| If you write fantasy or are thinking about writing | | | | metal was heated and hammered rather than |
| fantasy you probably are going to have medieval | | | | melted and cast. This technique made iron |
| weapons in your created world. Today’s | | | | stronger, less brittle, and more reliable than |
| reader of fantasy is very savvy when it comes | | | | bronze weapons. Iron was the metal of choice |
| to weapons and armor and you want your writing | | | | for many centuries because of these factors and |
| to be accurate and to make sense when it | | | | because of its relative abundance. |
| comes to weapons. They are often a big part of | | | | Steel is a substantially better metal for weapons |
| the story. In this article I explain some important | | | | and armor. It is significantly harder than iron yet it |
| things about medieval weapons, how to get them | | | | has a certain amount of flexibility and spring back |
| right, and I look at some of the more popular | | | | when it is stressed. This spring back makes it |
| types of weapons. | | | | much more resilient and durable under use. Steel |
| In sync with the world | | | | is simply iron that has carbon added to it during |
| In the world we live in there has been a very | | | | the forging process. This carbon is often in the |
| distinct path from sticks and stones to the | | | | form of charcoal. And this art of making steel |
| weapons we have now and this is something you | | | | requires a significant amount of skill because the |
| really need to consider in your writing. We have | | | | right amount of carbon has to be added and the |
| progressed roughly from stone, to copper and | | | | steel has to be quenched and tempered correctly. |
| bronze, then iron, into eventually steel. Now we | | | | (Quenching and tempering is the process of |
| have composite materials such as Kevlar. The | | | | heating with fire and cooling with water). Steel |
| important thing to realize here is that weapons | | | | brings weapons to new heights because it can be |
| were made according to the skills and knowledge | | | | used to make longer, more durable weapons, and |
| of weapon smiths. If you are going to have | | | | it can hold an edge extremely well, even on just |
| sophisticated weapons in your novel or story you | | | | one side. One big aspect of steel in combat is |
| have to have the support to back it up. And steel | | | | the affect it has on the speed of the fight. |
| is a good example of this. It takes a high level of | | | | Weapons that are lighter and stronger means |
| knowledge and skill to make steel and if your | | | | combatants can move much quicker. This was an |
| world is composed of grass and wood huts it | | | | important aspect of the arms race. |
| doesn’t make sense to have these steel | | | | And the pinnacle of this development might lie in |
| weapons just appearing as if from nowhere. In | | | | the rapier. It is a weapon that is extremely light |
| summary the weapons you use in your novel | | | | yet still very strong. It is thin enough to be used |
| have to fit into the world you have created. | | | | as an effective thrusting weapon yet it still has an |
| Another thing to consider is availability. If you are | | | | edge that can be used for slashing. We may be |
| using Iron then there should be iron mines in your | | | | able to take this a further step to the fencing foil |
| world. Availability of materials is also an | | | | in that it is a thrusting only weapon that can be |
| important factor. Our world went through an | | | | wielded extremely fast and is used to find even |
| extended Iron Age because iron was very readily | | | | the smallest gaps in an opponent’s armor. |
| available and easy to work with. | | | | Types of weapons |
| A Medieval Arms Race | | | | Here is a quick look and explanation of some |
| Weapons, armor and tactics are always in a state | | | | common medieval weapons. |
| of balance with each other. As metal working skills | | | | Dagger – The first effective metal weapons. |
| improve better swords and weapons are made | | | | Originally used as just a thrusting weapon but as |
| and the other side of the coin of this is that | | | | metal skills developed they carried an edge and |
| better armor is also made. Keep this in mind. | | | | could be used for slashing. Daggers were the |
| Better blacksmithing and forging skills is not just | | | | ancestors of swords. |
| about weapons, it is also about armor and | | | | Dirk- A long dagger that could be used for |
| fortifications. Offense and defense benefit equally | | | | thrusting and slashing. They were often made |
| and there is always a balance. This is a medieval | | | | from the cut down blades of swords. They |
| arms race that is always moving forward yet | | | | ranged in length from 6 inches to 22 inches. |
| always in balance. | | | | Sword - There are tremendous variations of |
| A Philosophy of Weapons in writing | | | | swords but typically it is a one handed steel |
| One of the biggest pitfalls that fantasy writers | | | | weapon, sharpened on both sides, and effective |
| can fall into is to make super weapons that have | | | | as both a slashing and thrusting weapon. |
| incredible powers. Often times these powers are | | | | Katana – Japanese curved sword with an |
| bequeathed on the weapon through magic. It is | | | | edge on one side. Effective used for both |
| too easy to have an ancient sword that was | | | | thrusting and slashing. |
| forged by a magical Dwarven blacksmith who | | | | Scimitar – A long curved sword that is |
| captured a dragon and used its fire to harden the | | | | sharpened on one side and effective as |
| magical sword like no other sword has ever been | | | | predominantly a slashing weapon. |
| hardened. While this can be fun to write and | | | | Two handed Sword – a large sword that is |
| maybe fun to read you should do your best to | | | | generally 60 to 70 inches in length. It was heavy |
| avoid situations like this. It is too easy to rely on | | | | and required two hands to wield effectively. It |
| things like this as ways to get you out of difficult | | | | takes a larger than average sized man to wield |
| situations. Remember, everything has to be in | | | | this kind of sword and it can be a very effective |
| balance, and everything has to make sense. If | | | | weapon in combat against lines of combatants |
| you do have a weapon, say that your hero is | | | | and in particular against foes wielding pole arms. It |
| wielding, and it has unusual powers, you should | | | | had limited used in one on one combat although a |
| balance this with something. What is the cost of | | | | sword like this often had a wrapped section at |
| this weapon or sword? Does wielding it bring | | | | the base of the blade so the wielder can choke |
| danger to the wielder? Is there a fatigue factor? | | | | up and gain more control in tight fighting situations. |
| Consider this. It also adds dimension and | | | | Pole Weapons – These are exactly what they |
| excitement to the story. If our hero is hesitant to | | | | sound like – weapons mounted on the ends of |
| use the sword it will add a dimension of drama to | | | | poles. When used in unison, a group of |
| the story. He better have a really good reason to | | | | combatants with pole weapons could form a |
| use it. | | | | formidable defense or offense. A pole weapon |
| Our Development of Weapons | | | | could also generate tremendous force because of |
| Here is a rough look at how weapons developed | | | | its long swing. They were also often used against |
| in our world and keep in mind that the real | | | | combatants on horseback. A halberd is a good |
| development is closely tied to factors such as the | | | | example of this. It typically had an axe for |
| development of forges and improvements in | | | | slashing, a point for thrusting, and a hook that |
| furnace technology. Getting the fire hotter with a | | | | could be used to pull an opponent down from |
| better furnace and bellows is what really moved | | | | atop a horse. |
| metal working forward. Wood working | | | | Mace – This is a one handed weapon that has |
| technology also played an important role in the | | | | a wooden handle and a steel or iron ball at the |
| development of weapons. Stronger shafts and | | | | end of it. Sometimes this metal ball has spikes. It |
| hand pieces were critical for mounting ax heads | | | | was effective as a crushing weapon and it could |
| and other types of weapons. | | | | generate enough force to break a foes armor. |
| The earliest, and easiest metal working was done | | | | The spikes could penetrate the hardest armor. |
| with copper because copper is soft, malleable, and | | | | Flail – this is a wooden handled weapon with a |
| easy to work with. But it had limited use in | | | | length of chain. At the end of the chain was a |
| weapons for these same reasons. It was | | | | mace ball either with or without spikes. When |
| reasonably sufficient for short daggers but could | | | | swung it generates tremendous force and one of |
| not be drawn out into a sword length. Weapon | | | | the uses for a flail was its ability to reach up and |
| crafting started to advance with the discovery of | | | | over an opponent’s shield. |
| bronze which is a blending of 90% copper and | | | | Axe - Axes were an effective weapon that could |
| 10% tin (or 10% gold). This development saw a | | | | be created with moderate metal working skill. This |
| big advance in weapons, and daggers could be | | | | is because the axe head could be bulkier and have |
| made much longer or as long as a short sword. | | | | less length that needed to keep an edge. This |
| But these short swords were predominantly for | | | | head would normally be mounted on a wooden |
| stabbing with the point. Bronze was very | | | | handle. Axes came in many variations typically |
| effective for thrusting weapons such as dirks, | | | | one side with an edge and the other with a point. |
| daggers, short swords, and spearheads but they | | | | Some axes had edges on both sides and a point |
| were not very effective for keeping and edge | | | | at the top end tip of the handle for thrusting. |
| and slashing. Bronze axe heads mounted on | | | | Even though you are writing fantasy and creating |
| wooden handles were very popular. They saw a | | | | a fantasy world you still have to ground the world |
| lot of use and were reasonably effective. | | | | in ways that make sense and you have to give |
| Iron had a dramatic effect on weapons. It was | | | | your weapons an authentic feel. This means they |
| readily available, easy to work with, and it was | | | | have to fit the world you are building and they |
| easy to sharpen. The big impact this had was to | | | | have to follow rules that make sense to the |
| make weapons easy to make and more wide | | | | reader who probably has considerable knowledge |
| spread. The big development in the use of iron | | | | of medieval weapons, how they are made, and |
| was the discovery of cold forging where the | | | | how they are used. |