Viking Houses Need Maintenance

Hello fellow medieval military enthusiasts and time travellers,

I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits, swinging swords as one ought to. If you are doing so in preparation for the first Dimicator venture of the year in Hedeby on the weekend of 18/19 April, make sure to sign up swiftly.

The museum has notified me that, due to maintenance and construction work, the draper’s house will not be available for accommodation. That is a pity. This house had been particularly popular with the Danish contingent — even though, last time, the traditional Danish sausage excess took place in the comb-maker’s house, as documented in Tom Jersø’s excellent photography.

In any case, this reduction means it might become quite cosy this time, even with the maximum number of lodging participants capped at 15 valiant Vikings only. Half of these places have already been claimed, so do not delay. Simply reply to this email and I will add your name to the list. See you in Hedeby for delightful fencing ⚔️ — and delicious Danish diet! 🌭

Landsknecht Emporium Training Swords

Speaking of fencing:

When a passage through the ice and snow finally opened, allowing me to drive to Hamburg and train with the city-dwellers at Dimicator Schola, the new training swords — kindly provided by Landsknecht Emporium — were put to their first proper trial.

The Dietrich model comes in three versions: thick-edged blunt, thin-edged blunt, and sharp. We had a pair of each to work with, and so we did. The swords are quite short and very light, yet they behave like actual weapons, meaning their handling characteristics match those of original medieval swords I have examined.

The obvious advantage is that students can focus on specific exercises and correct mechanics without being hampered or fatigued by excess weight. We found that all variants bind more cleanly and give clearer tactile feedback than the thick nylon blades usually issued to beginners at Dimicator Schola. It is worth saying that the finer blunts are superior to the thick-edged version in this regard.

Given that the Dietrich models are priced around EUR 400 (incl. VAT), they are an excellent option for school arsenals in particular.

Naturally, the limited reach of these blades reduced our usual fighting distance. Fencers — and their extended bucklers — were therefore closer, which noticeably increased the frequency of shield strikes.

I will continue sharing insights and reviews, so stay tuned.

A 14th-Century Kettle Hat

When I first saw the kettle hat at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle, I was immediately taken by its plain yet graceful shape. When I later shared images on Facebook, the post reached more than 100,000 views, earned over 1,000 likes, and prompted many thoughtful comments. Clearly, enthusiasts found it as appealing and intriguing as I did.

I subsequently created illustrations showing what the piece might have looked like in its heyday. These images may well have prompted another collaboration with the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle. I will share more details in due course. In the meantime, you can read about this exceptional find in my dedicated Patreon post.

A tip of the kettle hat,

Roland 🤠

So, that's it for today. Take care — you can leave your hat on.

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