Research and Discussion Forums

Wasn't that how they were portrayed by western movies...how heavy the swords and plated armors were? But if I had to choose, I'd rather used the lightest weapon(s) I can possibly used, so I wouldn't have to strain myself during a long battle or get caught off guard when I'm tired. Primitive cultures...

I wonder if they tightly strapped the sheath on the lower back with the handle sticking out to the side and slightly slanted downward would be better in modern day combat, in the case they have to grab it while laying face down.....

Have you ever eaten rotten Greenland shark from Iceland? Or how about Bakalau (SP) from Sweden?

I always like reading about early primieval cultures like the Vikings and the American Indians.... They live so much closer to dangers and in constant danger getting killed and having their cultures wiped out, that they have to learn how to fight well and to be resourceful to find food. Life for the...

Jesus was a carpenter, by the way.... Nice work.

I also have a friend who can build cabinets in no time.... He used to make cabinets for a living. He was the youngest foreman at only 21.... That angered a lot of people, though! [laugh]

I'm saying with the right kind of weapons and science anything is possible....but whether it's practical or not, that's another.... That's all....

You're probably right...about the axes. I was just guessing and for some reason thought they would be lighter since they don't need to make it that big and heavy. At least that's what I thought.... [chuckle] And, the Romans made their shields out of wood just like the Vikings.... Later, they re-enfo...

I am saying if you are going to used two swords in battles, the warrior better be able to easily wield the swords. Of course, that might not be practical if they were wearing plated armors. Fighting with a rapier and dagger has it's advantages if the fighter is quick. The same concept as Krabi Krabo...

I supposed that's possible, but the swords used are not as heavy and long as some of the swords we see in European and other Asian swords (like Katanas). In real life situation most soldiers will experience combat fatigue. That is why some Vikings prefer war axes because they are much lighter than t...

You may find some remanance of the old European, not the just Romans, martial arts in other cultures. I'm sure they were trading not just goods, al but also ideas back and forth.

Yes, avoid getting into dangerous situation if you can. Most of the time you probably don't need to fight. Most people think it's a breeze going into battles or having to fight for your life and kill someone. Most of all the people that survive a war usually have severe Post-traumatic-stress-disorde...

Well, it depends on how well the person uses it, too.... For example, I can cut up a whole chicken better than all the people I know with a dull chef's knife, or French knife. I cut open thick plastic bags with a dull serrated knife. I've seen some lady cooking in the kitchen (I don't remember where...

Well, in one of the scene when Titus Pullo was fighting Lucius Vorenus ( not the gladiatorial fight scene), Vorenus held Pullo's neck and started to knee him like typical Muay Thai. I don't think anybody knows for certain how the Roman fought, but I brought that up because it looked a lot like it. I...

On the HBO miniseries "Rome", during the gladiatorial fight scene, it looks more like Thai martial art, not Roman or other European. i'm not sure why they use it.

Also remember that prior to the Industrial Revolution, swords were all still hand made individually. There really was not "mass production" as we know it today or even in Victorian times. While it is certain that many swordmakers probably had large crews that turned out many weapons, espe...