Inscribed Swiss Baselard found in the Thames!🗡️ #museum #swords #medieval

This video from the Royal Armouries features Scot Hurst, Curator of Asian & African Collections, discussing an elaborate Jian sword from the early Chinese Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Jian, a straight, double-edged sword, had largely been replaced by the Dao for military use by this era but remained a prized status weapon for ceremony and rank. The sword's intricate metalwork is compared to other objects from the Ming court, suggesting it may have been a gift to a Tibetan monastery, with a pattern-welded blade possibly of Tibetan origin added later. The video explores the sword's history, craftsmanship, and potential ownership.

This video features blacksmiths Paul Stoddart (Kingdom Forge) and Daniel Goodwin (Firehound Forge) demonstrating traditional blacksmithing skills at the Royal Armouries. They are shown crafting a unique replica medieval arming sword for the museum as part of the "Dangerous Arts" summer event. The description also links to a blog interview with the blacksmiths.

This video showcases the traditional blacksmithing skills of Kingdom Forge as they create a 15th-century arming sword replica for the Royal Armouries. The blacksmiths demonstrate their craft as part of the museum's "Dangerous Arts" summer event, offering insights into historical sword-making techniques for a unique museum piece.

This video features Ian McCollum and Jonathan Ferguson in a 60-second challenge at the Royal Armouries to find three unique firearms: a Charlton Automatic Rifle, a Schwarzlose Model 1898 pistol, and an early SA80 prototype. They discuss unusual mechanical operations and limited historical impact, highlighting experimental designs like the Sterling 7.62mm prototype and the Mars .45 Automatic Pistol.

The Knight's Armament KS-1, designated L403A1 by the British Army, is a new AR-15 platform rifle adopted for specialized units like the Army Special Operations Brigade and Royal Marines. It features a 13.7-inch barrel, ambidextrous controls, and is equipped with a Vortex 1-10x LPVO and an Aimpoint ACRO P-2 for versatile engagement ranges. The rifle utilizes a KAC QDC/MCQ-PRT suppressor and is part of 'Project Hunter' to enhance interoperability with allied forces.

This video details the armor and weaponry of an 11th-century Norman knight, emphasizing the evolution of protective gear. It covers the padded undergarments, the mail hauberk constructed from thousands of iron rings, and the nasal helmet for head protection. The kite shield offered significant defense, while primary weapons included the lance and a one-handed sword.

This video explores a unique modernization attempt of the Martini-Henry rifle using Captain Harston's Patent Magazine. Jonathan Ferguson details the Mark IV rifle's features and the external magazine's mechanism, designed to convert the single-shot rifle into a five-round repeater. Despite its ingenuity, the system faced issues with reliability, high conversion costs, and was ultimately overshadowed by superior bolt-action designs like the Lee-Metford.