The Armour Archive

SyrRhys

I haven't read Greg's article recently and I don't have my copy in front of me, so I'm not presuming to interpret the article. Most of my experience is with the early 17th century rapier systems. It's pretty clear in the early 17th century rapier texts that counterattacks in single time can be done...

SyrRhys

That's not incompatible with what co10Broek wrote. Although it would have been worded better as "striking before your opponent strikes". There are a lot of techniques where you wait for your opponent to attack and counter with an attack of your own, hitting them before they hit you. Actua...

SyrRhys

Sir Rhys, you are very kind. These new methods (to me) of looking at an old friend (SCA combat) are very welcome. Thank you for taking the time to share. I look forward to working through (however slowly) all you have presented. My friend, I strive ardently for accuracy without insult, but "ki...

SyrRhys

Would we all agree that hard sword blocks are moves of last resort? Would we agree that 'anviling' of the sword is poor technique? In the article I mentioned above, Mr. Mele points out that the German masters had what amounted to a ladder of perfect defenses. Static blocking of any kind is the leas...

SyrRhys

The debate of Edge Parries versus Flat Parries is irrelevant in S.C.A. combat. I used to worry about it, but have found that with sticks it really doesn't matter. We are NOT recreating actual combat, we are recreating tournament combat. With the "Batons" that we are using the mechanics of...

SyrRhys

We know very little about armored sword and shield foot combat in general. Some pictures show people in positions very similar to what you would see in the SCA. In practice, in rebated steel, we can hit hard enough to stun through a helmet. I just asked my husband, (KSCA) about what he felt the dam...

SyrRhys

I've learned a great deal here about edge vs. flat that I either didn't know or had forgotten. I am inspired by the high points of this discussion to do some more reading of scholarly works on the subject. Any recommendations as to where to begin? I remain predominately interested in 'armored' comb...

SyrRhys

You see how easy it is to not get the meaning of a thing? I was not thanking you for correcting me Hugh. That was sarcasm, Gemini. [Note to self: Less subtlety.] I think a lot of what you have to say is valid. I do not agree with some as well. Attempting to make every word work is not possible here...

SyrRhys

Gemini wrote:Thank you Avery, and thank you Hugh.

Gemini

You are welcome, Gemini. I am happy to help you learn. I am only sorry it took so much effort to show you the error of your ways.

SyrRhys

Do you know what this is really about? Some folks like to be the "in the know" guys, regardless of what they actually knowâ€”after all, real research and scholarship is so time consuming and difficult, and it gets in the way of basking in the adoration of those who do not understand. There...

SyrRhys

@Sir Rhys, you've presented some very impressive arguments that I cannot find fault with my sca experiences - but two things remain on my mind. One, weren't katanas extremely expensive? thereby validating part of Sir Gemini's position? Two, isn't our documentable information about medieval combat, ...

SyrRhys

Hello all, You may (or may not) have noticed that I do not respond much in these threads. Believe me it isn't because I have nothing to say or rant over. It is not because I do not believe that these conversations are good or useful. The Middle Ages were a long and diverse period and just like toda...

SyrRhys

I apologize for not responding earlier, however, I no longer visit this site very often and only respond when a friend or student tells me I should look at something. Cyrano said above that: [quote]â€œWe may never fully understand how a sword during the times they were prevalent were utilized. We no...

SyrRhys

I ignore Silver a lot.... Obviously not just Silver. You are assuming I am ignoring the fact that it happened. All I am saying is don't do it. Oh, I misunderstood. So what you are saying is you think it is a bad idea because you know better than medieval swordsmen! Fine, then why didn't you say tha...

SyrRhys

I do want this to be done with. Have your opinion and be well with it. Whereas I would like to see this modern myth dispelled; then I shall be, if not well, then at least a bit better. http://daten.digitale-sammlungen.de/~db/bsb00001840/images/index.html?seite=111 Those swords are showing their rai...

SyrRhys

A friend of mine read this thread and asked me to comment. It is far past time for people to stop trying to answer questions about medieval combat based on their twenty-first-century "gut feelings," and time for them to look at the historical record to find their answers. First, the mistak...

SyrRhys

Hello, At the risk of sounding self serving, may I recommend: m The pollaxe and halfswording books have many techniques which are SCA legal (although many more are not--these books were not written with any thought toward SCA fighting), and the new longsword book covers a broader range of material t...

SyrRhys

the spiral-bound version costs more than the perfect-bound version? is that right? sounds a bit weird. Hello, Yes, that's right. The spiral-bound version needs to be matched up, then drilled (or punched, really), and then a coil is wound through the holes. A perfect-bound book is faster to make and...

SyrRhys

Good Morning, This is a review based upon a quick, 30 minute, ADHD review while on Nyquil of the 226 pages. Yep, 7.5 pages per minute. Iâ€™m a bit under the weather right now, but the book is a good read even when youâ€™re sick. 5 out of 5 overall. Aaron, I truly appreciate your review. I've writte...

SyrRhys

Aaron wrote:GOT!!!

Arrived today!

So??!! Don't keep me on tenterhooks, man, what do you think?

SyrRhys

Oh, the "advanced copy" I reviewed and enjoyed but never really got to completely understand and internalize was 103 pages. This one is 226 pages. Sir Rhys has been busy! Not only that, but that document--a beginning study for what eventually became this book, and quite old even when I se...

SyrRhys

Whoops...polehammer vs. pollaxe and I can't tell the difference. That's one reason I need that book!! The "difference" is simple, my friend: There is no such thing as a pole hammer; they are all pollaxes (or just axes). You might find this essay to be of interest: m I know that doesn't ma...

SyrRhys

Oh, and the guy in the neat looking armour with the mail drape over his "face" is Cet (Dave Rylak) and the well muscled person is Sir Rhys. This is a book written by Archivers with Archivers in the photos...and I bought two (for now). Hello Aaron, Thank you for all the kind comments! I th...

SyrRhys

How applicable is this book to an SCA fighter? Would it be, to me, an interesting theoretical study; or could I apply some of what it teaches on an SCA list-field? There is quite a bit of material in this book which is directly transferrable to the list field, and the core principles certainly are....

SyrRhys

I am very pleased to announce the publication of the third book in the die Schlachtschule armored combat series entitled The Play of the Axe: Medieval Pollaxe Combat by Hugh T. Knight, Jr. (SCA: Count Rhys of Harlech). This book is intended to introduce the reader to authentic medieval pollaxe techn...

SyrRhys

Galleron wrote:I would encourage two handed thrusts to a plate visor counting the same as other stunning blows to the head, even if simplified rules are used.

Hi G.,

I agree, and I have written in favor of that in the past (after you and I discussed this some time ago).

SyrRhys

Here are the rules that I recommend for the effect of blows: Two handed edge blows have no effect against plate or brigantine torso armor, and count as one good blow against the head or other protection. Single handed edge blows have no effect against any plate but the helmet, and count as a good b...

SyrRhys

I would argue that the original XXX rules limiting spears to seven feet in length were too restrictive. Even for spears used for single combat in the fecthbuchs, eight feet seems to be the median, and many were longer. For group combat on foot, longer still might be reasonable. I think nine feet is...

SyrRhys

I'm sure you were. And my point stands: Your opponent didn't have the right kind of dagger to fight a mail-protected individual and he didn't know how to use the right kind of dagger evenif he'd had one. I'm all about making the COTT more realistic. I'd like to see it done like some of those easter...

SyrRhys

Real world experience. And, I'm not kidding. So you have real world experience of fighting with daggers in plate with mail under it, in which people were trying to actually kill you? Then your opponent mustn't have known how to use a dagger in that situation. When I first started studying the Fecht...

SyrRhys

I take maille to be proof against some attacks. Like a thrust to the armpit with dagger. First couple I don't take, after that I take to "guesstimate the armor". I fight this battle with the mindset that armor works. I try to take blows in accordance to what armor I am wearing. Last 30, I...

SyrRhys

I have alway wondered how this is applied to those who wear maile. I wear maile inder my cote armour and on my bascinet. Although I am happy to play regardless of the ruleset. In the assumed armor rules the wearer is assumed to have mail voiders or an haubergeon under his breastplate. Mail prevents...

SyrRhys

De Charney said that "He who does the most is the most worthy." He basically wrote an entire book just to make that single point, albeit with various refinements. He said that even the friendliest, safest deed of arms is worthy, but that the more dangerous, the more laborious and the more ...

SyrRhys

Hugh: The federfechters aren't so bad; Jeffrey says they're about the same in weight and whippiness as the originals. I have been able to do quite a lot from the bind (by which I mean legamento or engagement) with them; the trick is knowing where your edge is. Hi Ken, I can't speak to the weight of...

SyrRhys

Well, I suppose that sort of thing was inevitable. The SCA reflects the society that birthed it - the modern United States in general and sci-fi fandom in particular - which are, after all, democratic and inclusive communities. Hi Ken, You may be right, in part, but where you come from shouldn't be...

A New Book About Pollaxe Combat

Making it Even More Real