Went to Scarborough Faire last weekend and saw the best swords I've ever laid eyes on. Angel Swords. If I had a first born,I'd sell him to get the money for one of these incredible weapons.Does anyone own one of this guys swords?Do you sleep with it? ------------------ ... whatever contributes to kn...

Rev. George has brought up a good point.One of the things I really can't stand is when someone makes a claim about medieval weaponry,and what it's capable of,and they say "yeah,I went out in the back yard and did it.".They don't bother to provide ANY specific information about their so-called "test"...

"..Wow you really twisted what I said.
I never clamed people would become “Lemming-like machines of deathâ€

"...Someone with a gun on a plane is going to keep me steady until I make a decision to act depending on the situation. On the other hand, that big hunk of metal flying at my head will make me move in a hurry." Not one of those terrorist had a gun.All they had was box cutters/carpet knives.And they ...

" Simple, it was a bad example because this was the first time many people had ever have terrorists use them and the plane their on as a weapon, so the thought of every last one of them dying didn't occur til it was sadly to late. Someone swinging a sword at you on the other hand is a completly diff...

Now this is debating,I love it!! Okay first,those of you who were "confused by the "kill your opponent" statement,please raise your hands.Now those of you who raised your hands,go look up the word "rhetorical".I was posing a rhetorical question.Okay? "...The author would argue that it is a species s...

"...Saying the SCA plays tag with sticks in this context is like saying "knock down fighting" is playing tag. Yeah it has rules and isn't completely NHB but it certainly is applicable to fighting..." I understand what you getting at,but something we should realise is that ANYTHING that puts "constra...

"...Have you ever worn a complete harness of Milanese plate, c. 1450 - 1500 AD with the pieces of exchange? With a frog-faced visor on a helm strapped to the breast and back? Tried to ride a horse? Level a lance? At a gallop?..." No,but I thought we were talking fighting on foot. I,for one, wouldn't...

"...I was wiping grease off the machine while it wasn't moving. Due to a wierd malfunction it moved in the 'wrong' direction when it auto-started. It is true that I had reported both the grease leak and the problem which led to the malfunction well in advance of the event, and was told to run the ma...

"...I'd pick the SCA with traing from Bob Charron added in. Biggest pool, biggest diversity of conditions. Playing tag in red t shirts is no substitute for actually hitting people in armour..." If any group is "guilty" of playing tag,it would be the SCA.I think flonzy said it best with "...Stickjock...

Well said flonzy.
Hey,when I say stuff like that,people usually get pissed.What's the deal?

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... whatever contributes to knowledge is required to be true...

"...I may even be able to do a couple of them maybe more than a couple but then again some of us do study this stuff even us worthless SCA folk..." "..Nay,no one is without worth,save he who loves not God.." Can't remember where I read that,but it's true.No one is worthless,disagreeable at times,but...

"...For comparing yourself to the "real deal", Bascot's test is the ONLY one that really counts. If you can't cut it in those tests, then you are a poser..."

Ouch!!!
Hey Brennus, did that sound like a challenge?

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... whatever contributes to knowledge is required to be true...

Watch out Bascot,some people would call that a challenge!!!

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... whatever contributes to knowledge is required to be true...

" Alright, I just had to comment on the McDonalds analogy. As creative as it is, it's a poor analogy. The point is not that we have a billion fighters that all look the same, but that large numbers create variety to expand and push the limits of your training knowledge and experience..." I see your ...

"...The most likely to survive would be the one who was more able to operate in that enviroment ...Dude, that was the original question..." Actually,the question was what group you would want to be trained by.My point was that someone dropped into the mayhem of battle,regardless of their training wi...

"... I am certain that a prefunctory pike to the ribs while laying face down next to the dead would suck!..." No denying that!But I wouldn't plan on laying around THAT long,just long enough to see the "lay of the land".Subterfuge is a perfectly acceptable battlefield strategy,especially for time tra...

Was I the only lucky soul to see the post that Brennus put up at 10:30?Well Brennus,your in luck.I saved that little flame of yours and I'm in the process of mailing an un-edited transcript to every veterans group I can think of. I just got finished sending a letter to the VFW about your views on th...

"...Omg.. I hope you were trying to be funny.. Play dead.. sure just lay there when all the peasents come out to do mercy killings, fishing with those long pointy metal things under your armpit, in your eye..." No,Crystoll That's when I would jump up and say"Haha,prepare to die...Wait a minute?Where...

"...Playing dead is for cowards. Playing dead will also get you killed. I dont know but if I was a commander and I had a fool that laid down pretending to be dead I would make that soldier an example to others..." Shame on you Brennus!!!There are hundreds,maybe thousands,of examples of men on the ba...

"...you must put your skills to the test and fight for your life...Now for the question, which group do you hope you were part of?..." I would want to be in the group that taught the most relevant,historical fighting method.So what if your"comfortable" in armor?What would your understanding be of th...

"...The question that burns in my heart is "Where do these guys get their freaking armour?!" If they make it themselves, then I am stunned. If they bought it, then who did they buy it from? (A lesser curiousity is, given the current Russian economy, how did they afford to pay for it?)..." Actually w...

"...That's something rather pricey already! $1195.00 for a riveted mail hauberk from Steve of 4th Castle...and remember, we need a NEW one for every weapon test!..." One thing you could do is repair the mail armor between tests,it should be feasible. As far as the initial cost of the items tested......

"..I might have to disagree there. Doing it individualy, yes, of course you would have to. However, to borrow your metaphore, if you have an army, an you all bite at the same time... well, you just ate yourself an elephant. The bigger you are, and more organised you are, the better and more authorit...

Testing of the nature being proposed is long overdue,and likely to stay that way for a while. Lots of excellent point are being made,the one suggestion that comes to mind is: moderation. Don't try to test everything all at once,try to "eat the elephant"in small bites. ------------------ ... whatever...

"..I'm curiouse, in pic four, there is a cone shaped thing with a bar attached to it, on the bench.." Looks like a mandrel,also known as a smiths cone.If that's what it is then the bar probably goes in the hardie hole of an anvil.But I'm not sure. ------------------ ... whatever contributes to knowl...

I know some guys who work in a slaughterhouse.I'm going to see about getting USDA rejects and do some cutting.I'll try replicating armor,etc...

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"..JELLO!!!!.." Lime or cherry? But that brings up a point.What is a good medium for test cutting?Do we have any Foresic Pathologists in our midst?I know the army used to use cadavers and ballistic gelatin(unflavored) for testing.What would be acceptable is something I'd like to know. --------------...

I made a ring flattener out of a piece of 3 inch cold rolled,drilled out a 3/4 inch hole down the center.Then made a flattening rod out of a 3/4 inch steel rod.I ground the working end flat,then heat treated it.Works like a champ and cost me 5$ in material. As for the other tools,try Forth Armoury f...