A Squared Armory Blog

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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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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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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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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Well, there are no musketeers here, but we sure do have the Rapiers!  The art of fencing is still alive and well today, but unfortunately the frock coats and the men in stockings have turned into people with white suits and nets over their faces.  But, the art remains the same!

The whole point (no pun intended) of the rapier is the speed at which you can attack with it.  The light, slim blade slices through the air with amazing speed.  The basket hilt is a common hilt for the rapier, as it protects the hand better than other hilts.  With the thinness of the blade and the speed of attack is taken into consideration, no wonder fencing practitioners wear that net helmet!

Check out these beautiful fencing swords and don’t forget to browse our huge selection of medieval weapons!

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Replica English Flintlock Pistol

This beautifully crafted flintlock pistol features a delicately engraved lock. It is constructed with a simulated wood stock and a simulated brass barrel. It is 15 inches in length.

From now until May 31st 2008 save 10% instantly on this replica pistol. Simply enter coupon code englishflint during checkout to apply the discount. Click Here to order the English Flintlock Pistol

Thanks from A2 Armory!

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If you are looking forward to the Renaissance Faire as much as I am, I bet you are looking for the coolest, most historically accurate knight costume you can find.  Sure, you can find some cheapie plastic knock off just about anywhere online.  But, where else can you find museum quality replicas for prices as low as A Squared Armory’s?

You have so many options when it comes to armor.  You can go with plate armor, chainmail, leather, or a combination of all three.  If your local Ren Faire is during the height of Summer, you may want to wear as little armor as possible.  It gets HOT under all that steel.  If it isn’t until October, you can wear pretty much whatever you want and you probably won’t get too hot.  Even in October, I would keep the leather armor to a minimum as it tends to retain heat more than plate armor or chainmail.

Shopping for the Renaissance Faire should be fun!  Come check out our medieval armor and knight costumes.  Get your order in early to ensure you get it before you need it!

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Everyone knows that part of the majesty of medieval castles comes from the stately stone walls and the enormous tapestries that were hung on those walls. There is some evidence that shows the tapestries helped to insulate the cold stone castle walls, but there is plenty of proof that these medieval woven wall hangings were used for artistic expression, and therefore…castle decor.

There was very little in the way of artistic expression during the Dark Ages of Europe. It is called the Dark Ages for a reason. Very little historical data has been found from this time period, unless it had to do with war or the church. One way an artist was able to express themselves was through knight coat of arms weavings. The artisans were hired by royalty to have their family’s coat of arms woven into tapestry form. These coat of arms have popped up all over historical sites in Europe and truly show the struggle of the artist during the Dark Ages.

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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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We’ve been getting so many requests for custom painted shields!  I’m happy that people are discovering that they can have this done.  I can say from personal experience, that they make excellent gifts.  My sisters and I had one painted of our family crest.  We gave it to our father as a gift and he absolutely loved it.  It is now hanging in the Great Room and really looks amazing.  Our artists sure know their stuff!

If you have a family crest or any artwork you would like hand painted on a blank shield, email us for a free quote.  I know it is a little ways down the road, but these shields make AWESOME Father’s day gifts.  Trust me, your father won’t expect such a unique gift!  Keep in mind that the custom painting takes more time than just ordering one of our prepainted shields.  It is worth the wait, though.

When you email us, please send a picture of the design you want on the shield.  If you want a complete price quote, send us your shipping address as well.  We’ll talk with our artists to find out the cost of the custom painting and get your shipping quote done all in one step!  Get exactly what you want at A Squared Armory!  Don’t forget to check out our medieval weapons as we add more daily.

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