Medieval Weapons

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.