I have made a new blog in danish mirroring this one, as an extra service to my countrymen who do not speak english.
Visit "Engelske-langbuer-genskabt" for at translation of this blog.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
This years medieval events...
I've been hired to entertain with my show at 4 different events this year.
20th - 22nd of May, a small market being the second of its kind near the city of Viborg.
Viborg is one of the oldest towns in Denmark, with Viking settlements dating back to the 8th century. Its central location gave the town great strategic importance, in political and religious matters, during the Middle ages. A motte-and-baily-type castle was once located in the town. Viborg takes its name from a combination of two words: Wii, meaning a holy place, and berg, meaning a hill.
Visit http://www.middelalderliv.dk/ for more information.
16th - 24th of July, one of the bigger markets having it's 10th anniversary this year at the small castle of Voergaard.
The oldest parts of Voergaard castle dates back to 1481, but today none of the medieval features are left and the castle is that of a renaissance castle - and one of the best kept in Denmark. It is located in the northern part of Jutland near the city of Dronninglund. Well visited the medieval market hosts soldiers, craftmen, jousting knights on horseback and longbowmen. There will be medieval music playing, jogglers and stories being told.
Visit http://www.middelalderdage.dk/ for more information.
6th - 7th of August, going on the third year Nysted medieval market is well worth a trip to the southern part of Denmark.
Nysted medieval market started out back in 2009 when the town of Nysted celebrated it's 600 years as a borough receiving its rights from the Danish king Eric the 7th back in 1409. Local medieval enthusiast Henrik Nylander Nielsen thought it would be a good way to celebrate the occasion and keeping in the spirit.
Nysted medieval market boasts jousting knights, footsoldiers fighting each other, archers shooting at the butts, craftmen ex. the smith Jesper Ildsmed (who makes my arrowheads) and much much more. Beautifully located opposite Ålholm castle in the harbour area, this event is a find!
Visit http://www.insertwebpagehere.dk/ for more information.
15th - 16th of October, turning 5 this year, Vitskøl Kloster (monastery) is inviting to a very nice event located in near the town of Ranum in the upper midlands of Jutland.
The monestary was founded back in 1158, originally planned to be the biggest church in Scandinavia at the time, which did not work out. In fiction we hear about the monestrary in Jan Guillous trilogy (also on film) about the nobelman Arn Magnusson, who grew up in a monestary in Sweden and spent some time in Vitskøl, before being sentenced to do 20 years of penance in the holy land as a knights templar. Vitskøl is a two day market (saturday and sunday) and has soldiers fighting, merchants selling goods, story-telling, medieval music, knights on horseback, and archers shooting at the butts. A day well spent.
Visit http://www.vitskolmiddelalderdage.dk/ for more information.
20th - 22nd of May, a small market being the second of its kind near the city of Viborg.
Viborg is one of the oldest towns in Denmark, with Viking settlements dating back to the 8th century. Its central location gave the town great strategic importance, in political and religious matters, during the Middle ages. A motte-and-baily-type castle was once located in the town. Viborg takes its name from a combination of two words: Wii, meaning a holy place, and berg, meaning a hill.
Visit http://www.middelalderliv.dk/ for more information.
16th - 24th of July, one of the bigger markets having it's 10th anniversary this year at the small castle of Voergaard.
The oldest parts of Voergaard castle dates back to 1481, but today none of the medieval features are left and the castle is that of a renaissance castle - and one of the best kept in Denmark. It is located in the northern part of Jutland near the city of Dronninglund. Well visited the medieval market hosts soldiers, craftmen, jousting knights on horseback and longbowmen. There will be medieval music playing, jogglers and stories being told.
Visit http://www.middelalderdage.dk/ for more information.
6th - 7th of August, going on the third year Nysted medieval market is well worth a trip to the southern part of Denmark.
Nysted medieval market started out back in 2009 when the town of Nysted celebrated it's 600 years as a borough receiving its rights from the Danish king Eric the 7th back in 1409. Local medieval enthusiast Henrik Nylander Nielsen thought it would be a good way to celebrate the occasion and keeping in the spirit.
Nysted medieval market boasts jousting knights, footsoldiers fighting each other, archers shooting at the butts, craftmen ex. the smith Jesper Ildsmed (who makes my arrowheads) and much much more. Beautifully located opposite Ålholm castle in the harbour area, this event is a find!
Visit http://www.insertwebpagehere.dk/ for more information.
15th - 16th of October, turning 5 this year, Vitskøl Kloster (monastery) is inviting to a very nice event located in near the town of Ranum in the upper midlands of Jutland.
The monestary was founded back in 1158, originally planned to be the biggest church in Scandinavia at the time, which did not work out. In fiction we hear about the monestrary in Jan Guillous trilogy (also on film) about the nobelman Arn Magnusson, who grew up in a monestary in Sweden and spent some time in Vitskøl, before being sentenced to do 20 years of penance in the holy land as a knights templar. Vitskøl is a two day market (saturday and sunday) and has soldiers fighting, merchants selling goods, story-telling, medieval music, knights on horseback, and archers shooting at the butts. A day well spent.
Visit http://www.vitskolmiddelalderdage.dk/ for more information.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Finished arrows
I realised that it has been quite some time since my last post and finally desided that it was time to show one of my projects nearing compleation - my first sheaf of arrows.
I have 3 different types of arrowheads fitted onto my poplar shafts. From the bottom left is 3 long type 10 bodkin, 2 type 7 bodkin, and 3 different interpretations of a war or heavy bodkin.
The shafts are of two different sizes; the long type 10 and needle type 7 bodkins are mounted on a 13/32" poplar shafts, whereas the heavy war bodkins are mounted on a ½" poplar shaft.
I have 3 different types of arrowheads fitted onto my poplar shafts. From the bottom left is 3 long type 10 bodkin, 2 type 7 bodkin, and 3 different interpretations of a war or heavy bodkin.
The shafts are of two different sizes; the long type 10 and needle type 7 bodkins are mounted on a 13/32" poplar shafts, whereas the heavy war bodkins are mounted on a ½" poplar shaft.
I have 11 of the long type 10 bodkin, which has come to be the bulk of the sheaf. The heads vary slightly in size and weight due to the fact that the production has been done over 3 years. As you can see, the heads have received a few dents and bends caused by rocks in the field where I shoot. I'll trust that my friend Jesper can mend them sometime soon.
The needle type 7 bodkin is fairly new to me. I am not sure that I have the dimensions of the arrow head right, nor the weight. I just wanted to see how it performed, as I might use them to display the disadvantages of maille.
These magnificent heads are my heavy bodkins. Again I am short of information regarding the specs of the arrow heads. The weight ranges from about 25-30 grams. The three bottom ones are the the lightest, the 2 top ones the heaviest and no. 4 head is a mix of the two sorts, and also my personel favorite.
My test sheaf of 18 arrows. The leather disc a la Mary Rose find, is proving a nice way to seperate the fletchings. Looking forward finishing the project!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Video from Nysted Medieval Market 2009
I´ve made a small clip from one of my shows i 2009 at the new medieval market in Nysted (on the island of Lolland).
A lot of things have changed since, but it´s still fun to watch :)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
a sheaf of arrows
My goal for the 2011 season is to have 2 sheaves of arrows. 2/3 will be war arrows (poplar and ash, both bobtailed and parallelsided profiles) and 1/3 will be flights. According to Sir John Smythe 8 arrows of each sheaf should be flights, which is confirmed by the arrow profiles brought up from the Mary Rose.
A flight arrow is basically an arrow with lesser weight than a war arrow thus able to travel further. If the shaft is chested and the fletchings are smaller in comparison with a EWBS Standard Arrow, the arrow will cover a greater distance. Flight arrows are not meant to pierce plate armour, but would probably harass and do terrible damage to lightly armed men and horses.
I will use poplar for my flight arrows, as the strength and weight would make a light but strong shaft and thus, in my mind, would be the prefered wood for flight arrows.
I am really looking forward to do this project, as I have spent all my time increasing the weight of my war arrows. Now I have to turn the table and descrease the weight, which will prove to be a different task altogether.
A flight arrow is basically an arrow with lesser weight than a war arrow thus able to travel further. If the shaft is chested and the fletchings are smaller in comparison with a EWBS Standard Arrow, the arrow will cover a greater distance. Flight arrows are not meant to pierce plate armour, but would probably harass and do terrible damage to lightly armed men and horses.
I will use poplar for my flight arrows, as the strength and weight would make a light but strong shaft and thus, in my mind, would be the prefered wood for flight arrows.
I am really looking forward to do this project, as I have spent all my time increasing the weight of my war arrows. Now I have to turn the table and descrease the weight, which will prove to be a different task altogether.
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