Krąg Mieczy

XVIIIe

Description by Peter Johnsson of these types of Scandinavian greatswords:
"Oakeshott classified these and put them as subclass XVIIIe in the large and varied type XVIII group. They differ dramatically when compared to any other type XVIIIa, b, c or d, however. The grip is typically very long in proportion to the blade. Grip length can be a third or more of the total length. Quite a few of these weapons have survived and now reside as excavated specimens in museum store rooms in Scandinavia. Swords with extremely long grips were popular in Scandinavia and possibly northern Germany in the 15th C. Interestingly, swords of similar size and proportions were also made/used in Italy at the same time (one fine example is exhibited in Brescia). These swords will show some variation within the family. I am not sure all can be comfortable classified as XVIIIe´s. Despite sharing the same general proportions, there is quite some variation to the blades of these weapons. Sometimes the blade rather shares characteristics with type XIII, XV or even XX. All are obviously intended for two handed use. Most are large, but some have blade lengths more in scale with single handed swords. One subgroup have blades that are fairly broad at the base, tapering to a narrow spade shaped point. These are flexible, thin bladed cutting swords. Sometimes the blade has one or several fullers. There is no ricasso on these blades. The grip is sometimes very long. I have seen one example where the grip was almost equal in length to the blade. The guard is often wide and slightly curved. Pommel is often wedged shaped or spherical. Others have blades of moderate width that seem to favor thrust and cut equally. They do not have a ricasso. Section can be diamond shaped or lenticular. Some have fullers and could be classified as type XX swords with extremely long grips. The guard can sometimes be C-shaped with both arms curving to the front side of the grip at right angles to the blade; like an S-curved guard gone wrong. Others have a pretzel shaped guard. Both these guard types seem to be locally favored in the Scandinavian countries. Pommels are commonly spherical or a small octagonal scent stoppers. They stand out from the other long gripped swords because of the character of the blade, and that they all have a ricasso. The blade is usually not so broad but very thick and stout with a diamond shaped cross section. The point is strong and awl like. The proportion grip/blade length is often about 2:5. The guard is normally curved towards the point, sometimes just a more or less straight bar. The pommel is almost always a scent stopper with octagonal section. In many cases there are traces of a rather unique grip cover: it has short sections tightly wrapped with iron wire, serving as reinforcement and providing good gripping. The wood could be left plain or covered by leather under the wire binding. In some cases there could have been a leather rain guard covering the cross and the mount of the scabbard. The feel of these weapons is special and quite apart from most any other type of sword. The thickness of the blade and ricasso is striking. When used in half swording, they could almost qualify as a kind of short pole arm: its thick, stiff blade and tremendous awl point would have been devastating when the swordsman put the full momentum of his body behind a thrust. The length of grip and blade together provides long reach in both cut and thrust, while the balance provides surprising maneuverability. The point of balance is close to the guard, but the sword still has a positive blade presence because of its mass. They are massive weapons, but agile despite their size. When seeing swords such as these up close it becomes obvious they were made to be strong thrusting swords. It is equally obvious that blades like these must have been developed to be able to deal and take blows in fighting between fully armoured opponents. Even if a sword cut can never really be expected to cleave armour, a blow from a blade with the mass and stiffness of these swords would still deal terrible damage, stunning or perhaps even killing. The point could conceivably pe*****te the thinner parts of plate armour with a good hit, but thrusts would naturally be aimed at gaps and openings, where only mail and/or padding was the protection. To a less than completely armoured opponent the edge and point of these swords would be equally lethal. They give a strong impression of being made for battlefield use. They have the mass, heft and agility to be reliable no nonsense killing tools. A trained swordsman in full armour equipped with a sword of this type must have been truly terrifying. Perhaps these swords could also have served well on horseback. The long grip, stout guard and strong ricasso makes it possible to couch the sword like a lance, resting the guard across the armpit and breastplate. The reach is not long, but in some situations this might have been a good thing. The use of swords as lances is described in some medieval texts. A number of these swords has been found in the graves of Danish Noblemen dating to the third quarter of the 15th C. Quite a few has also been found as loose finds in other parts of Scandinavia. It is impossible to say whether these weapons saw a popularity among the fighting men from all parts of Scandinavia, or if the finds are remains of Danish knights and men-at-arms who fought and fell on foreign soil."

https://www.pap.pl/aktualnosci/sztylet-sprzed-3-tysiecy-lat-znaleziony-na-plazy-nasze-wideo

Sztylet sprzed 3 tysięcy lat znaleziony na plaży [NASZE WIDEO] | Polska Agencja Prasowa SA W gliniastej bryle oderwanej od klifu na wybrzeżu Bałtyku w niedzielę członkowie Stowarzyszenia na rzecz ratowania zabytków im. Św. Korduli odkryli bogato zdobiony sztylet z okresu halsztackiego. Niezwykły zabytek został przekazany Muzeum Historii Ziemi Kamieńskiej.

Happy Meyerstag!

455 years ago TODAY, Joachim Meyer signed the forward to his greatest work, Gründtliche Beschreibung, der freyen Ritterlichen unnd Adelichen kunst des Fechtens, in allerley gebreuchlichen Wehren ("Foundational Description of the Free, Chivalric, and Noble Art of Fencing in All Customary Weapons").

https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Joachim_Meyer

We might argue over who was the greatest master of the tradition founded by Johannes Liechtenauer, but Meyer was certainly the most prolific writer, unmatched in word and page count and rarely equaled in the diversity of weapons he covered--not only in that enormous book, but also in two extensive manuscripts written for noble students of his--Georg Johan von Veldenz and Otto von Solms--and the beginnings of a third documenting the rapier teachings of Stefan Heinrich von Eberstein.

Sadly, 454 years ago (also today), Johann Albrecht, Duke of Mecklenburg and Meyer's newest employer, was notified that he had died of illness (probably in the few days prior). He was just 33 years old when he died, and what further works of fencing he might have contributed to the canon if he'd had the lifespan of a Fabris or a Giganti, we will never know.

In 2021, members of the community crowdfunded a Meyer Translation Project organized by HEMA Bookshelf . The project hired Dr. Rebecca L. R. Garber to produce a new translation of Meyer's greatest work, which was released in three separate editions over the course of 2023:

https://www.hemabookshelf.com/meyer-translation

This translation is licensed for free use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license, which means that we can put the whole thing on Wiktenauer, but due to limited time and resources, we haven't done so yet (it's going to be a *lot* of work).

But enough is enough. By Meyerstag next, we will have the translation entirely posted to the wiki! Look for more announcements as the year progresses.

(If you'd like to free up more of Michael Chidester, Wiktenauer Director's time to work on free projects like these, the best way is to contribute to his patreon: https://www.patreon.com/michaelchidester )

Picture: f. I.3r of Meyer's 1570 treatise, from the copy owned by the Russian State Library, a presentation copy with a hand-written dedication to August of Saxony signed by Meyer himself and with painting probably likewise commissioned by Meyer.

Na bogato..

30 nowych wojowników i 30 nowych bofferków, czyli bezpieczniaków. Niektóre naprawdę nieźle wyszły:)