Alright, I promised a glimpse into my home's armoury, and here it is so far. It's still quite sparse, I have barely started, but I've already collected a few choice pieces. Here they are below.
First an image or two of my entire collection.
From top to bottom, clockwise: Tailwind Assist United C. Folding Knife, Hunting Bowie Black-tone Blade, Wooden Training Longsword Waster, Authentic Greek Hoplite Xiphos/ Lakonia.
Authentic Greek Xiphos:
The Greek Xiphos was a back-up weapon utilized by the Greek Hoplites, who were mainly primarily spearmen, but were trained in the methods of short-sword fighting with leaf-bladed weapons. Remember the Spartans from 300? This is what their swords actually were supposed to look like. Attached to the scabbard (Wood and Leather) is the leather baldric straps, which you can see me wearing later. The leaf-shaped blade made it ideal for thrusting while allowing for strength behind each swing as the centre of the blade would be located at the portion below the curve.
Two-toned blades were commonly used as the centre portion would be folded over to increase strength and therefore have a different look to the edges, which were razor-sharp.
It's quite a short-sword, specifically used in the situation whereby the spearmen either lost their spears, or were forced to throw them, and allowed quick manoeuvres that would help them get into close range and eviscerate their foes.
The edges are sharp. Trust me.
You don't want to be stuck with this.
Wooden Arming Training Waster:
Used by entry-level learners of the Zweihander techniques utilized by German Swordmasters. Also can be used for Italian Fiore techniques.
This is a wooden training waster, a sword mimicking the shape and weight of the German Zweihander. I could have gotten the shorter and smaller one, but then I was training in Leichtauener techniques, so the great size of the Zweihander would prove fitting to my form.
Hunting Bowie Knife, Black toned blade:
Bowie knives are extremely useful, both in survival situations and in a fight, it's curved edge perfect for slashing while it's tip proves really good for thrusting. It makes up for the short range with the inclusion of a good cross-guard.
This one's pretty interesting. It's a classic hunting bowie, and it's a family heirloom. Harks back to the days of WW2, my dad used this as a kid hiding in the banana plantations from the Japs, probably was owned by his own dad.
The hunting bowie as seen with it's sheath, that can be both a belt or a thigh sheath.
Tailwind Assist United C. Fold-Spring Knife:
Fold-spring knives are technically allowable in Singapore. Technically.
Innocent and innocuous, isn't it? This is one of the most dangerous objects here, as all the blood on my left hand can testify. Trust me.
Not so innocent now... huh.
See those red marks? Blood. I was trying to do a spring-knife trick involving throwing and catching it, and missed. Sliced through the right part of my finger. Hurts like a bitch.
And this is why. Razor-sharp edge, spring-assisted folding and flipping, handy and able to draw in seconds. That is if you're not an idiot and cut yourself.
Me:
Yes yes, I know. Please don't take this like a stupid facebook or tumblr picture whoring myself out. If I did I wouldn't be indulging in such an incredibly geeky passion of mine anyway.
And here I am, decked out fully in my gear. The Lakonia (Xiphos) hangs off my right hip with a baldric tucked into my belt.
The Xiphos scabbard in it's position is flexible but still is firm enough to provide grip for a draw.
Yes, okay, a bowie knife and a xiphos on the same hip is kind of overkill.
Why does this look more dangerous than the bloody sword?
For a short-sword, it's pretty long. The xiphos is slightly larger than the roman gladius.
This is me holding the training waster in the Pflug Guard, ready to do a Zornhau Stroke.
This is the Roof Guard, which is perfect for entering into a downward Zornhau stroke.
This is the Ox Guard, which is used as an entry into neck or head strokes, which can be chained together by continually shifting from the right ox guard to the left and vice versa.
I fuckin' love this hobby.
