#Italian Basket Hilt

[blue-and-gilt]

Early 18th Century Venetian 'Schiavona' Sword

The Schiavona is an iconic basket-hilted sword that was closely associated with the Italian city state of Venice. The earliest examples are believed to have come from an elite body of Slavic soldiers hired by the Venetian council, and date back as far as the late 16th Century.

Schiavona are identified by their unique basket hilts and 'cats head' pommels. The renowned sword historian and author, Ewart Oakeshott grouped the schiavona basket hilts into two broad categories, the simplified Type 1 with it's broad flat bars, and the Type 2 of lattice work design.

They Type 1 hilt began to appear around the early 1600's and the first Type 2 between 1620 and 1630. Type 1's remained in use for most of the 17th Century after which Type 2 hilts became dominant.

Over the life of schiavona swords, (1600 - 1797) their hilts became increasingly complex and ornate as they became associated with the character of Venice, with the upper levels of society also carrying their own schiavonas.

Based on the features of the hilt, this sword most likely dates to 1710 - 1740. The iron pommel and 93 cm blade suggest that it is of munitions grade and was likely carried by a regular cavalry man.

Stats: Overall Length - 1,075 mm Blade Length - 930 mm Point of Balance - 165 mm Grip Length - 135 mm Inside Grip Length - 94 mm Weight - 1,090 grams

[author-by-night]

So you want to write about swords…

I’ve been reading Tamora Pierce books with my boyfriend, and it’s got me in my trap card again about what different swords are.

Despite what some sword nerds will say there really is no absolute / concrete taxonomy of swords. Especially in history, different styles of swords were highly contextual to different cultures and didn’t often need to be described super specifically or told apart. But when we’re writing, especially writing western fantasy, and we have a wealth of cool swords that we want to describe to an audience so that they sound distinct… then we need to have a ballpark idea what we’re talking about at least with the more commonly appearing ones. So.

Arming Sword / Shortsword

What the overwhelming majority of white people think of when you say “sword.” Also, unfortunately, what most white people (and tabletop systems) think of when you say “longsword,” which is just not correct.

These are one handed double edged blades with a cruciform guard, what an archetypical knight wields alongside a shield. Good for thrusts and cuts, very versatile. A good length for them is one where you can swing the sword straight down without hitting the ground.

For more specific swords that basically also fit in this category see: gladius, spatha, viking swords.

Bastard Sword

What most people who don’t think an arming sword is a longsword think is a longsword… and they’re still mostly wrong. Some people will even use this to mean something bigger than a longsword… which is even less correct.

Think of these as the shortstop between arming swords and actual longswords. They’re often also called hand-and-a-half swords, the idea being that they’re meant to be a flexible weapon that can be wielded effectively in one hand or two. The funny thing is, while most people use these to signify that a character is big and strong and edgy they are specifically a smaller and lighter cousin of the longsword.

Longsword / Claymore

Yes these are basically the same thing. This is by far the most flexible category of sword, though, so nailing down what one is can honestly be kinda tricky.

The crux is this: longswords are generally meant to be two handed weapons. Don’t listen to D&D, it lies to you. If you want the best picture look up “German longsword” or “Italian longsword” or “HEMA.” You’ll get the idea of how they were fought with. Disambiguate them from arming swords in your mind. If it’s paired with a shield (or really anything) it’s an arming sword. Longswords are bigger than you think and every guard I’ve learned with them has needed both hands.

And seriously if you remember nothing else here remember that a Claymore is just a longsword in Scottish font.

Greatsword / Zweihander

Get the image of Cloud Strife out of your head. These were not, and I can’t stress this enough, meant for dueling. They’re what you come at a pike formation with. They were handled more like polearms than swords. Generally speaking they just exist much harder in fiction than they ever did in history… but also the concept is really cool so who cares. Beeg chonk sword. Yaaaaay.

For the wacky wavy version, see “flamberge.”

Broadsword

These. Are not. Longswords. Or bastard swords. Literally they’re “rapier but thicc.” They have a basket hilt, they’re made for fencing, they’re just chonkier than other fencing swords. This one is easily the one I see misused the most because people use it to mean “lorge sword” when in actuality they are relatively small. They’re just heavyweights for a fighting style which is still geared around being light, fast, and virtually unarmored.

Rapier

We all pretty much know this one. Skinny double edged blade with a fancy hilt meant to be wielded in one hand. Good for cutting, better for stabbing. While almost no one gets confused on what it is though, there’s one common misconception about what it does.

I’ll put it this way: if seeing someone with a longsword is like seeing someone with a hunting rifle slung over their shoulder, seeing someone with a rapier is like seeing someone with a beretta tucked into their waistband.

Too many stories have big chunky dumb dumbs seeing a rapier and going “haw haw look at that little toad sticker.” No. A rapier means you definitely have money and most likely a lot of training. There is no chance you are a working stiff like a soldier, a mercenary, or a guard. Rapiers are for killing people in the street or on a dueling ground. This is one of the most intimidating weapons someone can be carrying.

Saber / Cutlass

Basically everyone knows sabers: curved fencing swords, occasionally with a fancy hilt. Mostly these were for soldiers, especially cavalry where their cutting capability has a great advantage.

The cutlass is pretty much that moved down a tax bracket. They’re relatively cheap, single edged, useful for things like cutting rope and thus often seen on ships. Often these were self defense weapons.

Falchion

An elegant weapon for elves and stuff, right?

Well… no. Try a self defense weapon for the lower class, not unlike a cutlass. Single edged, not usually curved or especially interesting, really. Though fantasy authors love handing these to graceful fighters and the name sounds rad as heck they’re basically just a big cleaver. See also the messer and the seax / langseax.

Very, very often confused with the falcata or the falx to the point that all three sort of get mixed together when they’re actually very distinct. (Personally, I think the falcata is the coolest.)

For writing purposes… think hard about how you want to use these. Curved swords that don’t mean “pirates” or “elves” are often handed off to non-white people when in fact all of these three are weapons from western civ, ranging from Rome to middle Europe. They’re not fancy, they’re not that far off from a machete except that their primary use is as a weapon rather than a tool, and if anything they curve forward not back.

Scimitar

Did you mean: Shamshir?

A curved sword that odds are you are too white to be writing about. See also the kilij, the talwar, the saif.

If you don’t immediately know what these swords are then odds are the best thing they can do by popping up in your story is alert you that you need to do more research to write the culture you’re trying to write without being accidentally racist.

Katana

A single edged Japanese sword that was neither folded a thousand times nor was it made of special super awesome steel. The optional groove in the back is called a fuller and it has nothing to do with blood, it just makes the blade lighter and sturdier. It’s not inherently master crafted, just historically the forging technique was unique and interesting and involved differential hardening. It’s great at cutting. If one shows up in your story and you aren’t Asian, you’re probably a weeb. Take it from someone who was a teenage weeb, and see my previous note about cultural research.

Bonus Round: Weight

If you made it this far I have one last gripe and I want you to spread the word: swords are not heavy. Every time I read about a noodle-armed protag struggling to lift a sword I want to scream. The average weight of a historical zweihander—the swords so big they’re used as polearms—is about 5lbs. There are books heavier than that. Unless the sword in your story is made of tungsten for some reason there is no reason it should be hard to heft. Tiring to fight with? Sure. But swords aren’t made to be cumbersome and acting like one can’t wield them at all without doing a whole montage about it first looks really silly to anyone with even a passing familiarity with fencing… which will be a sizable chunk of your audience.

[cryssuk]

It’s day 25 of Swordtember, and let me weave you an elaborate tale of how I drew inspiration from real Italian Renaissance Schiavona or “basket-hilted” swords and woven belts 🤣 I think the idea was better in my head… 😅

[cutecuttlefish]

The sword of the day is the schiavona.

This is an Italian sword, very similar to the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword I’ve featured, though this one was developed about a century earlier. It was first created in the Venetian Republic, and was carried by Slavic, Dalmatian, and Croatian mercenaries, who gave the sword its name and essentially comprised the standing army of the Venetian Republic. The defining feature of this sword is the basket hilt, different than the one used in the Scottish broadsword but just as ornate.

[dogesterone]

Trick or treat!

Italian Schiavona by Darkwood Armory

Schiavonas are interesting swords. They're basket-hilted and straight-bladed like backswords, but the hilt design also allows for wrapping the index finger around the ricasso in a manner similar to sideswords and rapiers. There's room for a lot of interesting ways in which you can use a sword like this. Use it like a sidesword. Use it like a backsword. Use it like a dussack. Seems like fun!

[swordblog]

So, people seem to want content about weapons as objects, with content about historical combat systems as a close second. Fortunately, these things can be tied together! How a weapon is constructed tends to go hand-in-hand with how it was used. So then...

[gehenna-calling]

3, 13, 23, 32 for hellebore

oo very fun questions for them thank you

(question list)

3. weapon of choice? any particular reason they chose their weapon?

they are in fact a “choice: many weapons” type but i’ll elaborate on their most frequently used ones. they always have a lot of knives on them at all times, mostly concealed - partially in case of emergency, partially because they’re an edgelord who’s always ready to stab something for dramatic effect. their oldest knife is a parrying dagger, specifically a trident dagger, which they wield as an offhand while duelling - something like this (please check out trident daggers they are so cool). the dagger accompanies their main weapon, ie a very fancy rapier. though their life these days rarely includes the opportunity for a proper formal duel, that’s how they were first trained, and they still enjoy the chance to use it. their rapier, which they’ve had for over a century, has a basket hilt, is very well cared for, and was originally a gift from their sire. in modern nights they’ve had to adapt to modern weaponry, so they can now sometimes be found using a sniper rifle. i know less about guns than i do about swords so i can’t really elaborate but they Do have a fancy gun and it probably has a name. they favour the sniper rifle in particular because it’s easier to pick off targets from a distance and scarper with obfuscate - if they’re in close range, they’re more likely to use their sword, or just beat their opponent to a pulp with potence.

13. what languages do they speak? how fluently?

they speak quite a few languages! venetian is their native language, but they also speak italian and english fluently, learned in that order. i feel they know enough of various other languages to get by when they're travelling, and they're quite good at picking up new ones.

23. how would you describe their voice? can they sing?

in one word: wet. as their lungs are constantly filled with Ominous Black Liquid (side effect of their embrace, aka eerie presence on top of all their other weirdness), their voice has a gurgly/croaky tone, and they tend to talk very quietly to counteract this as much as possible. it's like the world's worst asmr. much as i would like them to, i don't think they have a particularly good singing voice. they don't have the lungs for it. i think they probably do whistle to themself while working sometimes.

32. do they have any habits that aren't particularly self-destructive, just maybe odd?

they have quite a lot of weird habits! the most obvious ones are that they're pretty superstitious and do a lot of little rituals relating to that - tossing spilt salt over their shoulder, gesturing to ward off the evil eye. some of these habits are from their upbringing that they haven't been able to shake off, some are from... someone else :) they also have a strong aversion to mirrors, and if left alone in a room with them will either cover them up or turn them to face the wall. if asked about it they will Refuse to acknowledge it.

[peashooter85]

Italian basket hilted sword, circa 1580.

from Fricker Historical Weapons

[victoriansword]

A Gilt Brass-Hilted European Officer's Sword, 18th Century

Hilt probably French, early 18th century, blade Italian, 16th century [I doubt it]. Straight 36 inch blade of stiff hexagonal section with 8 inch fuller marked on both sides Frederico Pichinino; side flats etched with scrollwork and panoplies on a gilt ground; heavy ricasso etched with strapwork. Gilt brass baskethilt comprising quillon block flaring to the ricasso, the sides with fleur-de-lys finials; thumb ring; straight quillons swelling at the tips; elaborate basket form of gracefully scrolling branches, the front branches apparently forming the letter M; knucklebow attached to the ovoid pommel with a screw. Grip bound with robust, plaited gilt brass wire. 

Not British or Victorian, but whatever!

[petermorwood]

So silly question(s), time. Was/is there any account of people wearing gauntlets while wielding a basket/complex hilted sword? I feel like most of the appeal of the basket hilt is how it functionally replaces arm protecting armor when expecting a fight, and if not expecting a fight isn't so much to lug around. But then are people Doing (insert type of sword with a simple cross guard)Sword Wrong because they aren't wearing the appropriate armor? it's probably more complex....

Not a silly question at all, and your own answer is correct to the best of my knowledge - metal gauntlets for the sword-hand weren’t used with basket-hilted swords since the basket meant they weren’t needed.

That said, AFAIK in HEMA armoured gauntlets are used with basket-hilts as well as more open-hilted weapons, for safety reasons. If I’m wrong about this can some HEMA-practicing follower please correct? Ta muchly.

Mail or plate gauntlets weren’t used by themselves with name-that-simple-crossguard-sword - in the illustrations for the oldest known fight manual, I.33, those gauntlets look like leather…

This is because armoured gauntlets were usually part of, and worn with, full or at least partial armour - depending on the armour design, being laced and buckled to other sections was often what kept the gauntlets in their proper place for best protective effect - while mail mittens weren’t even separate items, but an integral part of their hauberk’s sleeves.

The man in blue is carrying his padded gambeson and his mail hauberk goes on over the top; the gambeson’s sleeves end in padded mittens to go inside the mail ones.

The mitten (correctly called a “muffler”, but the automotive part has taken that word over as far as Google is concerned) and its lining had an opening in the palm which allowed the hand to slip free. It’s a feature on numerous tomb effigies; evidently praying, like shaking hands, was done skin to skin.

However leather gauntlets would often have been worn both with basket-hilts and that other close-protection design the swept-hilt rapier, not least because fancy handwear was part of current fashion. NB that the basket-hilt was much more a military sword, and the rapier more a civilian one.

Gauntlets have deep cuffs, so it seems likely that gauntlets intended for wear when fighting was imminent - either an arranged duel or on the battlefield - would have had much thicker leather on their cuffs than on their gloves. They might even have been reinforced with chain-mail or steel plates sandwiched between two layers of leather, then concealed - or just fancied up - with velvet and embroidery to match the rest of the wearer’s street clothes.

These 1930s motorcyclist gauntlets have extra leather sections which show the principal clearly enough. 

Basket hilts could be fairly simple, like the Elizabethan-era style as found on the “Mary Rose” and associated with the Border Reivers....

This first one is more a “half-basket”, and is for right-hand use, protecting the fingers, the knuckles and the back of the hand. Held left-handed it would protect only the fingers.

This one however is a full basket (if rather open) and with no asymmetrical features so it could be held in either hand.

In contrast to this openwork, the early Scottish “ribbon basket-hilt” looked more like a closed bell-guard with decorative ventilation. An armoured gauntlet certainly wasn’t required with this one. (It’s also got one of the broadest broadsword blades I’ve ever seen, 5.1cm / 2″ at the hilt.)

Like many basket-hilts, English Civil War “mortuary swords”, could be held in either hand (but usually weren’t - see later). Their name is either because they often had little decorative masks supposedly of Charles I’s severed head or - IMO - because the crossbars (one up to four, usually three) and central guard looked like a ribcage with a sternum.

Besides the Highland “claymore” broadsword / backsword whose various basket-patterns are a field of study in their own right…

…there were numerous European styles; Swiss, Austrian, Italian, German like this one (originally a Landsknecht katzbalger shortsword, I think)...

...and German like this one...

...which is a design I think went south and east, because its slanted right-hand basket (with a thumb-ring inside, so for right-hand users) seems related to the schiavona carried by Dalmatian mercenaries in the service of Venice…

My own repro shows the thumb-ring more clearly, and even without one the schiavona basket has an obvious inner and outer side.

TheScottish basket-hilt, however, is another suits-all-hands design and often has a “cuff” which extends back over the wielder’s wrist…

Incidentally, here’s why the Internet can be so unreliable about swords.

Putting a thistle on a schiavona pommel makes it a claymore in the same way as putting a saddle on a cow makes it a horse. It can’t have been THAT hard to Google Image the title of the picture and get a correct image.

Tsk. Sloppy. Very sloppy.

A very specific style of gauntlet came into use about the time of the mortuary hilt (1640s-1700): the “bridle gauntlet”, which was part-gauntlet, part vambrace and worn on the non-sword-hand only to protect the hand and arm controlling the horse. 

This was usually the left hand - I’ve seen a couple of right-hand bridle gauntlets and I’m dubious about their authenticity because of (a) the period attitude to left-handed people, which was to beat it out of them (done as recently as the 1920s to the future George VI) and (b) the risks created by a wrong-handed member of a close-ranked military formation.So even though the mortuary hilt could be held in either hand, it was held in the right (unless its wielder was Very Important Indeed, and maybe not even then.)

The bridle gauntlet was part of “harquebusier armour” (as I understand it, “arquebus” was the big infantry musket supported on a rest, and “harquebus” was its little brother, a carbine carried by gun-armed cavalry who later became known as dragoons).

This is what people in Britain think of as Roundhead costume - lobster-tail pot helmet, back-and-breast plates over a buff-coat of thick leather, and high riding boots. The man on the right has a visible carbine slung on one crossbelt.

For reference, they’re both wearing what bucket-top cavalier, musketeer or “pirate” boots look like after being pulled up to function as chaps. IRL pirates are the least likely to have worn them since these boots, with square toes and raised heels like classic cowboy boots, were meant for riding horses not crewing a ship.

Harquebusier armour wasn’t just for common troopers: here’s the set for King Pedro II of Portugal, complete with bridle gauntlet:

…and this belonged to James II of England, with a very fancy lion-and-unicorn visor and again, a bridle gauntlet.

In later years basket-hilts shrank (except in Highland regiments): this 1788 heavy cavalry sword is clearly a descendant of the mortuary hilt, with ribs on both sides…

…but nowadays the usual dress sword has just variants on a bowl guard extended down as a knucklebow. This one is Household Cavalry officer’s pattern for The Blues and Royals...

...whose full-dress uniform still involves big boots, back-and-breastplates and gauntlets…

...but whose active-service armour is a bit different.

Hope this helps!

[mudaship39]

Warring Kingdoms:

Glossary: 

Items:  

Healing Elixer

Mana Potion

Antidote  

Amulet of Healing

Talisman of Power

Shields:

Divine bronze shields:

Targe style shield

Parma style shield 

Buckler style shield

Target style shield

Heavenly iron shields:

Heater style shield

Round style shield

Wankel style shield

Oval style shield

Rodache style shield 

Mithril or adamant shields:

Celtic style shield 

Pavise style shield 

Weapons:

Melee weapons: 

Non lethal melee weapons:

Esoteric adamant Chinese style dual nunchucks 

Favorite of S rank Fighter, S rank monk, & S rank Sage Half Phoenix Zhou Chen 

Arcane mithril quarterstaff

Favorite of S rank bard Night Elf Queen Nysa Swiftmight

Mage stick/broom stick

Favorite of S rank magic user, S rank fighter, & S rank Paladin Magical Human High King Lysander Norwood

Lethal melee weapons: 

Blunt or bludgeon weapons:

Wooden divine iron spiked war club

Favorite of Double S rank Barbarian, S rank Fighter, S rank Warrior female half orc Chieftain and Warchief Dura Froststeel

Hammers:

Arcane mithril two handed sledgehammer 

Favorite of S rank Artificer Draenei Queen Sitia 

Axes:

Esoteric adamant battle axes

Favorite of S rank Voodoo Priestess, S rank Shaman, & S rank Witch Doctor female half troll Chieftain and Warchief Jaroh Edei 

Spears:

Esoteric Adamant Chinese ji style spear 

Favorite weapon of Zhou Chen 

Celestial steel Swedish style halberd spear

Favorite weapon of S Multi Class Magic User Blood Elf Queen Liadrel Grandstrider

Other pole weapons: Atlantean steel trident

Favorite of Mermaid Queen Cora 

Knives:

Arcane mithril poniard style dagger 

Favorite of S rank Rogue Dark Elf Empress Falesh Doomcaller

Divine iron Greek style acinaces dagger

Favorite of S rank Amazonian Laurissa Jones

Divine iron Roman style sica dagger

Heavenly bronze Roman style pugio dagger 

Favorite of Greco Roman new god Laurissa Owen Maximiliana Jones 

Heavenly bronze Roman style parazonium dagger

Favorite of Homo magi Laurissa Owen Jones

Swords:

Short swords:

Heavenly bronze Greek style xiphos sword

Favorite of Greco Roman Homo magi demigoddess Laurissa Owen Maximiliana Jones 

Heavenly bronze Roman style gladius sword

Favorite of S rank mage and Amazonian fighter Laurissa Owen Maximiliana Jones 

Chinese style liuyedao sword

Favorite of Zhou Chen

Korean style saingeom sword 

Favorite of S Rank Dragon Rider, Dragon Summoner, Dragon Slayer, Dragon Mage, & Dragon Knight Half Dragon Chun Hei Kim 

Celestial steel Chinese style jian sword

Favorite of Zhou Chen 

Arcane mithril French style cutlass

A favorite of Sky Pirate Captain Arnold Holt 

Esoteric adamant French style sabre 

Favorite of Rouge Sky Pirate Air Ship Captain Arnold Holt

Esoteric adamant Italian style rapier sword

Favorite of S rank Warlock Tiefling Phetari:

Favorite of Half Elf Beast Summoner, Beast Master, & Monster Hunter Coraxis

Long swords:

Arcane mithril English style estoc sword 

Favorite of S rank Ranger, S rank Hunter, & S rank Druid Wood Elf Queen Ashryn Genmaris

Arcane mithril Scottish style basket hilted sword 

Favorite of S rank Necromancer, S rank Demon Hunter, & S rank Templar Mage Hunter Void Elf Empress Lynera Richshade

Arcane mithril Italian style falchion sword 

Esoteric adamant Scandanavian, Norwegian, or Denmark Viking style sword

Favorite of S rank Paladin and Cleric Centaur Princess Ianosa 

Great swords:

Esoteric adamant German style hamberg sword 

A favorite of S rank mage and S rank paladin High Elf Empress Cellica Urigwyn

Arcane mithril Scottish style claymore sword 

A favorite of S rank Death Knight, S rank Fallen Paladin, S rank Sorcerer, & S rank Warlock Homo Magi Emperor Hadrian Williams

Arcane mithril German style zweihander sword 

A favorite of SSS rank mage, Double S rank fighter, & SSS rank paladin High King Lysander Norwood the High King of the Human and Homo magi federation 

Korean style hwandudaedo sword 

Favorite of S rank half dragon fighter Chun Hei Kim 

Bows:

Bows that are equipped with small class armor such as leather armor:

Types of bows: short bows, long bows, great bows, recurved bows, reflex bows, crossbows, traditional bows, & modern bows 

Magical traditional composite bow that fires magical, arcane, nether, esoteric, dark, death, aether, nether, temporal, light, life, void, elemental, & divine, heavenly, stellar, & celestial arrows

Bows that is equipped with medium class armor such as chain mail celestial steel armor:

Magical traditional crossbow with iron sights that fires mithril, adamant, divine iron, heavenly bronze, & celestial steel crossbow bolts

Bows that is equipped with heavy class armor such as arcane aether or nether powered mithril or adamant metal power armor:

Mobile ballista that fires giant colossal mithril, adamant, divine iron, heavenly bronze, stellar titanium, & celestial steel metal bolts that can take down even a hydra or fire basilisk

Magical guns:

Secondary weapons that are equipped with small class armor such as leather armor:

Magical single barrel flintlock pistol with iron sights

Magical double barrel flintlock pistol with iron sights

Magical quadruple barrel flintlock pistol with iron sights

Magical single barrel flintlock rifle with iron sights

Magial double barrel flintlock rifle with iron sights

Primary weapons that are equipped with medium class armor such as the celestial steel chain mail armor: 

Guns that is equipped with medium class steel combat armor:

Esoteric six shot revolver  

Arcane 5.56 mm bolt action hunting rifle with scope

Arcane ten shot 10 gauge lever action shotgun with holographic red dot sight 

Esoteric five shot 50 caliber lever action repeating rifle with scope

Esoteric five shot 500 magnum revolver action lever action repeating rifle 

Esoteric semi automatic pistol with iron sights

Arcane semi automatic carbine rifle with scope  

Armor:

Light class armor: 

High Elven empire leather armor 

Homo magi empire adamant steel armor

Heavenly bronze Greek Spartan style Amazonian armor

Heavenly bronze Roman Centurion style Amazonian armor 

Medium class armor:

Celestial steel chainmail Homo magi empire knight armor 

Heavy class armor:

Arcane aether or nether powered mithril Magical Human Federation paladin power armor

Modes of Transportation:  

Mounts:

Horses

Unicorns

Alicorns

Pegasi

Griffins

Hippogriffs

Drakes

Wyvern

Dragons

Vehicles:

Airships:

Blimps

Zepplins

Ships:

Barques

Bilanders

Biremes

Birlinns

Boita

Brigs

Brigantines

Carracks

Caravels

Clippers

Cogs

Corvettes

Sutters

Dhows

Drekars

Dromons

Feluccas

Fleutes

Fluyts

Frigates

Fustas

Galiots

Galleasses

Galleons

Galleys

Guinemans

Juncos

Karves

Kelches

Knarrs

Lorcha

Luggers 

Man of wars

Pincos

Pinnaces 

Schooners 

Ship of the lines 

Sloops 

Sloop of wars

Shebecs 

Snows

Tartanes 

Trireme

Zebecs

Ironclad ships 

[travelonlinetips-blog]

New Post has been published on https://travelonlinetips.com/queensland-wineries-and-cellar-doors-shining-on-the-world-stage/

Queensland wineries and cellar doors shining on the world stage

Wine time is anytime, in all honesty. And the sunshine state is having its moment in the sun with wineries galore gaining good ground on the ‘Old Boys’ of the Australian wine scene. (Ahem… we’re looking at you Barossa and the Hunter Valley).

From the Granite Belt’s stalwarts and alternative champions to boutique operations with the most unexpected of terroirs, there’s no stopping these Queensland wineries on the rise.

Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt

Ballandean Estate Wines

With one of the best cellar door experiences, Ballandean Estate is making a name for its alternative – or Strange Bird – varietals, as well as its dry whites and premium reds using grapes from two vineyards in Ballandean.

One of the must-dos on the Granite Belt wine trail, it’s also a great place for an authentic Italian meal from the Barrel Room Cafe.

Hidden Creek Winery

Taking the title of Queensland Wine Awards’ 2018 Winery of the Year, Hidden Creek is a stop you’ll want to add to your Granite Belt wine hop pronto.

While their Ballandean estate  – which sits at almost 1000 metres elevation – has been established since 1989, owners Andy and Leanne Williams (and pooch Pepper) took over in 2016 and have certainly made their mark.

Grab a picnic hamper from the cafe and sample your way through their 2018 award-winning drips by the water.

Balancing Rock Wines

They may be newbies to the Queensland wine scene, but David and Lori Broadbent of Balancing Rock are already making waves with their award-winning vinos.

Since founding their Stanthorpe vineyard in 2016, the couple have taken out multiple wins in the last two Queensland Wine Awards, with 2018 earning them Champion Wine of Show with their 2015 Reserve Sagrantino and Champion Alternative Variety Red with the 2015 Reserve Sagrantino.

Symphony Hill

Another Granite Belt MVP, Symphony Hill is a James Halliday mainstay, earning the 5-star rating three years in a row and picking up plenty of other credit and awards for their well-made drop in their 15 + years of operation.

Their signature red, the Reserve Shiraz, is even fit for royalty: it was served to Wills and Kate when the couple came to Brisbane in 2014.

Summit Estate

Created by a wine-loving collective in 1997, Summit Estate is can’t-miss on the Granite Belt trail. With a top-notch selection of wines and a slick cellar door experience, they’re another champion of the Strange Bird varieties (and a part of the Strange Bird Alternative Wine Trail through the Granite Belt).

Head to the Barrel Bar for a cheese and wine matching session and sip on wines like Tempranillo or make your way to the Aroma Room to school up on all things wine.

Robert Channon Wines

Verdelho fan? Robert Channon’s your man. James Halliday once called these verdelhos the best he’s ever tasted, but that’s just the start of it.

Home to a nice selection of reds and rosés, some miniature horses and a canine receptionist named JS Bark, the winery (10 minutes from Stanthorpe) is a delightful combination of quirky and charming. If the timing’s right, you might even catch a concert in the irreverently named Swigmore Hall.

Twisted Gum

Twisted Gum is a boutique and sustainable winery in Ballandean owned and operated by Tim and Michelle Coelli. Using dry grown grapes, they produce everything from shiraz to chardonnay, and grapes are hand-pruned and picked by the couple, their four children and their crew.

Taste the fruits of their labour in the character-filled old Queenslander that makes up their cellar door, or make a weekend of it with a stay in the renovated 1920s cottage.

Tobin Wines

With hugely limited production – only 100 to 160 bottles of each varietal every year – Tobin Wines steadfastly sticks to their philosophy of minimal interference in the winemaking process.

The winemakers are fastidious and thorough, focusing on terroir (as the French say; a sense of place where the grapes grow) and fruit quality, something that shows in the calibre of wine.

Unlike mass-produced wines, Tobin Wines are harder to get your hands on outside the cellar door, so hit the road to Ballandean and get your hands on a few of these bottles.

Boireann

If red wine is your jam, then Boireann is all your prayers answered in vineyard form.

Specialising in full-bodied, full-flavoured red wines (made from French and Italian varieties), the small winery near Stanthorpe made its way onto James Halliday’s Top 100 wineries list and listed as a Top 5 Winery for 2017.

Golden Grove Estate

Another James Halliday star performer, Golden Grove is an unassuming, small-scale winery putting out most impressive drops from the Ballandean Valley.

Here you’ll find plenty of alternative wine varieties like malbec and mourvedre and durif, and the usual suspects if you like to stick with what you know. Do yourself, and your wine collection, a favour: bag a few bottles of the 2012 Vintage Grand Reserve Tempranillo.

Brisbane

Ocean View Estates

What began as a few grapes planted in 2002 has grown into the full-fledged winery, wedding and restaurant destination, Ocean View Estates, just 54 kilometres from Brisbane in tranquil Mt Mee.

The award-winning wines and delectable eats are enough to lure the crowds, but the Honnef family recently added craft brewery to the offer thanks to daughter Hannah’s (now head brewer) love of beer.

Be part of the ‘Fight of the Ferment’ between father and daughter by taking part in a Vine & Bine experience, a special menu paired with wines and beers from either side of the battle lines.

Sirromet Wines

Family-owned and awarded to the hilt, Sirromet is basically Queensland winery royalty. The majority of their grapes may come from a vineyard in the Granite Belt but their Mount Cotton HQ is where all the action happens.

From weddings to music festivals (A Day on the Green is held here every year, with music legend Sir Elton John hitting the stage in 2020), Sirromet Wines has helped advance the Queensland wine cause by leaps and bounds.

The cellar door experience is state-of-the-art so make sure you plan a day trip to experience all of the Sirromet glory.

Sunshine Coast

Flame Hill Vineyard

High on a breezy hill in the Sunshine Coast hinterland sits Flame Hill Vineyard, so named for the vermillion-shrouded Illawarra Flame Trees that pepper the Montville property.

Dedicated to sustainability and their paddock-to-plate philosophy, the gourmet restaurant and kitchen garden is a destination in itself, perfect for long boozy lunches with friends.

Home to an annual grape harvest festival (called Stomp), the vineyard also doubles as a B&B with two renovated 1920s dairy cottages taking guests year round.

South Burnett

Clovely Estate

With two cellar doors, one in the heart of Brisbane’s inner-city Red Hill, Clovely Estate is a prime example of the South Burnett’s clout as one of Queensland’s best wine regions.

If a country jaunt is on the cards, head to the 430-acre Moffatdale vineyard to see what all the fuss is about and sample the 2010 Semillon, the recent winner of Queensland Wine Awards’ Champion Mainstream Variety White Wine.

Scenic Rim

Canungra Valley Vineyards

Canungra Valley Vineyards sits on a clear, babbling creek at the foothills of the Gold Coast Hinterland’s Scenic Rim, producing wine for both the public and its sister business, O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat.

Set up at the bar in the old homestead building for a tasting with one of the very friendly and knowledgeable staff or organise for a picnic basket and bottle next to the creek (completely catered, picnic basket and all).

Witches Falls Winery

When Jon Heslop left the Hunter Valley in search of something to call his own, people called him crazy. Now, Witches Falls is one of Queensland’s best wineries and listed in the James Halliday Wine Companion Top 5 Winery for 2018.

Experimenting with methods like wild fermentation and co-inoculation, Witches Falls’ intimate cellar door in Mount Tamborine makes for very interesting – and educational – tastings.

What are some of your favourite Queensland wineries? Let us know why in the comments below.

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[treasures-and-beauty]

Hilt by Master VG Italian, Venice Basket-Hilted Broadsword (Schiavona), c. 1790/1800                

[my-junk-is-junk]

bexminx‌:

ubercharge‌:

petermorwood‌:

literallybyronic‌:

ubercharge‌:

look. look at this beautiful sword meme. i’m going to cry

@petermorwood

I saw and reblogged this one a while back, but it’s always worth repeating, and this time I’m adding a bit of background info comparing common fantasy sword features to the Real Thing (with pictures, of course.)

Leaf-bladed swords are a very popular fantasy style and were real, though unlike modern hand-and-a-half longsword versions, the real things were mostly if not always shortswords.

Here are Celtic bronze swords…

…Ancient Greek Xiphoi…

… and a Roman “Mainz-pattern” gladius…

Saw or downright jagged edges, either full-length or as small sections (often where they serve no discernible purpose) are a frequent part of fantasy blades, especially at the more, er, imaginatively unrestrained end of the market.

Real swords also had saw edges, such as these two 19th century shortswords, but not to make them cool or interesting. They’re weapons if necessary…

…but since they were carried by Pioneer Corps who needed them for cutting branches and other construction-type tasks, their principal use was as brush cutters and saws.

This dussack (cutlass) in the Wallace Collection is also a fighting weapon, like the one beside it…

…but may also have had the secondary function of being a saw.

A couple of internet captions say it’s for “cutting ropes” which makes sense - heavy ropes and hawsers on board a ship were so soaked with tar that they were often more like lengths of wood, and a Hollywood-style slice from the Hero’s rapier (!!) wouldn’t be anything like enough to sever them. However swords like this are extremely rare, which suggests they didn’t work as well as intended for any purpose.

I photographed these in Basel, Switzerland, about 20 years ago. Look at the one on the bottom (I prefer the basket-hilt schiavona in the middle).

A lot of “flamberge” (wavy-edge) swords actually started out with conventional blades which then had the edges ground to shape - the dussack, that Basel broadsword and this Zweihander were all made that way.

The giveaway is the centreline: if it’s straight, the entire blade probably started out straight.

Increased use of water power for bellows, hammers and of course grinders made shaping blades easier than when it had to be done by hand. This flamberge Zweihander, however, was forged that way.

Again, the clue is the centre-line.

Incidentally those Parierhaken (parrying hooks - a secondary crossguard) are among the only real-life examples of another common fantasy feature - hooks and spikes sticking out from the blade.

Here are some rapiers and a couple of daggers showing the same difference between forged to shape and ground to shape. The top and bottom rapiers in the first picture started as straights, and only the middle rapier came from the forge with a flamberge blade.

There’s no doubt about this one either.

The reason - though that was a part of it - wasn’t just to look cool and show off what the owner could afford (any and all extra or unusual work added to the price) but may actually have had a function: a parry would have been juddery and unsettling for someone not used to it, and any advantage is worth having.

However, like the saw-edged dussack, flamberge blades are unusual - which suggests the advantage wasn’t that much of an advantage after all.

Here’s a Circassian kindjal, forged wiggly…

…and an Italian parrying dagger forged straight then ground wiggly…

There were also parrying daggers with another fantasy-blade feature, deep notches and serrations which in fantasy versions often resemble fangs or thorns.

These more practical historical versions are usually called “sword-breakers” but I prefer “sword-catcher”, since a steel blade isn’t that easy to break. Taking the opponent’s blade out of play for just long enough to nail him works fine.

NB - the curvature on the top one in this next image is AFAIK because of the book-page it was copied from, not the blade itself.

The missing tooth on that second dagger, and the crack halfway down this next one’s blade, shows what happens when design features cause weak spots.

So there you go: a quick overview of fantasy sword features in real life.

Here’s a real-life weapon that looks like it belongs in a fantasy story or film - and this doesn’t even have an odd-shaped blade…

Just a very flexible one…

If you want more odd blades, Moghul India is a good place to start…

i could not ask for a better addition to my meme post than blade education thank you so much

I love this more than I love my left foot. (Seriously, fuck you left foot, why aren’t you a freaking wiggly sword? Huh?).

[xianmobu-blog]

Golden Goose Soldes of man whole body high

Golden Goose Soldes of man whole body high

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[shadowfox1210]

The basket style hilt protects your hand, similar to a knuckle bow on a Sabre or a Cup style guard on a Spanish rapier, or even a swept hilt guard on an Italian rapier. You can’t fence if your hand gets sliced off at the wrist and these styles of guard/hilts make it more difficult for your adversaries to access that area of your hand and arm. They’re like mini shields (kind of) attached to your weapon.

And let me tell you, getting a Sabre cut to the wrist because you parried incorrectly smarts quite a bit. You only make a bad parry in that position once...whew.

Am I right, or am I right @blarghala

(He’s broken my pinky more than once when I parried incorrectly while fencing various weapons with each other)

The Pinch of Snuff, painted by William Delacour in 1750, showing a highland officer in the British Army.