By the way the Spartans were the highpoint of weapon and military technology, they were far better equipped than the invading Persians.
A combination of bronze, and iron weapons, professional training, knowing their own backyard, and the motivation to defend their country from an army that just rolled through the open plains of Asia unstoppable was how they did it. The Spartans (any Greeks soldiers really) had the best options for weapons and armor in the world at that time. The Greeks had a large multi layer bronze shield, that when used correctly in formation protected them from their helmet to their ankle, as well part of the soldier to their immediate right. They had lightweight, well balanced 8ft long spears with razor sharp iron points, they had a chest plate of bronze armor that protected them from any sword, spear, arrow, etc that would hit them in the entire torso. They had multilayer bronze helmets that protected almost the entire head and neck, they had armor that protected the ankle and lower leg (dont go by the movie 300 for the truth). The Greeks had well designed javelins (carried many of them) to throw, and were experts at this. The Greeks had razor sharp short swaords, and their training focused purely on using a simple effective, and organized style of fighting as a single force, not one Greek would step from his postion, this was why the Greek Phalanx was impossible to stop for so many hundred years, this is why the Greek Phalanx was so effective to conquer all of Asia to almost China. The Greeks had a hand to hand combat system called Pancration, this, and thanks to Alexander the Great was the predecessor to all martial arts in the far east, or the style that revolutionized all other martial arts.
The Persians had wicker shields, cloth, wood, leather, and wicker armor and clothing. The Persians were used to fighting in cavalry charges in open fields.
They had a mix and match of short swords, dagger, short spears, arrows and bows, etc.
On 2 major battles before and after the battle of Themopolyae the Greeks were outnumbered by 3 to 1, or 10 to 1, both times the Greeks won because of superior training, superior equipment, and superior tactics. The Persians used their money to influence the Greeks as an army for hire during these times, the Persians knew they could not defeat the Greek army no matter what, but money and power have advantages.
A bolt action used a a sniper rifle in the right hands can be a very deadly weapon, in fact it can and has proven to be a better choice for a sniper than the Russian semiauto dragunov. A sniper is vulnerable, and needs lots of support, so a bolt action has its place if used correctly.
) But I know that the "Little Five Points" area of Atlanta could probably put most of NYC to shame when it comes to tattoed women (and men), and anything else you could dream up. I've seen people with enough tattoes, that if you couldn't see their face, you'd never know what their skin color was. One of them was sporting a green mohawk of about 1 foot tall, and he was black.
