Mixing and matching various pieces of my armor collection, with a new weapon (the fauchard) to create a new character kit: The Soldier.
Kit is mail shirt, steel brigandine, mail coif, kettle helm, fauchard, and arming sword.
The Old Adventurer
The Old Adventurer
This is my spadona:
I already have two longswords (or a longsword and a bastard sword), but I decided I need an unsharpened sword for “public show” purposes. Specifically one to have with me on Halloween, because I’ve already decided I’m going to wear my full armor kit as my “costume”.
This sword is designed for sport combat, so it’s real steel and real sturdy (for real hitting), but with blunt edges and an unpointed tip. So although it’s still over 46 inches and over 3 pounds of metal, it should be relatively safe around people, even out of the scabbard.
The Old Adventurer
This is my second (and preferred) longsword:
This is a true/full two-handed longsword (but not a “great sword”). In my previous longsword post I mentioned the other sword could be classified as a bastard sword because the grip is barely long enough for two hands. But this sword has an 8.5 inch grip — enough length for both hands with space between them (for quick pivots and leverage).
This sword is over 47 inches long, and weights only 2.5 pounds. The diamond cross-section (giving it a spine rather than a fuller, like the other sword has) makes this sword stiffer. It doesn’t cut as well as the other sword (which is my best cutting sword), but this sword pierces very well. Where the other long sword may completely sever an opponent’s arm, this one will only cut into the bone. But with the long grip matched with a stiffer blade, this sword will be easier to thrust into those gaps in an opponent’s armor. This sword feels more nimble. This is my favorite two-handed sword.
The Old Adventurer
This is my gothic axe:
With an early medieval axe (“Viking” axe) in my collection, I decided to add a later medieval axe to it. To balance out the wall layout, you see. I don’t know that this axe is specifically modeled on any particular historical model, but it does have a similar design to some pole axes of the late Middle Ages. This axe head on the end of a 6-foot pole would not seem out of place on a 1500s battlefield.
This axe is 25.5 inches long, and weighs less than 2.5 pounds.
The Old Adventurer
This is my Viking axe:
I wanted a Viking style axe to go with my Viking style sword. I actually more wanted a bearded axe, but all such axes I could find in stock had laser etched Norse designs on the blade. As cool as the various knotwork designs were, they were all obviously laser etched, and that just didn’t feel authentic. Having said that, I think the leather strap work on this one might not be all that authentic, either. But I do feel there’s a difference between adding real leather straps to an axe handle, and using a laser beam to etch designs. The leather straps could have be added in its historical time period; the laser etching, not so much.
The axe head on this doesn’t look much different from a modern wood axe from the side view. But the head is a bit thinner than a wood axe head to reduce the weight. I may eventually replace this with a more Vikingy-looking bearded axe (if I can find one without the laser etching).
This axe is 24.5 inches long, and weighs 2.5 pounds. This weapon isn’t as nimble as a sword of equal weight. This weight (all at the far end) prevents quick redirection and skillful use. With a shield in one hand, and this axe in the other, yeah, a strong warrior could hack through some enemies, but it wouldn’t take long to really wear out your arm stamina. A bearded axe would probably be lighter, even with the same length of blade.
It seems pretty well made — the axe head is firmly attached, and the leather stripping hasn’t moved or come loose even with quite a bit of handling. I haven’t seen historical images with cross-stitched leather straps like this, but whether historical or not, it is useful. The edges of the leather straps gives me better grip on the handle. I do like it, and I’m fine with it on my Wall of Awesome.
The Old Adventurer
This is my oldest sword:
This sword was given to me by a very good friend back in the mid 80s — I was around 18-19 years old. I loved getting this sword, and I felt so cool just to own a sword. It has followed me through many moves, through college, through multiple homes with my wife, and is still mounted above my desk in my home office.
I didn’t know it when I received this gift (only learned in recent years): This is apparently a replica of Tizona, one of the swords carried by Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid (circa 1470). This is just a decorative wall hanger, but I didn’t know that; I knew it was “A SWORD!”
It is 40.5″ long, and weighs 2.8 pounds. As a decorative sword, it’s made of stainless steel, and the blade is not sharpened (though the tip is sharp). The dark discoloration is from age; until recently, I’ve never even tried to clean it other than dusting it off with a cloth. Recently I did try to clean it with Bar Keeper’s Friend, and that is the white residue you can see on the hilt. BKF barely did anything to clean it — the blade is very slightly lighter than it used to be.
Even though the blade is not sharp, I have whacked small tree limbs with it a couple times (many years ago). It successfully cut the limbs (less than 1 inch in diameter) clean off the tree, and it didn’t break. So, considering it is only a decorative object, that’s pretty good (and lucky for me).
This sword has a special place in my heart.
The Old Adventurer