1) Are you the SCA (Society for Creative Anarchism)?
No. We focus on Living History from the 14th century. We use real armour and learn from historical combat manuscripts.
2) Do you know Bob from Beaumont that makes chain mail?
Maybe. There are hundreds of Canadians making their own mail. This is often the first type of armour beginners learn to work on.
3) Is your armour real?
Yes. Our goal is to buy and build historical armour referenced to the real pieces of the 14th century. Sorry, no plastic armour or hockey gear.
3 a) Is the armour heavy?
Not really. A full suit of historical armour can weight 65 pounds. Members have weighed their armour ranging from 75 to 95 pounds.
3 b) Didn’t knights get lifted on to their horses by cranes?
Not at all. This myth was started in the Victorian Era and continues through Hollywood movies like Danny Kaye in the Court Jester. A bunch of rubbish.
4) Is it hot (wearing armour)?
Definitely! In hot summer weather heat exhaustion is a real problem. This was a real threat to knights in the middle ages too and many died from it.
5) Do you fight with live steel or battle ready swords?
There is no such thing as "live steel". “Battle ready” swords may be overly sharp and are used for cutting practices. Our blades are rebated (rounded edges) made from unsharpened aluminum or steel as seen in stage and movie productions. Rebated swords were used by knights in historical tournaments.
6) Those swords must be heavy, right?
Historically, short swords were only around 3 lbs while the great two handed swords may weight 5 lbs. You would never be able to swing heavy swords for any length of time needed for real battles.
7) Do you get hurt?
Sometimes injuries do occur (cuts and bruises usually) but we practice weekly, wear gloves, rehearse for shows, focus on telegraphing our swings, and controlling the strength of the blow.
8) Are you wearing wigs?
No. The hair is real.
9 a) Weren't knights only 4 or 5 feet tall?
No. Medieval men were similar in height to today's man. Men were actually shortest during the 17th and 18th centuries accordingly to modern studies. There are historical suits of armour in the Metropolitan Museum in New York where men from Germany were as tall as 6'3"while others from Italy were just over 5' tall.
9 b) Why are the doorways so short then?
Short doorways in castles, towers and other fortified buildings are short for a reason. What is the first thing an enemy has to do when entering the next room? Duck! This way doorways could be guarded by only a few men chopping at the back of the necks of their enemies.
10) Do women wear corsets in the Middle Ages?
Sorry, but they were not worn until the 16th century or Renaissance period.
11) Isn't the Renaissance in the Middle Ages?
The Renaissance is often referred to as the period in history after the Middle Ages (9th to 15th centuries). Some scholars debate it started in Italy in the 14th century.
12) Were there Vikings in the Middle Ages?
Yes! They were found in Europe from the 8th to 11th centuries.
13) Were women knighted?
Of course they were. This was used for recognition of service. Whether they were trained to go to war is another issue.
14) _________________ ?
Any other questions? Just e-mail us!
Warning:
All questions and answers posted are to be taken in the context of Canadian humour!
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