I suspect that the only reason Matt made this video was to make that bayonet pop out multiple times 🤣

Are you say that thrusting with a saber isn't... straightforward?

As a longtime viewer and subscriber, I'm loving the spadroon redemption arc.

Quickness of draw is also something that is important, as I have learned from this channel. For surprise attacks, like a robbery attempt, this might make a big difference.

The smallsword you have on your hip is superior to the broadsword you left behind, just like the Baby Browning in your pocket is better than the custom competition 1911 you left in the safe.

That French infantry sabre with blue-and-gilt is gorgeous.

Really liked the "bad matchup" advice and would love to hear more on other different "bad matchup" situations.

If i remember correctly Domenico Angelo suggested to use your coat for defense when facing a broad sword

That's one thing I was really glad of when I went from Jujutsu to HEMA about a decade ago now, the same martial sense that whatever you have is what you need to use, you play to it's strengths 🙂

I'm glad that I came up with the same tactics with the smallsword that you did Matt, a good sign that I have a good HEMA instructor 😄

There're a lot of people I've sparred with that've complained about me using different weapons, my Jujutsu instructor when he started teaching me to use weapons was adamant that I HAD to learn to play to my strengths and have the brains to figure out the best way to fight with what I had, that goes for armed and unarmed.
I'm only 5'10" 160lbs so with technique or a weapon is the best chance I'm ever going to have 😊 I've taken people a lot bigger than I am but not easily 😄

In the club that I practice and teach smallsword and some sabre at, I have experienced a lot of scenarios of smallsword against other type of swords for fun.

My club is primarily dedicated to longsword and all things Meyer. Heck, it’s called Living Meyer and that’s all they did until I arrived not very long ago.

Based on my experience, and this can be different for everyone, I can say that dealing with heavier or cut centric weapons with a smallsword isn’t that difficult. Yes, the fencing changes, but than constantly moving hand, instead of making me fearful of receiving a cut I can’t parry, actually gives me a huge timeframe to thrust. As explained in the video, the preferred target would be the hand. Opening distance is key, but giving pressure isn’t a bad idea either. We must remember that even if they have a more solid and versatile weapon, the smallsword is still one too, one that can still kill you. Which is in my opinion, something that is overlooked often from the eyes of modern fencing, because you just don’t fear it. Especially when it’s one of the safest to practice. You’ll never hear a smallsworder say they broke their fingers or got a very bad headache.

The one thing I concede without any opposition, is that parrying is definitely harder and likely fatal to the smallsword itself, timing and good distance is the most important factor.

Now comically, even when I fence with sabres, I sometimes end up doing exactly that, thrust the hand, sooo… yeah. Forget about the cutting, I just put tip in moving hand and get out 😂 Not as they strike mind you, it’s in their preparation, if not you can happily expect a double or afterblow.

The steel in your balls to do the aggressive parry and grapple would likely need to be stronger than the steel in your sword to pull that off effectively. Very cool video. Love your content!

Love the clear-eyed acknowledgement that 'you use the weapons or tools you have - use your tactics to amplify their strengths & minimize their weaknesses.'
Matt, you hit this one out of the park!
The 300 yrs or so of the Transitional Weaponry period (hand held contact weapons into repeating & reliable firearms) was its very own kind of Arms Race - and you just summed it up beautifully!

Thanks for all you do & all the time & effort you put in to sharing your passions with us, Matt.

BRAVO ZULU!
Corpsman Out

I suspect that most men who carried the small sword did not expect to have to use them.  And the small sword was more likely to be used in defense against a thug with a knife or club, where I suspect it would be more effective, or against another gentleman with a small sword.  The lighter weight of a small sword made it easier to carry around.  In an emergency, it could be used for defense but most small swords were carried around as decoration most of the time.

Biggest saving grace of the smallsword: it's significantly more convenient to carry than pretty much any other sword

In Eastern Euro saber one can also flip the saber around backwards & use it with the curve facing forward like a falx.

Answer for personal defense is pair with a heavy walking cane which can be used to parry for you to then counter attack.( Also gives you a blunt weapon depending on what they are wearing).

"Run away!" A pretty good idea in lots of situations...

As a member of a HEMA club that does a ton of spadroon and smallsword I feel like Matt is always trying to trigger us with these video titles hahaha

That hanging guard/prime, step in and wrap/grapple/disarm is covered by several of Fiore's plays of the sword in one hand.

Interesting, the rush strategy is my instinctive reaction as an unarmed martial artist to any sword attack. Obviously I would need some object to parry with. But once I get close I have a wide variety of options depending on the exact circumstances.