sharp pointy things

**Dreadbelly** · 28th September 05, 05:46 PM

I hope I am not out of place with this post.

Anything a hammer makes, a hammer can undo. No matter how much armor you wore, a hammer could, and would, make it crumple and fold like tinfoil. Against a well trained hammerman, armor was a curse. The crumpled crushed edges of smashed armor bit in to the skin and grated against the bone. You could make armor that could deflect sword blows, deflect some arrows and missiles, but you could not defend from the hammer. It was the hammer that was the undoing of gothic field plate and heavy armor. Not the sword. It was the hammer that defeated chain mail, not the sword. For every improvement made to armor, there was very little they could do to fend off crushing hammer blows. Swords, for all their beauty and deadliness, have glaring limitations. They also break. I am leaving guns out of this, although the gun was the final straw for heavy plate.

While swords project a romantic elegant image, a hammer projects raw brute force authority.

**davedove** · 28th September 05, 06:13 PM

In fact, with the heaviest armor, the swords that evolved to deal with it really had more in common with maces. It was the introduction of firearms that really brought back the use of swords as personal weapons (for a time). With an armored opponent, you really weren't trying to cut him. It was much more effective to dent his armor so much he couldn't move.

**clancelt** · 29th September 05, 06:10 AM

the Chinese made iron swords many centuries before the Europeans.

I'll tell you the one thing the Chinese made before the Europeans that makes all this sword nonsence obsolete, GUNPOWDER!

Really guys, this is a silly argument. I can't think of the last time I was in a bar or dark ally where I thought to myself "If only I had my broadsword strapped on my back I'd feel much safer"

Most guys are more talk than action anyway. If I "need" a sword that bad I'll just use the one that falls out of the guys had after I hit him in the jaw :grin:

Anyway, I like swordfighting from oriental styles to european. I have a few live steal blades and my favorite is a hand hammered templer. Very well balanced for a heavy blade. Now days it is just a really cool thing to hang on the wall. Most of my blades in the class of "sword" only come out to be oiled and polished. My lust for competition gets used up on the games now.

**bubba** · 29th September 05, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by clancelt

I'll tell you the one thing the Chinese made before the Europeans that makes all this sword nonsence obsolete, GUNPOWDER!

Really guys, this is a silly argument. I can't think of the last time I was in a bar or dark ally where I thought to myself "If only I had my broadsword strapped on my back I'd feel much safer".

That isn't really the point (pardon the pun) of the discussion. This is more about a hobby. I doubt anyone is advocating going to war with swords but when you have people interested in the history and the hobby of most anything you find they develop a passion for it and swords are no exception. It's good to see such passions indulged and the discussions are interesting and educational.

**Colin** · 29th September 05, 09:15 AM

Originally Posted by bubba

That isn't really the point (pardon the pun) of the discussion. This is more about a hobby. I doubt anyone is advocating going to war with swords but when you have people interested in the history and the hobby of most anything you find they develop a passion for it and swords are no exception. It's good to see such passions indulged and the discussions are interesting and educational.

Not sparking the debate, but the guns vs swords topic reminded me of this shirt

http://www.reliks.com/merchant.ihtml?pid=2269&step=4

**Kirkwood** · 29th September 05, 10:53 AM

I have a basket-hilt claymore (or broadsword - let's not get into that arguement), an Irish hand-and-a-half, and a one hand warhammer. They're just decorations in my house. As far as practical blades, I have a couple Buck knives and a bosun's knife by Myerchin.

**Streetcar** · 29th September 05, 01:48 PM

Awhile back I was invited to a "test cutting" of some Angus Trim blades. I had the opportunity to try a variety of blade styles against water bottles and reed mats.
I've done a little research on Western Martial Arts, but don't own a "real sword." If I do, I will most certainly be something from Angus.

I encourage you to check his wares.

**yoippari** · 29th September 05, 11:54 PM

I will be going to blade show west on saturday and hope to meet Angus there. Actually several people from swordforum will be there. I of course will be kilted and another sword nut said he will be wearing his buchanan. Unfortunately I can't afford even one of Angus' swords, let alone the custom makers I have been following.

All of you in the portland area (or people willing to travel) Blade Show West starts friday and goes through sunday. It is at the Portland Airport Holiday Inn Conference Center. Here is the only page I found on it.
http://www.collect.com/krause/shows....id=CCKS&Page=1

**jfellrath** · 30th September 05, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by Streetcar

Awhile back I was invited to a "test cutting" of some Angus Trim blades. I had the opportunity to try a variety of blade styles against water bottles and reed mats.
I've done a little research on Western Martial Arts, but don't own a "real sword." If I do, I will most certainly be something from Angus.

I encourage you to check his wares.

Among the best American sword smiths are Albion Swords and Arms and Armor. One of the four tools that ARMA uses is a real sharp blade for test-cutting - it's not as easy as you might think it is, and test cutting using proper technique is one of the best ways to test your blade accuracy and edge alignment. And these two smiths are, as far as I have been able to tell, the most highly regarded smiths among our group.