Here’s our second list of weapons (read the first one here), and it includes military surplus weapons from the period after ancient times. When we think of military, what comes to mind is usually camouflage fatigues, M16 rifles, and F-22 fighter jets. But in medieval times, “military” meant knights on horses. Here’s what a list of weapons might have looked like for the military in the time of kings and queens.
Crossbow – The last article on a list of weapons included the original bow and arrow. But as time progressed, it was discovered that crossbows were more efficient than hand bows. They were more powerful, and soldiers could be trained to use them in a shorter period of time. Some type of long range weapon was needed for military campaigns, and crossbows fit the bill.
The workings of a crossbow are fairly simple. It consists of the bow component, which is much shorter than a longbow, a stick, a string, and something to hold the string back. The piece holding the string back would be released by a trigger, which would release the tension in the string, and the arrow would fire.
Modern crossbows have a more sophisticated design, and are much more effective than medieval crossbows. Some crossbows today make use of sights and silencers. But one part of the weapons that hasn’t changed is the need for quivers to hold arrows. In the U.S. military today, they are used as a way to discover the location of mines. A hook at the end of a line is fired, then reeled back along the ground in order to locate explosives. We may not be using crossbows like Chewie in Star Wars, but they certainly serve their purpose.
Spear - The spear was used in ancient warfare, but it really became popular after the fall of the Roman Empire and later. It was used by all European kingdoms during medieval times and into the renaissance period. The spear was easy to produce, only requiring a metal spearhead and a wooden shaft. Such an important medieval weapon easily makes it onto this list of weapons.
Spears were used by both foot soldiers and cavalry units. When they were used by foot soldiers, they were either thrown at or stabbed into enemies. Cavalry soldiers would either hold them overhead or down by their side. Eventually, tucking the spear underneath the rider’s arm became a common tactic, and thus the lance was born. Riders could charge at their enemies at high speeds in order to attack the enemy with the most possible force. Sir Lancelot, a knight of the round table, must have been a pro at this skill.
Shield – This wasn’t used primarily as a weapon, but it is close enough to warrant a place on this list of weapons. The shield was obviously used before the middle ages, but its use may be most well-known from this era. Any nation’s military needed shields so soldiers could protect themselves from enemies.
Shields were also used by mounted riders, especially when the use of lances became widespread. Shields were originally made from wood, often covered with leather or canvas, but eventually, metal was used.
Some of the common shield designs include the kite (teardrop-shaped) and heater (most recognizable medieval shield).
Shields are generally considered a thing of the past, although some police units make use of bulletproof shields, and some immobile heavy firearms incorporate shields to protect the gunman. S.H.I.E.L.D. is also an agency founded to protect people from enemy threats. But perhaps the only shield that will ever find its way into regular military use is an energy shield of the future.
If you like one of these military surplus weapons, follow the link at the end of this article to buy yours.
Click here to see other list of weapons articles.
Written by Craig Kent, member of the Best Military Surplus team.