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Viking Atgeirr: Reevaluating the Origins of European Firearms (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2023-04-01 13:00:10 +0000 UTCSee Dr. Crawford's video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgyoGS4Niyc
"Men of Terror: A Comprehensive Analysis of Viking Combat" by Reynir Óskarson and William Short is available on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Kexo3A
My helmet was generously provided by Grimfrost: https://glnk.io/6q1z/jacksoncrawford
I have been privileged to be part of an original research project in collaboration with Dr. Jackson Crawford studying the early medieval origins of firearms in Europe. Studying manuscripts in the National Museum of Iceland, Dr. Crawford unearthed records of events that point to the accidental discovery of gunpowder during the Settlement Period on Iceland. Further study has revealed that the "atgeirr" references in some Icelandic sagas is, in fact, a long-forgotten early firearm. Consider, from Njal's Saga:
"Hallgrímr had an atgeirr which he had ordered enchanted with dark magic, so that no weapon could kill him except for it. The enchantment also caused men to know right away when the weapon was used to kill someone, because the weapon would sing before it killed, so that it was heard far away. This was the great magic in the weapon."
With the help of two craftsmen I recreated what we believe an atgeirr would have looked like, and took it out to the range. Lo and behold, it worked even better than we could have anticipated! It was truly an honor to be a part of this groundbreaking research.
Comments
Matthew Stanchfield
Man, am I a dope!
Matthew Stanchfield
I'm going to make a supposition here- The hand cannon of this size is the first general firearm that moves into general usage throughout western Europe, if only because it's easier to manufacture and supply. That the move is from Norse culture is both really cool and logical, considering the pattern of raiding and trade.
Paul Beck
April Fool's!!! 🤠👍
Mick Gillen
You naughty naughty men! Took me about 5 minutes in to realise.......
Peter F. Prowant
Fascinating.
Ed McEneney
Fun fact on Greenland Shark “ Greenland shark meat can cause symptoms in humans similar to severe inebriation, and the neurotoxins in their flesh can even be incapacitating to sled dogs.”
Ed McEneney
That was good. I was fooled. Nice one guys!🤣
Michael White
Next up on Forgotten Weapons...Ian makes a nice mutton souffle... :-)
AC C
BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SHEEP?!? LOL.
Martin Morehouse
Elaborate!
Matisse Enzer
I love the use of several of the established documentary techniques.
Baaaaaa means NO
Glad, that we don’t have to call him Ian No-Finger
Forgotten Weapons
Yup, I know - we ensured there were no embers between shots, but that didn't make the cut (20 minutes was too long to begin with...)
Guido Schriewer
with that helmet your beard starts to fit. male shirt maybe with that construction or.. a bunker. couldn't you have used a proper BP barrel?
I'm disappointed in just how slow my Saturday morning brain was running, it should have clicked a lot earlier than it did.
John Arpin
Super cool. But in the future, the NMLRA instructor in me recommends using a powder measure for loading and priming; way too easy for a hot barrel to ignite powder while loading. A chain reaction into a flask could ruin your entire day. Not the April fool you want.
The barbecube
Great April fools joke in there lol
