Medieval Weapons

We’ve all seen those enormous and at times gaudy swords often found in fantasy films, books, and comics. But many people often ask… would those swords actually work? There is some truth to the oversized and ornate fantasy swords, as such swords did exist in the past. The claymore, a two handed sword that originated with highlanders in Scotland, is big enough to not be out of place in fantasy. There were even larger swords that were more often than not designed to take down a knight and a rider with a single slash. While the claymore had practical uses, it’s about as large as a sword can become before it becomes useless except in specific situations. The giant swords used to take down horse and rider could be used for that purpose alone to their unwieldy size and the extreme strength needed for one swing.

Even the claymore would fall victim if it missed the target with consecutive blows, as a faster fighter with a sword and shield could deflect the blow and then jab at the wielder from behind the protection of the shield. The gaudy features that make swords look cool don’t do much to change their effectiveness, it’s more the length of the blade and the weight that contribute to its usefulness.

There are many of us out there who do not have the ability to sword fight in games or reenactments.  However, we are very interested in the ancient historical past, and have spent years collecting it.

My husband and I have always loved the Age of Chivalry.  We love it so much that we collect replica relics from the Medieval time.  We have pieces of the past lying all around our house.

We have so many beautiful collectible swords that a visitor to our house once inquired if we were planning an overthrow.  Not only do these beautiful replicas from the past have a wonderful story to share with visitors, but they make great decorative accents.

In our bookshelves you will also find striking battle helmets from the Medieval age.  Our den is a showplace for colorful Medieval shields.

Our children grew up with this passion of ours and they, too, surprisingly are fans of history.  They take a more vigorous approach by participating in western martial arts.  Obviously this historical influence carried over to their careers, one is a successful archeologist and the other is a history professor at a major university.

So, you see, you do not have to slay a dragon or rescue a damsel in distress to participate in a wonderful and educational hobby.

 Our earliest ancestors were the first users of chainmail.  Can you imagine a woman sitting in her cave with a fish needle and thread from the entrails of animals making her mate armour to protect himself?  This is very likely the way the first type of  chainmail developed.  Fishbones, animal bones, and perhaps small rocks were sewn into a hauberk or shirt for the hunter’s protection in his exploration in seeking food and protecting himself and his family.

Very quickly sophisticated chainmail appeared when metals were produced in the earliest societies, such as Persia.  It has often been debated whether the Celts or Persians were the first to sew bronze rings on animal skins.  By the 12th century every knight worth his salt had a hauberk of chainmail.  It became a very sophisticated form of protection.  The Crusading armies wore chainmail and so did their enemy, the Saracens.  There is a surviving hauberk which was constructed by the early Vikings.

Today chainmail is a very popular piece of armor for reenactors, costumers and gamers.  Anyone who has ever explored the types of maille or chainmail available has noted that there are many different types and prices.  There are several metal choices, such as aluminum, high tensilve and mild steel.  It also comes either butted or rivetted with round rings, flat rings with construction of either dome rivetted or wedge rivetted. 

Obviously the most important factor for many of us is the cost of the chainmail.  The butted maille is the most economical and it is the perfect choice for a starter set,  or a knock-out costume.   It is available in aluminum, high tensile steel and mild steel construction.  I have spoken with some reenactors who are involved with swordplay who state that a quality manufacturer, such as GDFB, makes a mild steel butted coif and hauberk that holds up very well.

Rivetted chainmail is the most desirable and historically accurate.  The Dome Rivetted is the most affordable of this type of construction. 

The ultimate and the most historically accurate set of chainmail is the Wedge Rivetted.  It is most like the chainmail of the Crusades.  It naturally is the most durable and will withstand the most stress by weapons. 

Buy whatever you can afford and join the battle.  It is a great hobby and it is great for esteem.

Often there is much speculation amongst historians and combat enthusiasts as to which warriors were most dominant in the world prior to the age of gunpowder. There were warriors in all the societies around the world, but determining the most powerful warriors is a much more difficult task. It’s worth noting that a warrior’s prowess in battle was not always indicative of their weaponry and armor. Though of course, warriors who had access to steel weapons and metal armor would have a significant edge over those that didn’t, but wearing heavy armor and wielding a large sword would cause that warrior to be much slower on the battlefield as well. The best warriors had both speed, power, and defense, which gave certain weapons and armor types an advantage against most others.

In terms of weapons, there’s nothing simpler and more effective than the standard sword and shield. This weapon combination provides superior defense with a balanced offense, and is near impossible to penetrate with the proper technique. Chainmail is also one of the best armors to wear, as it is lightweight, but still places a sheet of metal between the wearer and weapon edge. Chainmail could even be effective as a helm in the form of a chainmail coif.