Animals are pretty predictable in their attacks. A sword would give any half intelligent armored knight the absolute edge. A competent swordsman will know a few cuts will send the lion reeling. If they’re well placed, it’s deadly.
The knight would have to be very competent. A lion’s swat is very fast and powerful, that medieval sword is going to fly if it’s not handled skillfully.
Not at all. Watch some lion fights. They get very close in a display of dominance. Well within striking range of a sword. They don’t understand a straight line piercing attack to their vulnerable chest and belly. This likely means they won’t defend a quick thrust.
It really depends on what sort of knight we’re talking about. Despite how they are portrayed in movies, swords were more for ceremony than for fighting, and could have been anything from a dagger to a saber to a broadsword. Full plate armor is designed for mounted combat, and most duels were won by whoever knocked the other guy down first.
One good swing could kill a lion, I’m sure, but if you miss, or it doesn’t kill the lion, then the lion will pounce and knock down the knight. Even lightweight armor would be 30-60 lbs, and once you’re down, the lion has won.
Animals are pretty predictable in their attacks. A sword would give any half intelligent armored knight the absolute edge. A competent swordsman will know a few cuts will send the lion reeling. If they’re well placed, it’s deadly.
The knight would have to be very competent. A lion’s swat is very fast and powerful, that medieval sword is going to fly if it’s not handled skillfully.
Not at all. Watch some lion fights. They get very close in a display of dominance. Well within striking range of a sword. They don’t understand a straight line piercing attack to their vulnerable chest and belly. This likely means they won’t defend a quick thrust.
You might be right, they would need cat-like reflexes to evade that kind of stab.
It really depends on what sort of knight we’re talking about. Despite how they are portrayed in movies, swords were more for ceremony than for fighting, and could have been anything from a dagger to a saber to a broadsword. Full plate armor is designed for mounted combat, and most duels were won by whoever knocked the other guy down first.
One good swing could kill a lion, I’m sure, but if you miss, or it doesn’t kill the lion, then the lion will pounce and knock down the knight. Even lightweight armor would be 30-60 lbs, and once you’re down, the lion has won.