How are swords still have a sharp edge after blocking so many direct slashes from a sharp tempered blade.
Imo sword should look like saws after even one session of blocking really anything made of metal.
In: 1711
The simple answer is that the blocking with your sword was not done if you could help it, it is mostly just in movies. Blocking sword on sword damages both blades and a broken weapon gets you killed. People would pull the blow as not to damage their own blade.
Depending when you are talking about you blocked with a shield and later when shields were given up due plate armour (for the rich) and you lost the polearm you started with and mace or war hammer and were left with a sword the training was to avoid blows and close in as the heavy weapons needed to defeat armour would break you sword.
If you are talking about “musketeer” times blocking a thrust is much less damaging to the blade.
In all cases nicks would be ground out and blades replaced before they snapped. There are few examples of broken swords remade as short swords but mostly old damaged blades would be recycled as good steel was a costly item.
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