05.27.08

A Medieval Arsenal

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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04.29.08

A Brief History of Flintlocks

Posted in Weapons History at 7:56 pm by Administrator

Flintlocks were an evolutionary step in the history of guns. The flintlock is the foundation for modern guns. It was a vast improvement over the matchlock guns, which were basically fired by lighting a fuse. Obviously, the matchlock wasn’t very reliable, especially in high wind or rain. You could also see the fuse burning at night, which gave away your position to your enemy.

So, the flintlock was invented to fix these problems. The way the flintlock works is by using a piece of flint to strike the steel frizzen, which creates a spark that lights the gunpowder in the pan. Pretty simple, right? The flintlock was innovation at its finest and was in use for nearly 300 years.

Check out our English Flintlock guns! Don’t forget to browse our huge selection of medieval weapons for the Rennaissance Faire too!

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04.21.08

The Battle of Thermopylae

Posted in Weapons History at 4:17 pm by Administrator

Or as most people know it now: The Battle of 300.  This amazing period of Mediterranean history was wrought with much death and destruction.  Well, actually most of early Mediterranean history was like that, but the Battle of Thermopylae was certainly the crux for the Greek people. 

Xerxes, though definitely a murderous tyrant, had nothing on his predecessors, Croesus and Darius II.  Croesus was a profoundly determined man.  He, like many tyrant kings, wanted to expand his empire.  I won’t go into what he did to earn his deadly reputation…just read The Histories by Herodotus.  The book is very easy to read, and is extremely fascinating and horrifying at the same time.

Back to the 300…the Battle of Thermopylae obviously stuck with people down through the ages.  I mean, the Battle of Marathon was probably one of the most important Battles in ancient history, but more people know about Thermopylae than they do Marathon.  The Battle of the 300 epitomizes the very nature of Spartan Greeks at the time. 

The movie, 300, was simply gorgeous.  They kept the culture fairly accurate, though some nuances were changed for modern audiences.  What I loved about the movie (other than the amazing art and colors) was the accurate depiction of Spartan battle.  The phalanx was the patented Spartan battle configuration.  Each warrior kept the warrior on the left covered with their shield.  There were no weaknesses in the phalanx and that is how the Spartans rose to fame as the strongest warriors in the world.  To make the phalanx, you need a 300 shield.  You will also need a 300 sword.  Shield in the left, sword in the right…unstoppable.

Come check out our medieval weapons and read The Histories by Herodotus!

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03.25.08

The Power of the Broadsword

Posted in Weapons History at 4:44 pm by Administrator

Swords are cool, but that isn’t news to anyone reading this blog.  But you want to know what’s really cool?  Broadswords.  Why are they so cool?  Well, let’s see…

Broadswords are very different from other swords.  They are similar in blade thickness, but broadswords are much longer and wider than most swords.  Because of the extra length, the broadsword blade appears to be rather thin in comparison to the rest of the sword.  The flexibility of the steel combined with the length really makes the broadsword intimidating and powerful.  No wonder strapping Scottish men liked using them.

The term Broadsword actually refers to a specific design of a sword, usually straight edged and double edged with a basket hilt.  Many different cultures had their own version of the broadsword, even though they were all very similar.  In the Middle Ages in Europe, the broadsword was also called by the name “greatsword”, “longsword” and “arming sword”.  The best known broadswords in the Western world are probably those from Scotland.  They are called Claymore broadswords.  Claymore translates to “great sword” or “two handed”, which pretty much describes a large broadsword.  Scottish claymores were used not only in battle, but in hunting and other daily activities.

If you love the look of Scottish Broadswords, check out A Squared Armory’s selection of medieval swords!  You’ll LOVE them!

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01.25.08

History of Early Guns

Posted in Weapons History at 4:17 pm by Administrator

I just wrote an article on the history of early firearms. It’s a topic I’ve always been interested in, ever since I saw my first flintlock I was hooked. I’m not a huge fan of modern firearms, they seem to have lost a lot of artistic nature as they progressed through the years. That makes sense, a gun is more about function than form, but it’s a shame none-the-less. Early firearms like the matchlock and flintlock are absolutely beautiful even in their most basic, no frills forms. The really ornate models are incredible works of art. A2 Armory has a large selection of replica flintlock pistols sold singly or in pairs, they are some of the prettiest guns ever made.

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