Can you really use a two-handed melee weapon in mounted combat?

[Mista Collins]

What about the guys who used to ride horses and carry the 2 handed bazookas and missile launchers during the 11th century?.......huh.....what?..... that never happened? Darn, my 5th grade history teacher acted like he knew what he was talking about.

Great thread and great pictures to help show how it was done.

 

[Rasyr]

Can you give details as to how the sword was used?

Umm.... the pointy end goes into foe......















what?!?!

 

[Zaruthustran]

Response to thread title: Yes.

As the others have posted, you see 2-handers used from horseback in art from the relevant period. That's as close as you're going to get to "proof".

Try this, right now, as you're sitting in your chair: grip two pens, one in each hand, and orient those pens in such a way that they join tip to tip. You've just roughly simulated the grip of a two-handed sword. Now swing those pens around while pretending they extend 4 feet from your top grip. While doing so make sure your knees are spread wide and your feet are firmly planted on the floor (imagine straddling a horse with your feet in stirrups).

Not so hard, is it?

-z

 

[Storyteller01]

Response to thread title: Yes.

As the others have posted, you see 2-handers used from horseback in art from the relevant period. That's as close as you're going to get to "proof".

Try this, right now, as you're sitting in your chair: grip two pens, one in each hand, and orient those pens in such a way that they join tip to tip. You've just roughly simulated the grip of a two-handed sword. Now swing those pens around while pretending they extend 4 feet from your top grip. While doing so make sure your knees are spread wide and your feet are firmly planted on the floor (imagine straddling a horse with your feet in stirrups).

Not so hard, is it?

-z

Such a simulation doesn't take into account weapon weight , inertia, movement, or the fact that the animals head (about the size of your upper body) is in the way.

The example may be better illustrated if you turned your chair around (like the Fonz, eh?), sit on the edge of the chair, and attempt the same thing.

I appreciate the advice though.

 

[Mista Collins]

don't forget the fact that the mount is actually intelligent and can move on its own (even if it is trained not to). So you might want to attach a small motor of some sorts to said chair, that way it moves. Or better yet, have your friends, spouse, siblings, or someone on the streets to push you around while you are on the chair (reducing the cost of the project because you don't need the motor anymore). Then again, it might cost you your dignity as you tell said person helping you out that you are a knight weilding a two handed weapon striking down the foes who have deserved your justice!