ARMS & ARMOUR OF THE
HARLECH MEDIEVAL SOCIETY

The knight's principal weapon was his sword and this is reflected by the extent of the weapon's use in the Society's displays. The sword came in a variety of sizes, the most common being the single-handed battle- (or broad-) sword; others included the hand-and-a-half sword, the two-handed sword (similar to the Scottish claymore) and the wide-bladed falchion.

Secondary weapons included axes, maces, flails and war-hammers.
A selection of the Society's weapons can be seen below.

The knight's main armour of the period was chain mail, although this was often supplemented by plate on the arms and legs and at vulnerable joints. Less well-off knights and footsoldiers could wear scale-armour, leather "gamboussons" or a "coat of plates" (a precursor of the modern "flak jacket")

Helmets ranged from the "kettle hat" (quite similar to the British WW2
helmet) to the "great helm" - often seen in period films during tourneys or jousting.

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