There are countless ways to shape a blade, and throughout history different cultures have favored various designs from one time period to another. This is an attempt to sum up the main advantages and disadvantages of single and double edged blades, while keeping in mind the enormous variety of options that bladesmiths had to optimized each one for one function or another.
An in-depth discussion of what makes swords & knives cut well (sharpness / blade geometry):
https://youtu.be/V0O4eqnmREs
Straight vs. curved sword tested in the thrust:
https://youtu.be/jBZ9Y1KSkos
https://youtu.be/fuLUO3dOP2Q
An older video about different blade shapes and their effectiveness:
https://youtu.be/o7FgiwfmRc0
*** Support the channel ***
Help fund future videos, get bonus content and other rewards:
http://www.patreon.com/skallagrim
https://www.subscribestar.com/skallagrim
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3WIohkLkH4GFoMrrWVZZFA/join
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/skallagrimnilsson
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):
https://www.youtube.com/user/SkallagrimNilsson/about
See a list of my video uploads:
https://twitter.com/_Skallagrim_
https://www.facebook.com/SkallagrimYT
Channel-related shirts and other merch:
http://skallagrim.spreadshirt.com/
https://teespring.com/stores/skallagrim
*** Music ***
Intro song:
"Illuminate" by Vindsvept
https://vindsvept.bandcamp.com/track/illuminate
Outtakes:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/little-people-at-work-loop
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/steve.yee/