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Page name: Song of Blades [Logged in view] [RSS]
2008-06-19 15:00:24
Last author: Rosette
Owner: Lady of Lore
# of watchers: 14
D20: 14
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Song of Blades



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Taught By: [Lady of Lore], [Son Goku], & [Indelible]


This is a class where Son Goku and I can teach some of the basic concepts of sword fighting and about swords. I cover mainly scimitars (particularly dual wielding), knives, great swords, long swords, bastard sword, spadroon, claymore, jian, kris, etc. There are explinations of each sword and how it is used to fight with, strengths and weaknesses are also analysed a bit. These are intended to help people especially with writing about such topics as I am not familiar with the techniques other than what I have read about or have an idea of as someone logically and, possibly ameturishly, view some of these weapons as. If you'd like to add to the info, I'd be glad to have your insight. We will also be happy to answer any questions or discuss ideas you may have.


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Students:

1. [Mataza_71191]
2. [BinaryPhoenix]
3. [Changer]
4. [Rosette]


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Brief Outline:


1. One handed weapons
2. Two handed weapons
3. Asian weapons
4. Dual wielding
5. Other


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One handed Weapons



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A Donated image from [WolfAngel]
1. scimitars-

there are two types of these that I know of, the wide blade and the thin blade. The larger is laso known as a kilij whereas the smaller is a shamishir. Pictured here,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Scimitar_large.png
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Scimitar_thin.png
There is no historic weapon called a scimitar as the name originated form the Arabic shamishir but now people are most familiar with the scimitar. The wider blade is employed for a cutting strike as the tapering and arcing of the blade increases this power. The hooked end is to cause greater damage with cleaving. The smaller blade is worn horizontally with the tip pointing up and employed in slashing unarmored enemies, the point can be used for thrusting but the curve of the blade makes this difficult to control.

2. knives-

those tiny to almost short sword sized blades that are made fashionable by both bad guys and good guys. Kinves come in all shapes as well as sizes and vary in both structure and forging methods from culture to culture. Yet these bladed weapons are amoung the most versatile of the family, Used as tools, a missle weapon, close range, pinning, cutting, thrusting, nicking, carving... etc. Two edged knives are very menuverable depending on how long they are. The user must be able to find the length and thickness that suits his or her fighting style. Ex. a longer blade for better reach but less menuverability, or a shorter blade for quick strikes with less reach. Kinves are almost a must have for the wandering adventurer. After all, how cool would Crocodile Dundee be without his knife?

3. long swords-

this catagory basically fits nost types of sword that are, obviously long and not too thick. Usually the most classic of swords. Most popular in fantasy novels, the long sword is on of the most broad classes. Long swords generally go from between two and a half feet to around three and a half. Any longer and the blade becomes harder to wield and is slower. The different thicknesses of the blades also effects fighting in both style and tecnique. A thicker blade will be used often by a stronger and crash and bash sort of character while a thin lithe blade suits those who fight with fluidity and speed. Some attatchments are also made to swords such as elaborate hooks or curves in the blade or hilt for obvoius reasons.

4. spadroon-

the lovely quick pace Spanish sword those who play Soul Caliber are familiar with. It is the foundation of Raphael's qick and grating cheapness. Thin and lithe, the blade isn't very good for slashing or brute force but it can pierce like and arrow and do much more damage. 

5. kris-

an elongated dagger, usually favored be assasin types, and are often highly decorated or forged in an artful manner. Curved blades are favorites, especially by evil characters.

6. Rapier

With a rapier the wit and skill of the wielder exibited. Greater skill reflects fewer stroakes to defeat an opponent.
The rapier (sometimes referred to as the 'smallsword')is significantly more refined than the gladius. It is a European sword with an extremely slender blade (less than 1.18 inches (3 cm) wide!) that nonetheless extends to a length of around 36 in. (90 cm). The famed 'dueling sword' was designed for thrusting but was unsuitable for chaotic battles. The rapier was a personal defense weapon, designed in a time period when handguns hadn't yet become practical. Dueling swords such as the rapier require a more graceful touch and skilled hand to use effectively and wouldn't be practical for mass combat.  Its length allows for mid-range combat outside of the short sword's effective range, and its lightweight design allows for quicker thrusts than the shortsword. Light and easy to carry, it is a choice weapon for noble-types looking to protect themselves. Its weaknesses are, of course, utter uselessness against heavily armored enemies, and its requirement of a greater knowledge of swordplay than the simplistic shortsword.

Gladius

The Roman Legionnaires swords that are about twenty-four inches (61 cm) in length, and are used mostly for stabbing. The gladius designed to be comfortably used with one hand against unarmored to lightly armored foes, sometimes in conjunction with a shield. There was little finesse involved in combat with a gladius, the primary idea being to simply thrust the blade into the foe's unarmored belly area. Later designs allowed for slashing attacks as well, but thrusting remained the most functional use. As a shortsword, its strengths laid in its light weight, relative ease of use, and relatively simple design.


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Two handed Weapons



1. great swords-

the favorite of heavy hitters such as barbarians, warriors, and other muscle powerful characters. Great swords are usually double-sided and have heavily deacortaed pommels. Though difficult to wield it is also difficult to block due to its sheer weight and size. If you ancounter someone weilding one of these dodging is probably the better defence.
2. claymore



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Asian Weapons



1. jian

2. shuriken-

the ninja throwing stars that come in various forms and decorative styles. They are made from all sorts of metals and even certain ones have been made fom wood. Yuffie from Final Fantasy 7 has forever immortalised the giant shuriken. ^^
3. dai katana

A dai katana is the greatest of katanas and is considered to reflest the heart and soul of the wielder.


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Other



There are of course, exceptions to every theory. For example a small character who can wield a long sword more like a staff and make it effective in both close range and distance fighting.

In regards to shortswords: Shortswords like the Gladius are practical, and to the travelling adventurer type, probably the best choice of swords to take depending on the level of training that person has.

Regarding Dualing Swords: The strengths of dueling swords lie in... well... bravado. Flashiness, finesse... these were more or less the strongest points of the weapon.


References:

Moorn's Technical Details from writersco

A good article talking about the katana and how it was the ninja and samuria's weapon. http://www.thearma.org/essays/knightvs.htm


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Back to Fencing and Martial Studies or the Elftown Academy


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2004-10-15 [Erestor]: please could you link this back to Fencing and Martial Studies Thanks

2005-01-14 [fen]: ok... how about two edged knife or a katar?

2005-01-14 [Lady of Lore]: sure what do you want to know about it?

2005-02-18 [fen]: i dunno, those are weapons that aren't very known. i think it would be something interesting to learn about...

2005-03-01 [Opened my veins for nothing]: what about two handed swords?

2005-03-01 [Lady of Lore]: Like long swords or bastard swords, even great swords? Or like the gargantuan ones that barbarian characters use? Huge machettis and sabres?

2005-05-30 [shadow_angel]: what about a reverse blade?

2005-05-31 [Lady of Lore]: like a reverse katana like Kenshin uses?

2005-06-03 [shadow_angel]: well yea but i have no clue who Kenshin is

2005-06-03 [Son Goku]: :) she means Kenshin from an anime show called Rouroni Kenshin. And the type of Katana she means is one that has the blade on the "wrong" side...

2005-06-04 [shadow_angel]: i didn't know about Rouroni Kenshin show. i don't watch tv that much. its the blade i want to know about. i've got one from my grandfather and can't seem to find anything to explain the thing to me.

2005-07-09 [Lady of Lore]: the reverse blade swords that I know of are ones that are used by those who don't wish to kill thier opponents, merely to subdue. But i have only heard a little about them so I could be wrong. I know from on e Japaese legend a swordsman who made a reverse sword to keep him from killing any more people after he went carzy and killed his family.

2005-07-09 [shadow_angel]: do you know where i could look of more info? i really don't want to be a pest but i need to know. the blade has been pasted down for so long and the legen of it has well dissappeared from the blade.

2005-07-09 [Lady of Lore]: I don't but I will certanly look. I'm on vacation in Texas right now but once I go home I'll look it up in the legend book I've got. If its not htere I'll ask my grandma if she knows where to look.

2005-07-10 [shadow_angel]: thanks bunches

2005-07-16 [thehogfather]: I found this on the reverse blade katana, turns out I was wrong. It even has a different name. A sakabatō (逆刃刀 lit. reverse-edged sword) is a fictional type of Japanese sword.

2005-07-16 [thehogfather]: On the normal katana, the outward curved side of the blade is sharpened, while the inward curved side of the blade is blunt. In contrast, the sakabatō is made so that the cutting edge is on the side that curves inward.

2005-07-16 [thehogfather]: Although functional sakabatō are currently being produced for purchase by collectors and fans, there is no record of them ever having been produced or used historically, and no school of swordsmanship exists that employs them.

2005-07-16 [thehogfather]: Some Tanto (Knives) have been found that have "reversed blades". These are labeled kubikiri, sometimes translated as "head cutter" or "doctor's knife".

2005-09-19 [Son Goku]: hi hi hi! .... so, this isn't really a lesson here, but anyways....   i bought a sword a little while ago. so cool looking! and really neat! and what a dope! >_>. i used it to get my arms stronger by just swinging it, "to get the feel" and then this weekend, i actually tried to chop something... lol, and it broke >:(

2005-09-19 [Son Goku]: i only had it for 3 months..... grrr.... if ANYONE ever tires to buy a sword.... research first! you'll save yourself some good $$$

2005-09-19 [Mataza_71191]: yep i here that COLD STEAL swords are almost un break,bend or warp prouff. 

2005-09-20 [Son Goku]: hm.. i see. well, the blade itself is intact..... but the "handle" thing was made of some cheap wood that split almost entirely in half. now the sword's useless..... still cool looking but useless

2005-09-20 [Mataza_71191]: mount it on to a gontlint to were u get a sword arm!?!

2006-02-24 [Lady of Lore]: ALL right! Things are gonna get fired up around here! I'm working on drawings of the weapons and those should be uploaded soon!! ^^

2006-02-25 [Mataza_71191]: sweet!!!

2006-02-25 [Lady of Lore]: Woot ^^

2006-02-25 [Mataza_71191]: u know sumthin that suks...i train with woodn sticks but now they all break..and im not strong enough in my opinion to move to metal sticks.. :(

2006-02-25 [Lady of Lore]: don't hit antything with the sticks, just work on form and having a firm balance. Control is good too. ^^

2006-02-25 [Mataza_71191]: .........that will work.......

2006-04-14 [Mataza_71191]: would it be ok if i put up some information on the claymore

2006-04-17 [Lady of Lore]: sure thing ^^!

2006-04-17 [Mataza_71191]: cool

2006-04-27 [Lady of Lore]: More info and resourses! ^_^

2006-04-27 [Mataza_71191]: cool

2006-05-22 [Mataza_71191]: yay new teacher person

2006-05-22 [Lady of Lore]: yay! ^_^ It's official!

2006-05-22 [Mataza_71191]: sweet i shall go and meet him/her

2006-05-23 [Lady of Lore]: ^____^

2006-05-23 [Mataza_71191]: :D

2006-05-25 [Mataza_71191]: oh oh i have thought of a question!!!!!what would be the pracitility of useing 3 swords???

2006-05-25 [Indelible]: well i've never seen that being practical at all... but i have seen a person carry a Katana with 2 wakizashi... but thats just cuz i like to fight dual handed with wakizashis sometimes... but i have also seen people wear a Katana on their back and 2 wakizashis in the traditional Daito

2006-05-25 [Mataza_71191]: i know,but i mean 3 at one time it would be a 90% chance of cutting your arm off woouldnt it??

2006-05-25 [Indelible]: it wouldn't be practical at all... it would actually increase your chance of loosing

2006-05-25 [Son Goku]: If you want practical. Stick with two :).

2006-05-25 [Indelible]: exactly!

2006-05-25 [Lady of Lore]: how could would you wield three? With a third arm? (puzzled at this thought....) Two are definalty better I think, but much harder to master.

2006-05-26 [Black Blur]: We have only 2 hands, alright.... but let's not forget the other natural weapons. Sword is a blade that is manipulated by a handle, but if we consider using other types of blades we would be able to use more than just 2. Let's have fun!! \,,/ ^-^ \,,/

2006-05-26 [Indelible]: we are talking about swords in them selves... the type of blade wont really alter the number of swords... just maybe the number of Blades or cutting surfaces... unless we have 3 hands we cant really attack with three swords at the same time although we can attack several times with a double bladed or dual edged sword:P

2006-05-27 [Mataza_71191]: ya i was just thinking about the practicluty of 3 swords

2006-06-08 [Indelible]: we got kinda carried away... it happens

2006-06-08 [Mataza_71191]: ok

2006-06-08 [Indelible]: i almost forgot i should add some more content to this place... i've been so busy with my contest and all... also with my own wiki...:P

2006-06-08 [Mataza_71191]: ah

2006-06-08 [Indelible]: yep... so do you have any questions... i hardly feel like a teacher:P im gunna make up my own lessons soon:P

2006-06-08 [Mataza_71191]: ok no questions yet

2006-08-28 [mattpoi]: just something you might want to know, i saw a guy a few weeks ago wielding three 'swords' not sure of names and such but he used two with handles and one like a curved blade with no handle, double edged which he manipulated with the first two, spinning it like a devilstick but also throwing and cutting with amasing accuracy (put out a few candles!!), it was for a show but im sure it has to be based on an actual fighting style

2006-08-28 [Mataza_71191]: hmmmmm that sounds cool....

2006-08-29 [Son Goku]: that would take lots of skill, but in war, in a real FIGHT... shoot, no way that would ever work. based on an actual fighting style? sounds more like a juggler moving into the "intense" range ^___^. but hey, i could be wrong :). still very cool tho. :)

2006-08-29 [Mataza_71191]: with me i might use 2 swords but 1 would be used for blocking mostly i foucs on one blade at a time..

2006-08-29 [Lady of Lore]: I'd be stuck with one since one can be confusung enough on its own.

2006-08-29 [Mataza_71191]: like i said one for def one for atack cus i suck that bad

2006-08-29 [Lady of Lore]: lol

2006-08-30 [Mataza_71191]: well i do i gotta get distance or i might as well go hand to hand :(

2006-08-30 [Lady of Lore]: true but if you go too much distance, if the enemy gets within the circle of your movement then it's a lot harder to fight.....a mixture of all types is good...^_^ Chracter's i've created have had a dagger or short swordas well as a javelin or spear....

2006-08-30 [Mataza_71191]: hmm

2006-12-05 [Dumnorix]: "The rapier (sometimes referred to as the 'smallsword')" This is absolute tosh! A rapier and a smallsword are two completely different weapons, and their fencing schools also differ dramatically.

2006-12-06 [Lady of Lore]: Hmmm...interesting point. What's your source? Take the class, etc? I'm just cuirious to know, not trying to be rude. ^^

2006-12-13 [Dumnorix]: I have been studying and practising historical fencing for over three years; I'm the owner of several period weapons, including an XVIIIth century French smallsword; I have translated the works of great authors on the smallsword such as Liancour, L'Abbat, Girard, and Angelo, and have also read many treatises on the rapier, from Viggiani to Pacheco Narváez. Ah, and if you want a fine source, read "The Smallsword in England" by J.D. Aylward.

(BTW, I've applied for a course here, The Art of True Defence. If you're interested on learning on smallsword fencing, have a look ;) Oh, and PM me if you wish to discuss about the rapier, &c.

Basically, main differences between the two: A smallsword measures at most (total length) 100 cm. The longest rapiers reached 140 cm. The smallsword was in use in the second half of the XVIIth century and in the XVIIIth; its blade geometry is variable: Triangular, hexagonal, flat, diamond-shaped, &c, but always dull and exclusively for thrusting. The point of balance is right at the handle.

The rapier: Extremely long, with highly developped handguards, with functional finger rings which make for a different way of gripping (the smallsword has a small guard and decorative pas-d'asnes). The point of balance is more towards the middle; rapiers are usually much heavier than smallswords (about 1kg or more, whereas smallswords were around 500g). The blade is invariably diamond-shaped or flat, and retains some edge, especially in the earlier models (late XVIth, early XVIIth centuries).

Smallsword fencing is fenced double time (as in parry/riposte) whereas rapier fencing is fenced single time (as in parry and counterattack in the same motion). This is due to the speed and balance of these weapons.

2006-12-13 [Dumnorix]: Oh, and about the width of blades: You'd be surprised at how wide rapier and smallsword blades are. The trick was hollowing the blades as much as possible to relieve the weight; colichemarde smallswords had an obscenely large forte, and the most common rapiers had blades well over 3cm wide.

2006-12-13 [Lady of Lore]: That's really very indepth! Thank you very much. I'll make the needed adjustments as soon as I have time. Thankyou!

2006-12-13 [Dumnorix]: Always a pleasure :D I'll have a look at the rest of the lessons to see if there's anything else I can help with.

2006-12-13 [Dumnorix]: "the favorite of heavy hitters such as barbarians, warriors, and other muscle powerful characters."

Actually, the two handed sword ("Spadona" or "Spada da due mani") was actually a very refined weapon, especially in the XVIth century when it saw its appex: In fact, all modern fencing theory can be found in the handling of the two-handed sword. It was not used much as a battlefield weapon, except by men posted near the standard-bearer to defend him: Rather, the two-handed sword was a duelling weapon, used by noblemen to settle their affairs of honour before the rapier was dominant. Also used for such duels was the bastard sword (Spada da mano ed mezza, or hand-and-a-half sword), an older weapon (more typically medieval than the two-hander).

One must remember that two-handed swords, even though they are often pictured as medieval, were more renaissance developpments: soldiers wielded these to attack pike formations, and sergeants in pike formations used them as well. They were not often used for cutting, as one might expect, as they quite hard to handle for such play: Rather, they were used very much as a spear, and for making great leverage to push aside pikes.

For Italian references on the use of the two-hander, read Alfieri, Marozzo, or Lovino. For German sources, read Meyer or others.
For a great Italian source on the hand-and-a-half sword, read Fiore dei Liberi's Flos Duellatorum.

Also, a fellow at ARMA demonstrated that a rapier, parrying from forte to foible with a hanging parade, was perfectly capable of blocking a full-fledged blow from a two-hander, and responding inmediately afterwards, without suffering any damage.

2006-12-13 [Dumnorix]: The spadroon was a classic gentleman's sidearm, similar to the smallsword, but used for cutting as well as thrusting. It might be assimilated to a rather slender, straight sabre; the spadroon was also known as the "sheering sword" and was a very popular weapon in the XVIIIth century, especially in England. In Spain it was almost unknown, as the Spaniards persisted in using a light, "smallswordized" version of the rapier: It had the main characteristics of the smallsword, but it looked like a rapier and still could cut some (I own one such piece -- very interesting indeed).

2006-12-13 [Lady of Lore]: Hmmmm, very interesting indeed. My knowledge of blades is limited to those that I have read somewhat of and I was referancing thier usages to novels and such so I'm sure people had taken liberties with the operations of the weapons.....this information is a pretty valuable resource as it clears up the "stereotypes" of how the weapons work.

2006-12-14 [Son Goku]: Wow you really know your stuff Mr. Von Moss! sweetness. Keep posting stuff if you want, although i'm lacking a bit of the vocab, it's all really cool to read :). Very interesting, indeed! lol

2006-12-14 [Dumnorix]: No problem :)
As I said before, I applied for another course, but no-one's reviewed my application yet. Is there any way I could be admitted?

Cheers,

VM

2007-01-29 [Lady of Lore]: Hmm....sorry to have neglected my class, I'll put up more info soon and revamp the page a bit more so that it's more user friendly ^_^

2007-06-08 [Lepellier]: I'd like to bring up a point. Though I didn't notice if you were considering bastard swords and broadswords under the 1-handed category, such as the longsword, but, it was common for many styles of, especially wider bladed, longswords (i.e. the Broadsword and Bastard sword) as a hand-and-a-half sword, meaning, yes, they can be wielded in 1 hand, but are more easily wielded with both.

2007-06-08 [Lady of Lore]: Good point! I think many of my descriptions are a generealised idea of each...I do not have first hand knowledge on wielding such weapons but from a writer's point (which is a lot of what this wiki deals with) I can gather some information about some basics and such. (sorry if that was a little confusing) I think that the catagories and ways of wielding the weapons aren't a strict rule and many have exceptions as the wielder is the one who determines ultimately how a weapon is used.

Armyboy, thanks for your imput! ^_^

2007-06-08 [Lepellier]: Any time, I deal a lot in medival weaponry and the sort, and have a decent idea if you ever need anther point of veiw on weapons.

2007-06-09 [Lady of Lore]: Ok, will do ^_^ thanks!

2007-06-11 [Dumnorix]: I'm afraid that is wrong. Although it is commonly called "hand and a half sword" ("spada da mano ed mezza") there is no evidence in treatises that it was ever wielded one-handed. All evidence, historical and experimental, points towards the fact that the bastard sword was always wielded two-handed: and I invite anyone to try and wield a good replica bastard sword (such as those built by Pavel Moc or Del Tin Arme Antiche): you shall notice that the only thing you can get by wielding it one-handed is a broken wrist, and in a frank encounter, a slit throat.

2007-06-11 [Lepellier]: Now, it's not just bastard swords. And don't forget that swords evolved over the centuries, but many of the names stayed the same. There are several different swords that could be weilded one- or both- handed. Actually, Katanas could be considered a hand-and-a-half, though they were normally a 1-handed blade, for many other reasons, including ceremonial purposes, katanas were wielded two-handed.

2007-06-11 [Dumnorix]: The katana is a completely different development, from a completely different country which remained isolated from european culture, and therefore evolved separately. Plus, keep in mind that the slender, actual katana is a reduced version of the duller, more robust weapon used for war centuries before. And now, about what I said, if you're going to argue scientific fact, then I'm going to consider this discussion over. If you must verify what I say, see the investigations of the gentleman at the ARMA, HACA or AEEA. Or better still, get a copy of Fiore dei Liberi's "Flos Duellatorum" or Hans Talhoffer's "Fechbuch". I therefore maintain that your "ethymological" argument is not sufficient to discuss the fact that, both according to surviving pieces and period treatises, there were no swords that were wielded both one-handed and two-handed.

2007-06-11 [Lepellier]: Have you ever heard why the "Bastard" sword is called such? It's because it was too large to fit in the one-handed sword category, yet too small to be considered a 2-handed sword, therefore, it was a bastard. I too, have done my research, so, apearantly, someone's research isn't fully accurate, but I'd believe the scientific research of several historians.

2007-06-11 [Dumnorix]: The name is very descriptive, indeed, but rather than ethymology, one must look at these two main factors: historical treatises (that is, how the ancients themselves explain how to use it) and biomechanics (what we can do with it physically). The fact that the "bastard sword" could be used both two-handed and one-handed is mainly the fanciful development of enthusiastic yet misled victorian historians, who have been greatly surpassed in the past century and in the beginning of the present one.

2007-06-11 [Lepellier]: It's true, and even states on the wikipedia page that the treatsies mostly stated that Bastard swords were traditionally 2-handed weapons, but, even in some of the treatsies you mentioned, there are sections in which they went into detail on how a bastard sword could be wielded 1-handed, to extend the reach of the weapon. I agree that Bastard swords are traditionally two handed, but were also wielded with 1 hand at times.

2007-06-11 [Dumnorix]: Agreed then, keeping in mind that it was the exception that confirms the rule.

2007-06-11 [Lepellier]: alright, we have a mutual agreement on the use of bastard swords.

2008-04-24 [Aura Darklight]: what about other bladed weapon such the Japanese used.

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