The paper examines the application of the tensor calculus to the classic problem of the pure torsion of prismatic rods. The introduction contains a short description of the reference frames, base vectors, contravariant and covariant vector coordinates when applying the Einstein summation convention. Torsion formulas were derived according to Coulomb's and Saint-Venant's theories, while, as a link between the theories, so-called Navier's error was discussed. Groups of the elasticity theory equations were used.