Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

DoctorFacepunch t1_j29aewb wrote

George Washington carried a sword. Later, when John Brown planned to spark a slave revolt, he tried to steal it in a heist, as a symbol of revolution.

There was also Peter Francisco, called the "Giant of the Revolution" for his size (he was known for pulling cannons across battlefields single-handedly), who preferred hand-to-hand combat. Washington himself commissioned a special broadsword for Fransisco to carry.

145

Zwierzycki t1_j29pai0 wrote

Peter’s sword was stolen and is a piece of missing history. Peter was supposedly 6’10”.

76

bogvapor t1_j29uwgs wrote

John Brown was also felled by a sword at Harpers Ferry. Except it was a ceremonial sword so he was just bludgeoned into surrendering.

41

Fheredin t1_j2b2t2h wrote

Ceremonial does not necessarily equal non-functional; swords benefit from being sharp, but when you start thinking of a sword as a thin, flat piece of metal moving at 50 mph it becomes clear sharpness isn't necessary.

37