Rolf Devinci

 Although often over shadowed by its sibling, Lorica Segmentata, the chain maile haubert Lorica Hamata was extensively used by legionaries of both the Roman Republic and Empire.Originating with the Celtic tribes of Europe the Roman's quickly realized the protective qualities of maile and adopted the use of the armor for their legions. Not only does maile offer good protection from slashing weapons but it is far more comfortable to wear and field repair. Maile is heavy but the use of a waist belt supports the weight upon the hips not unlike a modern rucksack. More importantly maile moves with the body so is far less restrictive than a stiff linothorax or plated armors. Additional protection from blunt force trauma can be gained by wearing padded clothing under the mail in addition to the usual linen or wool tunic. It is surmised that legionaries may have worn a subarmalis, an early variant of the medieval gamberson.   Maile was also modified to suit the military tactics of the ...

Finally decided to purchase a Viking era sword replica to complete my Anglo Saxon/Viking  reenactment kit. It was the last major purchase that needed to be made to round out the ensemble. Purchased from the Medieval Shoppe based in Australia after I saw they were offering an 18% discount in recognition of 18000 followers on social media. Factoring in the favorable exchange rate between the Aussie and Canadian dollars, the overall price of the sword at $208 plus the discount it was to good to pass up. Arrived very well packaged and quickly with the blade and sheath being well wrapped and oiled. Initial impressions were favorable for a functional replica of a Viking age sword from that period of history. It possesses a type four blade design and a variation of a type S hilt design so it is historical but not a pure example of a type four blade as it is a little shorter and narrower than earlier blades of the period. Blade is sharp and tapers somewh...

Purchased a primitive Scottish dirk to compliment my basket hilt broadsword. Forged by Windlass Steelcrafts of India this blade is far from primitive considering the fit and finish of the dagger. Initial impressions suggest a very stout and functional blade and only primitive in the sense it predates the more ornate dirks of the 19th century. The Scottish dirk evolved from the medieval rondell and bollocks daggers of the 14th and 15th century and became the favored sidearm and utility knife of the Scottish highlander.By the 17th century the dagger had became a cultural symbol of the Highlands and personal oaths were often made upon the steel of the blade. "The dirk occupies an unique niche in Highland culture and history....virtually every Male carried a dirk everywhere. If in Japan the katana was the soul of the Samurai, in Scotland the dirk was the heart of the Highlander". This particular style of dirk with simplistic design of blad...

Frankish, Anglo Saxon and Nordic (Viking) era kit from the late migration/early medieval period.  Chain mail hauberks were becoming more common, usually 3/4 length sleeves and groin length. Worn over linen or wool tunics (and most likely some kind of padded gambeson apparel). Winnegas or leg wraps made of strips of wool were still fashionable over trousers worn from knee to ankle. Seaxes continued to be the most commonly used blade and were utilized as multi purpose camp and combat knives of varying length. They were generally of the brokeback variety with only a single sharpened edge. Often carried horizontally  suspended from a belt either on the front or back. Swords remain prohibitively expensive and most often used by nobility and elite warriors who possessed some means to afford such a status symbol. As a result axes and spears are commonly used by the majority of combatants. Axe design was somewhat standard with most being of the bear...

Gearing up a 12th century knight/ Man at Arms. The 12th century witnessed the martial influence of the Norman's within Western Europe in regards to the use of full body chain mail and the shared experiences from the Crusades contributing the use of surcoats and the development of pot, sugarloaf and flat top helmets. It was also the beginnings of heraldry and the advancements of rudimentary plate armor. Gambeson quilted leg and chain mail chausses belted over hose, braies and linen undershirt. Suspended from a belt or a type of girdle the chain mail chausses were also supported by ties below the knee and above the ankles. Quilted gambeson and padded forearm vambraces. Gambesons began to get longer with full sleeves in response to improved chain mail 3/4 length haubergeons developed and used by Norman cavalry. Chain mail hauberk. By the end of the 12th century the 4 in 1 pattern chain mail hauberk had evolved into the 3/4 length haubergeon, often with a front/ back split to facilitat...