Dear Patrick,

I've done a few such school visits and they can be very informative and a lot of fun. I like your Norman kit!

I've only ever brought blunts into schools. I never even considered bringing sharp swords in. I just point out that as we're not trying to kill each other our swords aren't sharp, but historically they were. It's never been an issue. On the others side of the coin I fight full speed with those same blunts.

On the subject of gear looking new, again, I don't think it's an issue. Everything was new once. Some people would have worn bright shiny new stuff and others would have worn old, tatty stuff. Some of my kit looks new because it is, while other items look old and well worn, because they are. This is reality. The one thing I really shy away from is the idea that stuff has to look old because that's how surviving artefacts look. Re-enactment is about when these items were new, not about taking stuff out of a museum case.

Finally, you made the statement, "People with no interest in the subject seem to have forgotten that things like swords are real weapons, not Hollywood props." Given the legislative climate that we live in and the rampant hoplophobia that exists, why would we want to change this attitude? Most people seem content to place swords in the same mental category that they place things like trebuchets, muskets and triremes, things that used to be weapons, but which no one seriously considers to be a weapon nowadays. This attitude helps our community because people don't associate swords with fear and violence, at least not fear and violence today. Convincing people that swords are real weapons today will breed irrational fear and will harm our community. All of the recent legislation to ban swords that has been put forward has been done on the basis of a belief that swords are dangerous weapons that must be taken out of the community.

What are swords made for today? They're made as props for actors, dancers, re-enactors etc, or as sporting/martial arts implements. None of the hundreds of thousands of swords made every year is made to be used as a weapon. Swords used to be weapons. Today they aren't. They ARE Hollywood props (and a bunch of other things too - but not weapons). As long as we make sure that everything we say about the sword as a weapon is said in the past tense "people used to use swords as weapons" "this was used as a weapon in the 15th century" etc. then we are on safe ground. People love talking about death and violence as long as they are at a safe distance from it. Make them think for an instant that swords have anything to do with even the possibility of violence in their safe world and just watch the mental shutters go up. It's an attitude that we as a community can't afford to put out to people.

Nice job with the display of historical correctness. I would love to get all my stuff up to spec and join you guys. Seems like fun, and I could represent the 15th century. Thats quite a distance to ride though... lol

Patrick, you have gone above and beyond the call of duty to put that much work into a presentation for teenagers. I am sure it was worth the effort if you kindled a spark of curiosity in even a couple of them about things long ago and far away.

My daughter attends a private religious school whose principal is a great fan of medieval weaponry. The school presents a sword to each of the graduating senior boys to remind them of their moral obligations in life. He and I have discussed the possibility of having their comparatively small graduating class tour my office to get a good close look at my own collection. I doubt that I could take the time or invest the effort to take even a fraction of it to the school.

I am glad that we both live in a part of the country where the fear of litigation does not yet prohibit an event of this kind. If you ever do anything like it again, be sure to pay your homeowners' insurance premium beforehand. If anything ever goes wrong your insurer (or the school district's) might call on me to defend the lawsuit.

Patrick,

I'm curious as to what made you choose the period in which in kit yourself out in. If that makes any sense, because i'm not sure i see any and i wrote it.

Let me try and simplify the question:

Why that period for your kit, and not a different one?

Hello all!

Patrick,
My comment regarding giving your kit a "lived-in" look was a bit of a joke. I hope you didn't take it the wrong way. I understand that medieval warriors would have kept their equipment in meticulous working order (rolling hauberks in a barrel of sand and vinegar, having broken or missing links repaired, oiling and honing swords, having worn or ripped garments repaired or replaced, replacing damaged shields, etc.). You would be crazy to beat up your beautiful helmet!

Greg's kit might benefit from a little wear, since the Knights Hospitaller often handed down equipment from an equipment stockpile, but it shouldn't be overdone. Still, it might benefit from an "older" look.

I understand your viewpoint about wanting to present the most realistic equipment you can. My comment regarding blunts comes from living in a "high tension" area where an interest in medieval arms and armour can be seen as "weird" and "potentially dangerous". (I speak from personal experience, and I currently only collect unsharpened Windlasses!) Not all areas are completely accepting of our hobby. If you run into a school administrator that has a problem with sharp swords, you can always do what you've done in the past and not give the demonstration.

Sorry if you took my post the wrong way! That's the problem with internet communications!

Stay safe!

Drool :eek:


that looks like one heck of a demonstration!

The highschool I attend has nothing like you to look forward to in our sparse visits to the auditorium, but if they did, I would NOT be one of those falling asleep! You guys were amazing I'm sure and the kids that weren't asleep looked pretty amazed!

Great Job you two, keep it up. Its always fun to see grown men playing dress up (joke!).



on a side note, what swords were you using? I'm not anywhere near familiar with anything other than Windlass (yes, yes, scorn me, I know) so I'm keen to know what swords you were using.

Gratz on a successful show! (wish you were performing at my school :lol: )

I think those are the Reeve and the St-Maurice from Albion.

I remember being impressed with your ongoing library/community center presentations, Patrick, but seeing a glimpse of the presentation in an auditorium setting really makes me envious of the opportunity these kids enjoyed. You and Greg deserve all the kudos possible for going to the effort.

The group shot was meant to be humorous, but I had to smile noticing that the boys in the photo seem bright-eyed for the most part, while many of the girls obviously have other things on their minds. We didn't see any reaction to your ladies in period dress, but did it really break down into the traditional boys vs girls thing on the question of interest?

Patrick, assuming there was some sort of question and answer period, can you give us the quick gist of any of the kids' questions, comments, or mistaken impressions?