Doublets worn in the highlands of Scotland are a bit different from the doublets that were traditionally worn in the rest of the UK. The highland doublet is similar to a mess jacket and may be adorned with buttons, a jabot and cuff set, and a high-buttoned waistcoat. There are four distinct types of highland doublets: the regulation kilt doublet, the Balmoral kilt doublet, the Kenmore kilt doublet, and the Sheriffmuir kilt doublet.
The Balmoral kilt doublet is to be worn for formal affairs. Usually it features a velvet double-breasted jacket and in the modern era is worn with a belt and black bow tie. The Kenmore kilt doublet is named after the town, just east of Loch Tay. It too is made from velvet, but is always worn with a belt, lace jabot, and cuffs. It is appropriate for all formal occasions.
To protect his head and neck during battle, a medieval knight would don a chainmail coif. These coifs were made of interwoven iron rings. As you can imagine, they could be painful to wear, so knights would wear thick padding beneath the coif.
A chainmail coif is not impenetrable. Sharp objects hurled with enough force can pierce the metal chain. The coif also does not protect against broken bones and concussions. Still, for the medieval knight, it was a much-needed form of protection, even after the advent of plated armor.
I watched the movie 300 and one of the things that amazed me was the costumes that they wore in the film. It was barely anything at all. Another thing that had me quit interested was the fact that their hair was short. I know that it’s a movie, but I was always under the impression that they had long hair.
I will say that I was impressed with the fact that not one of the Spartans wore a Spartan war helmet. With the entire sword flinging there was very little armor worn. Though it was an excellent movie, it makes me wonder how true to the real history it truly was.
Growing up my best friend and I were obsessed about medieval times. Every year we would go to a Renaissance Fair. We would dress up in our most lavished costumes and partake on the festivities. The food and costumes were amazing to see.
The most extravagant costumes had to be the men. They would dress from head to toe in the most amazing costumes. The medieval helmets themselves were a sight to see. I always wondered just how heavy it was to wear those helmets all day long, especially in the heat.
If today’s film culture seems obsessed with origin stories, that impulse is really nothing new. Long before the Star Wars prequels came to theaters, T.H. White penned an origin story for the myths of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. These stories had always portrayed Arthur as a fearless hero; White wanted to explore the makings of Arthur by crafting his own piece of fan fiction.
The story was eventually adapted into a beloved Walt Disney animated film called “The Sword in the Stone.” In it, a lowly stable boy named Wart befriends the famous magician Merlin and is taught a series of lessons in what it takes to become a knight. His final task is to pull the mighty fantasy sword Excalibur from the rock where it has been lodged for centuries. Having done so, Wart earns his title as king. This story envelopes medieval armor weapons to a whole new level with such detail to imagination.
Did you know that there is an International Talk Like a Pirate Day? Every year on September 19th, pirate enthusiasts brush up their swarthy lingo and walk around speaking with extra “arrrrs.” Speaking like a pirate is so popular that even Facebook has pirate listed as a language option.
To really get into the spirit of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, consider dressing in your best deck swabbing attire for the day. From bandannas to wooden peg legs to eye patches, you’ll be the toast of your swill drinking friends. No pirate outfit would be complete without a sword and scabbard, so consider purchasing pirate weapons. There are reputable online retailers that have sword and armor sale that have unique weaponry. This will help you to complete the pirate look.
Cane swords, or swordsticks, became popular in Europe during the 18th century. Similar devices had been developed in Ancient Rome and Japan. The swordstick was mostly viewed as a fashion accessory, replacing decorative swords which went out of style as fire arms grew in popularity.
Typically, wooden cane swords consisted of a shaft made from Malacca wood with a standard round metallic grip. Inside the cane, attached to the handle, was a long thin blade. Gadget canes, similar to swordsticks, also became popular and would hold the tools of the carriers’ trade. Today, wooden cane swords are mostly a novelty item and in some states they are illegal to carry in public, under concealed weapons ordinances along with side swords.
Ever wonder why people get really fascinated with fantasy stories? Young girls are fond of fairy tales while young boys grew up on good adventure stories with heroes wielding fantasy swords. A lot of the bestsellers novels and blockbuster movies we had have this genre as well. We all know that the dragons, evil serpents, fairies and other characters in most stories aren’t real; yet, we keep on patronizing their stories.
The answer is quite simple. We love these stories because they are like windows to the world unknown to us. Through them, we “indirectly” experience a trip to the world we haven’t and will never see. They’re stories aren’t just entertaining, but are magical and by listening, watching or reading them, we sort of being part of the magic. Whatever the reason is, we’re addicted to fantasies, to the stories of the Celts, and even to the medieval fantasy swords, among other things because they are the closest to the fantasies we have adored. And this addiction is reflected in the rise in number of the stories, films, and collectibles inspired by such ideas.
For the last several years the Minnesota Vikings have been associated with mediocrity in the NFL, but they have experienced resurgence this year thanks in large part to some new talent. Last year’s first round draft pick Adrian Peterson and the acquisition of veteran quarterback Brett Favre has equated to a drastic increase in the team’s record. This has correlated to increased TV time.
The past several weeks I have viewed Vikings games, and their fans appear to be stirred by the team’s success and eager to show their support. There are always several fans clad in full Viking garb, many even wielding authentic Viking swords and sword shield. Although I am not a Vikings fan, it is exciting to see a revival of one of the league’s oldest teams.
When I was a kid, one of my favorite movies was “American Ninja.” The movie is about a boy who was adopted by a Filipino man and shown the way of the Ninja. One of the weapons that the titular hero had was throwing stars to battle the enemies with ninja swords and renaissance daggers. “American Ninja” inspired me to take up martial arts and now I teach a self defense class for women and children at a local community center in my town. Whenever I speak to my students about my inspiration, I always go back to that movie.
Earlier this week, they presented me with a thank you plaque with the movie poster framed and throwing stars in a glass case. It was a very sweet gesture and I can’t help but think that a dream of mine - to be a skilled martial artist and someone who helps people for a living - was spawned by a movie.