Has anyone here fought with rattan spears?.
how do they differ in handling than poltruded fiberglass....
also are the thrusting tip requirements for 12ft rattan spears the same as 9ft rattan spears
*SCA topic* Rattan spears
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Jean Paul de Sens
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Hi sarnac. Yep, I fight a LOT with rattan spears.... I don't really cotton to the fiberglass ones quite as well.
Benefits:
1) Smaller thrusting tip
2) Wobble can go around defense
3) Tough to break over the wall at Gulf Wars.
Drawbacks:
1) Loses a "beat" contest versus the fiberglass ones
2) Can be heavier than the light fiberglass spears
In Ansteorra, rattan spears are 2" thrusting tips, and fiberglass are 3", regardless of length of weapon.
Benefits:
1) Smaller thrusting tip
2) Wobble can go around defense
3) Tough to break over the wall at Gulf Wars.
Drawbacks:
1) Loses a "beat" contest versus the fiberglass ones
2) Can be heavier than the light fiberglass spears
In Ansteorra, rattan spears are 2" thrusting tips, and fiberglass are 3", regardless of length of weapon.
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Fearghus Macildubh
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I also prefer rattan to fiberglass. Rattan is much more forgiving in the heat of a melee. when your target decides to charge just as you launch a face thrust, rattan will flex a bit rather than flipping the guy head over heels. I also like the "live" feel of rattan.
slainte,
fearghus
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slainte,
fearghus
------------------
"How long will we fight? We will fight until hell freezes
over. Then we fight on the ice."
Fearghus's Homepage
I use fiberglass spears for mostly practical reasons- every time I get rattan I need it to replace my swords or sell it to someone else that needs it.
As far as useability goes, I like the fiberglass because it allows a more accurate aim for me. I've seen rattan spears wobble off target (though I suppose if you know how your spears wobbles it could be an advantage) but I've also had two fiberglass spears broken in battle from great weapons striking them as hard as they could. Pros and cons both ways. My suggestion is to try both to see what suits you.
As far as useability goes, I like the fiberglass because it allows a more accurate aim for me. I've seen rattan spears wobble off target (though I suppose if you know how your spears wobbles it could be an advantage) but I've also had two fiberglass spears broken in battle from great weapons striking them as hard as they could. Pros and cons both ways. My suggestion is to try both to see what suits you.
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freiman the minstrel
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My fiberglass spear is im Memphis, and I am in Germany.
Since coming to Drachenwald, I have had to reauthorize several times. We have weapon specific authorisations here, and Meridies is non-specific. I am only authorized rattan spear here. I hope to fix that next season.
It was quite strage switching to the rattan from my light little fiberglass spear. The rattan is a lot heavier, and thus it is much easier to throw a face thrust too hard. I have seen several fiberglass spears break over the wall at GW too, but I have never seen a rattan spear break.
I did expect to find the "grain" of the rattan interfering with "pool cue" type shots, but I never had a problem with that.
Since coming to Drachenwald, I have had to reauthorize several times. We have weapon specific authorisations here, and Meridies is non-specific. I am only authorized rattan spear here. I hope to fix that next season.
It was quite strage switching to the rattan from my light little fiberglass spear. The rattan is a lot heavier, and thus it is much easier to throw a face thrust too hard. I have seen several fiberglass spears break over the wall at GW too, but I have never seen a rattan spear break.
I did expect to find the "grain" of the rattan interfering with "pool cue" type shots, but I never had a problem with that.
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Jean Richard Malcolmson
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by freiman the minstrel:
<B>
It was quite strage switching to the rattan from my light little fiberglass spear. The rattan is a lot heavier, and thus it is much easier to throw a face thrust too hard. I have seen several fiberglass spears break over the wall at GW too, but I have never seen a rattan spear break.
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Actually, fiberglass spears hit much harder. Rattan may hit with more weight in the spear, but it flexes and doesn not transmit Your force. A fiberglass spear flexes very, very little. If one is not careful, the weight of the spear and the force from your body can impact like a ton of bricks. They require much more control from the user to be used safely. That is why most kingdoms require a seperate authorization for fiberglass spear. It is the only weapon in the SCA that I worry about really injuring me badly.
Regards,
Jean Richard
Ansteorra
<B>
It was quite strage switching to the rattan from my light little fiberglass spear. The rattan is a lot heavier, and thus it is much easier to throw a face thrust too hard. I have seen several fiberglass spears break over the wall at GW too, but I have never seen a rattan spear break.
</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Actually, fiberglass spears hit much harder. Rattan may hit with more weight in the spear, but it flexes and doesn not transmit Your force. A fiberglass spear flexes very, very little. If one is not careful, the weight of the spear and the force from your body can impact like a ton of bricks. They require much more control from the user to be used safely. That is why most kingdoms require a seperate authorization for fiberglass spear. It is the only weapon in the SCA that I worry about really injuring me badly.
Regards,
Jean Richard
Ansteorra
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Jean Richard Malcolmson
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Sarnac,
The quick answer is yes, a 12 foot rattan pike is unwieldy.
I haven't used a 12 foot pike since before I was a squire, about 14-15 years ago. At the time I was mostly a melee polearm/spear fighter without much sword and shield skill. I'm afraid that it is the other way around now.
The 12 foot rattan spear I had was only marginally effective. The rattan was only barely thicker than 1.25 inch diameter and at the time, large thrusting points were required. Because of this, there was about a 2 foot droop in the spear. Also, it flexed so much, it was hard to get a killing blow anywhere but a grill. Then we dropped to a nine foot max length in the kingdom. At that length, it was a very fast quick spear and since they were all the same length, very effective.
I'm not even sure if 12 foot fiberglass spears are allowed, but I would imagine that they would be much more effective than rattan at that length. I would assign them soley to hunt/harass other spearmen.
The quick answer is yes, a 12 foot rattan pike is unwieldy.
I haven't used a 12 foot pike since before I was a squire, about 14-15 years ago. At the time I was mostly a melee polearm/spear fighter without much sword and shield skill. I'm afraid that it is the other way around now.
The 12 foot rattan spear I had was only marginally effective. The rattan was only barely thicker than 1.25 inch diameter and at the time, large thrusting points were required. Because of this, there was about a 2 foot droop in the spear. Also, it flexed so much, it was hard to get a killing blow anywhere but a grill. Then we dropped to a nine foot max length in the kingdom. At that length, it was a very fast quick spear and since they were all the same length, very effective.
I'm not even sure if 12 foot fiberglass spears are allowed, but I would imagine that they would be much more effective than rattan at that length. I would assign them soley to hunt/harass other spearmen.
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Jean Paul de Sens
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<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by sarnac:
<B>Jean
Do you find the 12 foot pike unwieldy?</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Which one of us Jeans were you talking to
?
The 12 foot rattan, yes. Mostly because for the stick to be THAT long it was very thick at the base.... however, I might rework it here in the near future and shave it down to see how it works...
The 12 foot fiberglass is great, but you have to know when to, well, disengage... Also, unless EVERYONE's got them, you become a target REALLY quickly. They're fun, and just another tradeoff weapon. I definitely say carry a good backup because SOMEONE is going to charge you eventually...
Richard, I'll be bringing my 12 foot spear to 3 Kings
Jean Paul (not Jean Richard)
[This message has been edited by Jean Paul de Sens (edited 10-09-2002).]
<B>Jean
Do you find the 12 foot pike unwieldy?</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Which one of us Jeans were you talking to
?The 12 foot rattan, yes. Mostly because for the stick to be THAT long it was very thick at the base.... however, I might rework it here in the near future and shave it down to see how it works...
The 12 foot fiberglass is great, but you have to know when to, well, disengage... Also, unless EVERYONE's got them, you become a target REALLY quickly. They're fun, and just another tradeoff weapon. I definitely say carry a good backup because SOMEONE is going to charge you eventually...
Richard, I'll be bringing my 12 foot spear to 3 Kings
Jean Paul (not Jean Richard)
[This message has been edited by Jean Paul de Sens (edited 10-09-2002).]