Perry HYW Plastic Sets Update

[Mad Doc Morris]

Left-handed fencers seem like a Perry 'in-joke' as there are quite a few such figures across all ranges. Most people won't notice, so I'm not too bothered.
Anyway, this new set looks quite tasty. Many plastic minis retain a 'pieced together'-look because they come in too many parts; so I'm actually glad heads aren't separate in this set. Not sure about the separate visors (even on some promo pics they look awkward) and sleeves not matching the garment. But I'll most likely end up buying a set – just to have a look, of course.

[Vagabond]

I'm curious now. I am right handed and I chop a lot of wood and always hold the axe as shown in the 1st picture. Does this mean I am secretly a lefty.
Are you sure this is a left handed grip, if so I must be doing it wrong, I will have to carry out trials later today. If I chop my leg off I will know who to blame. 

[Atheling]

Nah
1 Unit of Foot Knights @ 6 pts
2 Units of Expert Foot Serjeants @ 2*6 pts
1 Unit of Pavised Crossbow @ 6 pts.
24 pts total

Granted, its an elite army, but you could always downgrade the Expert Foot to regular foot and then add a unit of Mounted Serjeants later.
It goes well with the british army box, which can be build similarly (2 x foot knights and 2 x elite bow). Should give a great game.

Positively WHFB list 

Nah, just kidding..... The Islemen have been getting their asses handed to them in our Haggis Rampant campaign on a regular basis by a list very similar to this! 

Darrell.

[Ray Earle]

Nah, just kidding..... The Islemen have been getting their asses handed to them in our Haggis Rampant campaign on a regular basis by a list very similar to this! 

Expert archers Darrell? The English don't leave home without them. 

Thinking about the left hand issue way too much... I'm right handed and if I were to swing an axe down on something then my right hand would be higher up the haft, with my left lower but if I was going to stab something with the pointy tip on a spear or polearm then my right hand would be the further back using my left just to aim the point. So maybe just the majority of figures holding their weapon with both hands are going for the stabbing option?

I suppose tactically it makes sense too, going into combat holding your weapon aloft would leave you open to attack in vital areas. 

[Atheling]

Expert archers Darrell? The English don't leave home without them. 

Yep, I concur, the English would not have left home without their Deathrays, erm.... I mean Expert Archers 

Oddly enough it's the 'drilled' Men at Arms that have been the real 'problem'. Those and the Deathray, erm... I mean Elite Archers 

Darrell.

[fantail]

Vagabond, I will keep an eye on East Midlands' news for hobby related axe wounds and if you do take off a toe I will send you a get well card  The first picture,the artwork, the English Knight in the red with the white "side tables" (sorry, I don't know what they are) is holding the right handed way. The figures themselves are the other way around. Certainly not a deal breaker, not even close.

[Vagabond]

Fantail no need for a get well card but I tried chopping wood the "correct" way for a right handed person and I would be dangerous to my own side. For me it is left hand near the head and right hand lower down the shaft!!!
 It sounds a bit sinister to me

[Atheling]

Will be buying at least three boxes..... For me, this goes without saying really 

Darrell.

[Silent Invader]

I'm curious now. I am right handed and I chop a lot of wood and always hold the axe as shown in the 1st picture. Does this mean I am secretly a lefty.
Are you sure this is a left handed grip, if so I must be doing it wrong, I will have to carry out trials later today. If I chop my leg off I will know who to blame. 

Interesting. I'm also right handed and hold a two-handed axe with the left hand high and right hand low and closer to the body, as I find it gives better directional control. I've done a fair amount of two handed axe work in my time (stump removal rather than log splitting) and my feet have never been at risk (now the chainsaw, that's another matter  ).

[Arlequín]

All I can say is try chopping a tree down using just one type of grip... 

[tyrionhalfman]

Would a competent axeman not be able to switch his grip to swing from different angles to take advantage of weaknesses in his opponent's defence?

[Silent Invader]

All I can say is try chopping a tree down using just one type of grip...  

If the change of grip is necessary due to tiredness or injury, then that is more likely for the less fit or less experienced (whether a woodsman or soldier, the professional will do it righter for longer).  

My experience is arboriculture/forestry rather than medieval axecraft but I would have thought that if the opponent has a shield in his left hand then you generally want your axe head to swing in from his right.  

Edit: T1/2M : I concur  

[Ray Earle]

Aren't shields generally redundant by this point though?

So, in which case, do you swing from left to right on the downstroke SI?

[Arlequín]

I imagine axes were too... who'd use a double-handed axe when a poleaxe offers far more utility against an opponent?

Shields are somewhat redundant in terms of the best armour of the time, but if your preferred style of fighting is with a sword, or single-handed axe, hammer, or whatever, a shield can be used to block, or to obscure what your other hand is doing when pushed towards your opponent, or indeed to smack him in the face.

My experience is arboriculture/forestry rather than medieval axecraft but I would have thought that if the opponent has a shield in his left hand then you generally want your axe head to swing in from his right. 

... but that is somewhat predictable. If you can change your grip, you can change your direction. You can take a tree by surprise but the guy facing you is expecting blows to his unguarded side. Even with a tree you have to make a few swings opposite to the side being cut and unless you walk round the tree, you have to swap your grip.

Even with something like boxing, if you're a righty your opponent is expecting a blow from that hand when the jabs stop. A good boxer learns to switch his stance quickly and to use his less-favoured hand too. 

[Ray Earle]

That was my next question. How much use would an axe actually be? Surely a hammer would do more damage to incapacitate? Were axes of more use when your opponent was already on the ground?

Pointy things still seem pretty popular, swords, spears, cut down lances etc..