Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

katana · 8th February 2010, 10:30 PM

The sword (picture) I posted is indeed provenanced to Edward III .....

http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/archives/blog/?p=89

I cannot though, discover the weight of the sword and whether the edge is blunt or is/has been sharpened. A little research on 'two handers' came up with this page.... which is an interesting read.........

http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html

The weights of some of these swords suggests that blade thickness is comparable to some shorter swords. Due to armour... logic would dictate that blades would be thick-ish (mid rib) to withstand the forces generated on impact. I am sure the longer length of blade would ....though a number of physical reasons....the increased speed/momentum of the tip in an 'arcing' strike, the 'laws' of leverage, the combined 'power' of two arms would greatly increase the impact energy and the resulting stresses imposed to the blade.

I get the impression that knights using 'two handers' were 'shock troops'...disrupting the advances of the opposing knights. I know many Kings of the period lead by example, if this sword was truly used by Edward then he really must have been 'in amongst it'.

Richard

, thats a very nice and clear 'rubbing'

I think nowadays, it would be difficult to get permission to do brass rubbing ....what is the best paper and rubbing 'medium' to use ?

Hi Jim

,
we posted at similar times .....definately worth reading the link above

Regards David

8th February 2010, 10:30 PM	#5
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	The sword (picture) I posted is indeed provenanced to Edward III ..... http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/archives/blog/?p=89 I cannot though, discover the weight of the sword and whether the edge is blunt or is/has been sharpened. A little research on 'two handers' came up with this page.... which is an interesting read......... http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html The weights of some of these swords suggests that blade thickness is comparable to some shorter swords. Due to armour... logic would dictate that blades would be thick-ish (mid rib) to withstand the forces generated on impact. I am sure the longer length of blade would ....though a number of physical reasons....the increased speed/momentum of the tip in an 'arcing' strike, the 'laws' of leverage, the combined 'power' of two arms would greatly increase the impact energy and the resulting stresses imposed to the blade. I get the impression that knights using 'two handers' were 'shock troops'...disrupting the advances of the opposing knights. I know many Kings of the period lead by example, if this sword was truly used by Edward then he really must have been 'in amongst it'. Richard , thats a very nice and clear 'rubbing' I think nowadays, it would be difficult to get permission to do brass rubbing ....what is the best paper and rubbing 'medium' to use ? Hi Jim , we posted at similar times .....definately worth reading the link above Regards David Last edited by katana; 8th February 2010 at 10:52 PM.