So how heavy were those swords?

[Father Kit Cool Gun Garth]

[Patagonia Pete]

Ah ... swords!! An overlooked solution for today's media/politician rudeness perhaps!!

Would make for great TV ratings ... 

[ShadowCatcher]

Most swords seem to hover around 1 Kg, 2-2.5 lbs.  That seems to be the best balance between effective

size and weight for striking.  Some of course are lighter, particularly point swords like the rapier, but then again

some of the two handed swords went heavy for impact.  My Viking era sword, my 17th century rapier, and my

1935 Wilkinson Artillery sabre all weight within 4 oz of each other.  All are real steel, not wall hangers. 

 

I'd still prefer to carry a firearm, but there is something to be said for not running out of ammo . . . .

 

 

<edit>  P.S. - it should be noted that a quality sword will cost similar to a quality firearm.

 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

How much is that in pounds and ounces?

[Patagonia Pete]

One pound = 453 grams. 

[Patagonia Pete]

5 minutes ago, ShadowCatcher said:

I'd still prefer to carry a firearm, but there is something to be said for not running out of ammo . . . .

 

Of course ...

You can never have too much ammo unless you're swimming or on fire ... Easier to conceal too. 

[Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428]

ahh Sabers.... an elegant weapon, for a more civilized age. 

[Sixgun Sheridan]

46 minutes ago, Patagonia Pete said:

Ah ... swords!! An overlooked solution for today's media/politician rudeness perhaps!!

Would make for great TV ratings ... 

 

Hard to believe Mussolini was only 5' 6".

[bgavin]

Many years ago, we did Scottish RenFaire.
The clan leader saw action in Korea.
He told about being sent out, and knowing he would run out of ammo, he obtained double-head axes for his men.
He said they were hand to hand for several days.

[Patagonia Pete]

51 minutes ago, Sixgun Sheridan said:

 

Hard to believe Mussolini was only 5' 6".

I was shocked ... Of course something like this "could" restore civility (that we seem to have lost these days) ...

 

from: http://www.onlyknives.com/most-incredible-sword-fights-in-history/3/

 

>> "Mussolini took offense at Ciccotti's anti-fascist newspaper editorials, and on October 27th, 1921, the two men fought an arduous 14-round bout which lasted one hour and fifteen minutes. Physicians examined Ciccotti's several wounds after the 14th round, and pronounced him unable to continue the fight due to loss of blood, but the two combatants at first agreed to continue the next day with pistols."

<<

 

You're bleeding out huh???!? OK .. no problem ... we will finish this tomorrow with pistols!! (wow ...). 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

2 hours ago, Crazy Gun Barney, SASS #2428 said:

ahh Sabres.... an elegant weapon, for a more civilized age. 

Classic spelling.

[MizPete]

I once visited a shop that had a two-handed Claymore I couldn't pick up.  It was worn over-the-shoulder.  You drew it with both hands & let gravity do the rest.

[Linn Keller, SASS 27332, BOLD 103]

An exhibitor at the Ohio Scottish Games was a genuine Highlander, and had several genuine Cleagh Mohr on hand for exhibit.

He invited me to swing one.

I was impressed by both the weight and the balance; my swing was awkward, as I am not used to such a weapon.

The Highlander explained their chief use was against mounted knights, to cut the legs out from under the horse: take out an armored knight's mobile platform and they could be broken apart on the ground and dagues thrust through gaps in the armor.

Or eye slits.

 

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

 .... sounds messy .....   

[bgavin]

The Scots had curved blade weapons that worked like a can opener on a downed knight.

One of the demonstrations done for the public... culminated in all the Scots charging the crowd in full berzerker battle cry.
It is quite unnerving... even when you know it is coming.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Someone asked me what I would do if someone challenged me with a sword.

I replied, this...
 

 

[Utah Bob #35998]

A rousing good movie!

[Utah Bob #35998]

I er no Katanas on that list! That’s Racist! 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

5 hours ago, H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 said:

Someone asked me what I would do if someone challenged me with a sword.

I replied, this...
 

 

When we first saw that scene back when it first came out that guy came out with the sword and I said "I'd shoot that guy" and Jones did exactly that.

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

Speaking of swords and fighting...

 

 

[Alpo]

This just occurred to me. They have that beautifully choreographed sword fight, with the two characters using their left hands. Using them dexterously.

 

Lou Gehrig was left-handed. Gary Cooper was not. To show Gary Cooper batting left-handed, they had him wear a uniform made backwards, filmed him batting right-handed, and then flipped the film for the movie.

 

So I wonder if they did the same thing for this left-handed fight scene? Filmed it normally, then flipped the negative.

[Charlie Harley, #14153]

2 minutes ago, Alpo said:

This just occurred to me. They have that beautifully choreographed sword fight, with the two characters using their left hands. Using them dexterously.

 

Lou Gehrig was left-handed. Gary Cooper was not. To show Gary Cooper batting left-handed, they had him wear a uniform made backwards, filmed him batting right-handed, and then flipped the film for the movie.

 

So I wonder if they did the same thing for this left-handed fight scene? Filmed it normally, then flipped the negative.

Cary Elwes and Mandy Patenken actually went through a lot of training with a sword master to make for a realistic fight scene. Some was done by stunt doubles, but mostly it was them, including the left/right hand switch. 

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

8 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

When we first saw that scene back when it first came out that guy came out with the sword and I said "I'd shoot that guy" and Jones did exactly that.

Originally it was scripted as a big sword fight. They trained for at least several days. On the day of shooting, Harrison Ford had gotten the flu, (I don't know if it was Covid), and didn't feel up to the swordplay. He told Spielberg, "If it were me, I'd just shoot the guy", so they did. 

[Pat Riot]

9 hours ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

When we first saw that scene back when it first came out that guy came out with the sword and I said "I'd shoot that guy" and Jones did exactly that.

Funny, I said the same thing...and the same thing happened.

[Utah Bob #35998]

40 minutes ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Originally it was scripted as a big sword fight. They trained for at least several days. On the day of shooting, Harrison Ford had gotten the flu, (I don't know if it was Covid), and didn't feel up to the swordplay. He told Spielberg, "If it were me, I'd just shoot the guy", so they did. 

I saw an interview with Ford and he said he was just really hungover. 

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

2 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said:

Originally it was scripted as a big sword fight. They trained for at least several days. On the day of shooting, Harrison Ford had gotten the flu, (I don't know if it was Covid), and didn't feel up to the swordplay. He told Spielberg, "If it were me, I'd just shoot the guy", so they did. 

See, not all flu is bad. 

[Rye Miles #13621]

One of my favorite sword fights, can you tell why? I heard that Catherine trained hours for this.

 

[Tyrel Cody]

1 hour ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

One of my favorite sword fights, can you tell why? I heard that Catherine trained hours for this.

 

 

Because you have a crush on Antonio Banderas?

 

[Hendo]

1 hour ago, Tyrel Cody said:

 

Because you have a crush on Antonio Banderas?

 

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I'm sure that when it was made, this was considered to be an excellent sword fight.  Today, I think it just looks over choreographed and silly.
 

 

[Rye Miles #13621]

6 hours ago, Tyrel Cody said:

 

Because you have a crush on Antonio Banderas?

 

Not my type!

[Alpo]

Not even when he looks at you like this?

 

[Badger Mountain Charlie SASS #43172]

On 11/8/2021 at 3:36 PM, Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062 said:

 .... sounds messy .....   

And loud!

[Seamus McGillicuddy]

On 11/8/2021 at 5:32 PM, Utah Bob #35998 said:

A rousing good movie!

You got that right, Bob!  My favorite movie all, or at least tied for first with “Ride With the Devil”. 
 

Seamus

[Go West]

Pirates with their cutlasses won the early victories, but if the fight carried on, the lighter swords became more effective against the arm weary foes from what I understand.