Demonstrating The Power Of The Saxon Blade
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Published 2022-08-01
This video is an extended trailer for the History Hit TV documentary 'The Sharp End: Testing Frontline Weapons'. Watch the full episode here: access.historyhit.com/what-s-new/videos/weapons-of…
Filmed at the Royal Armouries in Leeds, Dan Snow gets hands on with the weapons that helped define history, handled by ordinary soldiers on the frontline - from Anglo-Saxon swords to World War I machine guns.
In this first episode Dan gets to grips with swords and longbows, under the expert guidance of Andy Deane from the Royal Armouries. The tiltyard is transformed into a medieval training ground as Dan discovers how to wield a beautiful, but deadly, pattern welded sword - the sort of weapon used to battle the Vikings and carried by elite warriors on both sides at Hastings.
Can the sword cut through tatami mats, designed to simulate human flesh and bone? He then has a crash course in shooting a longbow - the ranged weapon that required years of practice, and became part of British military legend at battles such as Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt.
It may be impossible to experience what it was really like to fight close-quarters on a brutal ancient battlefield, but handling these weapons first-hand gives a remarkable insight into the challenges facing a soldier at the sharp-end of medieval warfare.
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All Comments (21)
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“King of the battlefield” The spear: ‘am I a joke to you?’
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Andy Deane is an absolute legend and definitely knows his shit. 110% of props to him for knowing that you can't slice through chainmail with a sword slash btw
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Ok, I was expecting a full force swing in order to cut through the target, not a half-hearted one like that. Blimey, that's sharp!
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I had the misfortune of stumbling across a beheading execution video from Saudi Arabia a number of years ago, and the fellow was casually swinging a slightly more curved sword and lopping people's heads off with little to no effort. It was gruesome. So I can believe with even a slight bit of effort in a battle, a sword could easily remove and arm or leg.
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Never knew that the Pub Landlord was a medieval sword expert as well!!
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When I went to Sutton Hoo I realised how European swords where built with twisted centre core and harder metal hammer welded on them as cutting edges. Up to that point I thought Japanese swords where sophisticated and European swords where clumsy. Proves you have to look abroad bur also in your back yard!
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The Royal Armories museum in Leeds is brilliant. If you are a real military History buff, then I would suggest two visits. Preferably one visit when live action is going on. It's well known, but still underrated.
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Obviously you dont just be in the position Andy is in without being an expert, but i could listen to him all day. 40 years learning and passing it on, gonna be a good series.
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Visiting the Leeds Armoury this week, can't wait!!
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The sword expert of the Royal Armory makes sounds with his mouth when showing the movements and cuts. The man is a man's man. The man is a medieval weapons geek. The man is a dangerous man who chooses to live history. The man is what we can call a Legend.
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How effortlessly did he cut through that mat? That's some sharp sword. I've watched youtubers cut through mats with various swords and as far as I can remember none of the swords cut through that easily, they all took a fair amount more force than that.
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King of the battlefield = spear/pole arms. A sword was a side arm in most cases.
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You guys do such a good job with this stuff. I was not expecting a Saxon sword to be so sharp. I guess I always heard that it was the weight of the thing that would do the damage. But that thing was like a four foot razor!!
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I find it strange that people love to grab or touch the blade when they’re told a sword is sharp. I know there are techniques where you do hold the blade, but generally speaking it seems like pointing the barrel of a gun at yourself or having your finger on the trigger. It’s a safety faux pax.
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Holy Goosebumps. I practice rapier and dagger but never tried sharps except for a cheap wall hanger Katana. Even that would be deadly. I've seen test cut vids with hunks of meat and ppl say they didn't even feel the blade go in and through. This looks the same - didn't even slow the follow thru. I'm so glad I live in a place and age where bladed combat is just an exercise in theory. I like to think I'd face combat bravely but most likely I'd sh1t my pants. This is terrifying.
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Pattern welded swords…at that time, the cutting edge of technology on the battlefield
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"More recently, Agincourt" is just about the most History Professor-esque statement it is possible to make, short of "Back in my father's day..."
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I liked watching the arms trainer. Even though he didn't swing the sword at the mat, you could see how much he loved what he was teaching.
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Underatted weapons, love Saxon pattern-welded.
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Love the Royal Armouries, well worth a visit if you're in Leeds.
