[Ansteorra] Useless Swords

[Marc Carlson]

>From: "jay yeates" <jyeates at realtime.net>
>thirdly, shows the reality of combat in plate .. swords are useless,
>you want mass weaponry and "can-openers" (ie: a common modern pointed
>breaker bar from the hardware store (used for hole digging) would be
>far more useful in keeping yourself alive than that heirloom sword
>you've been dragging along ....

The archaeology and training manuals from the period suggest that they
completely useless. They still have some combat uses, and are still
reasonably useful for stabbing under the armor and in the face.  There is
reason to wonder if the more noble knights made use of these techniques, or
if they were just used by the professional soldiers.

Both http://www.aemma.org and http://www.thehaca.com have examples of these
manuals - others have been published elsewhere, including several
interpretations of Fiore, and Lichtenauer.  Ringeck's version of Lichtenauer
was published last February and can be found at
http://www.chivalrybookshelf.com/titles/ringeck/ringeck.htm

Just thought I'd mention it.

Marc/Diarmaid



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