Medieval Arms And Armour Quiz#1

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| By Tyler.seegmiller

Tyler.seegmiller

Community Contributor

Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 1,573

Questions: 10 | Attempts: 1,573 | Updated: Mar 21, 2023

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How much do you really know about medieval arms and armour?
For more info please watch these youtubers videos!
Skallagrim
Lindeybeige
ScholaGladitoria
Also note I'm not an expert in this field It's only a hobby to me.

Questions and Answers

1.

How much did swords usually weigh?
- A.
  
  Swords weighed anywhere from 10-15 lbs each depending on the size and material.
- B.
  
  That light naw I read they were at least 60lbs at the lightest!
- C.
  
  On average most swords weighed in at around 2-3 lbs with larger swords sometimes weighing up to 4lbs.
- D.
  
  Swords you mean spears right?
Correct Answer
C. On average most swords weighed in at around 2-3 lbs with larger swords sometimes weighing up to 4lbs.

Explanation
"Despite frequent claims to the contrary, Medieval swords were indeed light, manageable, and on average weighed less than four pounds. As leading sword expert Ewart Oakeshott unequivocally stated: "Medieval Swords are neither unwieldably heavy nor all alike - the average weight of any one of normal size is between 2.5 lb. and 3.5 lbs."

http://www.thearma.org/essays/weights.htm#.VjA4HberTcs

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2.

True or False: While Japanese swords were very sharp and nimble European swords were heavy and dull so they could crush armour.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
False. Why would you fight with a dull cutting weapon? That's what maces were for!

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/showthread.php?105673-Debunking-European-Sword-Myths

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3.

Rapiers were thin, light, swords designed only for the thrust and could break if used to cut, they were primarily used in civilian life.
- A.
  
  Yes they were all of the above.
- B.
  
  No, rapiers were thin and light but were invented to out maneuver the Easts favored weapon the Katana. Swords were illegal for regular peasants and farmers because kings feared revolt from an armed population.
- C.
  
  Yes but they were really only for show, guns quickly made swords of any kind obsolete to the public.
- D.
  
  No Rapiers were no thinner than other swords of the time, some were very thin others were not. They were exceptional at thrusting but some could be used to cut though the balance point prevented deep cuts and made the sword seem lighter than other swords though it was not. Civilians wore it for quite some time.
Correct Answer
D. No Rapiers were no thinner than other swords of the time, some were very thin others were not. They were exceptional at thrusting but some could be used to cut though the balance point prevented deep cuts and made the sword seem lighter than other swords though it was not. Civilians wore it for quite some time.

Explanation
D) Rapiers varied greatly between each smith. True rapiers, and sword rapiers were different weapons and its impossible to determine exactly which was which. Each blade was unique and so handled/behaved differently in a fight. These were not used in war hardly ever due to their specialization in fighting only a handful of lightly or unarmored swordsmen, large amounts of armored soldiers with pole arms and axes would kill a rapierist in war. Rapiers usually weighed as much as arming swords and were longer than some longswords.

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4.

Katanas were superior to longswords due to the two-three months of folding the high quality steel was given in a forge. Not only that they were sharpened for so long they could cut through machine gun barrels in WW2.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
False. Japanese iron was inferior to European BUT they did create mechanical Damascus steel by folding the steel pushing out impurities and creating very high quality steel in comparison to what they were originally given in the end creating sword steel equal to or sometimes surpassing European steel depending on the smith. And while they were very sharp they were no where near sharp enough to cut heat treated armour or thick modern steel.

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5.

Greatswords were often used like a spear one hand on the hilt and one on a dull portion of the blade.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
A. True

Explanation
Yes this was common it increased the accuracy of the sword significantly and made close quarters combat possible.

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6.

When fighting a fully armoured opponent a swordsman would...
- A.
  
  Cut through the weak plates on the shoulders.
- B.
  
  Lunge full force this could sometimes pierce the armour enough to kill the enemy.
- C.
  
  Hold the sword by the blade and either stab in the gaps or use the hilt like a mace with the blade as the handle.
- D.
  
  "End him rightly" and as directed by old medieval texts throw you're pommel at him and while he's distracted stab his eyes through the visor with your sword.
Correct Answer
C. Hold the sword by the blade and either stab in the gaps or use the hilt like a mace with the blade as the handle.

Explanation
Don't believe me? watch the link below! BTW "ending him rightly" was actually a method in an old manuscript that well...doesn't really work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwuQPfvSSlo

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7.

Bows were easy to use weapons that untrained peasents used to kill unarmored opponents.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
Some bows were easy to draw back but some warbows could be up to 110 lbs! just to pull back one arrow! (yes some mounted archers used 35 lb bows but they were hit and run harassing groups) Archers trained for a long time to reach military standard, English long bowmen shot anywhere from 5-20 arrows a minuet throughout a battle.

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8.

What trait did swordsmen use most?
- A.
  
  Strength
- B.
  
  Dexterity
- C.
  
  Endurance
- D.
  
  All of the above?
Correct Answer
D. All of the above?

Explanation
Seriously one could never survive with one. Dexterity was a prime factor to all sword fighting, but strength in beating, and blocking was important, and endurance was important in maintaining a fight.

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9.

Crossbows shot farther than bows but were less accurate.
- A.
  
  True
- B.
  
  False
Correct Answer
B. False

Explanation
It's the opposite bows shot much farther but crossbows were better at aiming and especially good at sniping.

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10.

How did knights get on to horses?
- A.
  
  They used a crane to hoist the knight into the saddle.
- B.
  
  They pulled themselves up?
- C.
  
  Armoured knights didn't use horses they used Narwhals armed with sub machine guns.
- D.
  
  Horses were trained to kneel to make it easier to mount.
Correct Answer
B. They pulled themselves up?

Explanation
Armour was only like 50-60 lbs distributed all about your body it wasn't that hard to mount a horse.

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Current Version
Mar 21, 2023

Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team
Oct 27, 2015

Quiz Created by
Tyler.seegmiller

Medieval ARMS And Armour Quiz#1

How much did swords usually weigh?

True or False: While Japanese swords were very sharp and nimble European swords were heavy and dull so they could crush armour.

Rapiers were thin, light, swords designed only for the thrust and could break if used to cut, they were primarily used in civilian life.

Katanas were superior to longswords due to the two-three months of folding the high quality steel was given in a forge. Not only that they were sharpened for so long they could cut through machine gun barrels in WW2.

Greatswords were often used like a spear one hand on the hilt and one on a dull portion of the blade.

When fighting a fully armoured opponent a swordsman would...

Bows were easy to use weapons that untrained peasents used to kill unarmored opponents.

What trait did swordsmen use most?

Crossbows shot farther than bows but were less accurate.

How did knights get on to horses?