Fishbat... or I just discovered the joys of a short sword...

Glaukos the Athenian · Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:35 am

My favorite sword finally broke, and Pennsic coming so soon, I needed to make another new basket hilted sword using the awesome Ironmonger heart shaped basket,

Problem was the rattan pieces I had at home were not the usual lenght, or correct thickness for what I had in mind, except for two shorter than usual pieces. I selected the longest and made a short sword with it. My usual swords are about 37" including the grip. This one is 28" including the grip

MAN. OH MAN.

In Pell exercises it proved to deliver significantly more terminal energy, though one would expect a longer sword to have more leverage. It is much more controllable, lighter and better balanced. Funnily, my new cross hilted Greek sword is only about 2" longer and feels a lot like this one...

I recall Sir Vitus made a couple to sell (one especially menacing) and that Nissan sometimes fights with shorter weapons... I should have tried this earlier, but here I am.

It does have a shorter range, but I guess, like the Spartans, I can add a step to it....

How do you chose the length of your one handed swords?

Glaukos the Athenian

losthelm · Post by **losthelm** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 10:55 am

have a pciture?

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:03 am

I was very suprised at how quickly my fishbat turns and moves. Longer isn't always better. It's how well you use it and can move with it.

-Aaron

Jr · Post by Jr » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:08 am

my favorite sword is a fishbat =] id rather have a shorter sword then a longer one any day.... i can see this conversation turn bad XD

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:08 am

Shorter swords rock in a tight press...

Less length to get tangled with other weapons

Murdock · Post by **Murdock** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:12 am

they can be fun

another tool in the box

Sigifrith Hauknefr · Post by **Sigifrith Hauknefr** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:42 am

I always use a 28-30" fishbat in battles (I have stopped calling them "wars" on AA).

I usually use a 36 or 37" broadsword in singles. Going short or long provides advantages as short or long range, but unless you are extremely good at controlling range, it WILL be used against you.

In order to fight successfully with a much shorter sword than your opponent, you must be basically unhittable at range 3, and nearly so at range 2. You better be patient as well.

Owyn · Post by **Owyn** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:55 am

I found the same thing. Built a 28" sword out of a chunk of old scrap rattan to tool around with, and loved it. Actually like it better than my fancy old 38" war sword.

Tristan vom Schwarzwald · Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:56 am

Physics at work!

Gunthar · Post by **Gunthar** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:13 pm

At last Pennsic we were going into a battle where our unit would be guarding a flag behind us. There wasn't really any need for either group to go for this flag so everyone knew it was just going to fighting for fun at our end.

Since we were guarding a gap in a wall I knew the fighting would be either a spear duel or in-your-face charges and presses. I didn't want to try swinging my 37" sword around in there I looked around Merchant's Row and found a gentleman selling a variety of fishbats. They were inexpensive and looked to be exactly what I was looking for.

Well, I had a ball with it. The bat didn't hit very hard but was so fast that people tended to call the 3rd or 4th time I hit them in less that number of seconds. I stabbed and whopped with it all afternoon and loved it.

Later that day I went to tell the merchant about how happy I was with his product but he greeted me by telling me that I must have had a good time. It seems that several people approached him that day to buy one from him saying they saw the Prince of Ansteorra beating the hell out of people with it and wanted one for themselves.

For close quarters, fishbat all the way.

Leopold der Wolf · Post by **Leopold der Wolf** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:57 pm

My swords about 30 inches (grip included) and I've used it ever since I started in the SCA. It was the very first sword given to me/taught to make and I like it a lot.

I've tried longer blades before but never felt comfortable with them. A shorter blade just seems to move a lot faster.

Corby de la Flamme · Post by **Corby de la Flamme** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:59 pm

37" is the longest single sword I typically use. Most are 34".

And I'm 6'3".

You should never use 37s!

"Normal" length as I suggest it is whatever reaches to your ankle bone when you are standing up straight and holding it normally, pointing down.

Oh and I think your new sword only counts as a fishbat if it is also thick and heavy.

Gunthar · Post by **Gunthar** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:19 pm

You should never use 37s!

I don't know, I seem to do okay with them.

But I think my new swords are a bit under 36" now.

The fishbat is pretty thick but for some reason doesn't hit particularly hard. I make up for it though.

Broadway · Post by **Broadway** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:54 pm

31" from pommel to thrusting tip.

Corby de la Flamme wrote:Oh and I think your new sword only counts as a fishbat if it is also thick and heavy.

ljlagnese · Post by **ljlagnese** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 4:46 pm

I agree with Sir Corby, the girth and length both matter

ie mine is only 26.5"(would prefer 30") but the diameter is 2.25 inches

I believe Dante's is about the same on diameter

his is thick throughout mine is only on the last half

Broadway · Post by **Broadway** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 5:27 pm

Mine is a clone of one of Duke Logan's... it tapers from skinny at the hilt out to thick at the end.

RoaK · Post by **RoaK** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 3:27 pm

I made one last night... it's a rattan log with a basket hilt; it's 2 1/2 inches high x 1 3/4 inches thick and the blade is 20 inches long.

See you guys at the wall battle... :lol:

Gaston de Vieuxchamps · Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:55 pm

A shorter sword of the same girth and density will generally hit harder than an long sword in the hands of most of the people down here. It's all a matter of technique. If the physics of the shots you are used to throwing are all set up for a very long sword (like my Ansteorran cousins') then a short sword won't hit as hard, but the reverse is also true. It's also possible to use a short light sword and hit hard unlike a long light sword because the sword flexes less and so less energy is lost there.

Baldar was his deadliest with a 29" toothpick. Since he switched to center grip round and a long sword (33" with thrusting tip) he doesn't hit nearly as hard. A couple million short sword pell blows under his belt and a tiny fraction of that with the longer sword...

Gaston

Corby de la Flamme · Post by **Corby de la Flamme** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 10:44 pm

Gaston de Vieuxchamps wrote:A shorter sword of the same girth and density will generally hit harder than an long sword in the hands of most of the people down here. It's all a matter of technique.

If it is all a matter of technique, then the nature of the sword makes no difference, only the nature of one's familiarity with it.

RoaK · Post by **RoaK** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:37 pm

Gee who'd a though axe chopping Mac Bible style with a bludgeoning mass weapon like a fish bat would involve stuff like technique? I though it was all about butt naked spur of the moment violence... silly meâ€¦

Corby de la Flamme wrote:
Gaston de Vieuxchamps wrote:A shorter sword of the same girth and density will generally hit harder than an long sword in the hands of most of the people down here. It's all a matter of technique.
If it is all a matter of technique, then the nature of the sword makes no difference, only the nature of one's familiarity with it.

Broadway · Post by **Broadway** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:43 pm

RoaK wrote:Gee who'd a though axe chopping Mac Bible style with a bludgeoning mass weapon like a fish bat would involve stuff like technique? I though it was all about butt naked spur of the moment violence... silly meâ€¦

Best Yoda Voice, "And that, is why you fail."

RoaK · Post by **RoaK** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:50 pm

Not with the power of the fish bat behind me...

Dante della Luna wrote:
RoaK wrote:Gee who'd a though axe chopping Mac Bible style with a bludgeoning mass weapon like a fish bat would involve stuff like technique? I though it was all about butt naked spur of the moment violence... silly meâ€¦

Best Yoda Voice, "And that, is why you fail."

Fishbat... or I just discovered the joys of a short sword...

Fishbat... or I just discovered the joys of a short sword...

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