In his paper for our upcoming conference, Kingston University Callum Chamberlain's links art and conflict from WWI to the modern day. This sculpture (I.1613), on display in our War Gallery, is made from weapons handed in after Mozambique's 16-year civil war.

At our upcoming conference, National Museum of Ireland @thekickart will be covering the thorny question of how museums display the visible evidence of violence. (This 1590 breastplate was only used as a test piece, fortunately...)

At our upcoming conference, Re-enactment Rik - @historicechoes.bsky.social will be asking the question 'is it a real sword?' - primarily in the context of historical recreation, but the Q&A session may stray on to more esoteric objects...

A Friday afternoon read: the the paper to be given by our curator of firearms Lisa Traynor looks at motives and means in the Era of Assassinations (1848 - 1914). However, you might remember her previous examination of assassination's (potential) outcomes. theguardian.com/artanddesign/2…

25 October: Agincourt, Balaclava, #MyXAnniversary

There might be sixteen shopping days until Christmas, but there's only three days left on the call for papers for Weapons in Society IV in Leeds in March 2024. 'tis the season, so make yourself jolly via forms.gle/3wFccsrAp89CvP…

Thank you to everybody who submitted a proposal - now comes the hard task of selecting the line-up! We'll let you know as soon as we can.

With the deadline for ticket sales for the Royal Armouries Weapons in Society conference fast approaching (29 February), over the next few days we'll illustrate the fascinating range of papers our speakers will deliver - mostly from objects in the museum's collection.

To start us off, here's something for Rob Runacres (@RenSwordClub) of University of Winchester History Programmes and his paper on princely swordplay in Louis XIII's court. Compare this early Italian rapier (IX.3479) with an illustration in Sainct-Didier's 1573 manual (credit: Blois Bibliothèque Municipale)

Dr Cheryl Baker (hellocheryl)'s paper covers migrants and gun culture in sixteenth century Southampton. Here we have XIX.165, an English bronze saker of 1529 - but cast for Henry VIII by the Arcana family of north-east Italy, who came to England in 1523.

Next comes @KatieLVernon of York CMS to detail the armed cleric in Middle English romance, juxtaposing the knightly sword and the falchion. Does our later falchion IX.5409, with its narrow elegant blade and gold decoration, blur those categories?

In our final paper of the 'Technology and innovation' panel, Dermot Rooney will explore the tactics, ethics and social perception of the 1940s armoured flamethrower. The alarming bullet hole in the fuel tank of PR.1567, a 1960s Soviet flamethrower, shows the merits of armour!

Our final panel, 'Arms/Art/Armour', starts with Ruel Macaraeg's search for the missing arms and armour of nineteenth century Egypt. This helmet (XXVIA.226) is a rare example, though likely manufactured in Birmingham.

Our first paper in the 'significance of swords' panel sees @robjoneshistory of ASE covers the role of civic swords in the high middle ages. This later German executioner's sword (IX.35) similarly acts as both tool and symbol of power.

Dr Laura Considine (@LawrahCon) of @CGSCLeeds/@POLISatLeeds gives the keynote: 'The everyday nuclear weapon'. Alas, we hold radioactive weapons but not atomic - though XIX.900, a barrel from the nuclear-capable M110 (cr: Netherlands Institute for Military History), almost counts.

From the Imperial War Museum, Ian Kikuchi will join us to examine their display of weapons. We have a long history with the IWM, whose first curator Charles ffoulkes was also Master of the Tower Armouries, and crafted this rather macabre model rack (XV.30).

Alastair Holdsworth will enter into the fray over the use of flails in medieval warfare - as potentially illustrated in this 1360 manuscript (courtesy of Arca IRHT-CNRS and the Besançon Bibliothèque municipale d'étude et de conservation).