sharp pointy things

[Southern Breeze]

Swords (and knives) indeed have an asthetic quality that no gun can match.I've seen many that were works of art in every sense of the word.Being a proficient blacksmith adds to the ability to see this.If I ever get around to it I'll try to make a few swords myself.

[davedove]

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.

[Brasilikilt]

Give me a good hammer or a reinforced mace, and I could smash yer wee daintly blades in to slivers.

All this fuss over swords.

You people take your selves to seriously.

Dread.......I could totally see you utilizing a bearded pole axe much more effectively

[yoippari]

I'm not so sure the hammer was quite as effective as you seem to put it Dread. If so then hammers would have been much more common. Polearms that *may* have had a hammer head along with the spike/hook/axe/can opener seem to be much more common throughout a longer period of time.

I'm picturing a mixed kilt/weapons night at a pub. Bring yer kilt and yer favorite man killer. maces, 4 pronged hammers, baskethilts of course, and the occasional big 4 pound great sword (war sword if you prefer). Some places this is completely legal (yay for Oregon), but others you might have a hard time explaining why you and 6 men in kilts are walking to a pub carrying gun cases and scabbards with swords in them. I'm up for it. Are there any plans for a national or international kilt meet in the US?

BTW a hammer with a pick on the other side is completely on the topic of sharp pointy things The mace on the other hand... is it flanged or spiky ball style?

[Dreadbelly]

I'm not so sure the hammer was quite as effective as you seem to put it Dread. If so then hammers would have been much more common. Polearms that *may* have had a hammer head along with the spike/hook/axe/can opener seem to be much more common throughout a longer period of time.

I'm picturing a mixed kilt/weapons night at a pub. Bring yer kilt and yer favorite man killer. maces, 4 pronged hammers, baskethilts of course, and the occasional big 4 pound great sword (war sword if you prefer). Some places this is completely legal (yay for Oregon), but others you might have a hard time explaining why you and 6 men in kilts are walking to a pub carrying gun cases and scabbards with swords in them. I'm up for it. Are there any plans for a national or international kilt meet in the US?

BTW a hammer with a pick on the other side is completely on the topic of sharp pointy things The mace on the other hand... is it flanged or spiky ball style?

I favour the Holy Water Sprinkler reinforced mace. Long stout handle, usually iron shod. Had an oversized Nativity Star at the top. Star shaped, five points. Four points in the directions of a compass, one point sticking upward. A weapon favoured by cloistered clerics, men of the cloth, and defenders of the Church.

Hammers were not as common as swords for a very simple reason. Weight. A person could swing a three to five pound sword a lot longer than they could a much heavier hammer. Even with the lighter hammers, which were not as effective, they were tip heavy, and took a lot of training to be effective, and were still best used by men who had a great deal of strength to drive the blow home. Because of these factors, swords which were easier to learn to use by weaker men who lacked the physical strength and stamina needed to use a hammer properly, became common.

Also, the pollax, or poleax, especially the armor crushing hammer headed versions, were heavy. Very heavy. And ungainly. They also took a great deal of training to be effective. But there is no denying that when a some bruit well trained and strong enough to use one took to field, that he was a frightful terror to behold, no doubt causing most of the knights and heavily armored combatants present to soil their armor.

[clancelt]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.