caltrops-msg - 9/17/18

A medieval anti-personnel/anti-equine item basically composed of four iron points arranged so that no matter how it lands, 1 point is always up.

NOTE: See also the files: Pensc-Caltrop-art, pottery-wepns-msg, quarterstaff-msg, shoes4combat-msg, warfare-msg, wounds-msg, blacksmithing-msg.

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    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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From the Brussels National Military Museum.

Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:41:07 +0800
From: Rebecca Lucas <quokkaqueen at hotmail.com>
Subject: [Lochac] Caltrops! was: Looking for suggestions
To: <lochac at lochac.sca.org>

Here's a question to answer your question:

How much thicker were the soles of the Highlander's feet, compared to the other side who might have softer soles but wearing leather turnshoes? I suspect if anyone stepped on these little pointy things it'd hurt! :) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Westf%C3%A4lisches_Museum_f%C3%BCr_Arch%C3%A4ologie_Herne_03.jpg

Just a thought
~Asfridhr

<<snip>>
<<< Caltrops.

I thought these were primarily an anti-horse weapon, but I imagine  
they would work quite well against troops, especially bare-footed ones. >>>

Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:51:43 +1300
From: Clare Baldock <clare at orcon.net.nz>
Subject: Re: [Lochac] Caltrops! was: Looking for suggestions
To: "The Shambles: the SCA Lochac mailing list"
	<lochac at lochac.sca.org>

On 22/11/2009, at 19:41 , Rebecca Lucas wrote:
<<< Here's a question to answer your question:

How much thicker were the soles of the Highlander's feet, compared  
to the other side who might have softer soles but wearing leather  
turnshoes? I suspect if anyone stepped on these little pointy things  
it'd hurt! :) >>>

I know that when I was young (at primary school - aged about 8-9) I  
also never wore shoes unless the grass was white with frost. I could  
walk on the volcanic rocks at the beach without a problem. At one  
point I stood on a piece of fencing wire - this indeed did penetrate  
my foot. The wound became infected and there was a large pocket of pus  
under the surface. I was given antibiotics, but to prick the blister  
and release the pus, a needle just was not up to the job and my mother  
had to use a sterilized razor blade. The skin on the sole of my foot  
was at least 5mm thick. I am sure caltrops would have hurt - either in  
my bare feet or wearing a light turn-shoe.

Eleyne

Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:06:54 +1100
From: Zebee Johnstone <zebeej at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Lochac] Caltrops! was: Looking for suggestions
To: "The Shambles: the SCA Lochac mailing list"
	<lochac at lochac.sca.org>

On Sun, Nov 22, 2009 at 5:51 PM, Clare Baldock <clare at orcon.net.nz> wrote:
<<< skin on the sole of my foot was at least 5mm thick. I am sure caltrops would
have hurt - either in my bare feet or wearing a light turn-shoe. >>>

I don't know that troops wore light turnshoes.

For one thing, they probably would wear out from marching.

The Romans had nailed soles, I'm not sure when heavier boots came in
again but I do know they were used in the late 1500s.

Silfren

Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:07:34 +1100
From: Ian Whitchurch <ian.whitchurch at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Lochac] Caltrops! was: Looking for suggestions
To: "The Shambles: the SCA Lochac mailing list"
	<lochac at lochac.sca.org>

Its too hot and I'm too tired to properly document this, but this
woodcut of Spanish troops engaging in the post-Haarlem massacre are
wearing really, really, really cheap and crappy footwear.

http://www.executedtoday.com/images/Haarlem_siege_massacre.jpg

Anton de Stoc
In that Lake of Fire called Rowanie
XXII Novembre g+s

Date: Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:21:32 +1030
From: Sandra Bobleter <Sandra.Bobleter at flinders.edu.au>
Subject: Re: [Lochac] Looking for suggestions ...
To: The at flinders.edu.au, "Shambles at flinders.edu.au":the SCA Lochac
	mailing list	<lochac at lochac.sca.org>

With respect, here in Lochac (at least part of it) we don't need to 
simulate caltrops.  They GROW here!  They're called 3-cornered jacks, 
the bane of children and barefoot people.  And don't kid yourself, they 
are strong and sharp and will get through any thickness of foot.  :(

Bianca.

===========
Stefan li Rous wrote, On 21/11/2009 3:11 PM:
<<< Barefoot sounds like the ultimate combination of "period" and "easy"
to me! You even get "free!" thrown in!

Columb >>>

Caltrops.

I thought these were primarily an anti-horse weapon, but I imagine 
they would work quite well against troops, especially bare-footed ones.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltrop

"A caltrop is a device composed of four spikes or points arranged so 
that in whatever manner it is thrown on the ground, it rests on three 
and presents the fourth upright."

How can we (do we already?) simulate caltrops in SCA combat?

<the end>