Medieval Weapons

One weapon that you can easily conceal is a folding knife.  They are compact and small yet strong and powerful.  There are many folding knives to choose from.  They vary in color, length and design but are very useful indeed.

They are designed so you can open them with just one hand.  All knives come with belt clips.  So they are very easy to carry and use.  When they time comes for you to defend yourself, you can be sure that you have a weapon you can draw.  You may also enroll in self-defense classes to enhance your bowie knife wielding skills.  You can never be too prepared because an attack can happen any time or anywhere.

Prior to World War II, the butterfly sword was not well-known outside of China. The deadly swords feature a single-edged blade that is as long as a human forearm. This length allowed for concealment inside loose sleeves or boots. Typically, butterfly swords are wielded in pairs.

Butterfly swords, also known as butterfly knives, were only sharpened from the midpoint to the tip. This way, the dull part of the battle knives could be used to knock an opponent unconscious without being fatal. Another interesting fact is that butterfly swords were often kept in the same scabbard. This gave the illusion of a single weapon until the wielder was ready to attack.

I was first introduced to the Society for Creative Anachronism while away at school. Though my college didn’t have many participants, I learned more about SCA through two friends at another school. They would detail their weekly training practices and preparations for the next big battle. As fascinating as weapon training was, I became more interested in the elaborate costumes participants used to clothe themselves during battle.

Every detail from the hauberk down to daggers is thoughtfully researched by the hardcore participants. For instance, a wealthier persona (player) might use a stiletto dagger, while someone who was adept with their left hand might carry a main gauche (French for “left hand”). There are eating daggers made with black antler or white bone handles. There are even bodice daggers for the ladies that can be sewn into a bodice or corset! The level of detail put into developing and clothing a character is amazing!

In my part of the country, rifle-hunting season lasts from mid November to the end of the month. Needless to say, this is prime time to head out to the woods in search of some white-tail deer. Quite frankly, I barely have time to type at a computer right now. I find myself drawn to hunting camps by some mysterious instinct larger than myself—a moth to a flame.

Well before opening weekend, I take the time to make sure I had all my gear and supplies together in one place. As far as hunting apparel is concerned, I buy new insulated gloves each year for the long stretches of frigid tedium that go along with keeping watch in a blind. I’ve also stockpiled my hunting knives and warm boots. The only thing left to do is to figure out a way to make it up to my wife. She probably won’t be seeing much of me for the next few weeks.

In our oft-romanticized visions of ancient cultures, we tend to reduce the civilizations down to a few iconic characters and tendencies. Often these are great artists, authors and thinkers whose works have transcended time and are still in publication. We also tend to remember great warriors and leaders that spearheaded epic battles that are emblematic of the times.

While Roman swords and armor were cutting edge weapons of the era, these items seem primitive to us thanks to our nuclear weapons and unmanned drones. As history books are written about the current state of the world, it will be interesting to see how people reflect on our legacy of battle. Will it be romanticized as many of the civilizations that we now consider ancient are, or will today’s societies be looked at as ruthless and bloodthirsty?

A high quality hunting knife is a must-have when you’re out in the wilderness communing with nature.  Having one with you will make it infinitely easier to tackle and clean your catch, whether it’s a freshwater fish, a rabbit, or other, larger creatures.  But with so many hunting knives out there, how will you know which one works best for you?
 
Here are a few pointers from hunting experts on choosing a good hunting knife:

1. Ask yourself the reason why you need a hunting knife and what you’re going to use it for.
2. Select one with a handle that provides an excellent grip such as a wood hunting knife.  Hunting knife handles are usually made of synthetic, bone or wood.
3. Fixed blade hunting knives generally have stronger blades than the folding type.
4. A hunting knife blade should be 4 to 5 inches long and should be razor-sharp, besides being made of top quality steel.
5. The Clip point, the Drop point, the Gut hook, and the Skinning blades are the four blade types found on most hunting knives.  Each has its own advantages and shortcomings.

When I hear the name “Bowie” I immediately conjure up Ziggy Stardust and the movie Labryinth. For hunters, however, the term “bowie” is synonymous with the bowie knife. James Bowie was the first person to popularize the knife in the 19th Century, and ironically this is where David Bowie got his stage name.

Originally the bowie knife wasn’t a single design, but a series of blades that Jim Bowie was constantly improving. The defining feature of a bowie knife is its “Clip-point” tip, which gives the user enhanced control. Today bowies are mainly maintained by collectors and aficionados.  

Collecting is a great hobby. Establishing a collection of your favorite items allows you to always be surrounded by the things you love most. Many people enjoy amassing items such as collectible knives and swords, while other like antique guns and rifles.But if collecting weaponry is your passion then you should make sure to take some safety measures when children are in the house. First of all, it’s important to store weapons up high and out of kids’ reach. Secondly, guns should never be kept loaded.

The most famous version of the Bowie Knife was designed by Colonel James “Jim” Bowie and was presented to blacksmith James Black in the form of a carved wooden model in December of 1830.  Black produced the knife ordered by Bowie although its common use refers to any large sheath knife with a clip point. 

This knife became famous as the knife used by Bowie at the Sandbar fight, which was the famous 1837 due between Bowie and several men.  In this battle Bowie was stabbed and beaten half to death but managed to win the fight.