Greetings from an "inveterate voyager"!
Aug 10, 2012 3:10:36 GMT
Post by Direwolf_22 on Aug 10, 2012 3:10:36 GMT
A "long time lurker" I've been reading SBG since 2007, & receiving their newsletter since 2009, but I've finally "joined up proper" and am excited to be a part of such an awesome community!
Although my passport says I'm a 4th generation American citizen, most of my roots can be traced to "norrœnir menn" (northmen) both directly (through my Swedish and Norwegian grandparents) and indirectly (through my English, Irish, and Scottish grandparents) which I suppose is where I draw both my wanderlust and my love for weapons...
I have most recently been living in Europe, but my "resident" state is now Florida. (Despite having been born in Napa Valley, CA and living most of my life overseas...)
An amateur "connoisseur" of weapons, I want WAY more than my budget will allow....
I love working with leather, wood, metal, and many other materials to re-create historic items and fashion new ones. While I know some things about forging and sword-making, I still have a lot to learn (my biggest blade to date is 11.5inch X 0.25inch).
I love history too much to settle on just ONE historical "period," but the closest would have to be Sagas, a "time out of time." Especially knowing that "vikingr" went as far east as Afghanistan and as far west as at LEAST Canada, I like to create my own stories, throwing in a lot of "could-have-beens" rather than only sticking to "undisputed" history.
I like the character idea of a well traveled Norseman, with some style & flair picked up from travels to the middle east but forging a name for himself by trailblazing to the "New World"... so some old, some new, some Norse, some not... I've also (as I'm sure you can see by my weapons choices) been quite influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Sir Walter Scott, George RR Martin, Geoffrey Chaucer, Chrétien de Troyes, and so many more amazing authors!
My Favourite Weapons -
Melee:
(I like most swords, though I'm a bit partial to "Bastard" style sword grips)
Oakeshotte X, XIIa, XIIIa, XX
"Great-sword" inspired "fantasy" swords (as long as they're still a little bit realistic)
Basket-hilt broadsword
Not really my thing, but I do find *some* battle-axes (like Gimli's) attractive...
War-hammer (recently I've been inspired to create something akin to Mjolnir)
Various daggers - (including some oriental/middle eastern) but as usual, I tend to lean more towards nordic/celt for style & design
Ranged:
Recurve bow (I really like the pattern described by Tolkien of Lothlorien bows)
Stylized Crossbow (for crossbow I lean more towards "fantasy" than history)
Throwing knives
Kunai
Shields:
Round (Nordic/Rohirrim style)
Tear-drop
Oval/Oblong (made famous by the "Roman" (Germanic/Celtic) Auxilia)
Armour:
Mail Hauberk (with elbow length sleeves) under a leather Brigandine
Leather Pauldrons & Vambrace
Modified Coppergate helm (if any), with attached mail to protect the neck & shoulders
I look forward to many informative discussions, as well as the many friends I hope to make!
Although my passport says I'm a 4th generation American citizen, most of my roots can be traced to "norrœnir menn" (northmen) both directly (through my Swedish and Norwegian grandparents) and indirectly (through my English, Irish, and Scottish grandparents) which I suppose is where I draw both my wanderlust and my love for weapons...
I have most recently been living in Europe, but my "resident" state is now Florida. (Despite having been born in Napa Valley, CA and living most of my life overseas...)
An amateur "connoisseur" of weapons, I want WAY more than my budget will allow....
I love working with leather, wood, metal, and many other materials to re-create historic items and fashion new ones. While I know some things about forging and sword-making, I still have a lot to learn (my biggest blade to date is 11.5inch X 0.25inch).
I love history too much to settle on just ONE historical "period," but the closest would have to be Sagas, a "time out of time." Especially knowing that "vikingr" went as far east as Afghanistan and as far west as at LEAST Canada, I like to create my own stories, throwing in a lot of "could-have-beens" rather than only sticking to "undisputed" history.
I like the character idea of a well traveled Norseman, with some style & flair picked up from travels to the middle east but forging a name for himself by trailblazing to the "New World"... so some old, some new, some Norse, some not... I've also (as I'm sure you can see by my weapons choices)
been quite influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Sir Walter Scott, George RR Martin, Geoffrey Chaucer, Chrétien de Troyes, and so many more amazing authors!My Favourite Weapons -
Melee:
(I like most swords, though I'm a bit partial to "Bastard" style sword grips)
Oakeshotte X, XIIa, XIIIa, XX
"Great-sword" inspired "fantasy" swords (as long as they're still a little bit realistic)
Basket-hilt broadsword
Not really my thing, but I do find *some* battle-axes (like Gimli's) attractive...
War-hammer (recently I've been inspired to create something akin to Mjolnir)
Various daggers - (including some oriental/middle eastern) but as usual, I tend to lean more towards nordic/celt for style & design
Ranged:
Recurve bow (I really like the pattern described by Tolkien of Lothlorien bows)
Stylized Crossbow (for crossbow I lean more towards "fantasy" than history)
Throwing knives
Kunai
Shields:
Round (Nordic/Rohirrim style)
Tear-drop
Oval/Oblong (made famous by the "Roman" (Germanic/Celtic) Auxilia)
Armour:
Mail Hauberk (with elbow length sleeves) under a leather Brigandine
Leather Pauldrons & Vambrace
Modified Coppergate helm (if any), with attached mail to protect the neck & shoulders
I look forward to many informative discussions, as well as the many friends I hope to make!
