engineering a blade

[Sloan24]

Opinions on making a new kind of fencing blade that would have the hilt of a rapier (only the hilt would be created longer to cover up to the wrist or possibly mid-forearm) and the blade of an epee, please...

I need to do this for engineering, so it's not a question of (where he grips it! its a simple question of weight ratio! A 5oz bird could not carry a one pound coconut! -Monty Python and the Holy Grail- i couldnt' resist!!) whether I'm gong to do it- it's a question of how I could do it and how much work it would take.......

[BenTheEMOP]

Are you asking the armorers to do your engineering homework for you?

Shouldn't you engineer it and post pictures instead?

[KidLazy]

Opinions on making a new kind of fencing blade that would have the hilt of a rapier (only the hilt would be created longer to cover up to the wrist or possibly mid-forearm) and the blade of an epee, please...

I need to do this for engineering, so it's not a question of (where he grips it! its a simple question of weight ratio! A 5oz bird could not carry a one pound coconut! -Monty Python and the Holy Grail- i couldnt' resist!!) whether I'm gong to do it- it's a question of how I could do it and how much work it would take.......

Please make sure you can afford my rate first before asking the question.
Thank you.

[Stormbringer]

So, is what you're trying to make essentially an epee with a rapier hilt?

A friend of mine made exactly that (using a short (#2, I believe) non-electric epee blade attached to a swept hilt) as part of his Halloween costume for last week (he went as the Dread Pirate Roberts/Man-in-Black).

The balance took a bit of getting-used-to (which passed very quickly), and the weight was a non-issue.

So, it seems like it can be done, and likely in fairly short order. As far as building your own version of this (which is what it sounds like you're trying to do), good luck.

[Sloan24]

I AM NOT asking you to do it for me. I am asking you if you think it can be done, Ben and Kid.....

Storm, thanks for your input I appreciate it

[Superscribe]

Are you going to prove that this is well engineered and functional? How familiar are you with FEA? You have the ability to CAD this up using sometype of school software? I'm assuming you have a textbook with the necassary moment's of inertias and the stresses concentrations from bending or Hertz stresses?

As an engineer, it's interesting seeing how that term is thrown around. Are you actually going to engineer this, or are you trying to fabricate it in an educated fashion? Those are two very different things. Figuring that out would go a long way toward your billable rate too, chief.

[erooMynohtnA]

I AM NOT asking you to do it for me. I am asking you if you think it can be done, Ben and Kid.....

Storm, thanks for your input I appreciate it

I don't understand what you're asking. Are you asking whether you can make it? Whether it would be functional? Whether it would be within the rules? Are you asking about the blade, or are you asking about the whole weapon?

It sounds like the idea has not been thought out.

[Matt]

Errrrr, not only can this be done it has been done by plenty of people already. For example, the guys at Rogue Steel do excellent work building rapier hilts that you can mount an epee blade (musketeer blade in stage-combat lingo) on.

[Inquartata]

Yes, before the advent of schlager and heavier blades that combination was prettyy common in SCA rapier fencing. That goes back at least 20 years, so there's plenty of experience with it.

[emagdnim]

yeah

I was trying to figure out a nicer way of saying "do some research first before coming to f.net"

if you want some resources try

zenwarriorarmory.com (triplette's sca branch)

popinj.com (no longer in business but still a good resource)

and maybe darkwoodarmory.com

[Sloan24]

so basically, I'm screwed for this project... well, that sucks. Thanks for the input, everyone