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I've just joined a viking re-enactment society, it seems lots of fun (alas another pricy hobby!). I was just curious if anyone else here also did this kind of thing as a friend also does both, and if so does anyone know any good places for buying equipment, e.g. gloves, helmet and sword. I have a couple of sites so far but options for battle ready swords, especially viking ones safe to use in battles seem pretty low in that I've only found one sword so far that ticks the right boxes.

LARPing Vikings? Not my thing, but it sounds like simple fun. At least it's better than the furry LARP events. Never again...

Ahem, anyway, it's not hard to find places that stock realistic medieval weapons. Is there a large regular market around your area? I often go to the saturday market in town. There's a stall there that sells stuff like weapons and armour. I myself bought...
-a pair of steel gauntlets (leather gloves with armour plating)
-a nifty replica Rohirrim helmet (from the Lord of the Rings)
-a buckler (small shield)
-and a wonderful replica hobbit sword, from the Lord of the Rings. It's not sharp (duh), but it's cool to own. It's pretty easy to wield too, thanks to its small size, and it's my weapon of choice for swordplay.

And that came out to roughly $500 AUD.

There is but those weapons/helmets don't meet the safety standards for re-enactment. It's not larping in the usual way, more an historical society - no rubber weapons, magic missiles/finger of death etc. It seems to be treated as more of a contact sport from what I've learn't so far. The deputy trainer was going through his injuries, several cuts, bangs to the head, shattered nose etc.

I think any market selling those things in the UK would be shut down pretty quickly.

Covenant, do you live anywhere near Chester? There is a great shop on the rows that has a room full of weaponry. Anything from full suits of roman armour to axes, swords and shields. I'd post a link to their online store but they don't have one. Which is kinda appropriate for a medieval shop.

Yeah, I'm not too far away. Might check that out when I get chance. Think I've seen it before but it was closed so didn't go in. Not having a website does seem to be a running theme I keep bumping into. The one's I've found seem to be BIG shops or places that do well enough to have their own forge.

A few friends of mine are part of the 'sealed knot' society, and do most of the civil war re-enactments around the country. I'll ask them next time i'm in the pub.

What's really ironic is that I'm not allowed to own an automatic rifle, but it's perfectly legal for me to own a razor-sharp katana.

That would be most appreciated J.Black, thank you.

And Cheese Elemental it's always amused me how easy it is to buy a sword and not a gun!

Because two fireman with a ladder can stop you and your razor sharp katana (true story). An automatic rifle requires someone to be armed with a quality slingshot, and that costs at least $10 more to equip.

Semi-automatic i could half agree with, but what call is there for a fully automatic rifle?! For those occasions when twenty people break into your house at the same time?

In case the deer attack?

Look out Ned, its coming right for us!

Darn those deer, I'm getting sick of them breaking into my house in huge mobs. Gonna need more ammo.....

Exactly. Now if those deer are carrying bronzed edge weapons, well then the katana would be more appropriate.

Don't forget the phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range. That'll take out a good chunk of them.

I live near Tewksbury where a Medieval re-enactment take place every year. Weapons dealers aplenty ply their wares to there, so are defiantly plenty of places to purchase kit.

If you pop to WHSmith you should b able to find a magazine called Skirmish which appears to be about Re-enacting. Bound to be some good stuff there. I've not read it myself, but it can be found next to the Wargaming magazines normally.

Have been invited to BAttle Of Tewsbury this year by a friend, mid July isn't it?

These guys are reliable: http://www.reenactorsmarket.co.uk/

I did early dark age re-enactment for 15 years or so c.AD500 period stuff. Loved it beat the hell out of wargaming that's for sure. Unfortunately age and family commitments meant it went the way of all things and now most of my friends have moved away it wouldn't be the same anyhow.

Back in the day (ooh, about 1986 or so) traders were few and far between and we pretty much had to make everything ourselves. Some of my friends are still at it, but alas too far away from my current location for me to realistically keep up my involvement as much as I'd like. Apart from the occasional reminisce and the odd visit to my mate's project down in Wales, I haven't touched a spear in anger since 2002 or so:

http://www.millennia.f2s.com/

This is me (on the left) and a mate from a good few years back (1990'ish):



There are some good guides on how to make basic clothing etc., that would reasonably easily translate to a Viking period.: http://www.millennia.f2s.com/kitguide.htm

Its a hobby that doesn't need to be *that* expensive. Sure weapons can get pricey, but a spear and a knife can be cheap enough, and home made clothing is a cinch. Everything else is gravy to be bought/made as time and finances allow.

Back when I used to fight I always much preferred "private" affairs off in the woods somewhere rather than displays for the public. They were always much more fun. And to be honest, I rarely got hurt fighting. Making kit was alwyas much more lethal! I still have the scars from sewing my last pair of boots!

If you are serious about re-enactment, like Romans and live in Britain, I would suggest the Ermine Street Guard. They supply kit for an annual fee I believe. I strongly recommend it to anyone and I am going to try to get in when I am 16, possibly.

The OC-D

covenant84 wrote:Have been invited to BAttle Of Tewsbury this year by a friend, mid July isn't it?

Indeed, it's the biggest medieval re-enactment in the country and is usually mid July. It's a cracking day out and the Battle is well worth seeing.

Hmm, since you all are overseas I dont have a clue as to what/where you can get stuff.

The Group im apart of uses real metal weapons (rounded edges) for all our combat, so our Armour has a ton of guidelines that have to be met.

Ive ordered from these guys before. They rock. Will make anything to meet any of your custom specs and are really well priced! All steel is 16g and full contact ready.

http://www.pitbullarmory.com/body.html
Website

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZ60j86hPN0
Cool video showing off the Non metal pieces.

Larping,I love it.Don't you perhaps have a blacksmith in town you can ask to make you weapons?

You can kit yourself out for a reasonable price, just remember that alot of Vikings would of been huscarl's. This meant they would of had been protected by thick leather and armed with an axe. Trouble is we always want the best so we start looking at swords, helmets and chainmail Very nice, but expensive.

What you want to go as determines how expensive your gear will be. If you went as a baresark or ulfsark, you just need a weapon, a loincloth, and a bear or wolf skin.

If, like me, you prefer being a medieval warrior, you have to pay for expensive things like chain mail and fine steel weapons.

The groups tend to use swords and helmets (think the public like it better, and they also double up as saxon re-enactier as well.)