Making a rattan weapon last?

[Count Johnathan]

"11. Rattan shall not be treated in any way that will substantially reduce its flexibility (e.g., treated with wax, resin, fiberglass, etc.).
12. No weapon shall exceed 6 lbs (2.73 kg)."

another silly rule, sort of. heres why:

this rule implies that rattan must be flexible. yet i can buy 3" rattan and plane the sides down to drop the weight. i know, ive done it. just as fast as my 36" stcks although shorter and i can park a car on it without it flexing. no need to do anything to reduce its flexibility since it wasnt flexible to begin with.

regards
logan

I agree. A max diameter rule should be implemented as well IMO simply to solidify the reasoning behind using rattan in the first place. Any rattan over 1.75" dia. has little flex at all. I would limit it to a max of 2" because any larger than that is kind of silly and defeats the purpose of the flex rule.

[Payn]

I am working on an illegal experiment right now. Going to talk to the KEM (AnTir) about it in July, and then run it to SEM. Basically taking siloflex, cutting it in half, and edging a sword face with it....

Why would you think that was illegal? Augmenting edges of swords with other materials is perfectly legal, although less common than it used to be, as long as the material in question is not metal. And, since swords with silofles all the way around are specifically legal, I can't imagine how it could be an illegal material for just the edges...

It's because the rules for siloflex are so specifically legal. They way they are written infers that it is the only way that soliflex is allowed.

[Count Johnathan]

Well it says...

1. NO METAL OR UNAPPROVED RIGID PLASTIC MAY BE USED IN THE STRIKING SURFACE OR SURFACES OF ANY WEAPON.

and later..

2. Rattan-cored Siloflex or Siloflex equivalent weapons shall be constructed using tubular materials meeting ASTM standard D-2239 or the international equivalent, with a pressure rating of 160 PSI or greater, having at least a 1 1⁄4 inch (31.8 mm) diameter on the outside and at least 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) walls, and having an inner core of rattan that fills the interior of the tubular material entirely...

Which to me means it must be constructed in that manner if it is a Rattan-cored Siloflex or Siloflex equivalent weapon however it is not exactly a rattan cored siloflex sword and since siloflex is an approved plastic it should be alright to edge the weapon with siloflex. It may be worthwile to try it and run it by the marshal before use of course but according to the rules it "should" be OK as far as I can tell.

[Payn]

My current plan is to present it to KEM in a couple weeks, and then run it up the chain. I have some test pieces built and in use, and have already talked to Antir Crown and Royal Prince about it as well. I haven't been in the same spot as the KEM since I built my first test piece.

[Murdock]

I've never been able to make a sword that was more durable than normal rattan that didn't also feel like a big dead piece of crap.

Plus they never got more than maybe 50 ish% better durability.

So 12-14 good days of fighting, instead of 8 on a single handed sword.

[Lord Galen]

I think the OP is talking about this:

1.Take 2 inch pvc tubing capped off at one end with a threaded end at the top longer then your rattan
2. Wad up a ball of wire and place in PVC
3. Place rattan in tube
4. Fill tube with 75/25 mixture of Water and Glycerin
5. Wad another piece of wire place on top of rattan to keep stick submerged in the mixture
6. Cap pipe and let sit over night.
7. Remove sword, and seal the ends with plumbers putty to keep moisture inside rattan.
8. Make sword.

the theory behind this is the rattan being moist lasts longer then a dried out stick.