Rolf Devinci

Being a history nerd from an early age, enamored by Greek myths and legends, I have always desired a replica of a Corinthian helmet so popular during the late Archaic and early Classical period of ancient Greece. Finally purchased from Amazon an example of the style for the man cave/armory as a birthday gift to myself. As most of the historical replica industry is based in India this helmet arrived from Historic Handicrafts fairly quickly via UPS and was well packaged. The helmet itself was enclosed in plastic and was very well oiled to prevent rust. Unlike the copper originals modern replicas are most often forged from 18 gauge steel. For about $110 CDN I was happy with the product. There were no sharp edges on the helmet, the brass painted finish was well done and the plume's base was of a suede material. Inside the helmet was an adjustable leather liner which enabled one to customize the fit. The horsehair plume was bent to the left. Whether it was made that way or the result of...

 Having purchased an actual straw archery target to replace my worn out DIY target bags I decided to take the plunge and acquire an archery specific backstop netting. Made from a tightly knitted synthetic fabric it was marketed as a netting to stop field point arrows. Currently I was using some kind of felted material as part of a permanent backstop which was showing its age after many years exposed to the elements. I liked the idea of a portable netting that could be carried to a location and set up between two trees or poles. It could add some diversity to my shooting and roving of the woods. A extra large beach bag would complete the ensemble of netting and target and let me discreetly transport both to a shooting location. The question was whether it would perform as advertised so off to the woods I went to do a product review. Using some paracord and the preholed grommets it was simple to hang the tarp as instructed with the bottom unsecured so it could billow and absorb the i...

 Having stumbled upon Mitsoh while online I was intrigued by the products of this indigenous company based in the Wabasca Bigstone Cree nation in Alberta Canada. For years I have been consuming a more traditional diet trying to limit the negative impact of the standard American diet; high processed foods loaded with sugars, preservatives, chemicals and often defunct of healthy fats and nutrients. Since the 1970's we have been misled about dietary nutrition but improved nutritional science is now refuting that bad advice. My takeaway after years of dietary self experimentation was the realization that a standardized cookie cutter approach to diet is suspect and that individuals need to determine what foods work well for them, what foods are neutral and what foods do harm. I discovered that low carb/ high(er) protein diets are optimal for me in combination with an avoidance of sugars, seed oils, nightshade vegetables all while limiting grains, fruits and dairy consumption.  As a...

 Purchased a Pompei Gladius from Reliks as a gift to myself and as an addition to the existing Roman panoply in the armory. Years ago my son had bought a legionary kit and while most of the pieces were historically accurate (in a modern reproduction sense) the gladius was a stainless steel wall hanger.  I figured it was time to upgrade the kit with an appropriate blade for an enlisted Roman legionary. I opted for the Deepeeka gladius as it fitted the criteria perfectly - a simple but functional sword that was historically accurate. Made of EN45 carbon steel with a full tang diamond cross section, a guard, grip and hilt made of wood and a wood lined leather scabbard with simple bronzed accents. Nothing special but rather a working soldier's blade. The price was right as well listed at $153.99 CDN. That said the fit and finish is surprisingly good for such a budget gladius. The gladius is straight with some ripples upon the blade which denotes a hand forging. It possesses a poin...

 Added a replica of a Greek Xiphos to my armory collection in 2022. An iconic blade from antiquity it was one that was on my radar for some time but I was never able to source an affordable sword or one that appealed to me esthetically in terms of build quality and construction. I have recently began searching Etsy as well as the usual mainstream companies that deal in historical collectables and decided to purchase a xiphos from a Nepalese forge. The reviews for Everestforge were very promising and the pictures of the blade upon Etsy were very nice. The original price was very competitive but at the time of purchase was listed on sale at 25% off with free shipping. Total cost was just over $200 CDN. This xiphos has a straight 21 inch blade of carbon steel with an overall length of 27 inches. Weighs in at a respectable 1.5 pounds give or take a few ounces. It possesses a double edged subtle leaf shape with a diamond cross section. Looking down the blade you can see some grind and f...

Having managed to somehow find full time work in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic I was financially able to expand my armory with a purchase of the Cold Steel Scottish broadsword. An iconic weapon of the 18th century Highlander the basket hilted sword is synonymous with all things Scottish and as recognizable as kilts and tartans. Having some Scottish lineage - a grandfather belonging to the highland Morrison clan I have always been intrigued by the history and culture of Scotland. I had been considering a basket hilt for awhile and my choices came down to the Cold Steel broadsword or a Hanwei offering; either the broadsword or backsword. I wanted to support a Canadan retailer in these troubled times by supporting local, regional or national companies as businesses are struggling during the economic impact of the pandemic. Eventually I discovered Dragon Impact online via Amazon, a business based on the West Coast who had one remaining...

I have been looking to add a traditional Seax to my medieval collection and discovered an unique design available at The Medieval Shoppe based in Australia. Called the Dublin Seax it is a reproduction of a seax from the late Viking era.  With an overall length of 19" (47.5 cm) it is a substantial blade and falls within the midrange of historical seaxes. It could easily be used as both a camp knife and a warrior's sidearm. The seax was a traditional knife used by Germanic peoples during the Migration period into the early Medieval period. They varied in length but usually were of the broken back variety of utility blade with a steep descending angle from the spine towards the tip. In regards to the Dublin seax the broken back is less acute with more of a Bowie knife style of point.  This reproduction also features a pommel made of solid brass and adorned with Celtic knotwork. Not sure if it is based upon a historical example but pommels were not typically foun...

 Picked up a primitive great helm otherwise known as an enclosed helmet to add to my medieval armory collection. Produced by GDFB ( Get Dressed For Battle) the familiar flat top crusader style helmet is made of 14 gauge steel, lined with a leather suspension system, weighs in at about eight pounds and is WMA authorized for combat sport. The enclosed helmet first appeared around the end of the 12th century after Norman nasal helms began to evolve with added face protection and a square profile. In retrospect the cylinder flat top profile seems counter intuitive and a step back from the conical deflective properties of spangenhelms but became the dominant helmet design of the high middle ages with sugar loaf and great helm versions being used into the 14th century. Typically worn with a padded cap and chainmail coif the enclosed helmet was probably developed in response to the use of heavy lances by armored knights and massed archers upon the medieval battlefield...

With an apparent early Spring and some unseasonal warm weather of late I had the opportunity to test my latest bow acquisition - a hickory longbow purchased from EBay vendor KP Archery this past winter. With an eye for reenactment I wanted a ELB that looked medieval traditional but was also functional. This simple but well made bow fit the bill perfectly. A self bow of American hickory it is 72 inches in length pulling #45@28 and came unfinished with a simp!e Flemish twist string. I was familiar with KP Archery's products as my first bow was a flatbow purchased several years ago which I still possess and continue to use. It has been bomb proof so I had no doubt the ELB would not disappoint but I was anxious to loose some arrows as soon as the weather permitted. A sanding and several coats of marine urethane later the bow was ready to shoot. I added a simple jute twine grip to complete the look and then waited for Spring. This is a very nice basic D bow that...