Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Questions on Longswords and Back Carry Baldrics Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
A. Jake Storey II




Location: USA
Joined: 11 Oct 2006
Likes: 1 page

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 41

PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 1:12 pm    Post subject: Questions on Longswords and Back Carry Baldrics         Reply with quote

It has become popular in movies and books to have heroes carrying their weapons on there backs for over the shoulder drawing. But, with just a little experimentation, this seamed a little impractical. Walking and moving was usually easier, but drawing was an annoying, time-consuming process that required the use of both hands, as if climbing/pulling a rope hand over hand. Was this sort of carry even historically used, and if so did they have some special method for easy drawing? This picture http://images.cloud.worthpoint.com/wpimages/i...10e7d9.jpg shows one contraption that looks like it would work, but I'm not convinced it was ever used historically. Could anybody shed light on this issue?
Only you can deny yourself your rights.
Too ignore the rights of others, is to forfeit you own!
Thereby, in your crime, YOU bring Justice on your own head!!!
View user's profile Send private message
Scott Hrouda




Location: Minnesota, USA
Joined: 17 Nov 2006
Likes: 15 pages
Reading list: 87 books

Posts: 643

PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 1:17 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

There is a long and entertaining thread on this very subject located here:

Wearing a sword on one's back

...and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped. - Sir Bedevere
View user's profile Send private message
Tjarand Matre




Location: Nøtterøy, Norway
Joined: 19 Sep 2010

Posts: 159

PostPosted: Wed 19 Jan, 2011 1:28 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

If you owned a longsword, you also probably owned among other things a horse. You would not need to carry anything on your back. But even if you were horseless, and travelled armed with a longsword I think reaching for your back would be a bad idea if you were attacked. The longsword is ...long and you would have to pull it way above your head and probably bend down (to a perfect decapitation position) before you can swing it. That means you are very exposed.
If you are carrying your sword the normal way, hip-hung in a belt, you can defend yourself while the sword is still in the scabbard. You can hit with the pommel, block cuts with the scabbard and use your arms, all while the sword is on it's way out of the scabbard.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Questions on Longswords and Back Carry Baldrics
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum