Show here your Germanic warrior impression

Show here your Germanic warrior impression - Printable Version

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Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - Dain II. - 07-27-2009

AGL! Marvelous! I am realy impressed, Redwald! I want this kit too, so jealous! 8) Confused

hock:

Quote:The Germanic warrior hold the javelins vertical, which means that it didn't had an horizontal handle, would be impossible to otherwise hold the javelins and the shield!

It is possible! You've got a thumb, do you?!

Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - Phalanx300 - 07-27-2009

Quote:It is possible! You've got a thumb, do you?!

I gues it would be possible to hold it with your dumbs but that would be a very annoying and hard way to hold multiple javelins, let alone a annoying way to hold a shield without your thumb. It would be easier if you hold the handle and the direction of the javelins in the same direction.

Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - Alanus - 08-21-2009

I'm new to this thread, but noticed the discussion on the vertical javelins and horizontal hand grasp of the shield. I always thought that most shields had a vertical hand-hold, which to me makes sense. A horizontal grasp would be asking for trouble: an enemy coming at you could kick low on your shield, and you get slammed in the shins by your own shield. If the attacker slams hard on the upper part of your (horizontal-held) shield, you get smacked in the face by the shield's rim, probably a broken nose. The horizontal hold is not ergonomic nor does it seem to make sense. You cannot control your shield unless you tip it sideways... until the hand-hold is finally vertical. :roll:

Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - jvrjenivs - 08-21-2009

Quote:I'm new to this thread, but noticed the discussion on the vertical javelins and horizontal hand grasp of the shield. I always thought that most shields had a vertical hand-hold, which to me makes sense. A horizontal grasp would be asking for trouble: an enemy coming at you could kick low on your shield, and you get slammed in the shins by your own shield. If the attacker slams hard on the upper part of your (horizontal-held) shield, you get smacked in the face by the shield's rim, probably a broken nose. The horizontal hold is not ergonomic nor does it seem to make sense. You cannot control your shield unless you tip it sideways... until the hand-hold is finally vertical. :roll:

Although I'm more knowledgeable about Roman context finds, but know of some Germanic stuff, I wouldn't agree with you on some points. You are totally right stating that a horizontal held shield could kick you legs or your upper body. But, to me it seems that most Germanic shields were rather small, so they wouldn't reach to you face at all (so no harm to the nose could be done. Also, a vertical hold shield is harder to carry. (Don't know if this is purely something I think because I'm more used to horizontal handles, but have fight with vertical as well), but I think I'm right in stating so, because of the ergonomics involved in the wrist when holding the shield.

Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - Sascha - 08-21-2009

I got a shield with horizontal grip and get no problems.
If you move or fight the normal physic of the hand is little tilt, so the shield axis is never vertical.
'It is tilt to.
Only the move with the shield, like boxing the enemy, will get your the hand horizontal and the shield vertical, but now you have now a long arm an the small shield can not reach the face.

Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - Medicus matt - 08-21-2009

I've made and used both types.
Horizontal grips do work well with long shields, especially curved ones. In a tight formation, you can really get in hard behind the shield and brace it with the whole side of your body, rather than just your shoulder and thigh which is the case with a vertical grip.
Also, when using the shield dynamically in open order you don't hold it square on in front of you but at an angle across the body, this allows you to brace with your forearm, meaning that you can put a lot of force into sweeping with the shield when using it defensively as well as being able to punch with it offensively.

With a round shield....how can you tell WHICH way up you should hold it? :wink:

Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - Conal - 08-21-2009

Quote:With a round shield....how can you tell WHICH way up you should hold it? :wink:

by the picture on the front of course :roll:

Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - Alanus - 08-22-2009

Thanks for the input, guys. Smile

I had always wondered about the two different handholds and why? As Matt points out: since a Germanic shield is small and round, it can easily be tilted to cover several situations. I sometimes carry a long oval Auxilliary shield which has the horizontal hold, and I've often felt that an enemy's well-placed kick could do me harm. But perhaps in the really old days in Europe, not many men would think of attacking with their feet. (I watch too many kung fu movies. :roll: )

Re: Show here your Germanic warrior impression - hengist - 08-27-2009

Hello

I'm Hengist, first i apologizebecause i speak the worst english that is possible.... I'm the leader of the french group "Le Musée Itinérant" => [url:25fwtnk4]http://lemusee.canalblog.com/[/url]
We "are" merovingian...

Here is my Germanic warrior impression from a burial of VI°century of the Vron cimetery in Picardy (France)

[Image: SG1L7488.JPG]