Medieval Weaponry

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Suppose you’re browsing a swords and medieval weapons shop and you spot a long, thin dagger with a plaque saying that it’s called a 'mercygiver'. What on earth was a ‘mercygiver’ used for and why did it have such an odd name? You wouldn’t see this weapon in a sword shop because it never existed It was very difficult to kill someone with it, so it became known as a mercygiver becauses if someone pulled it out, his enemy knew he would probably only be wounded It was used to give the killing blow, called a mercygiver in a ‘put him out of his misery’ sort of way It was used like any other dagger, and got its name from its inventor, Misericordia, which means ‘mercy’

2. On another shelf of the sword shop you see a plaque that says ‘poniard’ but there’s nothing in the stand. What belongs there? A spear A sword A dagger A bow

3. You find a time machine and travel back in time to the 15th century to the middle of a battle, but you don’t know where in the world you are. However, thanks to your prodigious knowledge of swords, you notice that all the men are fighting with 'Grosse Messers' and so deduce that you are in what country? Norway Poland Sweden Germany

4. During your European tour, you find a small antiques shop specializing in items unique to that country. On the wall, you see a claymore displayed. What country is the antique shop in? Ireland Wales England Scotland

5. The quarterstaff is the English fighting stave. However, many countries used fighting staves. Which of the following is NOT one of them? Chinese gun Spanish francisca French baton Japanese bo

6. You’re browsing a shop selling Japanese weapons, spot one labeled ‘katana’, and immediately complain to the shop owner that it is incorrectly labeled. How do you know this? The sword is thirty inches long The sword is curved The sword doesn’t have a blood channel The sword is double-edged

7. You’re flipping through an illustrated book of non-lethal weapons and you find a picture of a device that consists of a pole with two semi-circular prongs with a spring-loaded ‘door’ between them. It was used to catch horsemen around the middle and pull them to the ground. What is this weapon called? Demounter Pole net Flipper Man-catcher

8. You’re glancing through a catalogue and see an ad selling replica caltrops. In medieval warfare, caltrops would most likely have been used against which of these? Horses Battering rams Ships Siege towers

9. You’re reading a medieval novel, and a character mentions that his army was decimated by Greek fire. What’s Greek fire? Fire arrows Flaming swords Fire ballistas A burning-liquid weapon

10. You’re watching a movie and a hardened soldier pulls out his trusty scramaseax, a type of dagger. Judging by his weapon, what nationality is the soldier? Roman German Saxon Dutch