McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
weapon advice--writers or not...
meg_evonne:
--- Quote from: jtaylor on August 11, 2009, 07:16:35 PM ---One question on the knife: Since you are specifying that the knife is designed for defense, does it have a basket hilt or an oversize guard? If so that changes things. A basket hilt is almost a small shield, and you can punch block another hand weapon with one rather easily without using the blade at all.
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Just an oversized guard. My whole thought process was tied up with that intriguing little cut into the metal near the hilt that is designed to snag, trap, and twist the larger weapon out of the other's hand. I've never found a place to use that and it seems like such a useful little inclusion in smaller weapons. Sort of the small shall endure type thing that I love--but in this case...
Another thing that comes up... Can you parry with a basket hilt? I guess I think of the basket as protection of the fingers beneath--not as a parry device.
--- Quote from: Quantus on August 11, 2009, 07:46:35 PM ---If its cutting through Time, you can do all sorts of fun things to block a blow that neatly sidesteps physics entirely. It could slash a short term rift in space-time that (due to the necessity of normal cause/effect in the universe) cannot be passed through edgewise. The effect would be a floating line of Do-Not-Pass. The possibilities are endless when space/time manipulation is involved.
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The main character receives it as a gift at the point her powers manifest. So she has only the simple comment that it does that. The knife is minimized and causes her problems when she assumes it will help her with her current delimima. Since she has no training or understanding, it only gets her into hot water and doesn't solve her problem at all. The space/time travel thing is used by an older character with years of training. For my main charater she will not obtain full use of the knife for at least two more books. We must grow into our magic--gifted magic knifves or not--at least in the world I created.
Frankly, the discussion did a great job of bringing me back to reality and the true capabilities of my main character. She's not designed to be warrior woman, even if she were completely up to speed with her magic abilities. Not that she needs rescuing--it's just not going to happen with her weapon or magic skill at this point of her life. She has to use her wits and her problem solving abilities to get the job done. Who knows with training and if the need arose for later books---if I consider a series.
--- Quote from: Quantus on August 11, 2009, 09:21:35 PM ---or maybe hyper-age the sword so that it turns to rust on contact when the MC blocks/parries?
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Oh, oh, oh--that would be cool. I'll keep for later use! thank you!
ballplayer72:
the type of knife your looking for is called a main gauche! its made for catching and trapping swords, just as you suggest ;)
it went out of style around the time rapiers came INTO style.
jtaylor:
--- Quote from: meg_evonne on August 11, 2009, 09:24:28 PM ---
Another thing that comes up... Can you parry with a basket hilt? I guess I think of the basket as protection of the fingers beneath--not as a parry device.
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It depends on what the basket is made of, but yes, you can parry with a basket hilt. I know because I have.
This is the kind of basket hilt I use on my SCA swords:
It's a hilt designed specifically for SCA heavy combat, made of a high-density, high-durometer, injection-molded Sanoprene material. The form loosely matches a Scottish basket hilt shown here:
These hilts are designed to save your hand from being cut by a sword, and you can use that to stop the blade from hitting you. The technique that works best for me is to make a punching motion with the hilt aiming at the pivot point of the blade's swing. The entire movement takes maybe a quarter of a second.
meg_evonne:
--- Quote from: ballplayer72 on August 11, 2009, 09:35:14 PM ---the type of knife your looking for is called a main gauche! its made for catching and trapping swords, just as you suggest ;)
it went out of style around the time rapiers came INTO style.
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Okay, I have a new favorite website!!! main gauche is exactly what I was thinking.. only wish they were older than 17th century.. but check this out! http://www.swordsofhonor.com/daggers.html But my overall favorite is this one for my character. It's perfect. http://www.toledosword.com/pr/CASSH2208TS.html#CASSH2208
--- Quote from: jtaylor on August 11, 2009, 11:27:11 PM ---These hilts are designed to save your hand from being cut by a sword, and you can use that to stop the blade from hitting you. The technique that works best for me is to make a punching motion with the hilt aiming at the pivot point of the blade's swing. The entire movement takes maybe a quarter of a second.
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Your model looks less likely to get caught in defensive mode. The spainish one is gorgeous.
But I fear you lost me on the "pivot point of the blade's swing" - wouldn't the pivot point be the person's wrist or elbow? Or do I need to go more 3d here rather than the simple thrust. The pivot point would shift to a section of the blade if the wrist or elbow is thrusting forward, but also spinning it somewhat? Can't seem to picture that. I admit my fighting skills are based from fencing classes in college----years ago.
jtaylor:
--- Quote from: meg_evonne on August 12, 2009, 04:05:44 AM ---But I fear you lost me on the "pivot point of the blade's swing" - wouldn't the pivot point be the person's wrist or elbow? Or do I need to go more 3d here rather than the simple thrust. The pivot point would shift to a section of the blade if the wrist or elbow is thrusting forward, but also spinning it somewhat? Can't seem to picture that. I admit my fighting skills are based from fencing classes in college----years ago.
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The pivot point I'm talking about is anywhere from the wrist of the hand holding the sword to the first 1/4 of the the blade from the hilt. It's much easier to stop a blade there, because there is less force needed to stop it in that area. A long cutting blade is a lever, and the most force is going to be at the end of the blade. All fencing except schlager and saber to a lesser extent has very little to do with an actual swordfight, since epee and smallsword are thrusting weapons with low mass and no blades. I guess modern fencing weapons are similar to some of the dueling swords used in the late Renaissance, but using them to model a fight between someone using a scimitar or other heavy blade is not a good idea. Most longswords (and scimitars) are slashing weapons with a heavy blade and no sharpened tip. They are very different fighting styles.
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