Military Flails Didn't Exist? - Lets Take a Closer Look!

The flail (often inaccurately called "morning star") is one of the most iconic arms of the Middle Ages. Except that some historians think that it was not a real medieval weapon that saw actual use in combat. So in this video I discuss the available evidence (practical considerations, museum pieces, and historical pictures) and give you my opinion on the topic. It briefly touches on the nunchaku but it's not about the drama(?) that Shadiversity's video seems to have stirred up. :) My tests with flexible weapons:    • Helmet Tests, Part 5 - Bascinet vs. Axe, M...      • Chain Blades and Axe Flail vs. Zombie - Do...   Pros & cons of maces, warhammers, and other bludgeons:    • The Pros & Cons of Bludgeons (Maces, Hamme...   ** Sources ** The blog post that I comment on: https://www.publicmedievalist.com/cur... German heavy morning star, 16th or 17th century http://www.hermann-historica-archiv.d... German flail, ca. 1520/30 http://www.hermann-historica-archiv.d... 17th century flail with large, smooth ball and multiple chains http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collect... Indian flail, 18th century https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collect... History of the kisten http://holodnoeorugie.ru/kisten/ Translated to English: https://translate.google.com/translat... https://xn--90abjbtjdof1b8dvb.xn--p1ai/raznoe/drevnee-oruzhie-rusi-oruzhie-drevnej-rusi.html Translated to English https://translate.google.com/translat... Russian forum discussion about flails https://www.yaplakal.com/forum2/topic... Piotr N. Kotowicz, Early Medieval War-Flails (Kistens) from Polish Lands http://rcin.org.pl/Content/22894/WA30... Technique demonstration with a flail (in Russian)    • Кистень. Основы работы кистенём для начина...   Fighting manuscripts https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Category:... Depictions in medieval art https://manuscriptminiatures.com/sear... Korean flail demonstration    • Joseon Martial Arts: Korean Swordsmanship ...   Flails of the Ming Dynasty https://greatmingmilitary.blogspot.co... https://mandarinmansion.com/item/chin... ** Support the channel ** Help fund future videos, get bonus content and other rewards:   / skallagrim   https://www.subscribestar.com/skallagrim    / @skallagrim   Books about history and/or martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend (as an Amazon Affiliate I earn commission through these links): US - https://www.amazon.com/shop/skallagri... Canada - https://amzn.to/2HeOCMA 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: https://www.kultofathena.com/?koa=259 Where to get HEMA gear and practice swords: http://www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799 ** Social media & merch ** How to contact me (can't always reply, since I get too many messages):    / skallagrimnilsson   See a list of my video uploads:   / _skallagrim_     / skallagrimyt   Channel-related shirts and other merch: http://skallagrim.spreadshirt.com/ https://teespring.com/stores/skallagrim ** Music ** Outro: "Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records https://theslantedroom.github.io/stev...