The Best Off-Hand Weapon? (Duellist / Adventurer Equipment)
9,532For those who like some level of realism in fantasy and/or are interested in ideas for historical fiction here is a look at some easy to carry options that would suit a traveler.
The previous video (about arm blades & spiked shields) is related to this, sort of a part 1.
https://youtu.be/WW-006LogY0
For a character who needs to travel light or just wants to minimize weight and clutter, cumbersome weapons like polearms and large shields are out. The simplest choice that offers good versatility would be a longsword that is light and well balanced enough to be effective with either one or both hands. It's not the most protective though.
What if you want to maximize defensive capabilities at the same time? Here are some combinations that strike a good balance between effectiveness and easy of carry in my opinion.
You'll also find some information about the dynamics of armed martial arts (defensive actions, openings, feints, etc).
Historical reproductions and other stuff I'm showing in the video (some are affiliate links):
"Tristan" mitten gauntlets by Armory Smith
http://www.armorysmith.com/dospehi/mitten-gauntlet-tristan/
12th century lugged spear
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/arms-armor-12th-century-spear/?koa=259
Halberd trainer from Purpleheart Armoury
http://www.woodenswords.com/?Click=1799
The Knecht kriegsmesser (out of production) and The Marxbruder grosse messer by Albion
https://www.albion-swords.com/The%20Marxbruder.html
The Falke kriegsmesser by Landsknecht Emporium
https://landsknechtemporium.com/product/standard/kriegmessers/Falke-type-M5A-Kriegsmesser-2-0
Review: https://youtu.be/o6cNXAsOeDo
Viking round shield I made in 2015
https://youtu.be/Kc2yj07Szsg
Medium sized buckler with belt hook by Steel Mastery
https://steel-mastery.com/steel-shield-buckler.html
Small steel buckler
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/steel-buckler-9-inch-14-gauge-steel/?koa=259
Spiked Talhoffer buckler
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/talhoffer-buckler-16-gauge-steel/?koa=259
Chinese Han Dynasty Gou-Rang hook shield by LK Chen
https://lkchensword.com/gou-rang
https://youtu.be/RXYltNPlMaM
Customized Scottish basket-hilt broadsword
https://www.kultofathena.com/product/hanwei-scottish-basket-hilt-backsword/?koa=259
Parrying dagger (main gauche) by Darkwood Armoury
https://rapiers.darkwoodarmory.com/product-category/made-to-order/dagger/
LARP greatsword & seax style knife and Doppelsoldner flamberge by Calimacil
https://calimacil.com/collections/daggers/products/norn-foam-larp-scramasax?variant=39877943820466?aff=55
https://calimacil.com/collections/all-larp-swords/products/flamberge-larp-doppelsoldner?variant=7580631498803?aff=55
Excellent source for period depictions of arms and armor from the Middle Ages:
https://manuscriptminiatures.com/tags
Manuscripts showing the dueling shield (or longshield)
https://wiktenauer.com/wiki/Category:Longshield
Credits:
"Casual Dwarf" by Tregis
https://www.deviantart.com/tregis/art/Casual-dwarf-289923896
The adorable packrat was drawn by Ursula Vernon
https://www.deviantart.com/ursulav/art/Packrat-10094611
Special thanks to Ace the Super Villain for designing 3D models to illustrate my idea of a more compact, single-handed dueling shield
https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/military/melee/50-low-poly-polearms
*** Music ***
Intro song:
"Illuminate" by Vindsvept
https://vindsvept.bandcamp.com/track/illuminate
Used with artist's permission
Outtakes:
"Little People At Work" by Horrorpen
https://opengameart.org/content/little-people-at-work-loop
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0)
Outro:
"Highland Storm" by The Slanted Room Records
https://theslantedroom.github.io/steve.yee/
Used with artist's permission
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Books about history and/or martial arts, swords, knives, video/audio equipment, and other stuff I recommend (as an Amazon Affiliate I earn commission through these links):
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https://www.kultofathena.com/?koa=259
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