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Post by warriorpoet on Aug 29, 2020 15:39:55 GMT
Do you ever take your swords out? I know various local laws may muddy the waters here. Maybe go with a friend and dress in period garb.
I am just curious. About a decade ago, maybe a little more, I was just discovering that you could actually "use" swords.
That is to say, I found the sbg web site. In 2001, my folks bought me a practical Katana from MRL. It was unsharpened and displayed. I liked to hit up the "sword guy" at the mall, but these were all silly wallhangers. I didn't know anything about steel or what made a sword actually usable (durable).
After I found the site, I bought an accusharp. The Katana took quite an edge (I later emailed mrl and found out this model is made of the same stainless as the cobra steel line) . My girlfriend and I took it to the woods to whack at sticks etc. It was great fun.
It was interesting to see the difference between that sword and some of the crappy mall swords.
I was hooked and started collecting real, usable swords. Learned about hilt construction etc. Its been a great ride.
We have a state park nearby that hardly gets any visitors and you have total privacy.
It is quite something to walk in the woods with a sword. It does the imagination good.
We would toss hedge apples at one another, slicing them out of the air. It was so awesome!
Haven't done this in years now, but I miss just taking a sword hiking. We were always safe about things, responsible etc.
But it got me thinking. I found the middle earth Rangers forum from a thread on this forum. I think that is what those folks are about. Going into nature armed like its the 8th century.
It's a lot of fun, and gives you a chance to test your sword our against various mediums. (just to be clear, ive never dressed up lol but thought maybe this might aid your cause in more restrictive cultures like the UK, Europe etc)
Just curious if anyone has ever brought a sword out to nature, and how your experience was?
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Post by RufusScorpius on Aug 29, 2020 19:05:01 GMT
I think context is the key with that. Where I live it's perfectly fine to carry a sword, but nobody does. It's also legal to carry a gun, and lots of people do. So nobody tends to notice the gun, but would probably call the cops if it were a sword.
If you carried a sword while wearing period clothing, people would be amused and assume it was make believe time or you were going to a party or the theater.
If more people carried swords, it would be considered normal. Context.
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Zen_Hydra
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Aug 29, 2020 19:43:38 GMT
I think it would be interesting to ruck up in full period military gear and hump around in the wilderness for a weekend. Maybe have some pre-planned or randomized demarcation for you to react to certain specific events (e.g. enemy ambush). Then maybe make adjustments to your gear and/or technique to address any issues you found, and do it again. Lather, rinse, repeat until felt like you were either believably competent, or at least had a good idea of what that competency level would look like.
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 29, 2020 21:15:52 GMT
If you happen to see someone in the North Florida woods, doing something complicated and repetitive with a katana, while counting cadence in Japanese, don't bother them. And, BTW, you're trespassing........
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Post by Sir Thorfinn on Aug 29, 2020 22:57:52 GMT
You can hike with a spear...and even make the head look less threatening. Just a thought.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Aug 29, 2020 23:06:06 GMT
I think it would be interesting to ruck up in full period military gear and hump around in the wilderness for a weekend. Maybe have some pre-planned or randomized demarcation for you to react to certain specific events (e.g. enemy ambush). Then maybe make adjustments to your gear and/or technique to address any issues you found, and do it again. Lather, rinse, repeat until felt like you were either believably competent, or at least had a good idea of what that competency level would look like. Did exactly that for 22 years in late 20th century period gear. It was called "Army training". And if it ain't rainin', it ain't trainin' I do think it would be more fun in Roman gear, at least for a weekend or two
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 29, 2020 23:39:40 GMT
I think it would be interesting to ruck up in full period military gear and hump around in the wilderness for a weekend. Maybe have some pre-planned or randomized demarcation for you to react to certain specific events (e.g. enemy ambush). Then maybe make adjustments to your gear and/or technique to address any issues you found, and do it again. Lather, rinse, repeat until felt like you were either believably competent, or at least had a good idea of what that competency level would look like. Did exactly that for 22 years in late 20th century period gear. It was called "Army training". And if it ain't rainin', it ain't trainin' I do think it would be more fun in Roman gear, at least for a weekend or two Yup, until your centurion finds rust on your lorica, and whacks you in the nuts with a wrist-thick grapevine. I also wouldn't care to do jungle semprini in caligae.
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Post by howler on Aug 29, 2020 23:48:18 GMT
You can hike with a spear...and even make the head look less threatening. Just a thought. This points out that lots of stuff traditionally used in other parts of the world for utility which are also used for self defense like Barong, Kukri, Cutlass, Parang, Golok, Enep, etc... where you give up certain defensive handling characteristics for durable chopping, camp, cooking, field chores.
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Post by warriorpoet on Aug 30, 2020 2:19:10 GMT
That's a good point about the spear! Very practical, could be done with a cold steel bushman on the belt.
Wouldn't be as cool as hiking with a claymore or something maybe, haha.
I read an article somewhere about the blades carried by folks who still live very close to the wild (somewhere in south America I think).
Large, thick blades were the choice... Handy for chopping, hacking, stabbing and fending off big things full of muscle, teeth and claws (where often gun rights, or lack thereof, are quite regressive).
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Zen_Hydra
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Born with a heart full of neutrality
Posts: 2,625
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Post by Zen_Hydra on Aug 30, 2020 5:02:45 GMT
I think it would be interesting to ruck up in full period military gear and hump around in the wilderness for a weekend. Maybe have some pre-planned or randomized demarcation for you to react to certain specific events (e.g. enemy ambush). Then maybe make adjustments to your gear and/or technique to address any issues you found, and do it again. Lather, rinse, repeat until felt like you were either believably competent, or at least had a good idea of what that competency level would look like. Did exactly that for 22 years in late 20th century period gear. It was called "Army training". And if it ain't rainin', it ain't trainin' I do think it would be more fun in Roman gear, at least for a weekend or two I spent a few years mucking about in the Army, and it's one of reasons I haven't actually done what I suggested earlier myself. It's an interesting idea, but the reality doesn't sound like my idea of fun anymore. My back isn't what it used to be.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Aug 30, 2020 15:42:21 GMT
Did exactly that for 22 years in late 20th century period gear. It was called "Army training". And if it ain't rainin', it ain't trainin' I do think it would be more fun in Roman gear, at least for a weekend or two I spent a few years mucking about in the Army, and it's one of reasons I haven't actually done what I suggested earlier myself. It's an interesting idea, but the reality doesn't sound like my idea of fun anymore. My back isn't what it used to be.
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Post by treeslicer on Aug 30, 2020 17:22:10 GMT
I spent a few years mucking about in the Army, and it's one of reasons I haven't actually done what I suggested earlier myself. It's an interesting idea, but the reality doesn't sound like my idea of fun anymore. My back isn't what it used to be. sempriniing priceless, Rufio, I can feel that photo all over. Thing's a sempriniing vaccine against military nostalgia.
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Post by RufusScorpius on Aug 30, 2020 18:27:11 GMT
I remember the suck factor of being assigned to a special weapons platoon. If you aren't carrying all your junk and a baseplate for the mortar or a tripod for the. 50, then you're carrying the .50 or the mortar tube, or the ammo, or the radio, or the batteries for the radio and night vision stuff. Double suck factor for being stinger missile. MAN PORTABLE my semprini...
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Post by Robert in California on Aug 31, 2020 3:47:00 GMT
As interesting as it sounds, what I would most likely end up thinking after a few hills and valleys, is "What use is this sword? I'm not apt to use it for anything other than maybe an expensive walking stick."
What I have noticed on one ranch, is that the workers carry little knives, not big knives. I offered one cowboy a choice between a larger and a smaller (both folders) and he chose the smaller.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2020 5:22:16 GMT
Me and my buddies used to do the same. I would load up my swords in a bass guitar soft shell bag and we would go cut up some saplings (worry not, it was in a place they were not wanted). Nothing feels better than walking with a sword on your hip.
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Post by warriorpoet on Jun 2, 2022 15:08:48 GMT
It's true. It's a very natural feeling having a sword in the woods. I think it probably speaks to something in us, those of us who grew up with different tales of knights and fantasy etc.
I haven't done it in years, usually if I'm going to the wood's I'm bringing the dogs and I keep the on the leash.
I'll never forget chopping hedge apples out of the air. Reminds me of the Coconut chop scene in Hook. Good times!
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