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Coincidentally, I've been reading about Polish winged hussars recently and about rapier development, so a long stabbing sword was in my mind.  It does depend on what we think the sword was for - stabbing individuals,especially cavalry, or swatting infantry?

I am back seeking help and advice after lurching into another 'lead mountain' project that stalled many (many) years ago. This time seeking help with Byzantine 'flags' and shield patterns for broad period 5th century AD to 1067AD. Why such a broad time frame? Read on!

I had bought some of the first 28mm Byzantines to create a DBA army for the Manzikert campaign. Two friends later added their unfinished projects: one an early Byzantine army (big 25mm Hinchliffe figures) that had been bought painted secondhand with idea of restoration. [I have only just started this restoration, a lot of years later, having just re-painted the first 9 HC lancers.] The other was a collection of unpainted Garrison 25mm figures and more big 25mm Hinchliffe, some suitable for early period some more 10th century AD from my perusal of Ian Heath's "Armies of the Dark Ages 600-1066'.
I have been consulting books galore from my little library (see list at end) and article by Georgios C. Koufogiorgos, "Byzantine Flag" which I collected many years back. This tantalizing article points to historic representations (not necessarily accurate colour or detail wise it is said) and to the work of late George T. Dennis article 'Byzantine Battle Flags'; the historic documents being the Joshua Roll (or Codex Pal.gr.431) as well as the Ioannis Skilitzis manuscript.
I also found a small collection of Late Roman shield transfer that I bought from Veni Vidi Vici and another small bunch of shield and banners from 'little big men studios'. (Though I doubt either will still be working transfers all these years later! The clear sections having clouded on the shield designs.)
So all this got me wondering if there are more accessible or recent sources for banners and shield designs as my little library is a bit dated (see below).
All constructive ideas welcomed!
CarlL

Other books / articles other than the two above:
John Haldon, The Byzantine Wars.
L.H. Fauber, Narses Hammer of the Goths.
Jonathan Harris, Byzantium and the Crusades.
Roy Boss, Justinian's Wars.
Robert Graves, Count Belisarius.
N.H. Baynes & H.St.L.B.Moss (ed), Byzantium
National Geographic vol164, no6, (Dec1983), Byzantine Empire.

The 1.4 to 1.6 meter long Koncerz sword carried as a secondary weapon by Polish Winged Hussars came to mind, but I see that this is similar to the Western 'estoc', so you have floated that idea before me.  The point of these weapons was the point, not slashing about and risking cutting off the head of your horse (for which read camel) before doing damage to the enemy.

Quote from: Andreas Johansson on Today at 07:19:58 PMAs you may recall, we had a longish discussion of long camel swords in an old thread: this post by your very self may be a good starting point.

Indeed, I remember it well.  It was Rich who produced the "four cubit sword" reference (come back, Rich, the forum needs you  ). The bit about TE Lawrence (Patrick was a great fan of TE Lawrence).  However, we did not entirely reach a conclusion - it shaped my understanding but didn't completely satisfy my curiosity. Hence the opportunistic jump on to the "Year of the Camelid" bandwagon and the artefactual evidence angle

As you may recall, we had a longish discussion of long camel swords in an old thread: this post by your very self may be a good starting point.

did camels carry swords and if so was it only the long ones?

This isn't strictly army research, as I have no intention to use it to raise forces.  But, given it is "The Year of the Camelid", others might.

Long ago, I remember my WRG books had images of Hellenistic camel riders with giant swords. I would be sceptical about these except that Duncan, IIRC, quoted the original evidence. Yet I couldn't help but wonder about them. I presume their form is dictated by engaging infantry who might attack the camel, rather than camel v camel action.  Were they fully sharp swords or simply sharp at the cutting end? Do we have any surviving examples?

Ahhhhhh roman drones

 

I thought they were the main characters from a 1960s western series.