Sword and shield

[Cooper Braun]

So most of you have seen these guys' work, which is straight up awesome if I do say so myself.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=1823CE28E5A3E116
I have started sparring with some guys who are local viking re-enactors, and a few of them have expressed interest in putting on fencing masks and making the whole body a target. Now I know we have no period sources for medieval sword and shield (the first thing I am aware of is the Bolognese, and they are seriously Renaissance).
From what I gather the guys in the above video are recreating sword and shield using I.33 and Talhoffer's sword and buckler work, they might also be using some of the dueling shield work as well.

So my real question is, what are the best books out there on sword and buckler?
Also, does anybody know were a I might find a viking style waster? I know New Stirling used to have one, but its not listed anymore. Hollow Earth has one but I've never liked any of their swords that I've used. If its the only one on the market I will go for it.

[Sal Bertucci]

I would check with NSA again, they seem to make much more than what is on their main page. Medieval Swordsmanship has a nice section on the sword and shield, but if that is all you're interested in then I would just borrow someone's. (It's not a manual either) Apart from what you mentioned, the only thing I can think of is that there are a lot of Renaissance masters that talk about the buckler. It might be worth looking into, b/c as sword styles changed through the years, the buckler remained relatively constant. You might be able to reverse engineer some things.

[Stacy Clifford]

Di Grassi also has sections on sword & target (a fairly large square buckler) and sword & shield (a full round shield strapped to the arm). It's way after the Vikings obviously at 1570, but basic principles probably hadn't changed much.

[LafayetteCCurtis]

This group:

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/article ... hnique.htm

has some rather decent interpretations--far from perfect, but a good start and moreover they've laid out their ideas in enough detail to let you try it out and see what works and what doesn't.

[nathan featherstone]

hi im a viking reenactor myself and have had huge interest in doing this sometime. first off never strap on a viking shield ever. sources there are no manuals there is one from the 1300's by a group of monks i dont know the name but its on sword and shield does anyone else know the one i mean? if your desperate for sources sagas are your best bet or look at info on tje battle of visby slightly late but fought very much the same.
if you want a book on it as a actual martial art i have been working with i highly recommend it "medieval swordsmanship illustrated methods and techniques" by john Clements published by paladin press. it deals with all you could want full body shots and so on in detail.
as for wasters what are you looking for wooden ones or do u want blunt steel? i dont know much in America. but i can try help. any help u need on making shields getting started or anything please ask.
if u can keep me informed i would love to see how u get on.
regards
nathan

[William R. Short]

Please allow me to plug my new book on this topic, Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques. Information is here, and the book can be ordered from your favorite bookseller, or from on-line stores such as Amazon.

The book is a greatly updated and expanded version of the information on the Hurstwic site.

Best regards,
William Short

[Jonathan Newhall]

Looks pretty cool, I'll be sure to keep an eye on it.

[Cooper Braun]

Please allow me to plug my new book on this topic, Viking Weapons and Combat Techniques. Information is here, and the book can be ordered from your favorite bookseller, or from on-line stores such as Amazon.
The book is a greatly updated and expanded version of the information on the Hurstwic site.
Best regards,
William Short

I have a copy in the mail. I am looking forward to it a great deal, its been on my wish list on Amazon since I heard about it a few months ago. Thank you for putting it out. Everything I have seen on Hurstwic I liked, and I am greatly looking forward to your book.

sources there are no manuals there is one from the 1300's by a group of monks i dont know the name but its on sword and shield does anyone else know the one i mean

That would be I.33, or the Tower fightbook. Its not on sword and shield, but on sword and buckler. I think you can find a copy of it on the ARMA manuscripts page.

as for wasters what are you looking for wooden ones or do u want blunt steel?

Waster in my experience has always meant a wooden sword shaped object, so I am looking for wood (if you know anybody other than Hollow Earth that makes them I would love to know).

Stacy, Thanks for the heads up about Di Grassi, I think the sword and target is what I am looking for.

Lastly, so I have Tobler's sword and buckler stuff form his book "Secrets of German Medieval Swordsmanship: Sigmund Ringeck's Commentaries on Liechtenauer" and Lindholm's "Sigmund Ringeck's Knightly Arts of Combat: Sword and Buckler Fighting, Wrestling, and Fighting in Armor " so that pretty much covers Ringeck's sword and Buckler stuff.
Can anybody recommend good translation and/or book that explains I.33? I have a translation from the net, but I like it if someone is actually explaining what the plates are showing.
Thank all [/quote]

[Sal Bertucci]

I haven't heard anything good about any interpretations that are published at the moment.

[Randall Pleasant]

I haven't heard anything good about any interpretations that are published at the moment.

The only published interpretation of I.33 that I know of is Medieval Sword And Shield by Paul Wagner & Stephen Hand. However, their interpretation is just so wrong that the book is absolutely useless and not worth buying.

[Michal Kamola]

A for the wasters why won't you go to some place where they have wood-carving machines (places whre they produce wooden furniture for example), describe what you want exactly, show them a drawing or the photo, and I'm sure they will make it for you. You can show a photo of a wooden waster of late midieval sword shape and a photo o f viking sword and ask them to combine the technology of wooden waster from the photo with the shape of viking sword. And I'm sure it will be cheaper then if you just bought it in store....

[Sal Bertucci]

An interesting point. You wouldn't have to worry about the cross guard breaking onn like you would with a longsword made of a single piece of wood.

[Cooper Braun]

A for the wasters why won't you go to some place where they have wood-carving machines (places whre they produce wooden furniture for example), describe what you want exactly, show them a drawing or the photo, and I'm sure they will make it for you. You can show a photo of a wooden waster of late midieval sword shape and a photo o f viking sword and ask them to combine the technology of wooden waster from the photo with the shape of viking sword. And I'm sure it will be cheaper then if you just bought it in store....

There is a point here, but it is for the same reason that I don't just make my own. Balance. One of the things I love about New Stirling Arms is that their wasters, while a little on the light side, balance correctly. Also I don't think it would be that less expensive. Custom wood work is not cheap if you want it good.

The only published interpretation of I.33 that I know of is Medieval Sword And Shield by Paul Wagner & Stephen Hand. However, their interpretation is just so wrong that the book is absolutely useless and not worth buying.

Thanks, I had seen there book, but hadn't heard anything about it.

[nathan featherstone]

i know this post is old but i wanted to see how people have gotten on with this i took some time out to alter some of talhoffers messer work to be used with a viking seax and shield along with some other works and it work amazingly well for me so i wanted to see how people got on? if they did????

[Stacy Clifford]

Nathan: stop, breathe, punctuate.