[SCA] Experimental Programs

jester · Post by **jester** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:10 am

I'm curious. The Equstrian community has pushed forward with Jousting and mounted combat. The Rapier community has pushed forward with the Sidesword experiment. The Armored Combat community is pushing forward with.....?

Destichado · Post by **Destichado** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:12 am

halfswording?

We're walking backwards. We should be experementing with flails again, synthetic materiels, laminated rattan weapons, rubber weapons... anything to further improve the look and authenticity of our combat.
all the real work is going on in perifrial orgs.

knoch · Post by **knoch** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:55 am

Destichado wrote:halfswording?

We're walking backwards. We should be experementing with flails again, synthetic materiels, laminated rattan weapons, rubber weapons... anything to further improve the look and authenticity of our combat.
all the real work is going on in perifrial orgs.

No must not question the status que. You will be asimulated... :twisted:

Personaly I would love to see a new Style of weapon used wether they be Foam injected laminated simulated swords or any thing in that area. It is great to see a Fighter in a full harness write down to shoe's But then he picks up a Rattan sword with a Basket hilt. Most of us SCA fighters don't even think twice due to we are trained from day 1 with rattan. The technology is out there if we just step off the curb and try some thing new. Yes there will be a learning Curve but there is in every thing. Heck the SCA used to use Garbage lids as sheild's and Freon Helmet's. OK they did not work but we evolved to new an better standers. The only thing that has not is the Rattan swords. let this to evolve also I say...

from Knoch

Vebrand · Post by **Vebrand** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 12:37 pm

Good Lord here we go again beating this poor old dead horse. :roll:

Folks if the stuff is out there then develop it, write out a proposal and send it up. Test it and show that there is a better way. If you can't, then maybe that is why we are still using rattan. I have seen material starting in the late 80s presented to replace rattan and so far none of it has held up or they held up without any flex (hit like a ton of bricks). I for one would love to see something that we can use other than rattan that lasts for an extended period. So far nothing has come up that I know of.

Vebrand

Jehan de Pelham · Post by **Jehan de Pelham** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 7:30 pm

Never mind. You guys are talking about something else entirely.

Jehan de Pelham, esquire and servant of Sir Vitus

Oswyn_de_Wulferton · Post by **Oswyn_de_Wulferton** » Fri Apr 22, 2005 10:03 pm

I believe the idea that Vebrand is talking about was a polymer that could be made to look like a real sword as far as shape (and you could cover the white material with paint for looks) but unfortunately it was called polyetebutegobbdegookethne and there was also a polyetementhegobbldegookethene and they looked the same. There was no way a marshall could tell the difference (they both looked the same) and it was extremely easy to buy the wrong thing by mistake. One flexed approximately close to rattan, the other was like hitting with cement. My personal idea (and it just popped into my head which is why I havent acted on it) is that maybe we can get something like the axe heads that are being debated right now in a sword shape(http://forums.armourarchive.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40323)? Something that is thicker than a real sword (1.25" rule) and they would be able to have a thrusting tip built in. Is there anything wrong with that suggestion or has anyone attempted something like that?

Destichado · Post by **Destichado** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:02 am

If so, it's never come up on the archive. Been daydreamed about often enough, but never done.

So do exactly what the rapier fighters do -tell the rank and file that they have to buy professionaly made sword blades if they want to go synthetic. Machine the blank and burn in a maker's mark so the marshals know it's a legit, approved materiel.

Find a KEM with his head on straight, find a materiel that works, and talk ta a CNC shop about machining a dozen blanks or so. then get ready to crank out thousands.

Albion started out with... what? Four models? They've grown into the giant in the sandbox -and the market base for people who by real sharps is signifigantly smaller thant the market base for people who would buy a sword that looks like a real sword and might last a little longer than a year.

Christophe de Frisselle · Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:43 am

Rebated Swords!, Wooden Wasters, Foam Injected Flails!
You'll put your eye out, Kid!
<shove down slide>
OH, Oh, oh, Merry Christmas!

I'd be nice. Though it would have to be fool proof, idiot proof, and marshal proof with the same basic properties of rattan. Some improvments over rattan would be nice. Like less flex. I know it's seen as one of the safety properities of rattan. Less flex and a better edge profile would make for a sim weapon that moves through the air better than rattan and more like a metal sword. Which would require less force be put into a shot.