What weapon is this? -- myArmoury.com

Dustin Faulkner · Posted: Fri 10 Apr, 2009 10:19 pm Post subject: What weapon is this?

Hello:

First, can anyone explain how to add a picture to a post on this website? I'm used to copying and then pasting, but when I try to paste here the "paste" option is not available when I click on my mouse. Thanks.

Anyway ... I have a book titled "Deeds of Arms" from chivalrybookshelf.com. The front cover has a colorful illustration of two knights engaged in a duel of foot combat. What is interesting is the weapon they are both using. It looks like a sword. However, it has a very long handle with two sections - one for each hand. At the front of each section there is a roundel for protection.

Is this a type of sword or is it a different weapon? It seems to be designed primarily for parrying & thrusting. Do any still exist in a museum somewhere?

Thank you :-)

Colt Reeves · Posted: Fri 10 Apr, 2009 10:58 pm Post subject:

Hmmmm... I'm not sure what to tell you, but the thought occurs to me that it may be a stylized type of pole-awl. Artistic license and all. With that line of reasoning they could be swords as well. Maybe that's the simplest explaination: Blunted "play" swords.

Gabriele A. Pini · Posted: Fri 10 Apr, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject:

If it's a modern picture (as I suspect) I agree with Colt and it's an artistic license.

If there is some science behind the image, they appear as long estoc, or stocco, a triangular sword with an esplicit anti-armour purpose. Or possibly a "Quadrellone da Breccia" (I don't know the english name)?

Herbert Schmidt · Posted: Sat 11 Apr, 2009 3:12 am Post subject:

These weapons existed and had different names. We stumbled over "Bratspieß" which means roasting skewer. Basically they were a type of weapon designed to punch armour.

See our discussion here (in german):
http://forum.arsgladii.at/viewtopic.php?f=8&a...t&sd=a

Herbert

Ushio Kawana · Posted: Sat 11 Apr, 2009 1:47 pm Post subject:

Mmmmmm... It looks like "ahlspiess (or awl-pike)" .
Of course, I know this weapon is not "ahlspiess". Happy

In fact, I wanted to know this wepon all the time, too... Happy

This weapon appears for the movie named "Excalibur (1981)"
This weapon appears in the scene of the duel of Lancelot and Gawain. (of course, the story of King Arthur is imaginary)
"Excalibur (1981)" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082348/

I uploaded the duel scene of "Excalibur (1981)" at the following site. (Because there is the problem of the copyright... Wink

)
http://imagepot.net/image/123948228672.jpg

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This illust is very famous.
But I have watched only a small image...

http://forum.arsgladii.at/viewtopic.php?f=8&a...t&sd=a
Where did they quote this picture from? (university?)

Dustin Faulkner · Posted: Sat 11 Apr, 2009 6:13 pm Post subject: Source of this painting/picture

Hello:

For those of you who want to know, the book "Deeds of Arms" credits the Bibliotheque Nationale de France for the front cover's illustration of the two dueling knights. So I guess they are French knights.

J. Scott Moore · Posted: Sat 11 Apr, 2009 7:07 pm Post subject:

I remember having seen that type of weapon somewhere in one of my manuals, (which are out of reach, as I am away from home for the next 3 months) I don't remember what they were called, but I seem to remember that it was a type of sword-like weapon specifically for armored fighting. (the edges were sometimes sharpened, however this was only to give better penetration in the thrust) I might be wrong though.

Brad Harada · Posted: Sat 11 Apr, 2009 10:42 pm Post subject:

They look much like the weapons discussed in this thread:

http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t...zerstecher