Spears: Rattan, Fiberglass, pros and cons

mattmaus · Post by **mattmaus** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:02 pm

I've been thinking about picking up a 9 foot spear, as it would be quite appropriate (sort of... 9 feet is a little short for accuracies sake, but kingdom regs and all) for my persona, looks like fun, and would be something new. At this time, I'm leaning towards rattan, but they're so rare.... there *MUST* be something wrong with them (or not).

So... opening things up for the peanut gallery, what are the pros of rattan or fiberglass spears, what are the cons?

Thanks....

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Der Tod reit' auf einem kohlshwartzen Rappen

Rainald · Post by **Rainald** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:36 pm

Con: It's really easy to overpower using a fiberglass spear. In fact I have given up on targeting at heads for that reason.

mattmaus · Post by **mattmaus** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:47 pm

Which is why I was asking actualy. For specificaly that reason I was leaning heavily towards rattan. I'm just curious mostly, because NO ONE uses rattan spears anymore, and I'd like to know why.

mortisfan · Post by **mortisfan** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 3:58 pm

Targeting. You have much more precise control over your point with a fiberglass then rattan. Pick up any long piece of rattan raw and it wobbles even without a 3" thrusting tip added to it. You don't get that with the fiberglass spears. It's all about the targeting. As far as hitting to hard, since it does not have the flex a rattan does it will hit stiffer. But, learning proper shot technique so if you can pull the shot if needed, it can be done.

-Finn

Jean Paul de Sens · Post by **Jean Paul de Sens** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 4:35 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by mortisfan:
Targeting. You have much more precise control over your point with a fiberglass then rattan. Pick up any long piece of rattan raw and it wobbles even without a 3" thrusting tip added to it. You don't get that with the fiberglass spears. It's all about the targeting. As far as hitting to hard, since it does not have the flex a rattan does it will hit stiffer. But, learning proper shot technique so if you can pull the shot if needed, it can be done.

-Finn<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

This brings me to a pro. With a rattan spear, you get to use a 2" thrusting tip. Easier to shoot gaps.

Con: have to hit harder to overcome the flex and people's acclimitization to fiberglass spears.

Owen · Post by **Owen** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 6:19 pm

I've found that the 2" vs. 3" thrusting tips don't really differ when it comes to gaps; if one can get through, so can the other.

Rattan tends to not allow good point control due to flexiblity. The one rattan spear I had that did, was almost 3" in diameter, and hit far harder than my fiberglass ones due to the weight. Even then, it still wasn't as accurate as the fiberglass.

If you can't avoid hitting too hard with fiberglass, you probably shouldn't be using a spear at all. Not smashing face shots is all a matter of control.

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Owen
"Death is but a doorway-
Here, let me hold that for you"

adamstjohn · Post by **adamstjohn** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 6:29 pm

It's stiffness and weight against flex and lightness.

A fibreglass spear is stiffer, which means it is easier to target with, but it hits harder. It's additional weight adds to the thump, explaining the 3 inch head requirement.

A rattan spear is usually lighter, so you can accelerate it faster, but it tends to wobble making point accuracy more difficult.

It is certainly possible to fight effectively and safely with both - but with fibreglass it is both easier to hit and much easier to hurt.

(This is why my kingdom now has seperate authorisations for FSP and RSP. The FSP authorisation includes an RSP authorisation, but not vice versa).

Most of the high end spear folks seem to use use fibreglass. Having said that, there are some truly awesome spear fighters who love rattan. One Ducal Spear-God I know says the speed benefits and the smaller head make the difference for him. He also seems to use the flexibility of the spear instinctively to "wobble" through defences.

Cheers

Adam
/aethstan /sca drachenwald

Milan · Post by **Milan** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 6:56 pm

It's also very difficult to find a 9 foot straight stick of rattan.

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Milan Ivanovic
Drafn, Wolfpack glaiveman
Part time armorer

horsefriend · Post by **horsefriend** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 10:13 pm

Fiberglas pros:

My fiberglass spear weighs half a pound LESS than my venerable rattan spear (equal length). It is much easier to target accurately with fiberglass. Fiberglass dosn't go "wonky" in the rafters over the winter. Longevity, my fiberglass pike has been in regular use for at least 13 years.

Fiberglass Cons:

Fiberglass is more expensive (at least around here). Fiberglass needs much more care; paint to protect against UV and METICULOUS! tip maintenance. When fiberglass breaks, you've got bean stakes, not swords or sidearms.

All in all, I will not voluntarily go back to a rattan long spear.

alail/scott

aka Baron Alail Horsefriend, KSCA, OL, etc.

hjalmr · Post by **hjalmr** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 11:31 pm

I dislike rattan spears for every reason listed above and then some -I just hate them!

(^_^)

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Hjalmar of Sognefjord
House Bearkiller
Barony of Grey Niche, Meridies.

"True nobility is not measured by being superior to another, but rather by becoming superior to oneself."

giles o D · Post by **giles o D** » Tue Apr 15, 2003 11:47 pm

i dislike spears all togeather. too much running. =]

Owen · Post by **Owen** » Wed Apr 16, 2003 9:12 pm

What running? I just sort of stand around behind the shield wall and kill people!

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Owen
"Death is but a doorway-
Here, let me hold that for you"

CountAlaric · Post by **CountAlaric** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 9:53 am

You run with a spear in a field battle- that is how you rack up 30-40 kills in one Pennsic field battle. Stand in one place behind a shield wall and you are asking to be dorked.

Alaric

ushumgal · Post by **ushumgal** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 4:33 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by CountAlaric:
Stand in one place behind a shield wall and you are asking to be dorked.
Alaric<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oh, my! ;->

Jamie
LU2.DUB.SAR

Owen · Post by **Owen** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 6:41 pm

I really have to replace the bulb in the humor light.

I don't run. I proceed. I get lots of kills.

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Owen
"Death is but a doorway-
Here, let me hold that for you"

bela of kaffa · Post by **bela of kaffa** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 9:53 pm

um, owen doesn't run, he rumbles...
It ain't the long distance runnin' that gets you the spear kills, it's the sudden "bamf" of moving 9 feet in a micro-second...
bela

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by CountAlaric:
You run with a spear in a field battle- that is how you rack up 30-40 kills in one Pennsic field battle. Stand in one place behind a shield wall and you are asking to be dorked.

Alaric<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Quentin · Post by **Quentin** » Thu Apr 17, 2003 10:38 pm

I have to agree with the general concensus that fiberglass requires more training and control but is far superior to rattan.I have yet for any one to close the nine feet before my bastard sword is off my back and rattleing thier helm for them.
Quentin

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Weapons are made with the hope they are never needed. Armor is made in the event they are.

adamstjohn · Post by **adamstjohn** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 11:14 am

Wierdest thing,

At a war last season I borrowed a rattan spear from my squire brother (I had been a "fibreglass only" guy for a couple of years). The spear worked like a dream, I got far less fatigued using it, it seemed to fit my hand really well and was only wobbling when I wanted it to. I was a mighty slayer and I had a blast with it.

When I gave it back to my squire brother, I said "that's an awesome spear - almost makes we want to go back to rattan. Where did you get it?"
He gave me a funny look and said "it's your old spear that you gave to me two years ago when you switched to fibreglass...."

Cheers

Adam
/aethstan /sca drachenwald

Jean Paul de Sens · Post by **Jean Paul de Sens** » Sat Apr 19, 2003 11:34 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by bela of kaffa:
um, owen doesn't run, he rumbles...
It ain't the long distance runnin' that gets you the spear kills, it's the sudden "bamf" of moving 9 feet in a micro-second...
bela

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gator Speed!!! from 0 to top speed in 3 steps... granted, its a low top speed, but I get to it quickly