The sidesword was one of the defining weapons of Renaissance Europe. Broad enough to deliver a serious...
Matt Tait
Matt is the founder of SevenSwords.uk and Geeks with Swords, a creative lifestyle brand built around passion, imagination, and the enduring fascination with blades, battles, and the stories we attach to them. His mission is to bring history alive, not as a dusty list of dates, but as a living thing full of artistry, symbolism, and human connection.
With a background that spans digital media, web strategy, and TV formats ranging from Question Time to Robot Wars, Matt’s real calling lies in turning his lifelong love of history and swords into something inspiring and accessible. To him, these weapons are more than tools of combat. They are expressions of culture, power, and myth. Whether it's a Viking blade, a Renaissance rapier, or a legendary cinematic prop, each sword tells a story, and Matt is here to share it.
Through engaging content, social media, and design,Seven Swords celebrates the crossover between learning and fun. It's for the curious, the nostalgic, and anyone who's ever imagined wielding something iconic. Matt’s vision encourages people to explore the past with fresh eyes, connect with creativity, and enjoy the ride.
He’s also won a NESTA Design & Innovation award and holds a gold medal from BBC’s Techno Games, but what really drives him is building a space where knowledge, humour, and passion collide.
William Armstrong of Kinmont, better known as Kinmont Willie, was one of the most notorious Border reivers...
The kris, more properly called the keris in Indonesia, is one of the most recognisable edged weapons...
The takouba is one of the most recognisable swords of the western Sahel. Its straight, double-edged blade...
The Zweihänder is the sort of sword that makes an ordinary longsword appear rather modest. Developed chiefly...
The Border Reiver era was not one long, untidy battle between England and Scotland. It was more...
The zhanmadao (斬馬刀) occupies a slightly awkward place in the history of Chinese weapons. Its name translates...
The Messer simply means “knife” in German, yet surviving examples can reach dimensions that make the description...
Joachim Meyer occupies a fascinating position in the history of European swordsmanship. Born around 1537 and dead...
The liuyedao (柳葉刀), usually translated as the “willow leaf sabre”, was one of the characteristic military swords...