AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 10, 2020 8:17:12 GMT
My KA Sidesword got a grip band wrap already and the ricasso had a original leather cover too. The part of the guard where the index finger lies over was rounded too but why not try to make it a little bit more comfortably. It worked! The first half of the band is wrapped around the quillons near the blade, the other half made the upper part of the grip thicker. Very comfy now.  |
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Post by treeslicer on Apr 10, 2020 8:47:38 GMT
I just rewrapped the grips of my Hanwei Scottish Broadsword and my Cromwell with upholstering the area under middle and ring finger a bit. First time I like to swing both swords. I know gloves are recommended for those swords but I don't like to wear'em. The broadsword still needs them because my knuckles scratch on the basked (santa liner removed, hated the look). The grips are really ugly now, but it's a joy to hold them. You really ought to stop now, before you wrap something else, and hurt yourself.  |
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 10, 2020 8:53:29 GMT
Sometimes a wrap is just a wrap!  |
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LeMal
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Post by LeMal on Apr 10, 2020 20:37:49 GMT
My KA Sidesword got a grip band wrap already and the ricasso had a original leather cover too. The part of the guard where the index finger lies over was rounded too but why not try to make it a little bit more comfortably. It worked! The first half of the band is wrapped around the quillons near the blade, the other half made the upper part of the grip thicker. Very comfy now. An excellent choice. And in fact many times over the years I've done something similar with wraps, cord, or just a stitched rawhide or leather cover extending to "fuse" grip, guard and a bit of forte/ricasso together to prevent guard rattle. For that matter, back in the "bad old days" on late 1990s or so when Windlass was using screw on pommels, extending a single stitched wrap down to encase even a big asymmetric wheel pommel nevertheless made it rock solid. Can't twist when it, well, can't twist. Bottom line: Just because something (even then as far as we know) "wasn't done historically" never means it can't work. |
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 11, 2020 4:52:33 GMT
The simple and probably historical solution would be to just wear leather gloves.
But it's interesting to change the thickness and shape of the grip.
Most of my swords feel better, more agile and lighter with a thicker and convex shaped grip.
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LeMal
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Post by LeMal on Apr 11, 2020 7:07:11 GMT
The simple and probably historical solution would be to just wear leather gloves. But it's interesting to change the thickness and shape of the grip. Most of my swords feel better, more agile and lighter with a thicker and convex shaped grip. Oh yeah, for the grippiness part. ;) But what I meant was, whether you intended it for that purpose or not, you added structural stability by cross-wrapping the grip, guard and ricasso together. And works like a charm for fixing the annoying loose-guard rattles too. |
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 11, 2020 7:57:41 GMT
Not in my case, the band I use is thin and flexible silicone rubber, nothing to fix loose hilt parts with.
But with some other band it could work.
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Post by pgandy on Apr 11, 2020 14:22:18 GMT
My KA Sidesword got a grip band wrap already and the ricasso had a original leather cover too. The part of the guard where the index finger lies over was rounded too but why not try to make it a little bit more comfortably. It worked! The first half of the band is wrapped around the quillons near the blade, the other half made the upper part of the grip thicker. Very comfy now. Is that the same type of tape? It appears to be laying flatter and smoother or have you just gotten better at it? |
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 11, 2020 15:38:03 GMT
Always the same band.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 19, 2020 6:56:51 GMT
Third attempt to make a good wrapped grip on the English Cutlass. I did more upholstering under the grip band with felt furniture sliders. On both sides and double under the front area where middle and ring finger grip. But less thick in the index finger area. Also double on the back side below the thenar. And I tried to spare the pommel.  Here to compare my earlier trials.   An this was the original hilt desaster, too short and much too thin, like just gripping a rounded tang.  |
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Post by pgandy on Apr 20, 2020 2:39:51 GMT
That third try involved much padding/tape. What is your impression of that wrap.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 20, 2020 4:08:12 GMT
I just used again the two bands from the second trial, the thinner grip. But more padding underneath. The band had come loose so I had to do something anyway. I'm getting better in glueing the end of the band. The grip feels more ergonomic now. I can grip better with the two stronger fingers but also feel safer when moulinetting. The idea of the areas to upholster I took from saber grips like in this picture.  |
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Post by pgandy on Apr 20, 2020 13:02:49 GMT
The silhouette to my eye looks unappealing. To my mind it looks practical and much more utilitarian than the dinky round factory grip which I think you captured better in your photo than KoA did with either Windlass or Universal copy. That does indeed appear small and I’ve heard so many complaints I dare not try one. I’ve looked at this sword hard, I like the blade but so many people bad mouth the grip. Thanks for sharing.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 20, 2020 13:28:43 GMT
I admit in the picture the grip looks like a choked blood sausage. Here are two pictures with the grip in the hand to show the idea of the form.   |
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Post by pgandy on Apr 20, 2020 15:55:53 GMT
That looks like it fits nicely, I figured it would. I hope that no offense was taken in my earlier post, none was intended. I suspect that palm swell really helps compared the factory grip. Many of my wraps unappealing to the eye, but what they say to the hand is another story, the story that really counts. So I will ignore what the eye says as they make a world of difference when it comes to handling. That’s the important thing.
Edit: I have two swords in particular that the wrap looks out of place, Windlass’ M1860 Officer’s Model and Universal’s P1760 Sergeant’s Sword but I would not be able to use them otherwise. And probably would have ended up trashing them. Just happened to remember CS 18" Barong machete that set for 2-3 years before I realized the problem and the fix. Its 12" little brother was a favourite, the weight distribution was the difference.
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AndiTheBarvarian
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Apr 20, 2020 16:05:11 GMT
Haha, no offense taken.
You made me consider how it looks, which is indeed a bit weird.
The grip also looks bigger than it is without the hand to compare.
The hilt/guard/grip is relative small yet, but at least usable now.
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LeMal
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Grip Band
Apr 20, 2020 18:03:56 GMT
via mobile
Post by LeMal on Apr 20, 2020 18:03:56 GMT
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Post by pgandy on May 10, 2020 15:55:32 GMT
Not grip band but; got to playing around yesterday and wrapped the quillon of my M1902 sabre with electrical tape. This was too slick allowing my thumb to easily slide off. I was curious about placing my thumb there for more power. When dry handling it worked so well that I applied tape to the top strap as well. This has always been of a minor annoyance as I found the smooth polished steel a bit too slick for my liking. The tape worked well there too. The end result is the tape is more user friendly than the smooth bare slick metal. What’s more now I get a satisfying audible SWISH that wasn’t there before. The scabbard has been wrapped from the start, a carryover from my M1860 to give a grab spot without increasing rust possibilities. However in this case the scabbard is nickeled but I suspect in the long run I may wear through the plating. Besides it feels better than bare metal in the hand. I have since applied a strip of tape to the top strap of my Klewang cutlass making that more secure in my hand.    Klewang Cutlass  Looking at the photos I think when the top strap tape needs replacing I'll start at the ferrule. |
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Post by AndiTheBarvarian on Jul 10, 2020 17:51:45 GMT
Oops, I did it again! (and as always improved handling)  |
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Post by pgandy on Jul 10, 2020 22:49:07 GMT
I think I'll do my rapier. I don't know why that didn't occur to me earlier, perhaps because I rarely use it. The grip as is, is nothing more than a cylinder and I live with it, but it could be better. Maybe this weekend. To save my small supply of rescue tape I might us something else internally with that tape outside. That palm swell looks comfortable. Thanks for the idea Andi.
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