[Raymond Deancona]

Does anyone know of any web sites, books or museums (preferably online) with photos of swords that can definitely be traced back to Medieval Wales. The only piece of "information" I've been able to scare up is from an old Osprey book, but it doesn't list where the idea for the sword was derived from. Any help would be appreciated.

[B. Stark]

You know, I have been curious as to what was used by the Welsh through much of their history, especially during the Viking era on up throught the 1100's. I'm fairly certain that there is no characteristically "Welsh" swords like we find in Scotland and Ireland. This leads me to think that they used whatever their neighbors the Saxons used and the Normans later. I've heard from various sources that spearmen and "Welsh" bowmen(the early flat type) were the primary type fielded and that all out set piece battles were shunned by the Welsh(probably because they lacked the resources for heavy armor or heavy cavalry. During the 9th - 11th centuries this was probably not much of an issue but I've also never heard of much of native steel production. I would be interested to see pics of any "welsh" equipment.