The effects of weapons on a.....

Vladimir · Post by **Vladimir** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 3:01 pm

The effects of Medieval weapons on a week old Jack-o-lantern

Weapons used:
Dagger with a 6 inch blade
Curved knife with a 12 inch blade
Broad sword with a 22 inch blade
Modern hand axe (medieval equivalent unavailable)
12 oz claw hammer (medieval equivalent unavailable)

The subject was a one-week-old jack-o-lantern beginning to show signs of drying out and decay. The subject was place in the crook of a downed apple tree. The stumpâ€™s limbs were used to give the subject stability and to keep the subject from rolling away when struck. Given that a human head has greater mass and inertia when attached to the rest of the body than a hollow pumpkin this was seen as acceptable.

Weapon: Dagger
Style of attack: Fencing thrust
Resistance: Very low
Results: Penetration of 5 inches, 83% of blade length

Weapon: Dagger
Style of attack: Backstab upwards thrust
Resistance: None
Results: Total penetration into subject, 100% of blade length. The shot was then pulled to avoid destruction of subject before the end of the experiment.

Weapon: Curved knife
Style of attack: Wrist flick slash
Resistance: Very low
Results: Gash in the top of the subject 9 inches long (following top curve) and 3 inches deep

Weapon: Broad sword
Style of attack: Downward chop from shoulder
Resistance: None
Results: One third of the subject (the face) was neatly sliced off. One fourth of the candle (tea candle) and itâ€™s metal housing was neatly sliced off.

Weapon: Hand axe
Style of attack: Downward chop from opposite shoulder
Resistance: None
Results: Blade sliced easily into subject and continued into hollow interior. The head of the axe smashed an area around the entry approximately 2 inches wide by 4 inches long. The handle of the axe continued to rip through the outer shell of the subject. The shot was then pulled to avoid destruction of subject before the end of the experiment.

Weapon: Hammer
Style of attack: Downward smash from opposite shoulder
Resistance: None
Results: Subject exploded. The first attempt was pulled early and declared void because shot location was the same as the axe, damage from hammer and axe were indistinguishable.

Subject declared unfit for further experimentation.

Vogeljager · Post by **Vogeljager** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 3:33 pm

I love the pursuit of knowledge.

It now occurs to me that My pumpkin has not been properly disposed of.....

Andy S · Post by **Andy S** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 3:48 pm

I have found that old 1 gallon milk jugs filled with water can be fun too.

knyaz · Post by **knyaz** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 4:50 pm

...here kitty kitty kitty...

(just kidding!)
Blackcross

Armourkris · Post by **Armourkris** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 5:05 pm

my neighbor gots a nifty little thingy that'll let hium plug his camcorder into his computer, and then transfer the video over to mpeg or whatnot.
i'm trying to fanagle him into videotaping me going at my pumpkin with my sword.
if he'll do it for me anyone want me to post a link to the movie?

probly a stupid question, but what the hell.

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What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:

losthelm · Post by **losthelm** » Wed Nov 07, 2001 8:34 pm

one gallong milk jugs are wonderful fired from a treb. the cap will remain on the jug when it hits but it will leave a dry blast area.

Galfride · Post by **Galfride** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 3:29 am

firing week old pumpkins from said treb is also fun ;P

Armourkris · Post by **Armourkris** » Thu Nov 08, 2001 9:08 pm

Ok, so we couldnt get the camcorder to work<grrr>
hopefully we'll haveit figured out for the next gourd oriented holiday.

and well, in naycase i got about 10 pics, most of htem really nice and good and perfectly timed, showing not only beofre and after shots, but more importantly, i have during shots. i;m gona post em up on a page and put out a link sometime in the next few hours

*EDIT*
http://www.angelfire.com/mt/tybolt/pics/haloween.html
*edit*

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What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:

[This message has been edited by Tybolt (edited 11-08-2001).]

Lodhur · Post by **Lodhur** » Fri Nov 09, 2001 11:23 pm

Effect of Medieval Re-creationist trying to dispose of week-old jack 'o lantern.

Hand to Hand combat:
Picked up rather wilted looking pumpkin with hands. Fingers sunk into subject's flesh approximately half an inch.

Seige weapon:
Tester did not actually *have an onager or trebuchet of any sort. Attempted to manually move subject approximate distance (200 yards) such a device might be capable of. Target was a large, rectangular metal receptacle near the lab site. Subject began to fall apart in hands of tester, cold orange fluid running down his fingers. Tester began to move faster towards target, to simulate the velocity of a thrown projectile. Could not 'shotput' subject, due to the instability of its internal matrix.

Impact test:
Deposited subject in large rectangular metal receptacle, from a height of approximately 5 1/2 feet, simulating trajectory of a seige weapon projectile. Subject made an audible (if squishy) impact sound within target range. Other misc. debris obscured visual observation. No control group for data collected nasally - organic factors in target zone interfered with precise measurement. Tester proceeded back inside lab to clean orange flesh out from under his fingernails.

*Acquisition Budgeting Dept. has been notified. Approval pending for equipment purchase order. Lab site may have to be relocated from current apartment complex to accommodate further testing.

[This message has been edited by Lodhur (edited 11-09-2001).]