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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Mar 7, 2009 6:30:08 GMT
The reason I think it is a very flexible blade is because I haven't had a good longsword before. I know that Mike has more understanding of the issue and I bow to his knowledge. for quite some time I have done a test on my swords where I tap the edge on a solid block and feel the vibration in the sword. the less it bounces and the less vibration that is felt in the hand the better a cutter the sword is. it has been explained to me that this is a Harmonics test and Harmonics are what cause a sword to cut well not flexibility. the sword in question has great harmonics. very interesting.
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Post by shadowhowler on Mar 7, 2009 9:18:16 GMT
It may be that others who have different uses for their blades find an advantage to a very flexible blade. I personally have handled swords which had blades that were too flexible to properly function for their intended purpose. If I hold a sword with the flat of the blade parallel with the ground and the tip is sagging under it's own weight, it's too whippy for me. This is where I stand as well. I agree that its a matter of prefrence from person to person... but for about 90% of my sword applications... this is how I feel about my swords.
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Post by YlliwCir on Mar 7, 2009 9:50:12 GMT
Good input all around, I do think it's one's perspective alot. I remember a good friend on the forum saying he found Hanwei's Edward the III to be a bit whippy. I thought it quite stiff. I think we're both right. Ric, don't you think the windlass military rapier will be perfect with a little bit more stiffness ? I say that because some thrusts you did in your video are not very successful... Sylvain, I would like that one to be a stiffer but via a good distal taper, it's the same thickness the length of the blade. However I don't think the failure to thrust in the video is the fault of the blade. It failed to penetrate when I got too close to the inner lip of the tire. I've had the same lack of results with my Albion Poitiers and Hanwei Albrecht II, both very stiff blades especially Al.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2009 11:37:40 GMT
Cheers Hotspur; I don't think Jay ever forgave us for that mess Bloody hell Glen...what a mess...but a good mess...yes? So many variables come to play in this debate (as do in others as well). My thing that was getting old about this topic was the ever present .."it's too whippy " chant, especially in reference to Windlass swords. I have 4 Windlass' in my collection and consider none of them "too whippy". Thanks for for such a civil discussion/ debate....don't think it would have been so level headed on other sites. cheers, Bill
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Post by ShooterMike on Mar 7, 2009 14:16:07 GMT
Kudos to all, from me too. I like this kind of civil discussion where everyone tries to understand each other, rather than taking sniping shots.
And Glen, as the host of several cutting parties who's had to clean up afterward... I TOTALLY agree. ;D
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Post by Tom K. (ianflaer) on Mar 7, 2009 14:37:22 GMT
I own only one windlass, the Late Spanish Sword (arming) and it isn't whippy either, not even by my previous understanding.
thanks so much for all the discussion this thread has taught me some things.
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Post by hotspur on Mar 7, 2009 15:03:23 GMT
Kudos to all, from me too. I like this kind of civil discussion where everyone tries to understand each other, rather than taking sniping shots. And Glen, as the host of several cutting parties who's had to clean up afterward... I TOTALLY agree. ;D Absolutely, tribute and contribution to the hosts. I had retreived an old shot of that day and was trying to show the tubes from hell well. It was a gleeful chuckle from Todd asking "what's next?" It had gotten a bit out of hand by the end of the day, sweeping it a bit away from the stand to still be able to approach it. The sword in hand was Jay Barron's Al Massey smithed baskethilt. So thin you can't see it ;D In a different thread here is that slim migration era sword flying through a stand of wara and exhibiting a bit of flex. Also in that thread the GBS basically falling through a mat via the sword's tip. Cheers Hotspur; I'll see if the oneof me attacking with the falchion still existsFrom 2002, I've looked both better and worse.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2009 15:30:57 GMT
I also agree with whoever made the comment that the CoP is not always the best place to cut, as liam neeson says to orlando bloom in Kingdom of Heaven "the blade is not the only part of the sword." This is very true, also true of cutting and true swordsmanship. You don't just make CoP cuts when learning WMA you also learn tip cuts and such. I like the sword in hand in that picture, so thin it's almost molecular
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2009 16:22:37 GMT
I started forming an opinion a while ago that the degree of blade flex is a matter of personal preference both today and in period. I concur; I'll give you an example. I had the pleasure of handling an Ibelin sword not too long ago- and I remember reading about it on SFI, one who was selling it stated that the blade was too thin and whippy for him, he didn't feel it was worth keeping. I didn't buy it as I took his words for caution...but after handling it myself I can't say as I agree. The blade can flex to a goodly degree but I believe that Windlass shoots for that aspect as it is something they pride themselves on, and a good sword SHOULD be flexible to a point; I didn't agree with that particular seller. Although the sword was longer than is my wont, I can't say it was a bad sword. I liked it, so I think it is partially up to the buyer/owner and what their personal preference is. Edited to add: I got rid of all but one Windlass sword, the Cut and Thrust (that was what it was marketed as, a Lloyd Clark personal favorite, I'll say 5 years ago as I got it before I met my wife) and while it is relatively light at under 3lbs, and I guess you'd call it whippy as the blade still can flex and not set- I have never done any cutting ever, but I do use that sword for light sparring...it tracks well in hand, recovery is swift and it is one of my favorite swords in-hand still. I'm in the process of revamping my collection, getting rid of the chaff and saving for the good stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2009 17:59:04 GMT
I have an Irish two hander from windlass which would be good if the blade was more stiff the whip goes all the way to the guard who would like that has anyone ever done a review on this sword
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2009 6:08:53 GMT
I concur; I'll give you an example. I had the pleasure of handling an Ibelin sword not too long ago- and I remember reading about it on SFI, one who was selling it stated that the blade was too thin and whippy for him, he didn't feel it was worth keeping. I didn't buy it as I took his words for caution...but after handling it myself I can't say as I agree. The blade can flex to a goodly degree but I believe that Windlass shoots for that aspect as it is something they pride themselves on, and a good sword SHOULD be flexible to a point; I didn't agree with that particular seller. Although the sword was longer than is my wont, I can't say it was a bad sword. I liked it, so I think it is partially up to the buyer/owner and what their personal preference is. I agree, I have the Windlass War Sword, which is pretty much their Ibelin in plainer fittings, and whereas I'd kinda prefer it to be a bit stiffer I still really like the sword, though I can understand why someone might think it's too flexible. I don't think I'd want to use it for a lot of heavy thrusting because of the flex, so I suppose intended use is also a factor, but it seems to me to be mainly a matter of personal preference unless the blade is so far to one extreme as to be unusable (too rigid/brittle or a wet noodle).
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