Heroic Dreams - All Things Medieval

 Maybe you can identify this polearm? If you can then send me an email!

I got an email from a collector of Medieval weaponry (Nathan). He recently acquired a great looking polearm and he is having trouble identifying it. He sent me pics hoping I could help but I am having trouble too. It is almost a bardiche but the blade doesn’t connect to the pole at the base. And I dont think it’s a poleaxe because the blade is just too long. Anyhoo, I thought somebody out there might be able to recognize it. There are no markings at all on it. Here is one pic and if you want to see more pictures of the blade, handle, overall and more you can see them on my website here: An Unknown Medieval Polearm (It is about 5′10″ overall length)

The blacksmithing is going well and the home made forge is working very well. I have been learning all about the art and am making progress. It is always a matter of time! Anyhoo, I have created a new tutorial that shows one of the basic skills of the smith - drawing out metal. This is the skill where you hammer a piece of metal to make it longer and thinner. Picture it sort of like having a length of iron that is 10 inches long and an inch thick, if you heat and hammer it you can make it (eventually) 20 inches long and 1/2 inch thick. Lot of work but particularly one of the most basic skills when it comes to sword making.

And that is my goal: To make some nice swords!!!

This tutorial on how to draw out metal is in a video format on my youtube channel here: Blacksmithing - Drawing Out

 I have also started a new section on my website that is all about the art of blacksmithing. It is only just begun but there is some interesting stuff there: The Art of Blacksmithing

Blacksmithing is something that I have been wanting to do for a long time now and just recently me and some family members have been getting together and doing some. We have our own home made forge and have been heating and hammering away at metal. It’s a lot of fun and we are learning as we go. Eventually my goal is to make a sword or two and possibly some armor.

It’s just a matter of time and effort (and learning)

 I have been working on some webpages about the whole blacksmithing process and how to make a forge but those pages aren’t yet ready for prime time. But, I do have a couple of youtube videos that you can watch if you want to see what we have been doing. The forge is a pretty ingenious little set up and we are doing some basic skills like folding metal and twisting metal.

You can check out the latest video right here: Blacksmithing video 2 on my youtube channel

Somebody sent me a link to this catapult for sale on craigslist and I just had to show it to you!!! This thing is absolutely remarkable.  The kind of thing they rent out for events and movie studios and such. Boy would I love to have this catapult!!!! I wonder what the Big Rock is made out of?  It looks like something right out of the Flintstones!!

Here is the craigslist listing if you are interested

I have a complete tutorial that shows you how to cheaply and easily make a spartan shield. It looks just like the ones they used in the movie 300.

But first you might want to take a look at a real spartan shield. The picture below is a shot I took of a real spartan shield in a museum in Athens Greece. The plaque reads: Bronze Spartan Shield - loot from the Battle of Pylos 425 B.C. This shield has seen some action.

If you want a closer look I have a bigger picture on my website here: A Real Spartan Shield

I also have a home video of the monument at the actual battlefield of Thermopylae where the battle of the 300 took place. It is on my youtube channel here: The Battle of Thermopylae monument

If you want to make your own Spartan Shield the tutorial is here: Make a Spartan shield 

Here is a picture of what it looks like when completed: