Everyone Is Armed: Difference between revisions

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***There was often not even a prohibition of swords to commoners; that sort of thing depended on a multitude of regional idiosyncrasies (the sociology and politics of the Middle Ages was so labyrinthine that any time you say one thing someone else can always say, "What about..."). However swords were expensive as they required the highest bladesmithing technology available to handle the stress. While a sax or a falchion did its job good enough to defend against bandits or [[Feuding Families|fight local vendettas]] and no one would want to buy a sword unless they are going to soldier for a living or are just [[The Dandy|vain]].
***There was often not even a prohibition of swords to commoners; that sort of thing depended on a multitude of regional idiosyncrasies (the sociology and politics of the Middle Ages was so labyrinthine that any time you say one thing someone else can always say, "What about..."). However swords were expensive as they required the highest bladesmithing technology available to handle the stress. While a sax or a falchion did its job good enough to defend against bandits or [[Feuding Families|fight local vendettas]] and no one would want to buy a sword unless they are going to soldier for a living or are just [[The Dandy|vain]].
***According to one account a Spanish King once mandated that everyone own a sword for militia service. So all the poor folks came around with their traditional Navajas(Spanish fighting knives)and the inspector effectively said, "close enough".
***According to one account a Spanish King once mandated that everyone own a sword for militia service. So all the poor folks came around with their traditional Navajas(Spanish fighting knives)and the inspector effectively said, "close enough".
**In England the Cinque Ports (naval militia from a chosen number of royally favored ports, originally five -- "cinque" is Italian for "five") had a corporate noble status and the Warden could enter the House of Lords. Freeholders of course usually practiced archery -- and indeed were often required to. In Scotland which had fewer knights they depended on the wild country and its wild clansmen who usually had arms for cattle thieving and feuding as well as sturdy lowlanders who could handle a pike pretty well. Switzerland had its famous pikes. And Venice had its galleys which were usually rowed by freemen perfectly capable of handling a blade.
**In England the Cinque Ports (naval militia from a chosen number of royally favored ports, originally five -- "cinque" is Latin derivative for "five") had a corporate noble status and the Warden could enter the House of Lords. Freeholders of course usually practiced archery -- and indeed were often required to. In Scotland which had fewer knights they depended on the wild country and its wild clansmen who usually had arms for cattle thieving and feuding as well as sturdy lowlanders who could handle a pike pretty well. Switzerland had its famous pikes. And Venice had its galleys which were usually rowed by freemen perfectly capable of handling a blade.
* Early Medieval Scandinavians even of fairly low status tended to have a sax(utility chopping knife), an ax(also useful for wood in the more mundane and less specialized form and thus something farmers might have), hunting weapons, the ever popular spear, and improvised equipment if nothing else suits. Some even had swords although those were rather expensive and you would probably only buy one if you thought there was a good chance you might use it. They would have all kinds of reasons for fighting from local feuds, to going on a raid, to defending against a raid(for vikings went a-viking against each other)to hiring out with some noble when he is going to war, to simply defending oneself when one travels.
* Early Medieval Scandinavians even of fairly low status tended to have a sax(utility chopping knife), an ax(also useful for wood in the more mundane and less specialized form and thus something farmers might have), hunting weapons, the ever popular spear, and improvised equipment if nothing else suits. Some even had swords although those were rather expensive and you would probably only buy one if you thought there was a good chance you might use it. They would have all kinds of reasons for fighting from local feuds, to going on a raid, to defending against a raid(for vikings went a-viking against each other)to hiring out with some noble when he is going to war, to simply defending oneself when one travels.
* Sikh men are required by religious law to carry a knife with them at all times. These days it's usually a small, ceremonial knife.
* Sikh men are required by religious law to carry a knife with them at all times. These days it's usually a small, ceremonial knife.
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