Breaking a rapier with a blow from another sword -- myArmoury.com

Matt Easton

Many times over the last couple of years commentators on my videos have stated that they could cut through an opposing rapier with their longsword/katana/broadsword etc.

I have always been skeptical that this is possible in a normal fighting scenario, having spent years fighting against rapierists, using sabres and longswords.

However, I decided that we needed to hold a little experiment to really test whether it was possible in what I consider the most favourable set-up to actually enable breaking the rapier blade with a blow from another sword. Here is the video of that experiment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFRxZod-iI0

My channel has various other videos which may be of interest and if you subscribe then you get a notification of new uploads:
https://www.youtube.com/user/scholagladiatoria

Regards,
Matt

Michael J H · Posted: Thu 26 Mar, 2015 6:41 am Post subject:

Fun video thanks for sharing!!

Greyson Brown · Posted: Thu 26 Mar, 2015 7:03 am Post subject:

From what I saw in the video, I am surprised that even that amount of damage was done. People's wrist just don't appear to create enough resistance. Maybe if a missed thrust caused the blade to be stuck in something, and the rapierist had a really good hold on the sword, then you could break it. I just don't think it is going to happen any other way, given the resistance needed and the relative strength of wrist muscles.

-- Greyson

Michael Curl · Posted: Thu 26 Mar, 2015 7:43 am Post subject:

and you next video should be........

compare and contrast between german longsword and italian

Youtube has nothing on this topic, it's actually new there.

Vincent Le Chevalier · Posted: Thu 26 Mar, 2015 1:21 pm Post subject:

Thanks for doing the work and posting that!

I can't say I'm surprised at the result. There just isn't enough mass in the blade at the weak, and not enough resistance in the wrist. The blade is quickly pushed away without generating enough force to break.

Girard Thibault warns about the risk of breaking a blade when using the 'old' method to parry cuts. That method, for a downward cut to the head, is to put the strong of the blade in the path of the cut, with the tip rising, blocking the blow near the guard. Trying to block the strike like that is more liable to break the sword, because you add the momentum of your rapier rising to meet the blow, and the wrist and arm are better positioned to oppose the force, which might generate a lot more stress at the hilt.

Such a break is surely not what a lot of people have in mind when they say 'I'd just cut the rapier blade', but it seems more probable to me. I can see how rapier blades could be more susceptible to such a break, compared to wider ones.

Regards,

Lancelot Chan · Industry Professional

Matt, you took those commentators too seriously. Big Grin

Good job... hope your wrist doesn't hurt.

Augusto Boer Bront · Industry Professional

I don't know why people are so fixated with this whole "cutting through steel" thing. Too many samurai movies I guess =).
It is just moronic to try to cut steel with steel. The only way to do it is either with a chisel, so fixed to a position and repeatedly hammered, or cutting ridiculously thin metal with a harder and stiffer blade.

Btw Matt, thanks for the efforts you put into your youtube channel, appreciate it =).

Glen A Cleeton · Posted: Thu 26 Mar, 2015 4:24 pm Post subject:

Thanks Vincent, my thoughts are much the same and well referenced.

Matt, maybe strike with the rapier at the edge of another sword, at the strong of both.

Cheers

GC

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Thu 26 Mar, 2015 5:51 pm Post subject:

Matthew Bunker · Posted: Fri 27 Mar, 2015 12:44 pm Post subject:

You clearly weren't doing it properly. Please refer to this educational tutorial:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz1A7Xaz-rk

Sancar O. · Posted: Sat 28 Mar, 2015 1:19 am Post subject:

After seeing the test I am pretty much convinced a rapier is not necesserily more breakable than any other sword type.Now, I'd like to see same thing tried with a smallsword because this test made me think smallsword will not that breakable either.

Vincent Le Chevalier · Posted: Sat 28 Mar, 2015 9:13 am Post subject:

I'm not even sure a fencing foil could be broken when held at arm length and struck like that.

Which does not mean I'd trust a fencing foil to safely block a longsword cut, note Happy

Regards,

Robert Frey · Posted: Sat 28 Mar, 2015 10:53 am Post subject:

The only times I saw a foil blade break was against my chest. Almost got pierced, missed it by a few inches. I felt it break and bent over backwards to stay away from the very sharp point. The other one went through the arm of the jacket and all I got was a tiny scratch on my arm. I don't think it would break from a blow from the side, the blade is so light it would not offer enough resistance to be broken. I do not want to sacrifice mine to find out.

William P · Posted: Tue 31 Mar, 2015 12:03 am Post subject:

were the swords you used to attack the rapier sharp, any of them? did you notice a difference in damage between sharp and blunt blades?