A Sword is a Sword

16th c, 1789-1914, 17th c, 18th c, Accesories, Africa, Arms and armour, Asia, Australia and Oceania, Balkan Peninsula, British Isles, Bronze age, China, Classical period, Cold War, Early middle ages, Early modern period, Europe, France and Low Countries, Germanic countries, HEMA, High middle ages, Iberian Peninsula, Indian Subcontinent, Interwar period, Italian Peninsula, Japan Isles, Knowledge, Korean Peninsula, Late middle ages, Late modern period, Melee weapon, Middle ages, Middle East, Migration period, Northern America, Popular themes, Post type, Prehistory and Antiquity, Region, Sabres, Scandinavia and Baltic countries, Siberia, Slavic countries and Carpathians, Southeast Asia, Southern America, Swords, The Great Steppe, Timeline, WWI, WWII

Swords have been classified and organised into groups often by specific shape, function or culture. The question is what is the best method of classifying them, is it one or a combination of these methods. Burton (1987) suggests two which are common among collections being Topical and Geographical or Material and Formal, the former considers…

Sword and Shield Treatises

16th c, Accesories, Arms and armour, Balkan Peninsula, British Isles, Classical period, Early middle ages, Early modern period, Europe, France and Low Countries, Germanic countries, HEMA, High middle ages, Iberian Peninsula, Imperium Romanum, Italian Peninsula, Knowledge, Late middle ages, Melee weapon, Middle ages, Migration period, Popular themes, Post type, Prehistory and Antiquity, Region, Scandinavia and Baltic countries, Shields, Slavic countries and Carpathians, Swords, Timeline, Viking raids

In studying the idea of the use of sword and shield in the medieval period there is an issue as there is a large gap in knowledge. Studying the sword and shield in the Renaissance period is not so much of an issue as when the shield left the battlefield it found a place in…

Review: The GFFG Berbekucz Club Sword

16th c, Accesories, Arms and armour, Early modern period, Europe, Germanic countries, HEMA, Hydepark, Melee weapon, Popular themes, Post type, Region, Swords, Timeline, Training weapon

“Now, when starting up the Gothenburg Free Fencers Guild […], we wanted to have a club sword that was as close as possible to historical originals, both in shape and characteristics, and which would fit well with the sources we study; primarily the treatises of Joachim Meyer.” Continue reading Review: The GFFG Berbekucz Club Sword on…

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Cold Steel

16th c, 1789-1914, 17th c, 18th c, Accesories, Africa, Arms and armour, Asia, Axes, Balkan Peninsula, British Isles, China, Daggers, Early middle ages, Early modern period, Europe, France and Low Countries, Germanic countries, HEMA, High middle ages, Iberian Peninsula, Italian Peninsula, Japan Isles, Knives, Late middle ages, Maces, Market, Melee weapon, Middle ages, Middle East, Northern America, Polearms, Popular themes, Post type, Ranged weapon, Region, Sabres, Scabbards, Scandinavia and Baltic countries, Slavic countries and Carpathians, Southeast Asia, Southern America, Sticks, staffs and batons, Swords, Timeline, Training weaponLeave a comment

A company dedicated to making the strongest and sharpest knives. Also gear for reenactment, modern hunting, sharp weapons for HEMA and replicas of historical weapons from all over the world. Website: www.coldsteel.com Facebook: Cold Steel

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VB Swordshop – Swords by Victor Berbekucz

16th c, Accesories, Arms and armour, Asia, Axes, Balkan Peninsula, British Isles, Bronze age, Classical period, Daggers, Early middle ages, Early modern period, Europe, France and Low Countries, Germanic countries, Hellenistic period, HEMA, High middle ages, Household, Iberian Peninsula, Imperium Romanum, Italian Peninsula, Kitchen accessories, Knights & Crusades, Knives, Late middle ages, Maces, Market, Melee weapon, Middle ages, Middle East, Migration period, Popular themes, Post type, Prehistory and Antiquity, Region, Sabres, Scabbards, Scandinavia and Baltic countries, Slavic countries and Carpathians, Swords, Thrusting swords, Timeline, Training weapon, Viking raidsLeave a comment

In my workshop, I make series, and custom-designed products using traditional technology. The forging, grinding and polishing hasn’t changed significantly over the centuries; However, thanks to technical achievements, this process is greatly accelerated. (The apprentice tired faster than the hammer machine.) My products are pedominantly hand made, especially the custom-designed orders. Victor Berbekucz   Website:…

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HEMA Alliance Events Calendar

16th c, 17th c, Balkan Peninsula, British Isles, Early modern period, Europe, France and Low Countries, Germanic countries, HEMA, Hydepark, Iberian Peninsula, Italian Peninsula, Late middle ages, Middle ages, Popular themes, Post type, Region, Scandinavia and Baltic countries, Slavic countries and Carpathians, TimelineLeave a comment

Calendar including plenty of Historical Europen Martial Arts events. Not all of them are supported by HEMA Alliance.  

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Purpleheart Armoury

16th c, 1789-1914, 17th c, 18th c, Accesories, Africa, Arming garments, Armour, Arms and armour, Asia, Balkan Peninsula, British Isles, China, Classical period, Early middle ages, Early modern period, Europe, France and Low Countries, Germanic countries, Hand and arm protection, Helmets and head protection, HEMA, High middle ages, Iberian Peninsula, Imperium Romanum, Indian Subcontinent, Italian Peninsula, Japan Isles, Knives, Late middle ages, Legs protection, Market, Melee weapon, Middle ages, Middle East, Migration period, Northern America, Popular themes, Post type, Prehistory and Antiquity, Rapiers and muskets, Region, Sabres, Samurais, Scandinavia and Baltic countries, Shields, Slavic countries and Carpathians, Southeast Asia, Sticks, staffs and batons, Swords, Thrusting swords, Timeline, Training weapon, Viking raidsLeave a comment

Supplier in HEMA equipment and training weapons – mainly made of steel, despite the name. Many weapons based not only on European tradition, but also African, American and Asian. Website: www.woodenswords.com

Cutting Swords Aren’t Always Broad

16th c, 1789-1914, 17th c, 18th c, Accesories, Arms and armour, Asia, Balkan Peninsula, British Isles, Early middle ages, Early modern period, Europe, France and Low Countries, Germanic countries, HEMA, High middle ages, Hydepark, Iberian Peninsula, Indian Subcontinent, Italian Peninsula, Late middle ages, Melee weapon, Middle ages, Middle East, Popular themes, Post type, Region, Sabres, Scandinavia and Baltic countries, Slavic countries and Carpathians, Swords, Timeline

Cutting Swords Aren’t Always Broad

Sword “Breaker” or Sword “Catcher”?

16th c, Accesories, Arms and armour, Balkan Peninsula, British Isles, Early modern period, Europe, France and Low Countries, Germanic countries, Hydepark, Iberian Peninsula, Italian Peninsula, Melee weapon, Popular themes, Post type, Rapiers and muskets, Region, Scandinavia and Baltic countries, Slavic countries and Carpathians, Swords, Timeline

Tod’s reproduction of a Renaissance Sword “Breaker” or is it a ‘sword catcher’? Most likely named by the Victorians, these unusual looking daggers were actually used to catch and control an opponent’s rapier blade and so Sword “Catcher” would probably be a more accurate name. if you are interested in custom historical weapons have a…