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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2007 1:57:25 GMT
So basically I just joined a little bit ago, but one thing I am particularly interested in which I have not seen much discussion on is wooden swords. When I mentioned this in my introduction (Welcome Wagon: "Hi Everyone!"), I had a lot of great responses which included several cool links to sites which deal specifically in wooden swords (thanks again guys, awesome info).
I love steel, don't get me wrong here, but in terms of spending an afternoon dueling with friends, battle-ready swords aren't always the best option (ESPECIALLY is you don't have the proper equipment--I have plenty of nicks and scars to prove that point). Plus, you don't have to worry about banging up your favourite blades.
I have a couple of wooden swords I like to use. First and foremost, I have a viking sword. I know its a pretty good one because of the weight, balance, and quality of the wood and manufacturing, but unfortunately I've no clue who made it as the sword was a gift two birthdays ago. Other than that I just have a few different ones lying around. I recently purchased a bunch of wooden Tai Chi swords from Arms of Valor to give out to my friends for Christmas. Naturally, I bought one for myself and have been playing around with that as well.
A couple of people were talking about some pretty elaborate wooden blades; in fact, I honestly had no idea there was such a market for the things. I pretty much thought wooden swords were what you got at Renaissance Faires as a kid which you subsequently used until your hand was full of splinters or the blade broke in two (whichever came first). So I guess if anyone has any cool wooden swords they'd like to talk about, that would be great. (Sorry to be so long-winded: I'm an English major so I tend to write a lot)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2007 2:39:59 GMT
If you want something a little more forgiving you may want to look into LARP weapons.
I know, I know, before anyone says anything about the historical accuracy etc. Up until about a week ago I was a history all natural type of guy and have had my share of bruises. Recently Arms of Valor, Ltd. received some free LARP swords from a company that wanted us to sell them so I got a few of my re-enacting friends together to try them out. The weights are lighter, but the feeling is the same and with out armor or any protective gear we proceeded to beat the crap out of each other. The LARP swords do sting especially in the hands of a bunch of trained swordsman (which we are all of us fight in the SCA and do practice cutting), but overall it was nice to be able to pick up a sword and fight hard core without all the prep work of the armor. Needless to say, the LARP swords are a lot of fun and I can't wait to beat the crap out of my friends again next weekend.
We will still train with wooden, rattan, and steel swords, but the LARP allows for quick easy fights without a lot of prep-work.
And Arms of Valor, Ltd. is now selling the LARP swords. I was sold after cracking my SCA friend Steve in the side of the head and both of us laughing about it. ;D
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2007 3:35:52 GMT
Hello Caspian7, by this time you've probably already read my other post, but just incase you haven't... I have two words for you my fellow forumite: Macassar Ebony, another really good wood is japanese white oak. Please don't get it confused with the white oak from other countries. Based on what i've read it's not even close the quality of actual japanese white oak. However, as with most quality wasters the price and quality will increase in inverse proportions. Ala' supply and demand. I've struck my "good" bokken against a tree before, and the only damage it suffered was some minor scuffing and the surface of the waster was covered with some residue from the bark. However, with some little touch-ups, the damage was barely noticeable. A remarkable waster indeed. ~Jesse
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2007 3:55:54 GMT
trueswordsman, I sincerely appreciate you're comments on LARP swords. I understand that they are practical, and I do not have any qualms about historical inaccuracies. I guess you might say there's just something nostalgic about wooden blades. I have two LARP swords, and I agree with you wholeheartedly about the ease factor of not having to armour up yet still be able to fight hard. But there is something to be said of the mere sound of wood. First off, it most certainly stings; and secondly, LARP swords just seem (and this is totally my humble opinion) kind of weak on the noise factor. I mean one of the things I love about dueling with wooden swords is the crack between the two blades; whereas LARP swords create more of a muffled noise. Mind you, I am not talking about practicality, but rather aesthetics. What I appreciate most about wooden swords is how well they resemble real swords in terms of weight and balance. It has not been my experience that LARP swords behave the same way. Though I will totally admit that my experience with LARP swords is limited and that I may not have used quality blades. Still, I have to say that handling LARP swords is kinda like handling a real sword with a wet blanket attached to the blade, haha.
And I have read your other posts, jessehaushalter. I have your wikipedia link up and fully intend on reading up on him shortly.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2007 4:43:18 GMT
Oh yeah, don't get me wrong, I will not be hanging up my wooden waisters anytime soon.
I was just very enthusiastic about being able to hit somebody without breaking bones!! And by no means should LARP swords be considered a training method. They behave similar, but don't have the weight of a wooden sword. At best they can be used to hone reflexes and practice full speed contact without the need for armor.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2007 6:04:18 GMT
In my WMA practice, we just skip the wooden wasters and work with steel blunts for drilling and half speed sparring. For full speed sparring, both the steel blunts and wooden wasters are too dangerous to be done out of armor. You need either padded wasters or armor.
Just my opinion, I know of groups that go full speed with blunts and wasters with nothing but a fencing masks. The injury levels are too high for my taste.
I like Lance Changs "RSW". These are padded swords with a decent balance and weight. We have two in my group. They still bruise at full speed but nothing serious.
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Post by kidcasanova on Dec 5, 2007 6:17:32 GMT
I was thinking about buying some LARP swords after I saw that deal Paul mentioned in the last newsletter. I'll probably pick up those longswords so me and my brother can stop bursting blood vessels (he demolished my arm the last time we sparred. It was a DAMN good hit. I was impressed, and couldn't use my arm for a week).
On the topic of wooden swords, I make my own. Not that these have the quality and craftsmanship of professionally done ones, but they are very fun and very functional. I've broken a lot and learned a lot. Seasoned pine is (although a soft wood) fairly decent, even at medium to full contact. The only ones I've taken to full contact without breaking are my bamboo katana, my pine bastard sword, and my two hander I made from an old hockey stick (with a crossguard built from popsicle sticks, no less. It's one sturdy muthatrucka, though). I have a lot of whippy palmetto fronds for some fast, stinging action. Cherry is also a pretty damn hard wood. It took a LOT of force for me to break the last one I made.
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Post by salvatore on Dec 5, 2007 7:24:01 GMT
If you want really good wooden swords, I suggest that you turn toward my friend, check out this video.
He pits his Gen 1 bokken against a boulder, he usually lacquers it, and pins it to increase the strength by an unusually huge amount. Check it out, the bokken he uses in the video is oak, a weaker form of wood, but he still makes them strong. It was already cracked when he was testing it because he shattered a cinder block prior. He makes excellent wood swords, just ask him, he will give you a price, and he will make them to your specifications.
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Post by kidcasanova on Dec 5, 2007 7:53:44 GMT
Holy sweet mother of Moses! That was almost 20 hits on that boulder before it broke. I'd love to see what that guy' Lignum Vitae bokken. How much does he usually charge Sal?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2007 16:26:24 GMT
Now THAT is what I'm talking about here. Seriously, salvatore, sweet video, thanks! I counted 19 hits (Ka, for any of you Dark Tower fans; say thank ya) before the blade cracked, and at least 20 more before the main part of the blade fully snapped off.
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Post by salvatore on Dec 8, 2007 6:37:45 GMT
Sorry dudes, for the late response, he is not in business yet....so the prices are not that high, but what he says goes. I will let him know.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2007 1:04:30 GMT
Wooden wasters are traditional in WMA. They are a cheap way for a beginning student to begin. Here: www.woodenswords.com/www.newstirlingarms.com/about.htmlHistorically, people probably used wooden swords to practice with mostly, since it's more expensive to make a steel sword just to be blunt. There is evidence for some usage of steel blunts in period. Steel is so much more fun, you know. We use blunt steel swords in Viking combat reenactment, since it's mostly for the public to ooh and aah over. Me English major, too.
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Post by swordboy bringer of chaos on Dec 30, 2007 7:31:53 GMT
;DI'm with caspian ,I love my bokken almost as much as my gen2 bwt.I have almost no fomal training with a sword.I learned by fighting with black belts since I was 16 (with bokkens) . so I gues you could say I went to the dojo of "oh s@#$ that hurt" but I can't complain .... pain is a good teacher cause I got good fast.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2007 11:47:47 GMT
Ah black belts, black belts have never impressed me, until someone actually proves their ability a black belt is just a fancy belt that even 8 year olds can achieve. I put no stock in belt gradings anymore. Bokken are good, I like mine to but I also like my chinese broadsword.
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Post by swordboy bringer of chaos on Jan 1, 2008 1:13:11 GMT
I'm with you there wraith. I've known(and sparred) black belts with no real talent and been spanked by foes with zero training and I got to skip years of forms and katas and jump to practical aplaction
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