The Armour Archive

Greetings !!

I have found some info online and wanted to check the source as well as ask a question or two to the fighter community as a whole...

I am looking at a 11th to 12 century persona, I am looking for some verification on the sword and shield lenghts from that perticular area.. I realize its not very perticular, just that I dont know if a hundred years changes arms in a very drastic way...

What was the average sword, and kite shield lenghts in that span ???

I found some sources online, 36+ for the swords, and 2x4 average for shields...

Are these correct ??

To the second question. For those of you who fight in this period with a kite what size do you find to work best for your style ?? Also which style do you fight ? Closed form, 3/4 form, open ???

Also in the same vein, which size sword ??

Thanks for your time and thoughts..

This images here gives you a great size ratio for the norman kite shield.


circa 1141


circa 1151

And then, of course, you have the Bayeux Tapestry (circa est 1070)
[img]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Harold_dead_bayeux_tapestry.png[/img]

[img]http://www.igshistoryonline.co.uk/Images/Bayeux%20tapestry%20-%20Harold.jpg[/img]



I would use the proportion of the man to the shield and make one a size that is proportionate to your size.

In looking through the wallace catalog, I figured out (and later had confirmed) that the lengths mentioned for swords in the catalog are usually blade lengths. Many are in the 31"-33" range. Add around 4 inches for the hilt, and you should be in around 36".

I can't remember where it's at, but there is a late 9/early 10's Scandanavian sword that measure in at over 42"

Also, keep in mind that for the top image, the uppermost layer hits about their knees and the lower about mid-shin. The other thing to look at is whether you are comparing a fot soldier or a mounted warrior (predominantly). Swords sound about right, shields are variable depending on the size of the guy. Anyone have measurements for that extant cut-off kite?

The dimensions on that cut down kite are 40inches long, I can not find a width measure how ever..

My only book , The Normans Gravett and Nicolle Osprey, has that lenght but no width that I have found anyway...


So 36 as average sword lenght, excellent....

Oswyn
Well to be honest right now I am looking to get more info on both...

Oakshott on sword dimentions: http://www.oakeshott.org/Typo.html