Yes, there is no difference between civilian and martial belts until the 14th century. If you plan to wear the belt interchangably just remember you'll need to place the holes in the right places.
No problem about just taking notes. Being mentally prepared for things you're going to undertake is important if you want to do it right. The more time you spend thinking about it the better IMHO.
I'll re-post the whole belt making tutorial in a new thread.
You've probably handled a real sword by now, but if not you're in for a real treat! I wish I could be there the first time someone handles a real sword. People's minds have been unconsciously conditioned by movies and TV to think certain things about swords. When you feel one in your hand the first time your world will never be the same.
But even those who do handle them don't always appreciate the full depth of symmetrical and aesthetic beauty of a true sword. Sometimes people talk about the center of percussion of the blade or the pivot and balance points, but that's really just skin deep into the beauty of a real sword. Watch this video, and see if it changes how you think about swords.
Now, if you feel like it, research a bit further and watch Peter Johnsson's speech at Arctic Fire 2012. See if it changes how you think about medieval people.
(That's the thing that keeps me fascinated with medieval studies - one fascinating thing reveals another, and another until you're learning more than just about medieval things, you're learning about yourself and your world, and how much different they are from their medieval counterparts, and how much the same they still are.)
But however you appreciate it, the first time you hold a real sword in your hand is a magic moment. In the blink of an eye and without a single word a host of information is instantly communicated. All your preconceptions vanish, your socially programmed ignorance is washed away, and the truest beauty of the sword is made crystal clear right there in your hand. Once you've held a real sword, you'll understand why I refer to anything less as merely an "SLO" (Sword-Like-Object). It's true, you can pick up any long and pointy piece of metal and it'll kill people just as dead. But so can a crowbar. The true quality of a sword is it's design as a weapon, a tool for one specific purpose. When you hold it, you know the terrible power that you now wield. You feel the weight of responsibility to wield it responsibly. And you yearn to wield it with utter proficiency. You can use a piece of lead to draw with, but it's not a calligraphy pen. Neither is any long and pointy piece of metal a sword.
Incidentally, my feelings about the power and responsibility of carrying a sword and by extension any weapon, are reflected in the motto tooled into my sword's scabbard. "MENS CONSCIA RECTI". It's latin. Translated, it means "A mind conscious of what is right." I find it a profoundly poignant motto.
Scott
