Comment on Taking The Sword STOCK by PhelanDavion
I did further research and what I read said the longsword wasn't really designed for knights on horseback. They had the lance for that. But surely knights would have met other knights horse-to-horse. I really mean would it be feasible to see it used on horseback against infantry? I remember that scene from The Two Towers where Theoden mounts up and they all rush out the gate, striking down orcs with their swords as their horses' hooves trampled them.
The answer to that question is more easy:
You have to see the sword as a side-arm... a secondary weapon... like the modern pistol on a soldiers belt.
A real sharp sword is as light as a pistol and it has the same use: to defend yourself when your primary weapon is gone/useless.
The primary weapons for fighting on horseback are armorbreaking weapons like lance, hammer, morgenstern, streitkolben etc.
A sword >can< have an effect against armed enemies... but it is more effective against unarmed enemies.
A knight always wears his sword on his belt. It is not as heavy as the decorative pieces you may know from modern medieval events.
My sharp longsword is as light to handle as a kitchen knife.
I can recommend to read Bernard Cornwell`s "Azincourt" to get a feeling for using medieval weapons.
I have studied history and it is a often used reference.
The reason why I primary do sword photos is: The other weapons are very expensive, I have no horse, the sword is also connected to the romantic myth of defending the weak... which is the primary motive for fantasy pictures and book covers.
You have to see the sword as a side-arm... a secondary weapon... like the modern pistol on a soldiers belt.
A real sharp sword is as light as a pistol and it has the same use: to defend yourself when your primary weapon is gone/useless.
The primary weapons for fighting on horseback are armorbreaking weapons like lance, hammer, morgenstern, streitkolben etc.
A sword >can< have an effect against armed enemies... but it is more effective against unarmed enemies.
A knight always wears his sword on his belt. It is not as heavy as the decorative pieces you may know from modern medieval events.
My sharp longsword is as light to handle as a kitchen knife.
I can recommend to read Bernard Cornwell`s "Azincourt" to get a feeling for using medieval weapons.
I have studied history and it is a often used reference.
The reason why I primary do sword photos is: The other weapons are very expensive, I have no horse, the sword is also connected to the romantic myth of defending the weak... which is the primary motive for fantasy pictures and book covers.
Then that decides me. My half-elf ranger can use a two-handed modified anglo saxon blade because she mostly hunts her vampire prey on foot and only uses her mount for transportation. She wouldn't be fighting things with armor, not strictly speaking. I've considered designing her an armor set as well, kind of like you see Batman with different outfits for different roles. Maybe in the cases where she's fighting baddies with armor, she'll use a saxon-like axe. I forget what they are called.
In german we call the sword "Beiwehr" which means translated into english;
"bei" = added, side, extra, with, next
"wehr" = defence, protection, weapon
"bei" = added, side, extra, with, next
"wehr" = defence, protection, weapon