Castillo de Arcos de la Frontera

Located at the Summit of a spectacular cut sentence, the village offers a great landscape variety, being surrounded by two natural park: Los Alcornocales and Sierra de Grazalema. The castle of Arcos de la Frontera is located at the top of the population with the same name, in the province of Cadiz, Andalusia.

Castillo Arcos de la Frontera1 Castillo de Arcos de la Frontera

It is a construction made of different materials, which tells us the phases of its construction and reforms that has suffered. Because it is owned by private individuals this castillo still stands; its owner bought it soon since the local authorities approved their destruction, due to the dangers posed to the people.

Castillo Arcos de la Frontera Castillo de Arcos de la Frontera

Arcos played an important role as advanced defense of Jerez, at the time of Muslim dominance in the area. Its great location, with two deep pits that protected their long flanks, facilitated defense, becoming genuine key of the border.

It was declared Bien de interés Cultural Monument category in 1949.

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The Castillo de Tabernas

The Tabernas Castle was built in the 11th century during the Arab domination and we can find it on a mound on the outskirts of the town of taverns, province of Almería.

In its most glorious years was the second fortress in the province and one of the hotbeds of resistance in the internal struggles of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada.

The next photo shows what was the main entrance which is still standing after all these years, but, as it is often the case with many castles of the period, they are losing shape and contour and, some, they are finally abandoned in oblivion.

And 1489 It became a property of the Christians, in a bad state, so Almeria authorities applied to the Crown that the castle was restored. And not by its beauty but by the events that took place within its walls: and 1489 were signed the capitulation of Almería by the Catholic monarchs.

It was declared of Cultural interest with monument by resolution of 22 in June of 1993 and now the castle belongs to the municipality of taverns and citizens, to enjoy the spectacular views offered by.

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How to remove rust on steel swords

The first thing, recommend that all cleaning of the blade of a sword is a task that should be performed by an expert, more when it comes to ancient and valuable parts. There is no question of amateur, Neither of improvisations. In addition, the time is normal that depletes a sword, which is positive, because it can make it more beautiful and valuable.

This article's not restoration, but conservation, but we will not try the conservation of ancient swords from excavations, Neither of shipwrecks, nor of special swords with blades decorated in gold or blued, Neither of fittings Golden fire or with special decorative treatments (nickel plating), Neither of Damascus steel blades, Neither of Oriental leaves of the Japanese tradition.

Is the right criterion of the reader the decision well keep his sword, choosing the most suitable method. The first step to well preserve a sword is adequate cleaning. The Elimination of active oxide reddish and dark and large already stabilized old oxide hardness, is something that should be assessed objectively, because it can be the reflection of an antique which brings the true worth of sword.

The chemical means (acids) they can destroy the oxide, even the most hardened, but they inevitably affect the basis of sheet metal, being able to make disappear a significant part of it, by being very aggressive. For this, should use mild acids, slow-acting, as the acetic (present in vinegar) or citric (in lemon juice), It allows to control exposure.

Other acids such as phosphoric and the nitric, they can be very aggressive and weaken the leaves. Whatever the acid that we use, the leaf surface will have a final look dark and matte, with a multitude of small pores and will surely require a final Polish. It may be that if there is a registration or an engraving on the sheet it affected.

If the acid cleaning, the exposure time must be very short and should experience before over an iron oxidized without value. Then it must be flushed with plenty of water, carefully protecting the lining with plastic bags, to prevent the acid vapors affecting it. Although it is best to detach the sword, to work only with the blade, but should take into account the risk posed to remove it because some of its parts may be damaged.

Purely chemical cleaning methods are not always suitable, including that of electrolysis, Since it implies equally remove the sword.

Mechanical means are associated with a mechanical action on the surface of the blade, in the form of an abrasive friction. This can be applied using power tools or manually, knowing that the way to work by hand is the most recommended.

The abrasive cleaning use a cleaning material harder than the oxide to eradicate it, but softer than the steel of the blade to prevent damage, but it continues to be very delicate this treatment because in practice are abrasions on the sheet as, If you have correctly applied this method, they should not be visible to the naked eye.

The most recommended method is the use of size "00" or "000" steel wool in the presence of light mineral oil, never in dry; they can be oils such as “3 in 1″ the “WD-40″, that it can be used only to clean parts, but they are not suitable for preserving future rusting parts, by tend to evaporate.

Another very useful oil type, more economical and Yes you can meet that dual function is pure mineral oil. We must rub the sheet with wool soaked in oil, without too much force and longitudinal, from the recazo to the top, trying to avoid movements through or perpendicular to the axis of the blade, taking care with engraved leaves and plated or chrome-plated sheets, to not destroy the thin layer of nickel or chrome.

Then given to foil a pass with a generously cloth with clean oil: Active oxide should be gone, but it is possible that in the areas with most ancient oxide, or with chopped, continue to be evident, which is recommended to moisten the wool with a metal cleaner slightly abrasive instead of oil.

Either alone with oil or limpia-metales, It is with patience and slow manual methods, but they are effective. With machines, It may be faster but, in these cases, how fast should not be. The final touch is made with a soft cloth and clean oil, to remove any residue.

It should be taken care with moisture and is recommended to check the State of the swords every six months, aproximadamente, to detect the formation of some kind of rust in time.

Steel is an alloy, or combination of iron and carbon (around 0,05% even less than a 2%). Sometimes added other specific alloying elements such as Cr (Chrome) or Ni (Nickel).

Pure iron is one of the elements of the steel, so it is not free in nature and chemically reacts with the oxygen in the air to form iron oxide – rust.

The different types of steel are classified according to the alloying elements which produce different effects in steel :

CARBON STEELS: More than the 90% of all steels are carbon steels. These steels contain varying amounts of carbon and less than the 1,65% manganese, the 0,60% Silicon and the 0,60% copper.

ALLOY STEELS: These steels contain a certain proportion of vanadium, molybdenum and other elements, In addition to greater amounts of manganese, Silicon and copper than normal carbon steels.

STAINLESS STEELS: Stainless steels contain chromium, nickel and other alloying elements, you keep them bright, hard and resistant to rust and oxidation despite the action of moisture.

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Castle of Gérgal

The castle of Gérgal belonged to Don Alonso de Cárdenas, Count of la Puebla de Velefique and Bacares. It is situated in the foothills of the Sierra de Filabres, above the population, in the place known as gate of the field next to the road for the Aneas.

It is an old fortress which controlled the territory between Granada, Guadix, Tabernas and Almería but we have no data on its approximate date of construction. Due to its characteristics, We can only speculate that, possibly its origin was Roman or Muslim, Since, over time it has undergone several transformations.

Its walls are made with thick stones, uncut. Until the end of the 15th century, the Turkish and Berber pirates attacks happened frequently, assaulting and murdering the few Christians in the area and castles as the Gergal not only they fulfilled the function of fortress, Sinus, in the event of war, became true bastions against attacks by enemies. From here, messengers were sent to all territories threatened to ask for help or to prepare a good defense.

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Castle of Cuevas de Almanzora

The castle of the Marquis de Vélez is located in the municipality of Cuevas del Almanzora, province of Almería. It is currently owned by the municipality of Cuevas del Almanzora, and goes to school workshop, municipal library, Museum Antonio Manuel Campoy, It contains one of the largest in Andalusia contemporary painting and sculpture collections, Conference and exhibition.

It was declared of Cultural interest by the resolution of 22 June of 1993 with the category of monument.

The castle of the Marquis of los Vélez is an instructed Gothic style fortress Palace built by Don Pedro Fajardo in the 16th century, first Marqués de los Vélez, and subsequently restored in the 18th and 20th centuries. It is located at the top of a hill, in the upper part, dominating the population, and it remains in very good condition.

The castle is organized in three buildings perfectly differentiated: the Palace of the marquises, the cobbled courtyard and the Tower of homage and the building of la tercia, In addition to several dependencies among which deserve special mention Museum Antonio Manuel Campoy.

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Katanas YariNoHanzo practices

Yarinohanzo is a young brand, founded in 2007, and seated in Italy. Articles giving practitioners of the martial arts of all levels, from the beginner to the master. Your product is without doubt the katana. There are different models ranging from the basic line for beginners through the middle to the top line.

Between the staff of Yarinohanzo are scholars and practitioners of martial arts that offer their experiences to create specific professional products for each discipline. Them, as experts, personally tested all equipment using them in daily practice of martial arts in order to provide a practical and lasting support.

The idea of the YariNoHanzo leaves was born with the need to provide a practical tool, durable and professional, but at the same time elegant, well finished and, especially, “simple”. After a long time dedicated to the study of materials and finishes have managed to improve their Katanas to obtain a high quality product at a truly competitive price and accessible to all. It's a semi-handmade production and each slat is forged and polished by hand.

The Koshirae are made with materials of optimal quality and the Katanas are assembled with great care to avoid any type of “game”, even after prolonged use. Different lines of products are characterised by quality, finishes, shapes and sizes, but all are suitable for the practice of martial arts.

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Mondaca

Coat of arms: in field of gold, three flowers of lis, Azur, well arranged and accompanied by three panelas sinople, one in each of its ends.

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Medieval breakfast

The medieval knight started his day with a cup of milk, bread, dried fruit and cheese. To complete the menu, you could add more food, but keep in mind that in the middle ages the basis of the 2 the 3 meals/day was the bread. It was almost a 70% the food and when the cereals were scarce, the bread is replaced by nuts or any dried fruit available.

We are now accustomed to take 3 meals a day, but in those times, the majority of the workers left home on an empty stomach and almost always testing the first bite at the main meal. For some, This practice was the correct path, Since it seemed excessive to take both food.

For the nobles in change, the breakfast was all a ceremony. Taking time to enjoy the rich dishes and even accompanied them with wine or beer. Used to serve to the 8 in the morning, taking white bread and more fish and meat during the week in the days of Saints.

The poor breakfast was nothing more out the Sun, some black bread and beer drinking.

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The Medieval Crossbow

The crossbow is a 10th century, he perfected the bow and the arrow. The primitive arc of wood was replaced by a powerful metal arc formed by one or more United metal rods, call “Arbalest”.

The plant or original braided gut string was later replaced by wire, and finally by synthetic fibres in the current sports releases. The primitive plant Rod arrow was replaced by a short and metal bolt, able to penetrate the shields and that is the modern carbon. Was added perpendicular to the center of the Arch a lane grooved in which housed the bolt and on which moved violently driving rope or wire.

Could bend the metal arc winning their powerful resistance by various maneuvers; the first consisted of putting the Arch on the ground and tighten the wire with both hands or foot to lock it in a hook. Mechanisms were later mounted (“contraptions”) various on the central lane. The most successful and used was the tension by tourniquet to crank. The wire, powerful tension and subject by a lock, shooting with a trigger.

His power became significant in later and more advanced version, with metal blades (the metallic projectile perforated a chainmail to 350 m). Sin embargo, the older and less powerful versions were already used weapons. The reason for this was the ease of use of the weapon (basically, points and squeezes the trigger) in comparison with the arc, making it possible to train a ballestero in much less time than an Archer. For example, the famous Welsh arch, used with great effectiveness by the English in the hundred years ' war, He was able to pierce armor of a Knight or launch an arrow to 300 m, but the necessary tension was of 75 kg. A good Archer needed literally years of training.

The crossbow could be fired body to Earth, on foot or on horseback, and it not needed as much skill as the arc to give the White. His slowness of reloading was the great disadvantage: While the ballestero fired 1 saeta/min, in the same period a skillful and burly Welsh goalkeeper with its huge Arch of 1,80 m could shoot 10 arrows/min to almost 300 m away.

A version of repetition invented in ancient China, less powerful, but able to perform several consecutive shots before reloading. And long before their appearance in the middle ages, the ancient Greeks it seems that they already knew a kind of primitive version. Call “Belly bow”, because the mechanism is pushing to tighten it on the belly and carrying the weight of the body.

The crossbow was the advance more equivalent to firearms. As in these, the crossbow is gatillaba and is pointing at moving the eye at the end of the saetero lane to align it with the target to hit. Its effectiveness at a distance was only surpassed by the gunpowder. Soldiers carrying this weapon is called “Ballesteros”.