Kyle Eaton wrote: |
How common should I suspect pretzel-shaped crossguards were used by the Medieval Norse around the 15th century? I'm creating a few 15th century Swedish units for a total war mod (video game version of a table top miniatures war game), and I would like to attempt to make the units as historically correct as possible. What are the advantages to having a pretzel-shaped crossguard? |
It seems that they were used by both monarchies 1) Denmark/Norway/Slesvig-Holsten and 2) Sweden/Finland as we have located museum examples from their territories.
Certain soldiers would carry them to battle, but I think it highly unlikely you had "pretzel-sword-sections" of the army. Rather likely mixed in between pike- and pole-armed men. Mixed weaponry is better to cope with various challenges.
The pretzel as a guard covers more of the hand that a simple cross-guard - though some pretzels covers only the three sides of the blade and nothing or little of the fourth. Could be a temporal development towards more and more all-inclusive pretzels?
Wonder if techniques are comparable to messer's??
With a messers cross-guard and nagel you also have three sides of the blade having hand protection.
So is the fighting style perhaps a development of from 2-handed kriegs-messer techniques??