Research and Discussion Forums

Thanks gents!

I thought I recalled instances where in the manuals a master would insult another instructor by calling them a "dance master". Implying that their instruction is just for show and lacks real martial application. Am I imagining that or does anyone know which manual(s) I can find this in?

The Highland Broadsword is my favorite weapon and the one I spend the most time with so I'll chime in for a minute. :) There is some debate regarding the transition of a more native Scottish Highland method of use versus a later more English influenced method. I'll see if I can keep this short... ;)...

The topic of the value of combat related sports in relation to historical combat comes up often. While there is no question that there is value to be gained in some of these sports, it is never the same as working in the art itself. Sport Fencing, olympic style wrestling, MMA, boxing, etc, all teach...

Most of them had scabbards just like any other sword. People frequently just hoisted them over their shoulders or strapped them to horses. Irish greatsword: http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=74493&stc=1 There were some back scabbards but they wouldn't have been carried in...

I'd consider Hanwei at the bottom of the serviceable swords. They are generally the first ones that people get when jumping into the steel. Windlass swords have dropped off in quality and have an edge that is not really sharp, but not safe enough to be a blunt. I consider them to be good costume pie...

Yes, both the Harleian Manuscript MS3542 and the Cottonian A XXV contain 2 on 1 situations.
Both of which are covered completely in this book.

I had trained with both of the authors in the past and the opinions expressed about producing quality scholastic material as well as being solid fighters is accurate. I have the book and found it to be quite good. One of the more valuable aspects of the book is breaking down the more obscure and sym...

I'm curious to know, from those that were present for the filming, if the end result felt like a fair representation of how it was originally slated. I know, quite frequently, film and tv products in the documentary category will change dramatically in the editing studio.

First, you are going to be asked by the Webmaster to change your user name to your real name. :) This guy makes some fantastic targes and he's just across the pond from you. http://www.targemaker.co.uk/ Here is a blog site for a simple do it yourself. http://easytarge.blogspot.com/ The majority of t...

Yeah, I just pulled out my copy of Medieval Swordsmanship and this is about 90% word for word from John Clements book. This guy take a sentence here and there and strings them together in a way difference than Clements book, but most of the words are the same. He does other things like change the gu...

A wood and leather version of the targe was used extensively in Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries with the broadsword.

http://home.comcast.net/~gmcdavid/HistN ... ngarry.jpg

I think I didn't explain myself clearly Jonathan, but I agree with you in that the real point is that every weapon was created to fill a need in that time with the variables unique to that environment.

Thanks Kevin. Yeah, I think folks miss the point that each weapon was devised to solve a particular need in that time. Certainly a smallsword in the age of plate would be useless. People are also still locked into a single line, timeline regarding the evolution of the sword. If they pause to think f...

I'm collecting sources both modern and period that profess that the smallsword and it's systems in late 17th through 19th centuries were the "pinnacle" of swordsmanship in the west. I'm sure we've all heard variations of this tale in our conversations and research. I'm considering an artic...