The leather washer is there to soak up blood thats coming down the blade. A more serious thought, the rise of washers coincides with the ramping up of industrial sword mass production. Maybe their original purpose was also to make the marriage between stock hilts and stock blades easier when they werent specifically made for eachother and had very loose tolerances.

So basically what you are saying is that I shouldn't have thrown away the leather washer that came with a basket hilt Scottish broad sword I bought. It was the first basket hilt I had purchased and I thought it was just a a weird bit of packing material.

On a british naval hunter hanger I restored, it had wooden wedges driven in left and right of the hilt in order to acheive this (one was rotten away, causing the hilt to twist and rattle). On my KuK Model 1889 Infantry training sabre, ther is a cast/drop forged steel basket with a huge opening (almost as wide as the grip), and the washer with a fitting cutout is riveted over it in order to make it fit the blade. The function of this particular washer was letting you mass produce the thick parts, and only fitting(hand-filing) a 2mm washer to fit the blade. Thus - if you messed it up or needed to repair the (much abused) training hilt at some point, you only had to replace the washer, not the whole hilt. I can send you some pictures of this construction, if you are interested.

Matt Easton: "that's right, blades eat guards." Whiterun Guard: *shudders* "watch it now..."

Matt's sword has an internal and an external nut. Interesting.

Who would have thought the topic of washers on sabers would be so interesting. If this was ten years ago, I would have said "not another saber video." Now I'm in love with sabers and tulwars. All thanks to you Matt!

At the battle of Cedar Mountain, in Virginia, in 1862, Stonewall Jackson, while rallying his men, tried to draw his saber, but it had stuck/rested into the scabbard. So, he un hooked the whole thing from his belt and waved it over his head. Jackson, supposedly, had very rarely drawn his sword.

Gods man, I have learned so much from you and your wonderful work. Thank you.

What a lovely lozenge section blade.

I don't know what I will do when Matt stops deeply penetrating these historical topics and really grabbing them by the context.

I like the new bell intro. It always makes me think I'm close to a tomb with hidden knowledge in "Tomb Raider".

Matt, Videos are great. I always learn something, and really wish I had a local school to get more involved. Keep them coming!

Interesting. I've just checked my Victorian police sabres/cutlasses/hangers and the leather washers on those appear to just be to form a seal with the scabbard.

Dear Matt. Can you please speak more about how the swords are constructed? Thank you.

that's a beautiful sabre

Thanks Matt. My new Mort. hilt backsword showed up today and there were two leather washers included in the package.

Fascinating, thanks Matt!

Very interesting. Thanks for the video !

A soft washer will also tend to spread lateral stress over a wider area and reduce the stress concentration (and thus reduce the possibility of a blade break) at the point where the hilt and tang join the blade. Further note that this effect will be more significant on a narrower blade than on something like an arming sword, which could help to explain its increased use as blade widths reduced. Then, as crucible steels became more widespread starting in the 18th century, it wouldn't be surprising to find less need for stress riser mitigation by the 19th century.

'Gasket' would be a more accurate description. In addition to sealing, it also reduces the shock imparted to the hilt when the blade is returned to the scabbard. The scabbard behaving like a slide-hammer trying to drive the hilt of the tang which probably accounts for many loose hilts.

I'm now going to learn what I almost misplaced the other day when doing cutting practice.

I know you're talking about antiques, but that FM radio/CD player at the back is almost medieval.

They were for washing hilts. Obviously.

Matt thank you so very much for sharing some of your collection and vast knowledge of swords and other bladed weapons! While many of us may be collectors and users of sharp things, very few of us have the information and examples that you share with us.. Might you please do a review on the US 1860 cavalry sabers? Some were "light" while others were heavier- and durimg the war many were churned out by various makers, Confederate and Federal..

Matt has to being making these puns and double entendres on purpose these days, gotta love how well they fit with the topic though, grabs the attantion

That's a nice piece!

By Jove I wish I could actually look at the washer when you show it closer to the camera, but you chose a super camera friendly looking sabre. The ricasso engraving just looked super interesting and I couldn't really pay attention. (not really complaining, I've been a subscriber for years, I remember what a washer is. I was just aw struck by the sabre.)

I like how you put the pieces of history together into coherent patterns and reasons. What do you do for a nylon sword with a loose basket? Mine came a bit loose and I can't tighten every last bit of it out.

"Hitting and guarding whether it's drilling or sparring." Can that become the new theme for any HEMA club out there? :D

In the modern sense washers are also used to cover gaps in hilt-blade configuration of poorer quality swords.

What fool would ever say "Oh no, not more sabres" ? Hahaha Also quite a lot more to those washers than I realized. Cheers man!

I use the Dremel felt polishing wheel, they are off white and come in bags of lots, nice and plush... voluptuous even. Fitted to my rapier and smaller swords, I cut raw hide for bigger swords. Just me, I see them as a consumable so keep them looking fresh and ship shape, routinely refreshing them prevents them looking like the sole of a tramps shoe. Stay classy my friends.

Have you done a video on how to restore a sword hilt and guard yet? How should leather be treated to keep it from further damage?

What do you think of rings for the thumb? Such as seen on the Swedish M/1685 Manskapsvärja (Type of Backsword)

Only noticed that morion helmet in the background just now. Any chance of an upcoming video about it?

great video! All saber all the time is fine for me. A Cuban fencing coach once taught me to slip a metal washer on the tang before mounting the saber blade on its aluminum guard precisely because of this. He told me fencing bellguards are hard to come by where he's from. Can you do a video talking about saber guards? Or about that up turned lip we see at the extreme end of the knuckle bow where it slips over the tang? I've seen this on a lot of gymnasium sabers and Italian sabers. I reckon it is there for strength because a lot of guards after heavy use can crack or bend there. Thanks.

Figures... I never knew they could be actual washers. When I restored my great-grandpather's military cuteaux there was a "washer" but only encircling the blade's base and I assumed they where only used to prevent moisture entering (and I replaced it with a replica I've made using the original as a template)

My swedish police saber from 1896 has a washer and I just assumed it was to stop it from rattling when riding.

What modern material would you use instead of leather to accomplish the same job?

Whats your opinion on new steel black fencers ?

On my modern sabre you can see the brass where the reinforcement meets the hilt..brazed on? \

can we still find the sabre you helped make in the USA? also the one at 14:38. when i do a google search i must be butchering the spelling lol

Conservator's wax? I've found it protects quite well.

I have a sword (broken & reshaped) the washer is gone… the knuckle bow of the guard was cut away & was handle was replaced with a carves wood handle. I wanted to replace the washer & replace the bow. Would soaking the washer in beeswax help it to last longer?

Matt, My 1897 doesn't have one. Do I need one or where can I get one?

The saber shown at the beginning of the video is very lovely and exotic! I'm wondering what pattern is that ?

What is the significance of brass scabbards? Have they got anything to do with an officer’s rank or status, or are they just an optional extra akin to having a gilt steel hilt. What are the pros and cons of having a brass scabbard over a steel scabbard?

The leather washer used to seal the scabbard is more of gasket than a washer.

Quick question is the weakest part of the sword is it the nut on the end? :P

Saber related: For left-handed fencer would the numbered cuts/parries be reversed? Or do they stay the same on either side (cut number 1 always hits opponent on left side of the head) for ease of communication?

Curious about how much weight would have been removed from the basket guard on that last gymnasium sabre by drilling the holes in it - perhaps so they could put a bit more weight into the washer and move the balance point further forward? Slightly amusing to hear you approximating in millimetres when ' 3/16" to quarter inch ' would have done for the first and ' about half an inch ' would have been adequate for the second ;-)

Since oil deteriorates the leather, what would you recommend for preserving it (and leather scabbards as well?)

Is that the gymnasium saber you showed in the patreon video?

so you might say the washer is an expansion joint like that used in concreate sidewalks

Like many people, I'd wondered what the schilt was for on a feder. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle.

The early 20th century gymnasium sabre looks a lot like the Hanwei Pecoraro sabre. Are these designs related in any way you know about Matt?

can you read us the account of the guy who had his sword rust in the scabbard? thats a story worth telling!

For me, you can ramble about sabres for hours, until your hair falls off, and it wouldn't bother me a bit. Please, sabres, sabres, s... . Great vid, and i want a signed Easton gym sabre when it finally comes out!!

It shouldn't be too hard to replace a washer without having to dismantle the blade. Make a washer of the appropriate thickness, cut out a hole to fit the tang, then cut open one end at an angle. Put the guard under compression, clean out any remaining material, then push the new washer in place and release the compression. You can swell the leather slightly using dubbin or beeswax and a hair dryer.

Bearing with you

i bought a sabre that had one made of felt. it flew off when i was cutting plastic bottles with it and i never saw it again.

Shock absorber?

I suspect you're on to something about the shilt. If it was just for hand protection, then why didn't sharp blades have them? As far as I know shilts are exclusive to training swords.So being there weight distribution makes sense.

A lapped and soldered brass or copper washer could be a repair to those practice sabers.

It looks like he's gotten quite a bit of sun.

Blade Buffer is also a name for washer.

Is that a Surrey flag in the background?

Also it would make it less stealthy. I can imagine no matter what time your in, stealth is important in a military setting.

Most modern swordsmen are portrayed as using only swords in battle. That is mainly due to Hollywood not knowing much about the subject. It seems there are two schools of thought on how to best use swords in battle. One is the dueling method as is seen in most movies just for the action factor. The other being more realistic is with sword and shield in hand. The latter being the most sense-able way. One without the other is helpless.

Matt - Americans use the word "autumn." Sometimes, even, "autumnal."

Sabre (and cutlass)! Sabre (and cutlass)! Sabre (and cutlass)! Sabre (and cutlass)!

Very nice video, thanks. Maybe you can talk a bit more about brass washers next time. How good are the compared to leather ones etc.

Damn, missed the option of "it's to stop you sabre rattling!"

So if the blade eats the guard, because the guard is soft metal and the blade is hardened metal, why not harden the guard also?

Let me have one of you sabres

No I want more saber!

What about, in the modern day, we used rubber washers instead?

Surely the answer is, "to keep the crossguard/basket/tsubo in place? How can this possibly take 23 minutes to explain???

Re: sword stuck in its scabbard, it's something that would happen to the Capitan character in the Commedia dell'arte, a cowardly braggart.

"Or fall, for Americans." Dude, Americans use the word autumn too.

Why is it called a "washer", though?

Cosmetically, I prefer a crossguard

Of course this led me down the rabbit hole of "where does the word 'washer' come from anyway"? Doesn't seem like there's a good answer. www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1713/whats-the-purpose-of-washers-the-round-metal-things/

In the case of emergency you can use a chew-gum instead...

I prefer an internal nut, personally. Just feels better, you know?

SWORDS EAT GUARDS

Interesting and informative show. But it takes him forever to say anything. Blah blah blah! Get to the point. Usually just tune him out and quit watching. Ticks me off cause I know I'm missing a lot of good stuff.

OMGOSH!! How long winded can he be?! Get to the point already!! Grrrrr. ::Rolling eyes:: Forget it! I'm not watching the rest of this.