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Post by briguy168 on Mar 23, 2013 17:25:32 GMT
Is there a way to temporarily "blunt" a razor sharp edge? Like wrapping it in seran wrap then taping the edges? What I want to do is practice with a functionally sharp Jian I plan on getting forged. The thing is the jian forms have techniques in them at have the edge of the blade right near the body and I don't want to accidentally cut myself by performing those techniques.
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Post by MOK on Mar 23, 2013 19:28:35 GMT
If you don't trust yourself with a sharp blade, you shouldn't wield a sharp blade. Period. Seriously.
I'd say just practice with a proper blunt trainer until you develop the awareness, control and confidence not to cut yourself with live steel.
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Talon
Member
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,554
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Post by Talon on Mar 23, 2013 19:37:03 GMT
Yup get an accurate trainer to practice form and save the sharp for cutting practice
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Post by briguy168 on Mar 24, 2013 4:41:05 GMT
It's not that I don't have awareness, control or confidence in my skills with a sword, I've been practicing with them for the last few years. It's that my sifu requires us to do them at speed and it would be nice to at least try it with a functional sword to see how the sword handles and such.
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Mar 24, 2013 5:06:27 GMT
The "best" solution is to get two swords, one to be sharpened and the other to be left unsharpened. Ask about it when you talk about getting your sharp one made.
A thin sheet steel strip bent into a V-shape to cover the edge, and going around the whole edge would work. Would not be a good solution for some of the things people like to do with blunt swords, but might be OK for forms.
There are different kinds of blunt swords: 1) Like a sharp sword, but not sharpened. Unsafe for lots of things, but safer than a sharp for forms. Plenty of popular cutting targets can be cut with such swords. A sword with an edge covered in thin sheet steel should offer a similar level of safety (and non-safety). 2) Similar to above, but with a thick edge (2-3mm is common). 3) Sparring blunts.
Many people would call 2) and 3) "blunt trainers", but not 1). For good reason. If you cover the edge of a sharp sword, do not treat it as a "blunt trainer".
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Post by 14thforsaken on Mar 24, 2013 5:18:39 GMT
If you are not 100% confident practicing at speed with a sharp, DON'T do it. Just don't do it; ever. I used to do all sorts of tricks with sharp knives, but I used blunt ones until I was completely confident in my ability. Even now, if I'm a bit out of practice, I'll use blunts until I get my timing and all back 100%. Anything else is asking for an accident.
Get a blunt version of the sword to use in those circumstances. A "blunt" sword does not mean that it isn't functional; if it has the same weight, balance, geometry and could be considered appropriate for combat if sharpened then its just as functional.
Never cover a sharpened sword and practice with it. Anything that you could use to cover the edge that wouldn't appreciably alter the weight and balance would still cut through the covering and into you at any sort of speed.
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Post by briguy168 on Mar 24, 2013 6:01:24 GMT
Right now I have a blunt trainer that I got off of ebay for like 30 bucks that I've been practicing and learning the motions with; the pommel/hilt is pretty heavy but that's a good thing since it has been working out my forearms. Here in the next few weeks, I plan on commissioning JKOO/sinosword to forge me a real, sharp, functional Jian. Something that I can use both for cutting soft to medium targets and something to also practice with (I gotta know my sword and how it handles somehow).
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Post by Timo Nieminen on Mar 24, 2013 23:48:55 GMT
1mm steel over the edge (say 10mm wide, folded) would add about 50g to the sword. Maybe a little thinner would suffice, but you'd still be looking at adding about 30g at minimum.
I wouldn't do it; I'd get a 2nd unsharpened sword. But I think it could work if that kind of extra weight is acceptable.
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