Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Drac
A question, for any who have the answer, was two weapon combat part of that era? I know that among the samurai it wasn't until fairly late in their history. In Europe I know of two-weapon fighting around the Renaissance but not before. If it was a common style that would explain why the handle was upward on a cross body, cross draw sheaths have the handle reversed to fit the hand for the position of the reach.
|
That the seax was a primary weapon is doubtful. The spear, often in conjunction with a strapped shield was the primary weapon of war for many periods & places in question:
http://www.regia.org/fyrd2.htm
However, Egil Skallagrimsson uses both a spear ("halberd,") and a sword in at least one fight, although he quickly throws the spear, (Chapter 57/58.) Grettir does the same in chapter 19, but is described as "...now thrusting with the spear, now hewing with the sword," in what sounds like it could have been simultaneous use. (The "sword," in question here is an old Seax, btw.) I've done pole & short sword in SCAdian play and it's plausible seeming to me as at least an option to explore in actual historical technique.
There's another mystery to be solved: the "halberd," described in the Sagas. Since no unusual example has ever been found I think it is merely a spear with the wide, long blade and the purely academic historians have been confused because they do not know how slashy a short spear with a wide blade can be!
Here's a nice article on combat techniques:
http://www.hurstwic.org/history/arti.../text/arms.htm