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Post by elbrittania39 on May 1, 2018 11:48:01 GMT
Lets imagine a Clint Eastwood style romanticized western cowboy wanted to carry with him a sword as well as his trusty six shooter. What sword do you think would be most appropriate and why?
Feel free to base your answer on culture, function, appearance, or anything else you deem valid.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on May 1, 2018 11:58:48 GMT
An U.S. cavalry saber, what other sword could a cowboy get?
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2018 12:02:59 GMT
www.imdb.com/title/tt0058792/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(TV_series)"McCord retained the handle of his broken saber with attached pommel. He had the remaining blade sharpened into a long knife, which he used in many episodes. He traveled throughout the Old West, continually confronted by people who refused to believe his innocence, requiring him to prove them wrong."
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Post by wlewisiii on May 1, 2018 13:42:21 GMT
A US Cavalry saber sounds good - the M1840 preferably since like Richard Sharpe, I see an Eastwood character liking the heavier blade of Ol' Wristbreaker.
Another thought though, given America's history of immigration, would be if the character had started somewhere else as a dragoon or cuirassier giving an excuse for the character to carry any kind of French or English blade. I'd make him a former British Dragoon, perhaps a veteran of India, and have a 1796 saber along with his Remington New Model Army revolvers. Came to the States, fought for the Union, perhaps wounded at Brandywine Station or during the 3rd day Cavalry engagements at Gettysburg for a nice romantic facial scar? Now wanders the west in the 1865 ~ 1875 time frame.
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LeMal
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Post by LeMal on May 1, 2018 13:43:09 GMT
Lot of possibilities, depends on the story behind it. Hell, you could go all the way back to some heirloom/excavated bronze or gladius or Viking sword if you get creative on provenance. Same with something from halfway across the world; guy from Last Samurai dies and cowboy friend inherits his katana; he gets his hands on a kilij or Zulu iklwa or Filipino espada, etc. Not to mention a rapier, still relatively popular in Latin America until not long before. LIKELY contemporaneous pieces? Fitting a presumed cowboy lifestyle? Besides some version of a sabre as mentioned, an espada ancha or really large, short-sword-sized D-guard bowie: basically an American messer. 3.bp.blogspot.com/-eA7teyhDSF8/VqD78kQxi7I/AAAAAAAABY4/qI7i5Gx933o/s1600/warr028_03.jpg(You also could have either a long Mexican lance, or one or more short, Plains Indian lances be part of his equipment.) |
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on May 1, 2018 13:46:57 GMT
www.imdb.com/title/tt0058792/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branded_(TV_series)"McCord retained the handle of his broken saber with attached pommel. He had the remaining blade sharpened into a long knife, which he used in many episodes. He traveled throughout the Old West, continually confronted by people who refused to believe his innocence, requiring him to prove them wrong." Give a cowboy a swords and he makes a knife!  In Red Sun there was a ceremonial katana that Bronson brought back after Mifune's death, so...  |
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christain
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Post by christain on May 1, 2018 13:51:30 GMT
Cowboys don't need swords. Welcome to TEXAS.   |
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on May 1, 2018 13:58:50 GMT
The Batbowie!   |
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christain
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Post by christain on May 1, 2018 14:08:43 GMT
Kinda does look like a wing, huh?! I know it floats like one...  .... |
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2018 14:41:01 GMT
The Red Sun film is all about the villain cowboy (Alain Delon aka Gauche) stealing a prized katana and Bronson chiding the Japanese way until the shtf.
Great film
In Branded, McCord is left with only the shortie after being booted out of camp (on foot, minus ripped off stripes).
On the lighter side of the west one has F Troop.
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Post by 28shadow on May 1, 2018 15:36:44 GMT
Probably a US 1840 or 1860 that's been shortened to be concealed easier under a coat. Or if you want to be super special a late smallsword or the US 1840 spadroon thingie with a bowie knife with long quillons as the off hand.
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Post by Adrian Jordan on May 1, 2018 16:53:09 GMT
While I agree that an American saber of some kind would probably be it, I also can't help but think of a Messer. It looks like a giant Bowie knife.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on May 1, 2018 16:55:11 GMT
Other ideas with a possible hispanic background:
An scavenged old conquistador sword or a Zorro rapier.
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Post by Cosmoline on May 1, 2018 17:15:17 GMT
There were actually katana in circulation in the later 19th century after trade with Japan was opened. They show up in some old photos from the west and would have been curios.
But I like the idea, a la "The Sacketts," of a cowboy finding a preserved Spanish side sword in a cave.
EDIT--Crap Andi beat me to it ;-)
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Post by Jordan Williams on May 1, 2018 17:49:34 GMT
Hey I grew up on ranches  Pocket knives and hunting knives, but I've always felt the US M1860 has a very frontier vibe to it. For close to the border - Espada Ancha, colonial Spain would be my works. |
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Post by Jordan Williams on May 1, 2018 17:50:29 GMT
Although I will also say riding through sage brush with a sabre - I wouldn't be too happy. I'd rather take someone shorter like a hanger or long bowie. Sage is awful and I wish is would go the hell away. Smells nice though.
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Post by howler on May 1, 2018 19:01:58 GMT
Although I will also say riding through sage brush with a sabre - I wouldn't be too happy. I'd rather take someone shorter like a hanger or long bowie. Sage is awful and I wish is would go the hell away. Smells nice though. If going smaller size, definitely a long bowie...is there really an alternative in the short sword realm. |
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Post by zabazagobo on May 1, 2018 20:32:33 GMT
A fun question. Most appropriate historically would definitely be a large bowie or a saber.
Although...conceptually a katana would pair nicely since both it and the revolver are stylized around attacking from the draw. After all, westerns and samurai flicks share a lot of thematic elements. Yojimbo is one of my favorite movies and its western adaptation Fistful of Dollars is a classic as well, so the thought of a hybrid Toshiro Mifune/Clint Eastwood is just too fun to pass up.
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Post by howler on May 1, 2018 20:52:54 GMT
A fun question. Most appropriate historically would definitely be a large bowie or a saber. Although...conceptually a katana would pair nicely since both it and the revolver are stylized around attacking from the draw. After all, westerns and samurai flicks share a lot of thematic elements. Yojimbo is one of my favorite movies and its western adaptation Fistful of Dollars is a classic as well, so the thought of a hybrid Toshiro Mifune/Clint Eastwood is just too fun to pass up. Fast draw duels happened a lot more in Japan than American west, unless we're talking movies, in which case I pick the trio duel at the end of The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly...ah those trumpets. |
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2018 21:56:59 GMT
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....
Pocket knives and hunting knives, but I've always felt the US M1860 has a very frontier vibe to it. 
