That is super interesting. Thank you.

@@Redwolfblog Shamshir is indeed Persian, but in India we call it the tigers tail. The crescent shape has nothing to do with Islam, the sword of the Prophet preserved in Turkey, was straight possibly double edged. The curved sword came about as an evolution of design, forward curved swords like the Carthaginian falcatta, Greek kopis, Nepali kukri have existed for ages. The backwards curved swords are just an evolution of design, nothing to do with Islam. (Indian Muslim here.)

I fought with sabers for several years, very fond of the 1796 butcher pattern, among others. Have owned several, if you have any questions. People really do not seem aware of how well you can slide the curve over a shield or around some parries.

@@Redwolfblog I do have a question; how, with a saber, can you overcome a longer blade or one used with two hands? It seems like that would put the saber user at a disadvantage.

@@EngineerMK2004 The easiest way I came up with is to carry a shield or side dagger. In my research, the Scots were known in the Age of Piracy to even hold a horsepistol underarm like a tonfa, and use it as a shield. As that hints at, the first rule of a sword fight is "don't get hit", and worry about winning second. The mental game is there. Sometimes you beat a longer blade by going on the offensive, and that fighter will simply not want to get hit, and lose his reach advantage. Against an aggressive opponent, you need to know how to block/parry. A lot of footwork. What nobody talks about, is that, you can do a lot of light wounding at maximum reach, but you do have to get 6-10 inches closer in a real fight in order to drop killing blows...a lot of what looks like it doesn't work in martial arts is everyone standing at swatting distance instead of getting in the danger zone.

@@EngineerMK2004 I would also add, getting a sword that works for your fighting style is important. I have a sword up for review that I bought two swords, and dismantled them, and made one GOOD sword out of them, for the fighting style I am currently learning. You have to balance cost with controllability (Italian Rapier, Japanese Katana, Chinese Dao, Thai Dha, and a Highland Claymore all have a different ideal control for their style + fitting it to your taste/experience), but it still ahs to be capable of dealing the appropriate amount of damage, and be able to parry blows. I prefer the Grosse Messer to the Longsword (I have a Cold Steel of both), because I have blocked a greatsword with both, and the spring temper and thinness of the longsword deformed three inches for a split second, and almost cost me an ear. Food for thought.

What kind of stuff would you consider "putting it through its paces"?

Redwolf: Swords and Survival Well try I would just try a little bit of everything. Perhaps green wood branches like pine of something, maybe soaked newspaper rolls if you don’t have tatami/straw mats. I don’t know where you live but Mexican palm leaf stocks that are green are excellent targets. Very dense, fibrous and pretty tough.

I actually cut through a piece of dried bamboo in the video, hard stuff. I cut some other stuff, but have to be semi-selective on what I cut, when. If I can get the weather to cooperate, I am putting together a cutting test demo since you brought this to my attention.

That is jute or hemp twine...hemp 1/4" would be a go to for it, it does not fray as easily as jute. I used an archery wrap, where you make a loop, and wrap from the bottom up to it, pull the tail through, and them pull the loop and tail into the wrap itself. Very secure, and made it much safer.

@@Redwolfblog Neat. 🙂 Thanks!

I agree. I have the older plainer version of this sword and love it. I have had that one in the video wtoo with the engraving. I prefer the older plain one. The guard is not as thick and heavy and the overall weight of the older planer one is a tad lighter and better balanced. I love it. It is quick and deadly fast.

At this point, I honestly would just love to have the wider langet in grip so you have a thumb rest.

Just get it and do your own handle- I'm buying it and will probably do that.

I have been really happy I made this video. A lot of comments that I have learned from.

I can believe it. I might do an update video on it one day. I have been getting a lot of comments correcting errors that are not widely known. It has been worth making the video to learn more about them.

Have you tried getting it repaired? Maybe you can buy a replacement pomel for it.

@Mo0seM4n This was 11 years ago, there was too much play at the end, which meant it would merely crack again. Wood or a curved end would be needed to stop the pommel from cracking. Scabbard was just too cheap.

Bushy inky steel is a very accurate description. I will probably use that one in the future. It is a very evocative image.

Appreciate the comment.