Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
So much can be said about the pros and cons of different designs, but at the end of the day most swords worked well for their intended purpose at the time, and for collectors and history enthusiasts nowadays it all boils down to personal taste.
So this is my subjective ranking of the "best" swords that appeal to me the most, in terms of practical effectiveness, craftsmanship, and aesthetics.
Relevant videos:
What's the Point of Wavy Blades? (Flamberge, Kris, Etc)
youtu.be/ebBD-ntO0eQ
The Height of Sword Evolution
youtu.be/uQSjO84HdPs
The Best Swords for Beginners: Cheap / Easy / Safe / Effective
youtu.be/OgTOdg0z1DM
One of the Best (but Underrated) Single-Handed Sword Designs!
youtu.be/ZU5eoD8gcJY
UNDENIABLY the BEST Sword of History! (satire)
youtu.be/dJDSfR0NV1M
*** Sources / credits ***
Egyptian daggers
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dagger_of_Princess_Ita.jpg
https://commons-wikimedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/File:Kairo_Museum_Eisendolch_Tutanchamun_01.jpg?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Khopesh
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mural_of_Seti_I._Assest_Number_1613786221.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Egypt_Bronze_Sickle-Shaped_Sword_(28321530132).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Khopesh.jpg
Kris
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalis_seko_kris_moro_sword_2_overall.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Filipinetako_armak_San_Telmo_(Kris).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balische_kris,_AK-MAK-319.jpg
Two-handed greatsword (“Zweihander”)
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two-handed_swords_(28845423983).jpg
clevelandart.org/art/1916.1508
Basket-hilted swords
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24884
wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=direct/1/ResultListView/result.t1.collection_list.$TspTitleImageLink.link&sp=10&sp=Scollection&sp=SfieldValue&sp=0&sp=1&sp=2&sp=SdetailList&sp=0&sp=Sdetail&sp=0&sp=F&sp=T&sp=6
royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-7067
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117167/cavalry-broadsword
Schiavona
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117169/basket-hilted-broadsword-schiavona
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/106248/basket-hilted-broadsword-schiavona
clevelandart.org/art/1916.693
dams.antwerpen.be/asset/D1jeLYhfiORQQfm7RT9ueY41
Longswords
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117093/hand-and-a-half-sword
clevelandart.org/art/1916.1506
clevelandart.org/art/1974.58
Other pictures
https://www.khm.at/objektdb/detail/371604/
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1796_Pattern_Infantry_Officers_Spadroon_Hilt.jpg
myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.17861.html
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #sword #history #historicalweapons #medieval #renaissance
So much can be said about the pros and cons of different designs, but at the end of the day most swords worked well for their intended purpose at the time, and for collectors and history enthusiasts nowadays it all boils down to personal taste.
So this is my subjective ranking of the "best" swords that appeal to me the most, in terms of practical effectiveness, craftsmanship, and aesthetics.
Relevant videos:
What's the Point of Wavy Blades? (Flamberge, Kris, Etc)
youtu.be/ebBD-ntO0eQ
The Height of Sword Evolution
youtu.be/uQSjO84HdPs
The Best Swords for Beginners: Cheap / Easy / Safe / Effective
youtu.be/OgTOdg0z1DM
One of the Best (but Underrated) Single-Handed Sword Designs!
youtu.be/ZU5eoD8gcJY
UNDENIABLY the BEST Sword of History! (satire)
youtu.be/dJDSfR0NV1M
*** Sources / credits ***
Egyptian daggers
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dagger_of_Princess_Ita.jpg
https://commons-wikimedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/File:Kairo_Museum_Eisendolch_Tutanchamun_01.jpg?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Khopesh
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mural_of_Seti_I._Assest_Number_1613786221.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ancient_Egypt_Bronze_Sickle-Shaped_Sword_(28321530132).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Khopesh.jpg
Kris
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kalis_seko_kris_moro_sword_2_overall.jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Filipinetako_armak_San_Telmo_(Kris).jpg
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balische_kris,_AK-MAK-319.jpg
Two-handed greatsword (“Zweihander”)
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Two-handed_swords_(28845423983).jpg
clevelandart.org/art/1916.1508
Basket-hilted swords
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/24884
wallacelive.wallacecollection.org/eMP/eMuseumPlus?service=direct/1/ResultListView/result.t1.collection_list.$TspTitleImageLink.link&sp=10&sp=Scollection&sp=SfieldValue&sp=0&sp=1&sp=2&sp=SdetailList&sp=0&sp=Sdetail&sp=0&sp=F&sp=T&sp=6
royalarmouries.org/collection/object/object-7067
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117167/cavalry-broadsword
Schiavona
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117169/basket-hilted-broadsword-schiavona
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/106248/basket-hilted-broadsword-schiavona
clevelandart.org/art/1916.693
dams.antwerpen.be/asset/D1jeLYhfiORQQfm7RT9ueY41
Longswords
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/117093/hand-and-a-half-sword
clevelandart.org/art/1916.1506
clevelandart.org/art/1974.58
Other pictures
https://www.khm.at/objektdb/detail/371604/
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1796_Pattern_Infantry_Officers_Spadroon_Hilt.jpg
myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.17861.html
*** Merch ***
bonfire.com/store/skallswag
If you want to join Bonfire to start selling your own merch: bonfire.com/welcome/07bb14169c804
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and access to an exclusive Discord server:
patreon.com/skallagrim
youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
Other ways to support the channel by shopping through affiliate links:
Kult of Athena, my favorite online store for reproductions of historical arms and armor, fantasy swords, etc:
kultofathena.com/?koa=259
Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords:
woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
GamerSupps powdered energy drinks and other stuff (I particularly like the SUS snack bars):
gamersupps.gg/Skall
I highly recommend the balms and oils from Beard Sorcery:
beardsorcery.com/?ref=0UEFtHWvZEmtD
Books about history, martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend:
US - amazon.com/shop/skallagrimnilsson
Canada - amzn.to/2HeOCMA
*** Other social media ***
https://bsky.app/profile/skallagrim.bsky.social
facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
instagram.com/skallagrim_yt
#skallagrim #sword #history #historicalweapons #medieval #renaissance
