Viking Reenactment

[Orkin]

Does anyone here do Viking-Age battle reenactment with blunt weapons?

I am with Regia Anglorumbut another group from the UK, The Vikings, is also taking root in the states.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S33w4Tt0xh0

[Thrush Svartehjertet]

Nope, no one near MD does it near as I can tell. Otherwise I might have 3 or 4 guys who would...

Thrush Svartehjertet
berserk

[Ilariia Bulochnika]

We've been in touch with the JomsViking group in Texas & overseas, but real life keeps getting in the way.

**Their site is currently down**

[Eoric of the Riddermark]

I'm a Bele-lurker these days, though I used to be quite involved.

Anyhow, I'm with Westmearc, the Regia Anglorum chapter in Washington/Oregon. We fight with blunt steel. I have two spears, two axes, and two swords.

[Orkin]

Nope, no one near MD does it near as I can tell. Otherwise I might have 3 or 4 guys who would...

Thrush Svartehjertet
berserk

Markland used to do something like this. It was losing popularity; they may have stopped.

[Orkin]

I'm a Bele-lurker these days, though I used to be quite involved.

Anyhow, I'm with Westmearc, the Regia Anglorum chapter in Washington/Oregon. We fight with blunt steel. I have two spears, two axes, and two swords.

I am from Bjornstad, your neighbor to the souith. Ut Vikinga!

[Eoric of the Riddermark]

Yep. I've met a few of your members...Jack and Doug, and a few others whose names I can't remember.

[Orkin]

I'm telling Kim!

You might know me as Osweald.

[Aslaug]

How do I get involved in that!? I'm here in Eugene and I'd love to try it out

[Eoric of the Riddermark]

Orkin> Oh, hi! Didn't recognize that pic of you...

Aslaug> Take a peek around http://www.westmearc.org and if it looks interesting, use the form on the "Contact" page there or drop me an email at nielsen.cory@gmail.com - either one will get to me.

[Orkin]

Just so you know what you're getting involved in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbI84oSHEm4

[SheHulk]

what are blunt weapons...? i'm new...

[Black Cat]

what are blunt weapons...? i'm new...

Clubs, maces, flails, hammers, and other similar weapons. They're basically weapons that pound you in and crush stuff, like armor and bone. The viking god Thor is especially fond of blunt weapons, namely the warhammer.

Picture of a warhammer:


Does that answer your question?

[Ilariia Bulochnika]

what are blunt weapons...? i'm new...

In what context?

Blunt weapons can be the crush, non-bladed weapons like BC mentioned, but they are usually called crushing, bashing, etc weapons.

In re-enactment terms, blunt weapons usually means the weapons used by the participants are blunted, ie don't have a sharpened edge. You can still use a sword, it's just blunted so it is much less likely to injure you.

[Black Cat]

what are blunt weapons...? i'm new...

In re-enactment terms, blunt weapons usually means the weapons used by the participants are blunted, ie don't have a sharpened edge. You can still use a sword, it's just blunted so it is much less likely to injure you.

Oops, I forgot all about that sense of the word. Though I am somewhat familiar with this particular usage of the term, I don't do reenactment outside of Belegarth and am used to the Belegarth/Foam-fighting sense of the word. Sorry for any confusion if that's what you meant.

[Orkin]

In re-enactment terms, blunt weapons usually means the weapons used by the participants are blunted, ie don't have a sharpened edge. You can still use a sword, it's just blunted so it is much less likely to injure you.

That's a lot more accurate.

[SheHulk]

okay okay lol i got haha. okay... blunt weapons/thor got it.

[Aslaug]

Just so you know what you're getting involved in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbI84oSHEm4

Looks awesome!!!

I'm really curious about the combat though. How's that work?

[Orkin]

Strikes are supposed to be calibrated to "no harder than a hand-clap".
Target areas are basically "T-shirt and shorts".
It's a little more complex than that, but not much.
The primary difference is that training and battlefield safety certification takes more than one practice for most.

[Elwrath]

looks just like sca.

[Oisin]

. . . except with real(ish) weapons and very real garb and armour.

[Ilariia Bulochnika]

And the much more strict rules on garb, personas, kits, etc.

[Eoric of the Riddermark]

looks just like sca.

Um...no. Major differences:

- Time frame is restricted to the 'Viking Age' (or even more specific depending on the group) / SCA is "pre-Renaissance," (i.e. wide open)
- You'll see no armour or shields made of aluminum, titanium, plastic, carpet, stainless steel, etc. / SCA allows all of the above
- You'll see no bargrills on helmets or any protective bits of armour that weren't used in period / SCA requires grills or full-faced helms and other protection that can be at odds with your 'persona' (like elbow/knee armor for a Viking Age warrior)
- Swords, spearheads, axeblades, etc. are made of steel and the hafts are made of wood (preferably ash) / SCA combat primarily uses rattan and rubber or foam for some polearms and hafted weapons
- You'll see no styles of weapons, helmets, shields, or armour that aren't appropriate for the period / SCA has no requirements
- Except for some Australian groups, most Viking Age groups don't do headshots (a prudent practice when your helmet is of an accurate style and your weapons are steel, IMHO) / SCA allows headshots
- Clothing and accessories must be of the appropriate materials (linen, wool, silk, veg-tanned leather), weaves, colors, and patterns / SCA has no requirements for 'garb'

In short, groups like Regia Anglorum strive to look like members have just stepped out of a museum, and they fight with steel. I fought SCA for several years before deciding I needed to narrow my focus a bit, and the differences between the groups are great.

[Thrush Svartehjertet]

It's also not full contact, it's calibrated dull steel fighting. I just ran into some cats in Germany that SWEAR up down and sideways that they do full contact dull steel fighting... I dunno.

Thrush
berserk

[Orkin]

Also, we don't have to waste a lot of time building elaborate "personas". It's not LARP.
Although your "impression" should represent a specific culture and era.

[Orkin]

It's also not full contact, it's calibrated dull steel fighting. I just ran into some cats in Germany that SWEAR up down and sideways that they do full contact dull steel fighting... I dunno.

Thrush
berserk

Yeah, there are some groups that run it a lot rougher.

[Stahlgrim]

Check out the latest issue of wooden boat magazine
http://www.woodenboatstore.com/prodinfo ... er=200-206
they have a article about the skuldelve 2 replica

[Orkin]

Check out the latest issue of wooden boat magazine
http://www.woodenboatstore.com/prodinfo ... er=200-206
they have a article about the skuldelve 2 replica

Nice page with pics:
http://www.vikingtoday.com/articles/2007/20070412.htm