[B. Fulton]

I am an SCA member and my chosen period of time is Norman England/1st Crusade (basically 1100-1150ish), a crusader in the first generation or second of the kingdom of Jerusalem, returned home to England.

I know the basic early wheel and brazil nut pommel blades are approximately "correct" for swords. I like Albions however $500+ is a little steep at the moment. Can you recommend any $350-500ish blades that will sustain cutting for real (i.e not a wallhanger)?

Also, a current-production replica dagger that would be appropriate/correct. I've looked at one from Arms & Armor and I like it, and I know their work is good, but I'd like to see other options (Would Normans carry a seax?).


Anyone who knows more than I do about period clothing for Normans, feel free to chime in. I've gotten ideas from the Bayeux tapestry when I saw it, and various other books and things, but other than the tunic/undertunic....... trousers? Braes and chausses? Winningas? Which for when and why?



Anyone who can help.....thank you!

[Roger Hooper]

Take a look at this Angus Trim type X sword over at Christian Fletcher's website - http://www.christianfletcher.com/Christian_Fl...lders.html - It may not be as absolutely period accurate as an Albion, but it sure can cut. Look at the Valiant swords on the same site as well.

[B. Fulton]

The Valiant Castile package looks quite interesting. I've handled one similar to that at Del Tin's shop and the balance was quite good, though I think the Valiant would probably be a better cutting blade.


For a basic "starter blade" the Practical Arming sword looks decent though I don't know if it's quite correct for the time period as the picture's not the biggest. Thanks for the link though, I hadn't looked at Fletcher's site in a long time.

[Dan Dickinson]

Well, I would say that you could make a good case for using a sharpened version of Albion's Squireline Knightly.
Type XII blade-forms were around during your time period and there is nothing about the hilt furniture that would exclude it from being that early either. Also, when a little customization is done to it, it is a very nice sword (and a rock solid Albion) inside your price-range.
For example here is a Knightly that I recently customized to next-gen specs.
Dan

[B. Fulton]

The Squires were one of the first blades I looked at.

I was just curious what everyone else thought was worthy that's "out there".

[Brandon Minton]

Well done, the Normans rock. Ok, so I say that because I'm a late 11th/early 12th century Norman myself in the SCA. I wear long tunics that were either hand-made or I shop at revivalclothing.com or historicenterprises.com for period garb. For sword, I sucked it up and went the Albion Reeve route (don't plan on getting a scabbard at least for the next 18 months without paying a significant fraction of your car payment). I have a set of links that is all about Norman stuff which might or might not interest you but since I've collected them over time, I'll share:

http://www.normans.companyofoutremer.com/forum/

http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/

http://www.norman-world.com/angleterre/index.htm

http://www.viking.no/e/france/beginnings.html

http://oaks.nvg.org/an6ra10.html

Really, in my puerile existence I had always thought the samurai were the most bada$$ warriors in history. Then I grew up and found these guys and changed my mind

[Jared Smith]

Patrick Kelly has a good article about Normans and their gear on the Albion web site. It's worth the brief read.
http://www.albion-swords.com/articles/norman.htm

[B. Fulton]

I went to Dover castle on my big Massive Musem post trip. There is a church there built by the Normans and in use, continously, as a troop church (for the military) essentially from it's construction around 1100 until now (still in use).

Kind of an awesome feeling to kneel and pray and know just how many generations of grunts have done the same thing in the same place. Reminded me of Jerusalem a little bit.


Thanks for the links. I know the generalities and the "look" and have several Norman books but they always cover the invasion of England etc but not the little stuff (dress and appearance) for most of it.


Anyone have dagger/beltknife ideas?

[G Ezell]

[James Barker]

[B. Fulton]

Most of the sax type blades I saw at the Museum of London appeared to be earlier than that, but they probably have a lot more in storage than on display!

I could handle a smaller seax, though the Arms & Armor Aunlaz and Crusader daggers have really caught my eye.

[B. Fulton]

Any other opinions?