What is a BACKSWORD? How is it different to a BROADSWORD? 

It's just like a normal sword, except when you whack a person, it _heals_ a cut instead of making it.

Gonna start calling double-edged blades "backless swords."

What's this? Matt making a video that's under five minutes? Did pigs start flying while I wasn't looking? (joking aside, this is great--bite-sized while still being informative)

The fact that there's a backsword implies the existence of a front sword. It's context !

Not to be confused with the reverse sword, the sword that cuts the opposite body part of where you stabbed.

Ohhhh, the backside is blunt so they can fit more BLOOD GROOVE. LOL

I like when he gives it to us quick and dirty like this. It's a satisfying experience.

Some of us first heard of Backswords when the Bearkillers adopted them as part of their standard loadout, in their early days just after the Change.

I am almost never jealous of the blades that Matt shows. I appreciate his sharing. Those 2 swords are the exception! I have always loved the basket hilt

actually matt there´s 3 types of sword a hipsword, a backsword and a imjustgonnacarrythiscauseitstoobigsword

Wait...... Matt Easton making a short video, staying on point, and without going off on various tangents and asides?! The End Times really are coming..... 😁😁

Nick Thomas looks around with intent

What? Too short, 0/10! I saw a Schola Gladiatoria video and thought: Perfect, I can watch that while cooking. Matt says short concise video, I thought, yeah, I'll be done cooking in 20 minutes! 3 minutes later... O.O All joking aside, well done Matt, this was actually concise! Did you make a bet with someone that you could do a 3 minutes video?? 👍

I have a Cold Steel English Backsword. It's one of their best products that I've tried. The basket is a bit big but I don't mind that as it allows more hand motion. The blade is decent and sharpened up quite nicely. I could consider getting a broad sword if I found a good price on a victorian era antique but I have no real urge to look given how good my back sword is.

"Acute cutting edge" ... was that your opening chat-up line when you first met Lucy?

Have any Schiavonas passed through you hands? They look cool as hell but none of the weapon channels I follow have discussed them.

I love all your videos they’re so detailed! But I find myself not watching them as much as I would like to because they are long and it’s hard to find the time to watch them sometimes. I absolutely love this short video series lots of info In a few minutes! Thank you!

short and sweet, i like the format

Really appreciate the concise video. I gradually tapered off watching you and Lindybeige just because of the length and repetition, but this one pulled me back in. Great explanation.

That video was only 3 minutes long... Who are you, and what have you done with Matt?

All your vids are informative and great! Thanks!

I just picked up the Cold Steel Mortuary-hilt Backsword. Could use a bit more distal taper, but it's not that bad.

3 minutes 4 seconds might be a new record. loved the video; no redundant points being made redundantly, not like some kind of sword that has two edges where just one would suffice

Finally, I got an answer to this question, I always wondered why anyone would bother making a straight sword with a single edge.

great video concept! More please

Great short video Matt, thanks, know I know.

I like these quick cuts.

Really interesting! I loved it!

good job on your short videos. I think you give us informative information.

I seem to remember from a Wikipedia binge ages ago that Backswords were highly recommended by a 16th or 17th century fencing master whose writings have been influential in HEMA. Maybe George Silver?

What!?! A genuinely short video from Matt Easton! I was not prepared for that :p

Thanks for explaining that, and I really quite adore the bracelet! Lest we forget.

I never thought Matt could make a three minute video

very interesting, thank you very much 🔥

I have learned so much during lockdown

Thank you

"short video" [is actually under 5 minutes] OMG MATT WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU

That is an awesome wall of swords!

Feels almost wrong watching a “short video” on this channel that actually IS short! 😝

Love your t-shirt...Rock on

A single edge straight cut and thrust one handed sword with either simple or complex hand protection build into the hilt or guard.

Wow this was actually a brief note

This isn't the sort of length I usually expect of Matt. But a quickie has its uses.

I sort of think of it the other way around: why on Earth would a basket hilted sword of any type have two edges? With your hand so encased in the grip there is really only on way to hold the sword so bringing the back edge to bear for a powerful cut would be very difficult (I guess you could point down and flick up but that seems of limited effectiveness). And it’s not like if an edge grows dull, or gets a big chunk taken out of it, you can just flip it over in your hand and use the other side - as you could with an open gripped double edged sword. Am I missing something? Seems like, as Matt said, the better edge geometry would always win out over having a second edge you can make little use of.

Right on

+scholagladiatoria *Thanks for a simplified contrast of two contemporary arms.* Men at arms across Europe and Great Britain used backswords, which were economically maintainable, for war. The nobility favored the broadsword, direct descendant of the arming sword, for battle; the broadsword also served duelling at honor until lighter thrusting swords evolved.

I won't be able to find the source again as it was a few years ago, but I remember reading an article from a blacksmith saying that straight single edge swords were comparatively harder to make than curved single edge or straight double edge swords?

This must be the shortest Matt Easton video I've ever seen...

I didnt know you were capable of short videos :P

I usually put the origin a bit further back in history, to the “Wakefield hanger” type 15th Century falchion (or whatever one wishes to call it). The side bar on some survivors, coupled with the knuckle bow is halfway to a basket hilt, IMO. Would love to hear some thoughts on this, as I am rather in love with those swords, but they rarely get any attention.

Not even 4 minutes. I'm really impressed.

Loving your short video series. Wouldn't it also be stronger, less subject to bend/break ?

You should do a video on Mortuary swords.

sometimes, a short video is all that's needed. Now, onward to the mortuary sword perhaps?

New Scottish baskethilt broadsword owner, really love the feel of it; but when did the baskethilt become so synonymous with Scotland, as you've shown there were early English baskethilts?

Is there any technical difference between a saber and a backsword? I've heard (probably from you) that they're interchangeable.

Is anyone aware of a decent replica backsword that feels good in the hand and could stand up to some cutting? I suspect the originals are out of my comfort zone, but I've long loved this design.

For a sword with an orientation like a basket hilted sword, I genuinely don't see the advantage of a full double edged blades like a broad sword. Sure, in theory it "might come in handy", but honestly, at most I think a short false edge at the tip down to where the fuller(s) end is so sufficiently good enough that it just doesn't justify the extra work and money to make a double sided one. It is a bunch of effort and money for the extra hypothetical 1 or 2% improvement. Obviously doesn't apply if the blade is salvaged from an older sword.

Can you do a vid on side swords

Are there half swording techniques with backswords? Maybe where you put the flat of your hand on the back of the blade such as blocking a close range powerful blow?

A genuinely short video on ScholaGladiatoria?!?! Who are you and what have you done with the real Matt?

Anyone notice the jumpcut to keep Matt from going on a tangent?

Somehow I thought this video was made in 2015 when watching it. I'm pretty sure you talked about this back 5 or 6 years ago =D. Then I checked the date, this was just 2 weeks ago XD

Maybe next side-sword vs rapier?

There is a third reason for using 1 side for the blade. Because of the tight handguard you cannot efficiently cut with the backside of the sword. With a blunt backside you can also use your other hand for support in parrying , or pushing the enemy with the sword.

Can u breakdown Sword "Families"

How much would you use the rear blade on a broadsword? More push / pull cutting ? So maybe not a lot?

Basket Backswords are beautiful c:

Another thing: what would be the point of a full-length double edge if the configuration of the grip or protection prevented a real cut with the upper part of the blade?

So which is better

I'm wondering if the "back" of the backsword makes the blade more rigid, which would also improve the thrusting power of the weapon?

The daggers in that illustration appear also to have basket hilts. So...backdaggers?

Series of short videos? Sounds promising =)

Does anyone know more about how/when/to what extent the backsword was used in North America?

Hello from Greece you have something for Scotish Claymore?

This one be up for sale? Thanks

Is there a diff between the backsword and a straight sabre?

Holy crap..a Short video from Matt? What did you do with him and who are you?

Hi Matt, really looking for a primary source on the term Backsword. Can you please point me to some Primary sources?

I have an old sword (very similar to yours in appearance, specs, etc, yet the "back" side is sharpened from the tip back about 7 inches. Was this common or ?? Cheers!

I would have called both of those "claymores." Does anyone know if there's a difference between these swords and a typical Scottish claymore?

Does this refer only to straight bladed swords or is it a generic term for any single edge blade? Would a sabre be a backsword if it only has one edge? Or a falchion type of blade? Or is it specific to a certain time period that automatically excludes most other sword types?

a short video that is actually short? Now yes, all hope is lost...

I wonder. I know that when fighting on foot, false edge cuts are sometimes used. Is this also the case when fighting on horseback or is there no advantage of a double edged sword for a cavalryman?

So, what's the difference between a straight saber and a backsword, if any?

My God, a video from Matt Easton in which thing were said once and was less than 15 minutes, eeerrrrmm, 10 minutes, eeerrrrm, 5 minutes.. Does this mean the world is at an end??

Are there any examples of two-handed backswords?

And I thought they were named that because they were very efficient at striking French backsides.

What are your thoughts on the gladius being an iron xiphos the Iberians made without a leaf blade because it made hammering the shape a lot harder. Unlike the bronze xiphos would could be poured into a mold so the leaf blade wasn't so difficult to produce. They copied the kopis, falcata, why not the same for the other common sword from the new cultural hegemon of the Med.? Saw a forging video a while ago that made an iron leaf shape blade, think it was Gandalf's sword Glamdrim, and they talked about the blade shape being more difficult to forge than a straight or tapered blade.

With this type of sword, I think I prefer the back sword. Get that good hack in. Maybe have a back edge at the point to help with thrusting.

How useful is it to have 2 edges with a basket hilt? You movement is more restricted by the basket, and you can't turn the sword around to use the other edge if one of the edges gets damaged. What exactly is the theory behind 2 edges basket hilts? Did basket hilts sometime get two-edged blades transplanted on to them?

_Baby got BACK!_

Hey Matt, I have a backsword related question I've been wondering about, if you don't mind answering. While civilian swords developed into what is probably the best unarmored dueling sword in the rapier (and then later into the small sword mainly for convenience I think?), why is that swords such as backswords, broadswords, and sabres remained the preferred battlefield/military sword? I understand that while advancing firearms made full plate obsolete, it did not fully do away with armor all at once, with at least cuirasses remaining common, and persisting basically at least as long as swords did, and that such armor would reduce the usefulness of the rapier. But wouldn't it also reduce the usefulness of backswords etc? Was a soldier who ended up in a situation where they had to use their sword expected to just chop at unarmored limbs? Which yes a rapier would be poorer at, but is that all or is there more to their military effectiveness than that? Thanks as always for a great informative video, take care!

👍

2 short videos in a row? What the hell is this monster you're working on?

I thought it was 30 minutes, then I double check and I still have my doubts

A three minute video from scholagladiatoria? WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MATT?!

Historically speaking, how common would it be to see backswords and broadswords used as personal self defense or dueling weapons? I imagine it would have been eclipsed pretty often by the popularity of the smallsword and rapier for civilian use, particularly outside of the British Isles.

Matt, if you could make all the videos five minutes or below like this, I would be greatly appreciative. It's not that it's not interesting and I don't want to, but I ain't got the attention span brother. I think this is one of the first of your videos I've actually finished. 😅

Would that mean sabres are a kind of backswords?