Swords and stuff

[LongCoolMother]

i once read that there was ancient chinese swords discovered, that at the time they were used, could cut through metal. they said if you drop a hair onto the blade, the hair would slice in half under its own weight!! the edge of the blade was sharpened down to only a few molecules. and thats what i call AWESOME!

 

[Babbles]

Just a little something about unarmed vs armed combat, when it comes to a fully armored western knight vs an unarmed person I think it is pretty clear who the winner is. However if the attacker is only lightly armored with a small weapon such as a dagger/knife or even a spear in MOST martial arts schools we/they/you are trained to essentially ignore the weapon and just think of it as an extension of their arm. There are even certain sword attacks that are easy to 'fight' against, however in most instances I believe a sword offers much more flexibilty than most other weapons therefore making it difficult to defend against when unarmed.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Michael


alkemyst - I took direct hits to the throat and head. How hard do you think SCA swords hit? Much harder than an unarmed strike. Throats are well protected.

You're also nuts in what you think about helmets. They took repeated, direct blows in combat. They're also designed to deflect blows and any semi-decent fighter knows how to roll with a shots so it skips off.

I've swung real swords (with a real tang) against helmets. I was able to dent the helmets, but none failed. I also have been hit hard enough to have the helmet I was wearing get dented but it had almost no effect on me. Armor is multi-layered and spreads impact well. Hammers and maces concentrate the blow into one place. If the angle is right, it can limit the amount the blow is spread and that results in broken ribs. The head is generally a lousy place to aim. I would aim at a gap in the collar bone area, the armpits, and the groin area. Those areas are usually much less armored as it is hard to cover with plate.

Throwing a rock at me will do almost nothing when I'm in armor. Best case - I block my vision with my shield and you "pounce" closer and attack a joint. Shield technique is designe dto keep vision open, so that's risky.

I'm curious - do you have real life experience to back up your claims or is this from comic books and movies? I've actually fought against people who are much, much better than me, so I know that there are gaps that are huge between different people and their skill levels.

Michael

I have watch the SCA battles, I am aware the strikes are hard, saying they are harder than all unarmed strikes I don't know about that. You know just as a sword can pierce and break bones so can trained hands....a sword will strike harder most of the time....

I have real life evidence just based on the fact take a motorcycle helmet....rider is dead due to brain hemmorahge, helmet nice and shiny still.

If you look into any book, study of armor with real weapons you will find a helmet was not designed to ever withstand a direct blow and allow the wearer to be unharmed...it was to save his life. You saying any semi-trained fighter knows to roll off blows....that pointless...sometimes what you know and what you can do are two different things....otherwise noone would ever win a battle unless the opponent was clueless.

I don't base anything on comics or movies or any type of fiction. However, I know biology, I know weaponry, I know combat and I know that no matter what you encase your head in the weaklink will be your neck and also the impact the brain can withstand.

My debate had nothing to do with other weak points of armor...I would need to know the type and how it was worn....with helmets I can speak in general. Let a friend take a 5-10lb mallet and strike you in the side of the head full force wearing your helmet....I will guarantee if the hit was 'real' you will be unconscious or dead. Heck take the best helmet you can find and do this test.

 

[Michael]

You know biology and weapons from where? Personal experience? A high school science class? I've been hit in my helm multiple times full force with 5 pound objects and the helm didn't dent and it did nothing to me.

Michael

 

[alkemyst]

are you serious?

I have 7 years of college level biology coursework....I am telling you if you seriously think you can withstand a 5-10lb sledgehammer type blow to your head incased in whatever armor you choose you are clueless. Getting hit with a 5lb object is not that same as swinging a 5lb hammer.

I am far from high school, about 15 years so....

Make a website, HitMyHelmedHead.com ... offer people the ability to take a swing at your helmed head and the next renn faire/SCA deal....get a standard 5-10lb hammer with about a three foot handle....whatever helmet you want. Tell them $10 a whack.

I will guarantee you make that first $10, I guarantee unless it's an 5 year old taking the first swing that's all you make.

hell post a ATOT topic....I bet I can withstand a sledgehammer to my helmed head, you will be torn apart.

 

[Michael]

Just trying to get you to cough up some credentials. Doesn't sound like you have any actual fighting experience - ever put on some armor and try it just to see what the experience was like?

I've already been hit in the head by a hammer with a 3 foot handle. It knocked me out through the helm - more of a stun as I came too when I ht the ground, but I was out. Didn't dent the helm, but I had to explain that we don't use real iron in our weapons, even if they had one layer of close-celled foam around it. I also just stood there and took the shot (common to teach new fighters that it is ok to hit pretty hard). I let him hit me a few more times with it and rolled with the shot and it did nothing to me.

I'm 17 years out of college and married to an MD, so you're not discussing this with a kid either.

Michael

 

[alkemyst]

sword play no....martial art in pads yeah, instructor had a staff (sort of like a padded bo staff)...my job was to try and attack him....

doesn't take too much to daze one when you duck right into the path of the staff

 

[TheLidlessEye]

Completely depends on the type of fighting.

Something with decent length, light, ballanced, and STRONG. I'm sure the mentioned katana would meet all those requirements.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: LongCoolMother
i once read that there was ancient chinese swords discovered, that at the time they were used, could cut through metal. they said if you drop a hair onto the blade, the hair would slice in half under its own weight!! the edge of the blade was sharpened down to only a few molecules. and thats what i call AWESOME!

Cool, but impractical. The edge would dull in no time.