Today we take a look at how your choice of weapon impacts where you ought to hit your opponent on their body. Sticks and canes are very effective weapons, but even heavy canes are pretty ineffective against the fleshier parts of the body, while swords are really designed to cut and pierce those areas in particular.
I make reference to one of my favorite modern fighting manuals, Broadsword and Singlestick by Rowland George Allanson Allanson-Winn, 5th Baron Headly and C. Phillips-Wooley which is a truly fun read for anyone with a bit of an Anglophilic bent, as well as containing much valuable fighting instruction.
No swordsmiths were harmed in the making of this video.
As always, our swords and other weapons are entirely made by us, by hand, at our shop in Minneapolis, MN. Sword blades are hand ground of 6150 carbon steel, hardened and tempered to 50-52 Rockwell. All of our products are made to look, feel, and function just like the historical originals on which they are based. Arms & Armor is dedicated to quality and authenticity. For over four decades we have worked with museums, collectors, and scholars around the world to develop a deep understanding of European weapons; knowledge we use to make products that exemplify the finest qualities of the very best historic pieces. When we select historic items to reproduce, being pretty isn't enough, they have to move with grace and beauty, and beg to be used when in the hand. These are pieces that feel as good as they look, and that work as well as they feel. Our mission is to craft items that recreate the look, feel, and function of the best historic originals To commission a custom piece please email us at aa@arms-n-armor.com You can also check out all of our amazing handmade products on our website: https://www.arms-n-armor.com
Nathan Clough, Ph.D. is President of Arms and Armor and a member of the governing board of The Oakeshott Institute. He is a historical martial artist and a former university professor of cultural geography. He has given presentations on historical arms at events including Longpoint and Combatcon, and presented scholarly papers at, among others, The International Congress on Medieval Studies.
Craig Johnson is the Production Manager of Arms and Armor and Secretary of The Oakeshott Institute. He has taught and published on the history of arms, armor and western martial arts for over 30 years. He has lectured at several schools and Universities, WMAW, HEMAC, 4W, and ICMS at Kalamazoo. His experiences include iron smelting, jousting, theatrical combat instruction and choreography, historical research, European martial arts and crafting weapons and armor since 1985