What's your favorite weapon to train with and why? We all have one weapon we prefer whether our reasons make sense to anyone else but we alone. What's your favorite and why?
I prefer longsword because it suits my personality the most closely. I like big cutting blades. The history of their use and the thrill of their modern practice is exhilarating for me. That and rapier just never struck me as "manly" enough...and I like George Silvers manner of writing in an unbiased way on the matter
All the above said, I'd take a spear over any sword any day if I were fighting for my life.
Shane Smith~ARMA Forum Moderator
ARMA~VAB
Free Scholar
Longsword--mostly because that is what I've worked with the most and thus feel the most comfortable with.
I'm so used to a two-handed weapon now it almost feels awkward to handle a side sword or rapier. If I do, I always want something in my other hand like a buckler or dagger. I do have some skinny little wrists though that that get fatigued when using the above mentioned tools and prevent me from doing a good single-handed thrust with a staff (working on making them stronger) so that is another reason I like the longsword.
I really enjoy dagger disarms but I don't find sparring with daggers to be quite as satisfying as sparring with the longsword.
Sword and Buckler Sword and Shield (Sword and Axe)
I like the buckler and the Shield. Once some of it clicks, there is a satisfaction in it that I can't describe. Sometimes, it is like you know something the opponent doesn't know. I think the very satisfactory feeling of countering a strike with your shield or buckler lends itself to some of that satisfaction.
I'm working on developing this through buckler and on to full shield and axe. The important thing for me, though is the better I get with the longword, the better my single hand sword work is as well.
Never underestimate the longsword!
Strike first without compromising your ability to strike last.
Polearms (especailly poleaxe) and bidenhander are my top favourites. There's a level of speed that I just can't exceed no matter how hard I train, which combined with my strength leads to the interesting thing that I can attack and recover with a bidenhander (at least with my 165cm long one - I'm really interested in what will happen when I finish my 190cm long flammenschwert) just as quickly as I can with a longsword, thus using a sword with greater reach and strike power is quite natural to me. And it's versatile and has nice capabilities. Now all I need is at least one more bidenhander-user in Debrecen. Poleaxe because it's greatly versatile - depending on my needs it can be used either as a huge crushing beast or as a lightning fast quasi-estoc or anything between.
Shane Smith wrote: That and rapier just never struck me as "manly" enough...and I like George Silvers manner of writing in an unbiased way on the matter
Nice, Shane... That being said, you know I still like the rapier best....but I too love the longsword and in a fight for the life, would rather a spear as well.... As for me, while I like George Silver, my thoughts are more along the lines of Ridolpho Cappo Ferro....and not just cuz his name sounds way cooler. lol
Rod W. Thornton, Scholar Adept (Longsword)
ARMA-Virginia Beach Study Group
That is really a tough one. I had to go with longsword because it is such a blast to train with. Staff/spear runs a close second for me. It is so simple to use and brutal in its effect. Floryshing with a longsword is very liberating. Because staff/spear is so simple to use, its flouryshes are less complicated and not as fun. Longsword lends itself to Ringen more than staff does as well.
Sword and buckler is tied with messer as my third favourite. Rapier is climbing the ranks because it is so fun to spar with.
Basically, all of the weapons that our ancestors used are extremely fun to train with and it is hard to really choose.
Matt Bryant
Scholar Adept
ARMA Associate Member - Tulsa, Oklahoma
"Keepe the point of your Staffe right in your enemies face..." -Joseph Swetnam
You know, I would have preferred to rank the weapons on the list rather than just pick one, but I guess that's the nature of this type of poll.
Having said that, my favorite is Longsword followed closely by the polearms, though I am interested in staff and spear, my focus would be more specifically on the poleaxe (with a keen interest in doing some scholarship on the Bill. Hey, I like the infantry weapons ). Third on the list would be a tie between dagger or sword & buckler.
The latter weapons of the Renaissance, like rapier and smallsword, don't hold much interest for me as my historical interest lies in the medieval era (up to the very early 15th century) and whatever came before, not so much after.
Ken
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"They are ill discoverers that think there is no land,
when they can see nothing but the sea". ~Francis Bacon
I like the flexible protection the shield gives, especially in big scale battle. Were I to be a soldier or warrior in a big war scene, I would want a good sword and shield. Whereas I would use a more brute way of combat and do well, and have good protection because of heavy armor, and therefore also be able to make more mistakes without it costing my life.
If I on the other hand lived dangerously in a city with many aggressive troublemakers, but could not walk around with heavy armor all the time, then I would probably want to become good with a dagger and rapier or short sword, also with it learn how to use the body better for a defense, becoming as agile as possible and aware of body coordination and movement.
As a soldier I believe the priority should be to overwhelm your opponent, not spend too much time on 1 target. As such a big weapon and brute strength comes to mind. I would still prefer a shield rather than e.g. the longsword, unless my body armor were so good that a shield would nearly be abundant.
I like strong, fast and simple moves, and to be able to take a hit or two, therefore have a strong shield or armor that can take it.
I also like the idea of using the shield as a weapon when not for defense, to complement the one-handed moves.
I would rather be the wall that hits back like a train and that keeps enemies from coming through, than to be agile and specialize on winning 1 on 1 duels with leather clothing and nimble weapons based on keeping out of harms way.
Sword and buckler is my favorite. I can't really give an explanation. The weapon combination just resonates for me, I guess. It also makes me think of quick, brual fights in the streets of renaissance London, and that's an image that is, for some reason, really appealing to me. Longsword is a close second.
