05.27.08
Posted in Weapons History at 7:12 pm by Administrator
Everyone knows that knights used more than just a sword in their daily activities. But, what other weapons were there and what were they used for? You might be surprised by the wide array of weapons at knights’ disposal. The weapons weren’t just used as weapons either. You might be surprised to learn that most medieval weapons were used in mundane activities such as gathering wood for a fire, hunting game, or sometimes…just for show.
Beyond your typical sword, knights usually carried a dagger with them at all times. Not only did they come in handy in close combat like a surprise attack, but they were essential for living the rough life of a knight. They were perfect for skinning game, cooking and eating (can you imagine a knight eating with a sword?) and whittling wood for skewers, arrows and pleasure. The dagger had to be compact and sharp, lest it let its master down in a time of need. Medieval daggers were indeed an important part of the knights’ personal arsonal.
Crossbows were an important weapon to the knights who were fortunate enough to carry one. An excellent long range weapon, the crossbow was used for everything from hunting game in the forests to taking out a guard atop a castle wall. There were only two long range weapons during the Middle Ages: the crossbow and the trebuchet. It would be overkill (to say the least) to use a trebuchet for hunting purposes, but the crossbow was the perfect tool. Therefore, if one was available to a knight, he’d definitely carry it. Medieval crossbows required skill to use them. Practicing and perfecting one’s aim was paramount to using it effectively.
Now, let’s look at a weapons, like this Flange Mace. This is one heck of a brutal weapon. Think of a police’s billy club…then add about 5 pounds in flesh cutting steel blades. Though an extremely effective weapon in close combat or in survivor mode against a large, predatory animal…weapons like these weren’t used as frequently as swords and daggers. They are not multipurpose tools, which is fine but if you can only carry a certain number of weapons with you, you are probably going to pick the ones that will have other uses. All I know is that I would hate to be on the receiving end of this weapon.
It really is interesting to learn what these different weapons can do. You can browse our medieval weapons section and be sure to check out the rest of A Squared Armory!
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05.19.08
Posted in Medieval Products at 5:59 pm by Administrator
Medieval helmets come in all shapes, sizes and styles. What you might not know is why some helmets look so completely different from others from the same time period. It’s all about function. Ok, and some looks. It may have been called the Dark Ages, but people still had a sense of style.
You will notice that some helmets are closed, or they have a face plate that can be raised when not in use. Close helms are really the hardcore battle helmets. The heavy gauge of the metal protects not only the head, but keeps the face safe from weapons and shrapnel. You will often see elaborate air flow holes in these close helms, as they are meant to be closed for long periods of time. You might have seen castle guards wearing such helmets, as they had to be prepared for anything, at any time. A great example of a close helm is the Sugarloaf Great Helm. This helmet offers excellent protection, and is meant to be kept on for long period of time. You will notice that there is no way to life the face plate. The elaborate pattern of air holes and the very narrow slits for the eyes indicates that this helmet was mainly used for defense or for border guards. Plus, the pointed top is excellent for deflecting strikes made on the top of the head.
This Barbute helmet is made much more open, and was probably used as a precautionary measure. Not necessarily for defense. The crest on the top makes for excellent head protection against blunt weapons, but the more open face leaves a lot exposed. The open face also makes it a lot easier to see out of, which could indicate this style was used more for close combat fighting.
Medieval helmets are just part of the whole medieval armor package. Medieval knight armor was very extensive but for a very, very good reason.
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05.13.08
Posted in Medieval Products at 4:53 pm by Administrator
Well, more like a dagger. But, Dundee sure did have a point (no pun intended) when he flashed his huge bowie knife. Basically, you had to be prepared for anything, and having a capable dagger certainly helps.
In the Middle Ages, a knight could count on three things: His sword, his spirit and his dagger. Daggers weren’t just used as decoration or for special occasions…they were an everyday tool that helped keep people alive. Multipurpose tools were very important in those days, especially if said liege was on a quest or simply surviving in the wild. Less to carry with just as much function. The dagger was used for hunting, cleaning a kill, getting wood for a fire, carving wood for bows or for shelter, close (very close) combat, and just about anything else you can think of that requires a smaller blade and easy transportation.
There were several styles of daggers that came in useful for different things. For example, more for prestige than anything, this Damascus blade dagger made itself useful both in the visual department and in the sharpness department. Damascus steel is considerably stronger than regular steel, so it could be used for more aggressive acts. Plus, you can’t beat the style. In contrast, take a look at this simple Claymore dagger. The simple design and thin straight blade is perfect for hunting, cleaning of a kill and it is awesome for carving wood.
Though they do vary in style, daggers are basically the same structure. A short blade, a comfortable and secure grip handle and a nice sheath to keep the blade safe from the elements. Daggers tended to get used more than other edged weapons, so it was important to keep it in as good a shape as possible. Shop our medieval daggers and get your multipurpose blade today!
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05.08.08
Posted in Medieval Products at 6:09 pm by Administrator
What’s the coolest medieval weapon, other than a trebuchet? You got it…battle axes! What more versatile medieval weapon is there? Other than small daggers, axes were used for many different things in the Middle Ages. Other than in battle, these multitasking weapons were perfect for mundane daily activities. From cutting wood for a fire to hunting, medieval axes served as your typical knight or squires’ right hand.
There are so many different styles of battle axes that it is hard to fathom why people often forget about their importance, both as a weapon and as a tool. Longer handled axes provided a reach advantage in battles and in melee style fighting. You can see how different the long handled axe looks in comparison to a shorter axe. This German gothic axe has a longer handle, which not only provides an advantage in battle, but in everyday situations as well. The longer fulcrum length allows for a greater windup, and therefore, a more powerful blow. This axe would come in handy on the hunt, especially for larger beasts. The only thing about the long handled axe is that it is not as accurate. In order to get full power from this type of axe, you need a longer windup. That leaves the wielder open to mistakes in perception, and can cause the wielder to miss the intended target based simply off of trajectory.
That is why the shorter handled axes, like this One Handed Axe prove to be better in situations that require accuracy in striking. This axe would be much better for attacking smaller prey, and the ultimate tool for chopping wood. Though not great in battle situations, this axe works very well in close combat and melee fighting. When accuracy counts, go with the shorter handle.
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05.05.08
Posted in Medieval Products at 4:16 pm by Administrator
Oh, it is not just good for the Renaissance Faire! (It’s awesome for that) But, there are more uses for chainmail in the modern world than you might think. The incredible strength and durability of chainmail relies on the intricate design of interlocking chains of metal. Individually, these chains are nothing special. But, when interlocked in a 4 in 1 link matrix…you have got great protection from sharp objects.
You see, the interlocking chains makes it pretty close to impossible to penetrate with a blade or other sharp object. Even razor thin rapiers have trouble piercing chainmail. That is why divers started using chainmail during shark dives. The coolest thing ever? It worked. They only tested the chainmail suit with smaller sharks such as blue sharks, but no matter how many of the sharks attacked the brave (crazy?) diver, they could not pierce his skin because of the chainmail. Once he surfaced and removed the chainmail suit, they discovered there were no punctures, but there were a ton of bruises. The link matrix prevented cuts but the bite pressure of the sharks jaws still transferred to the skin. It’s all physics. However, during Medieval times, they could probably deal better with bruises and broken bones than cuts and infections. Even the tiniest cut could get infected and since they had no antibiotics - you were pretty much a goner. Blood infections are nasty. Broken bones, however, could be set and cast without the worry of an infection. Chainmail must have saved many lives back in the day.
They even used chainmail in WWI to protect soldiers against small pieces of shrapnel. It was made into a kind of veil for the lower part of their faces and necks. Again, chainmail saves lives! They also use chainmail gloves and arm protectors for slaughterhouse workers. They are able to keep their hands dextrous because of the easy movement of the chainmail, but they kept their fingers and hands safe from the extremely sharp cutting instruments used daily in that environment.
All in all, chainmail is awesome. You can still break bones and get bruised, but you are safe from cuts and infections. Browse A Squared Armory’s chainmail armor to see just how cool it is! You can also check out our selection of medieval weapons for your collection!
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05.02.08
Posted in Weapons on Sale at 4:11 pm by Administrator
As with any art form…perfection takes time. Especially when it comes to the art of fencing or sword play. That’s why we offer wooden practice swords at A Squared Armory. Plus, they make really good props for plays and action sequences in films.
With practice swords, you can acquaint yourself with the feel of the sword in your hands, without the risk of cutting off said hands or any limbs, really. Though the wood can’t cut you, it still hurts if you are struck with one. So, please be careful and wield your practice sword as you would an edged weapon. Mom was right…Better Safe Than Sorry. The practice swords are weighted just like the real thing, so you can get comfortable holding the sword and striking with it. If you drop it, you won’t lose a finger (or a toe!) and you won’t knick up the blade.
Plus, they look awesome. Especially the natural wood katana and wooden practice kung-fu swords…perfect wooden replicas of the real weapons.
So, come browse our selection of wooden practice swords! Ask us about volume discounts for plays or film production! Here at A Squared Armory, we are all about the medieval weapons!
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