I want to learn more about Polypropylene swords!

[Duke Areus]

I know it is somewhere in the 10 pages of this thread, but where can I get my hands on one for testing in my Kingdom?

[bkillian]

he black on brian posted cant be used for thrusting

Correct but some groups are using them and cutting off the point and using an SCA style thrusting tip with reasonable success.

As for the Plastic Rods I would like to point out that when we were testing them in Logan's back yard we were able to dent a heavy steel pressure container of some sort when hitting with the forte of the blade. Yes they do flex like rattan at the C.O.P. but not at the basket.

I would recommend that those testing them look further in depth at this.

[dukelogan]

easily dented by the way...... easily. let me hit some cheap 14ga helm and we will see this go away quick.


logan

he black on brian posted cant be used for thrusting

Correct but some groups are using them and cutting off the point and using an SCA style thrusting tip with reasonable success.

As for the Plastic Rods I would like to point out that when we were testing them in Logan's back yard we were able to dent a heavy steel pressure container of some sort when hitting with the forte of the blade. Yes they do flex like rattan at the C.O.P. but not at the basket.

I would recommend that those testing them look further in depth at this.

[Steve S.]

I see an issue with thrusting tips and helm penertration with those... unless ya want to go to mesh screens behind the bar grills... do see how you would fix the no thrusting tip issue though.

True, and then you might as well just go to Cut and Thrust where you use a real, metal sword.

Steve

[Duke Areus]

Got my stick in today and did the first official test runs tonight. It hits "weird".
Shots to the helm and other rigidly armored areas definitely felt "dead",like they just kind of mushed and absorbed all of the impact, making even hard shots difficult to call, while those to unarmored areas gave a pretty good sting.

The weight was about twice my normal stick weight, so it definitely juiced my shoulder and elbow faster. Also felt it was way way more difficult to throw multi shot combos, as the normal bounce assist you get from rattan was almost non existent. In a three shot combo, the first flat was fairly easy, then the offside was a little difficult, and the third shot was really hard to throw without a lot of oompf behind it. I want to cut it down from 36 to 34 and see how it performs then.

While I definitely don't think they are unsafe, they are definitely different. But all in all, I don't see any reason so far why they shouldn't be considered an alternative, other than the previously mentioned issue of making sure people have the right material.

[Balin50]

Got my stick in today and did the first official test runs tonight. It hits "weird".
Shots to the helm and other rigidly armored areas definitely felt "dead",like they just kind of mushed and absorbed all of the impact, making even hard shots difficult to call, while those to unarmored areas gave a pretty good sting.

The weight was about twice my normal stick weight, so it definitely juiced my shoulder and elbow faster. Also felt it was way way more difficult to throw multi shot combos, as the normal bounce assist you get from rattan was almost non existent. In a three shot combo, the first flat was fairly easy, then the offside was a little difficult, and the third shot was really hard to throw without a lot of oompf behind it. I want to cut it down from 36 to 34 and see how it performs then.

While I definitely don't think they are unsafe, they are definitely different. But all in all, I don't see any reason so far why they shouldn't be considered an alternative, other than the previously mentioned issue of making sure people have the right material.

Hitting and hits felt flat like a soda left out to long.

Balin

[BdeB]

Polypro swords seems to be holding up well. I am noticing a LOT of flex the closer to the Sweet Spot you strike. I can watch the thing flex around hard surfaces. Near the hand though it hits rather hard.

I will say that I love that I haven't blown out a rattan sword in months using it for practice only. I doubt I would ever use one of these in tourney because of the consistancy issues with how it hits but in practice, yup I'm loving it.

[Alex Baird]

Also felt it was way way more difficult to throw multi shot combos, as the normal bounce assist you get from rattan was almost non existent. In a three shot combo, the first flat was fairly easy, then the offside was a little difficult, and the third shot was really hard to throw without a lot of oompf behind it.

Do you see this as a good thing, or a bad thing? Steel swords wouldn't rebound like rattan either, so does this make them a better "simulator" than rattan, or is the goal to find a material that mimics rattan's characteristics?

[Nissan Maxima]

I made one and have used it at practices. I love it. Is it legal to use at events yet? In the midrealm?

[Baron Eirik]

I made one and have used it at practices. I love it. Is it legal to use at events yet? In the midrealm?

Just went experimental per Sir Angus, new KEM. Contact Sir Farthegn to be on the experimental list for it.

[Oscad]

For you..?? Or for everybody else...

It may make a difference...

[B. Amos]

Mine is still going strong as well. Most folks can't tell the difference on the receving end. I had one friend say that my sword hit harder than rattan, but he didn't realize that I had actually been fighting with my rattan sword, so I think it is safe to say he could not tell the diference. I can feel the difference when useing them it feels like using a mace, heavy and slow. Great practice sticks though.

[BdeB]

Still going strong. Took it to Bloodbath this weekend and some of the fighters played with it. Complaints were that it felt weird (vibration maybe?) hitting steel targets. No problems at all though with safety or acknowledgement issues.

I suppose at some point I am going to have to replace my tourney (rattan) sword, but I have yet to see any real damage to the poly pro.

[Sir Omarad]

Still going strong. Took it to Bloodbath this weekend and some of the fighters played with it. Complaints were that it felt weird (vibration maybe?) hitting steel targets. No problems at all though with safety or acknowledgement issues.

I suppose at some point I am going to have to replace my tourney (rattan) sword, but I have yet to see any real damage to the poly pro.

I'll have 5 at GW for folks to try.
different hilts and lengths

[Corby de la Flamme]

I've had zero problems with mine. It is the primary loaner sword for people at my practice, so it gets use every week.

I really don't notice any significant difference between it and a rattan sword that isn't perfect.

I only mention that last bit because around the same time I got the poly sword, I got the best rattan sword I've ever had.

[Andrew Sterner]

How is this stuff for pell work? How durable is it for this type of thing. If the weight is similar, and it handles similarly with the guy doing the striking, would this be something I should look into for doing work at the pell?

My logic is that if this stuff is going to cost me ~$30 for one of these, and last a good while, it's a safer investment than using rattan. I'm not talking about fighter practice, or any other application where I have an opponent. I'm just asking if this is a safer bet fiscally than rattan.

[Keegan Ingrassia]

How is this stuff for pell work? How durable is it for this type of thing. If the weight is similar, and it handles similarly with the guy doing the striking, would this be something I should look into for doing work at the pell?

My logic is that if this stuff is going to cost me ~$30 for one of these, and last a good while, it's a safer investment than using rattan. I'm not talking about fighter practice, or any other application where I have an opponent. I'm just asking if this is a safer bet fiscally than rattan.

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: All the posts of the last twelve pages.

[Andrew Sterner]

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: All the posts of the last twelve pages.

Thanks. I did read through everything, but I wanted to make sure that it was also more durable on the pell, since they tend to "eat" rattan up.

I'm probably going to get one for this purpose, regardless of them ever becoming legal.

Thanks again.

[Keegan Ingrassia]

I'm pretty sure there's an earlier review of someone beating on a steel pipe that was embedded in the ground, and filled with concrete, with one of these.

And every review of this material has shown it to last many times longer than rattan, though the same reviews say it handles heavier.

Which works nicely for a pell stick anyway.

[Count Johnathan]

Not every review but whatever. Most people seem to be having good luck with them. I did not.

[Keegan Ingrassia]

Right. Every review but yours, good sir. You seemed to have gotten either a bad batch, or from a different manufacturer.

[Corby de la Flamme]

Here are a bunch of pics I took last night of the poly sword I've been using for a year.

[Gregoire de Lyon]

Here are a bunch of pics I took last night of the poly sword I've been using for a year.

Can you tell if the white lines running along the long axis of the baton are stress lines in the plastic, surface damage, or tape scuffs?

Thanks.

[Corby de la Flamme]

Scuffs. Or else the cuts I put in the end to lighten it.

[BdeB]

This should shock no one that knows me and how I fight, but I put a rather impressive crease (maybe two inches in length) into a 13g mild steel helm, throwing an offside against a left handed fighter. The shot landed near the forte of the sword. Not that I haven't dented metal with rattan but to be fair in the testing process I thought I would comment.

[Sir Omarad]

Scuffs. Or else the cuts I put in the end to lighten it.

cuts?
explain please.
The materials are not to be altered in any way other than shaving the handle.

[Corby de la Flamme]

Lengthwise cuts to remove some material. You can see them in cross section in this picture.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14778685@N ... otostream/

[Corby de la Flamme]

Gregoire, if you're asking about the lines in the picture that is in my first post, then I'm pretty sure those are tape fibers.

[Count Johnathan]

If I buy another one of these and it shatters in my first fight like the first one did I am going to be very dissapointed. Hell I probably will order another most likely just for a pell stick.

In that case has anyone figured out any nifty taping method to eliminate some of the wobble? I really didn't like the way it felt when I was hitting my pell. Maybe cutting one down to a 34" length would help some but any other ideas?

[Sir Omarad]

If I buy another one of these and it shatters in my first fight like the first one did I am going to be very dissapointed. Hell I probably will order another most likely just for a pell stick.

In that case has anyone figured out any nifty taping method to eliminate some of the wobble? I really didn't like the way it felt when I was hitting my pell. Maybe cutting one down to a 34" length would help some but any other ideas?

I have 5 ofthem I take to events for guys to try.
The 34" one is the favorite because it's the best balanced and least "tip heavy".

[Corby de la Flamme]

Jonathan, did you see Amos' video of me hitting a concrete-filled steel pole as hard as I could with one?

http://www.youtube.com/user/BrotherAmos ... zJvFtqRabc at the 3:00 minute mark.

If you get the right stuff from McMaster Carr, it isn't going to shatter.

[Sir Omarad]

Lengthwise cuts to remove some material. You can see them in cross section in this picture.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14778685@N ... otostream/

The ends of the rod need to be rounded or radiused just like rattan.
I'm still confused about the marks.

You didn't narrow the rod any... right?

[Sir Omarad]

I hit a cinder block 117 times and it didn't break.
I just got very tired.

[Sir Omarad]

I went with Brast Industries.
They cut the 10' into 3 sections, 40" each.

From the sales guy at Brast:
Should you have anyone needing to inquire about purchasing it in the future, they would just need to ask for 1.25" diameter natural polypropylene rod. If they would just identify themselves with the SCA, we can be sure everyone receives the same price.
Sincerely
Barry Ellison
BRAST Industrial Solutions, LLC
502-585-5171 0r 800-292-2396

[Duke Patrick O'Malley]

Lengthwise cuts to remove some material. You can see them in cross section in this picture.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14778685@N ... otostream/

We have been testing one that has similar cuts. They where made using a table saw set to ¼” depth. The cuts where made up the length of the blade on the flats, and stopping before the hilt. The diameter still measured over 1.25”. The result was lighter weight and better balance. My squire has been using it at practice for about four months. So far we have not seen any negative effects.

I am behind on my reporting. I will endeavor to fix that in the next few weeks. They are becoming fairly common in Caid. As far as I know no one has declined to fight against them in tournament. When it comes to crown, we all go back to rattan for the high end power, Just incase we need it

Patrick, Caid