Viking weapons and combat techniques ebook

Viking weapons and combat techniques march 3, 2015 i suspected that there was some interest in the paperback release of the book last fall, but i had no idea of the extent of the interest until i received the royalty check today. Viking weapons and combat techniques provides an introduction to the arms and armor of the vikings, the people who lived in northern europe during the viking age, roughly the years 7931066. Whereas swords were the costly weapons of the elite. Aviation pioneer and weapons inventor 31 january 2020. In addition, the book provides an overview of viking history and culture, focusing on the importance of weapons to the society as well as the vikings lasting impact on europe through their expeditions of trade and exploration. The phrase shape of combat is used to describe the nature of a fight. Viking weapons and combat techniques home facebook. Buy viking weapons and combat techniques reprint by short, william r. The berserkers were the semimythological viking warriors who foamed at the mouth and fought with a.

When reading or learning about the viking weapons and armor, one should first remember a few vital things. Sep 02, 20 william short is a viking age reconstructionist who aims to recreate authentic viking combat techniques. It reveals the hitherto hidden world of viking combat, ranging from the techniques involved in thrust, block, and cut, to the weapons used, the limitations of period. Using a variety of available sources, including medieval martial arts treatises, and copiously illustrated with images of historical artifacts, battle sites, and. Published by westholme publishing in 2009, the book is once again available from your favorite bookseller in paperback. Shop for a great selection of weapons and warfare history kindle ebooks at the kindle store on. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. We use a series of drills, exercises, and games to teach martial fundamentals to novices, and then use expanded versions of these exercises to research and build our knowledge of viking fighting moves.

William short is a viking age reconstructionist who aims to recreate authentic viking combat techniques. Throughout, the author corrects some popular misconceptions about viking warriors and warfare, such as the belief that their combat techniques were crude and blunt rather than sophisticated. Viking wood and metalworkers fashioned durable weapons of high quality steel for their warriors, including spears, battleaxes, and swords. Individual viking warriors known during the eighth through eleventh centuries for their ferocity. We felt that our research stood firmly on three feet. A history of the arms, armor, and individual fighting strategies of medieval europes most feared warriors. William shorts viking weapons and combat techniques westholme publishing, 2009, isbn 9781594160769, and i was not disappointed. Orders placed now may not begin shipping until some time in may. As was written in earlier articles in this series, no one knows what the shape of viking combat was like, so we are forced to use many sources to create a speculative reconstruction. Viking combat techniques demonstrated by william short. The arrows shot from these could deplete enemy ranks, before swords, spears and axes were brought into action. Mar 29, 2011 viking weapons and warfare by jk siddom tempus, 2000 links. A viking sword was doubled edged, making it dangerous at all angles. I am a historical fencer and martial artist who has spent many hours sparring with weapons very similar to those dr.

Weapons were not just used for combat, but were used to show a vikings social status and wealth. Using a variety of available sources, including medieval martial arts treatises, and copiously illustrated with images of historical artifacts, battle sites, and demonstrations of. The vikings also used various aids to protect themselves in combat. For more information on viking weapons and other counterintuitive facts of ancient and medieval history, see anthony esolens the politically incorrect guide to western civilization. The viking shield wall is a famed battle strategy, tens of hundreds of men interlocked, reliant on their neighbours for survival. Again, it is not presented as a fighting manual, so much as a discussion of the topic. This gives the sword a dark mysticism that the other weapons lack. A wealthy viking would likely have a complete ensemble of a spear, a wooden shield, and either a battle axe or a sword. According to custom, all free viking men were viking weaponsresearch for possible future project. Our selection of viking weapons and armor can be used for reenactment and make wonderful gifts for that hard to buy for viking in your family. Therefore the weapons would be decorated with inlays, twisted wire, or with other adornments and silver, copper, and bronze.

Viking weapons and combat techniques kindle edition by short, william r download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Personal traininga viking with an insecure financial future will teach his children how to go viking. Although smaller weapons like daggers, knives, and arrowheads could be manufactured in scandinavia, the best swords and spearheads were undoubtedly imported. In the viking age a number of different types of weapons were used. As was written in earlier articles in this series, no one knows what the shape of viking combat was like, so we are forced to use many sources to create a speculative reconstruction many people think viking combat took the form of two big, hairy men, taking turns delivering massive blows to one anothers shields. Also, these blades were heirlooms and given names and survived generations. The trade of a viking is war, or at the least personal combat.

Many of the most important viking weapons were highly ornatedecorated lavishly with gold and silver. Viking weapons and combat techniques kindle edition by william r. Nov 04, 2008 viking weapons and combat techniques book. Aviation pioneer and weapons inventor 31 january 2020 kindle ebook. Viking swords were typically meant for singlehanded use, with the other hand holding a shield. Here he demonstrates some techniques during a course held at the university centre of the. Short describes, and i have long had an active interest in the viking era. Authentic fully functional replica swords from the viking age norwegian, danish, swedish, and scandinavian viking gifts. Typically they fought on foot and used their ships mainly as a transport to the scene of battle. Museum replicas is proud of the variety of swords it offers. A source of enduring fascination, the vikings are the most famous raiders of medi. Around this time, i decided to write a book that described our research and expressed our thoughts on viking weapons and their use. Viking weapons the vikings were incredibly wise and shrewd despite their simple way of life.

The famed viking berserkers are known to have fought in groups with other berserkers. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Viking combat techniques national museum of denmark. Viking weapons and combat techniques starts with a consideration of the nature of viking society with particular emphasis on the role of arms and armour within that culture and a discussion of what resources presently survive to allow interpretation and reconstruction of combat techniques. However, we can find out more about viking battle techniques by looking at the weapons that they left behind. Viking weapons and combat techniques was published in 2009.

We have moved out of dedicated viking combat training space in millbury, ma and are planning. Forging a viking rune fire steel and making fire with it duration. Research and practice of the fighting moves of the. The weapons that vikings possessed depended on their economic capacity.

Using a variety of available sources, including medieval martial arts treatises, and copiously illustrated with images of historical artifacts, battle. Viking weapons and combat techniques is a history of the arms, armor, and individual fighting strategies of medieval europes most feared warriors. The viking warrior code demanded loyalty and fidelity to ones leader and comrades. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The main weapons were spears, swords, and battle axes. Viking weapons and warfare by jk siddom tempus, 2000 links. Viking age swords were common in battles and raids. Swords, axes, and spears were their main weapons, but some also used javelins, bows and large knives. Viking weapons and combat techniques 15 november 2014 kindle ebook. Critically, the sagas describe how these weapons were wielded not by kings or gods, but by ordinary men, as part of their everyday lives.

Outside of their role on the battlefield, the sagas often record berserkers as brutish murderers and sex offenders who lived outside the rules of viking society. Knowledge about military technology of the viking age late 8th to mid11th century europe is based on relatively sparse archaeological finds, pictorial representation, and to some extent on the accounts in the norse sagas and laws recorded in the 14th century according to custom, all free norse men were required to own weapons, as well as permitted to carry them at all times. Due to popular demand, we will now allow you to place preorders to ship when we reopen next month. Build a viking village, write your name in runes and discover the secret of norse ships. Formalized training, especially for the families of jarls and other chieftains 4.

Nov 15, 2014 shop for a great selection of weapons and warfare history kindle ebooks at the kindle store on. Choose a print and ebook format above and get 25% off both. Viking items weapons armor shields clothing books accessories jewelry click on an item for more information or to order. Using a variety of available sources, including medieval martial arts treatises. The vikings were greatly feared warriors known for their strength and skill in battle. Apr 03, 2017 viking horses were small and sturdy, more suited to carrying goods than operating on a battlefield where speed and strength were required. These armorless berserkers would then charge headlong into battle, biting their shields and seemingly unable to feel pain from wounds. Whether it be the battle of maldon, or the viking raids on england, the siege of paris or the military camps in denmark, there is always interest in the violent side of viking life. Viking weapons and combat techniques provides an introduction to the arms and armor of the people who lived in northern europe during the viking age, roughly the years 7931066. At the end of the viking age, scandinavian viking armies were invading the british isles, and they had to adapt their combat techniques facing regular armies that btw often consisted of viking mercenaries. Viking weapons and combat techniques 15 november 2014. Vikings military tactics and fortifications chasingwilma. They were inexpensive and effective weapons, and could also be used when hunting.

Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. Most of the weapons that a viking warrior carried were for use in facetoface combat. What are less well known are the actual techniques used in solo handtohand combat, used in duels and other forms of close quarter engagements. Short is an author, filmmaker, lecturer, and independent scholar specializing in vikingage topics, notably medieval icelandic literature, vikingage material culture, vikingage weapons, and vikingage combat techniques. Of the weapons we are going to look at the sword is the only one which has a single purpose and that is the killing of men. In the early years of the viking age only the richest warriors could afford a sword and the majority used axes which we will look at later. The berserkers believed that odin granted them supernatural power and protection, defying the need for armor. The story of hurstwic is a story about a journey which has not yet come to its end. Berserkers were associated with shape changing or the wearing of animal skins, such as the wolf costume shown here. As it pertains to the weapons and techniques, short basically explains the various common viking weapons, and talks about how they were likely used, drawing on martial arts research, historical data, and clues from the norse sagas. Their goal was to raid and bring valuables jewelry, weapons, slaves, and more back home. Once again available from your favorite bookseller.

Viking weapons and combat techniques is a history of the arms, armor, and individual fighting. They were used as a secondary weapon when fighting had fallen out of formation or their primary weapon was damaged. Using a variety of available sources, including medieval martial arts treatises, and copiously illustrated with images. Research and practice of the fighting moves of the vikings hurstwic. Aug 30, 2017 their goal was to raid and bring valuables jewelry, weapons, slaves, and more back home. Dvd hurstwic viking combat and training volume 1 fundamentals of viking training. Written from the point of view of the viking warrior and of those who had to face him, this book details the design and construction of the various weapons used by the norse peoples we have come to call the vikings. Jan 12, 2014 viking weapons and combat techniques william r. Weapons adorned as such served large religious and social functions. Between the late 8th and late 11th century viking warriors had a massive impact. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading viking weapons and combat techniques. Because we are eager to learn and grow, it is easy for us to pick up new ideas that seem promising and to discard old ideas that are no longer useful. There are a few things to keep in mind as you read about viking weapons and armor. Viking weapons tools of the trade vikings for all occasions, no blade too sharp.