Historical Weapons: Gunsword -Executioner- -sword- Bearing Sword Pata (the Gauntlet Sword) Estoc Overappreciated historical weapons: Shuriken I'd love to hear any suggestions for weapons to add to the list!

For examples in fantasy, I recommend Gene Wolfe's "Book of the New Sun" series wherein the main character wields a specially made executioner's sword

I would think the Executioner's Sword, being literally incapable of thrusting, would be the polar opposite of the Small Sword, which is literally incapable of chopping.

"safer decapitation" (7:37) Yep, nothing safe like getting decapitated.

Most LEGO sword pieces are like this: blunt, long, and taperless. It’s probably like this so that little kids can’t kill each other with the pieces...but maybe all LEGO knights are closet executioners.

I spare noone That’s a pretty interesting engraving for an executioners sword (1:35 engraved on the blade in old German lettering)

The classic is “Terminus est” from Gene Wolfe’s “Shadow of the Torturer”. Square ended and with mercury running along the inside of the blade giving a shift in mass as it was swung to decapitate the executee.

I first saw this sword at Dark Souls 3 and didn't think it was real, then I saw it on a museum. Interesting blade indeed.

Yes this needs to be a series

4:35 in fact there was a story about an aristocrat in Poland during the Partition times (1772-1795), who was sentenced to death and he asked for the death penalty to be changed. He didn't want to die on the guillotine like a peasant. Kaiser agreed. Aristocrats family therefore sent the ancestral sword of their dynasty so that the executioner could cut him down with a sword with honor.

This is why Gael uses the Executioner Sword in Dark Souls III

Now I want to see Skallagrim test one of these things out on a zombie head.

i thought you played Dark Souls III, there is a "blunt" executioner sword in a cemetery in the church of such setting, when you go pick it up the dead rise, almost like seeking revenge for their painful deaths with such sword

I know I am two years too late but Gene Wolfe's fantastic "Shadow of the Torturer" deserves a mention here. The hero (?) is an apprentice torturer who wields an enormous executioners sword in combat. Superb fantasy.

The part where you said cutting ratio or something like that is the best answer for me, because I though about it too. Axe is just too narrow

The literal embodiment of the "sharpened iron bar" description of swords.

I think a very underappreciated weapon is the Aztec Macuahuitl which is a wooden club with change able obsidian shards all along the edge.

I read on Innocent that those holes were to hear the air whistling with the thrust. According to the manga, their function was to hear a perfect thrust by the absence of the whistle

I've read reports that decapitation by axe can sometimes fail, often taking several swings to fully remove the head. Using a sword has a far greater chance to completely remove the head in one hit, but take a lot more skill to use to do it correctly.

The inscription on one of the shown swords says: "Ich schone niemanden" (German) - or: "I spare noöne".

MORE UNDERAPPRECIATED HISTORICAL WEAPONS! I already love this series!

D&D magical Executioners sword, off the top of my head: Slashing and radiant damage. Any crit with this weapon against undead is an auto-kill. (Well, maybe just skeletons and low cr zombies...)

Love your videos! One weapon that I would personally like a video on would be the Bhuj

The sword at 1:34 is badass. The inscription "Ich schone niemanden" is german for "I spare noone". So basically: you cannot escape justice.

I'm sure the guy getting executed was like "Yo hang on, izzat an executiuoner sword. bro, that's sweet!" *chop*

The first time I heard of this was in Steel Ball Run, where Zeppeli's family hailed from a line of executioner and use this particular sword.

Terminus Est, Severin's sword in Book of the New Sun by Gen Wolf

The problem with using this kind of sword against zombies is exactly what makes it perfect for executions: the weight. As you said it yourself, both the proportions and the balance of the sword are designed to feel heavier than normal so that it can cut better, specially in a downward strike. However, if you're facing a horde of undead, that is going to feel very tiring, very quickly

Shad Fact: Shad once fought an elder Red Wyrm for 5 days before Shad had to get back to a video he was editing, calling it a draw (despite being another hour from winning), shad vowed not to fight dragons bare handed again

Great video! There are a lot of these in museums in Germany. They often have sayings and rimes engraved in the blade.

Anyone else got this channel recommended and going through all it's videos after getting hooked on Mordhau?

What about the High Ground? That's definitely a real weapon, right? They even made a documentary about it, called Revenge of The Sith. All I know is that it is one pretty op weapon.

My fantasy novel already had the Executioner sword and you kind of touched upon the way I use it. For the execution of noblemen who are kneeling upright rather than face down.

This type of sword has always been one of my favorites. It looks really cool to me, as well as it’s history has always intrigued me.

"give it to me.. that thing... Your Dark Soul"

Shad corrects his glasses 21 times throughout the video, awesome vid btw.!

A good example in medieval fantasy for using a executioner sword is Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. I'm pretty sure his valeryan sword literally is an executioner sword. At least it is way too big for fighting and it contains enough steel for 2 swords.

I'm proud of myself for guessing the sword he meant before saying it.

Sick dude, these have always been my favorite type of sword design ever since I was a kid and have seen it from time to time in video games; I always just called it a cleaver because it looks like a giant double edged cleaver (my other favorite sword being an actual one sided blade in the style of an extended cleaver like in the original Fable games). My favorite practical weapon is a tie between a well made mace and a war-pick, while my favorite impractical weapon is a tie between a regular farming scythe (not a war-scythe, that might as well be a curved-headed spear) and a fantasy style great hammer. As far as swords go though, it's double or single sided cleavers, apparently actually called Executioners Swords, and a simple double sided bronze short-sword. They don't have a quillon/cross-guard but the blades themselves are so perfected and balance to do the job they were meant to do....oh whoops, just drooled on my laptop. Better clean that up now before I get carried away again.

I love the executioner's sword! I gave one to a villain in my fantasy novel. He used it as a battlefield weapon just to show how strong he was and to intimidate his enemies, like 'I'm not a warrior; I'm an EXECUTIONER, and I WILL kill you!'

Slave knight Gael is happy.

Saw the thumbnail and immediately thought of the executioner`s greatsword from darksouls 3

Beautiful video. I was not expecting you to go into detail on fantasy use lol.

Well technically an ax could have the same or even less mass than a sword, the difference comes because all the mass of the ax is put on one end rather than spread out in a blade

I would love to see a video about cool looking swords such as the khopesh and the falcata. Why these weapons rose to prominence and why they fell out of use. What weapons or armour made them obsolete.

This reminds of Guts’s Dragon Slayer, but really smaller

I remember a fantasy book series where the hero was an executioner, his sword was a 6" long executioners sword called "Terminus Est"

Also an interesting thing is that botched executions with swords were quite common. The most difficult thing was to actually hit the neck, often times the executioner would strike to low and the blade would get stuck in the shoulders of the victim. This was such a big problem for a time that multiple laws were passed requiring an executioner to posses a license to execute with a sword which would be issued by a master.

Definitely accurate historical fact : this sword was also used as an emergency paddle during medieval times if Vietcongs made bullet holes into your wooden paddle.

Thanks for making this video, This is the sword of my choice to give my main character in his story, not a sword expert of anyway. Its really nice to get more information about this weapon.

This was really interesting. I would love to see a video done on the colichemarde, which was a somewhat obscure small sword popular between the 17th and 18th centuries. It's very unique as far as I know because it has a thin rapier blade but the first third of the blade nearest the hilt is much wider like a standard small sword. I would love to see some explanation and history around this unique weapon.

Executioner sword, or safety sword? No more accidentally stabbing people in crowds, great for social events and gatherings, like an execution. Sword co. Making swords safer for everyone.

The Executioner Sword, one of my favorites. It's odd no one used one in The Highlander.

Was curious about this design so decided to stop by! I liked the part where you talked about cutting up monster almost as if its a thing that exist on this earth lol

In Gene Wolfe's tetralogy, The Book Of The New Sun, a character named Severian carried an Executioner's sword. I believe it had a larger "male" and smaller "female" edge on opposing sides and could be disassembled for sharpening and maintenance. A terrifying weapon in the hands of one trained to wield it. Would love to see a video on my favorite obscure weapon: CALTROPS! Thank you from Waco Tx.

This is a common and understandable misunderstanding. The "executioners sword" does not have a squared point because there is no need for it to be used as a thrusting weapon. It has a squared tip and extended pommel cross to facilitate an almost surgical severing of the cervical vertebrae. If a "beheading strike" goes wrong, the tip can quickly be placed at the base of the skull and the executioners body weight applied to the cross guard to cleanly sever the spinal cord. Such "guaranteed quick and clean" executions were only granted to the highest ranking of royals.

The Executioner's Greatsword from Dark Souls 3 was REAL?!

This sword hits me like no other and I absolutely love it.

I once saw one of these for sale at, of all places, an arms fair here in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It rapidly became a talking point not just for what it was, but also for the etching on it. Basically, the etching on the blade was essentially an instruction manual on how to use the thing. I also got the chance to heft it. It was very well balanced so you didn't notice the weight all that much. Didn't get to swing it, though, as there were too many people around to do so safely. Mind, if I had had the money at the time I would have bought it like a shot.

I learned of the executioner sword back in jr. high, but I was led to believe it was just a name for a double-edged broadsword that came standard for all knights. These educational RU-vid videos are better than school ever was.

I really thought it was fantasy, like massive broken swords. Nice! Thanks, Shad! This give me an idea for one of my novels.

Saw the shape of the sword first in vermintide 2. was intrigued because of the missing tip. and indeed it was effective in lopping dose heads of. thank you for more in depth details. i enoyed this.

Hey Shad! Your videos are so addictive that I can’t do my assignments. Edit: videos are also so cool

On 12. Mai 1854 was the last execution by sword in Munich. The executioner needed 7 strokes to do the deed. The crowd was very upset and many civil and military onlookers had to throw up. So the city decided to finally buy a guillotine and first used it on 19. August 1854.

In my opinion best example of using executioner sword in fantasy setting is beggining of Game of Thrones. Ice is basicalli fancy executioner sword... And it's only used for that specific purpose! But yeah, imagening Orc with big sword like that would be scary as hell. Big, angry rageing monster with big and scary sword. Huh... I've got an idea for my new D&D character thanks to your video!

Welcome to dark souls shad. Dark souls 3 has an executioner sword

I love that I was looking at this for DnD ideas and hes wearing a TTRPG shirt.

Does that sword at 1:38 read "Ich schone niemand"? That would mean "I spare nobody".

The reason they changed to an executioner sword rather than axe, is because Nearly Headless Nick wouldn't shut up about it, and kept complaining until they finally changed it.

There's one of these on display in the armoury display at Peles castle in Romania. They have a very good display of medieval weaponry and also a full armour suit for a horse. And it's a fine and impressive building in a beautiful setting.

First episode of underappreciated historical weapons. God this gives me nostalgia

Really like the idea of using the executioner sword used by someone who hunts undead and deamons.I'd love to see an anime with this as the premise too.

Seems like a good weapon for a giant or orc, because with such a powerful monster you only need one swing

May I suggest a series of books starting with "Shadow of the Torturer" and ending in "Urth of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe. it has a rather interesting take on the executioner sword.

Saw this sword for the first time in Artillery Museum in S.-Petersburg and wanted to have more info. Great video, thank you! For fantasy purposes, it can be awesome sword for inquisitor who fights undead and necromancers.)