Follow-up: Best combat sword?

[Ken]

Thanks to the postings here and the research it sparked, I now know a
little more. However, I feel even more ignorant.

In particular, of the following swords -- each of which has been
described as an ultimate type of sword -- which would be most
effective in the hands of a consummate master:

(1) a rapier with, say, a 43" blade? (Like the Paul Chen Practical
Rapier with button removed) See:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=43340


(2) a "court sword" with, say, a 30" blade? See, e.g.,
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ory=43340&rd=1

(3) something else?

Is it correct that a skilled fencer wielding a saber or cutlass would
routinely be defeated by one or other of the foregoing? Or only that
he might be the first to be mortally wounded with abundant opportunity
to cleave his opponent before he expired? Would the fencer with the
lighter sword find his weapon sufficiently nible to defend against the
heavier one?




Ken
(to reply via email
remove "zz" from address)

[Zebee Johnstone]

In rec.sport.fencing on Wed, 30 Jul 2003 20:12:50 GMT
Ken <cprstn54zz@att.net> wrote:
> Is it correct that a skilled fencer wielding a saber or cutlass would
> routinely be defeated by one or other of the foregoing? Or only that
> he might be the first to be mortally wounded with abundant opportunity
> to cleave his opponent before he expired? Would the fencer with the
> lighter sword find his weapon sufficiently nible to defend against the
> heavier one?
>

how long is a piece of string?

GOing to depend on the people involved. What their styles are, and what
they are used to defending against.

Also on the situation, the rules if any, the metallurgy, and so on.

You want simple answers, there aren't any!

If you want to know what sword style to learn so you can imagine if a
duel happened, you'd win... don't worry about a sword type, worry about
the teacher. Find the teacher who you will learn from, and then put 10
or 15 years into it at 2-3 days a week. Then if you get transported to
a world that uses swords, you might be OK.

If that isn't what you want it for, but are just interested, get used to
the idea there isn't a definitive answer

Zebee

[William Black]

"Ken" <cprstn54zz@att.net> wrote in message
news:at8givclleo1r1bgk951vbh6hfja7ivac4@4ax.com...

> Is it correct that a skilled fencer wielding a saber or cutlass would
> routinely be defeated by one or other of the foregoing? Or only that
> he might be the first to be mortally wounded with abundant opportunity
> to cleave his opponent before he expired? Would the fencer with the
> lighter sword find his weapon sufficiently nible to defend against the
> heavier one?

In reality fights to the death are between people not weapons.

The greatest swordsman in the world armed with the finest sword ever made
who looses his nerve could well be defeated by a novice with nerves of steel
armed with a kitchen knife.

--
William Black
------------------
On time, on budget, or works;
Pick any two from three

[Richard Garner]

> In reality fights to the death are between people not weapons.
>
> The greatest swordsman in the world armed with the finest sword ever made
> who looses his nerve could well be defeated by a novice with nerves of
steel
> armed with a kitchen knife.
>

I have seen several well accomplished fencer loose to a novice simply
because the accomplished fencer is used to fencing the mechanics and/or
style of other accomplished fencers and forgets that a novice has no style
and does not know the mechanics, other than the point goes there, any way
you can get it there.

[Harpman]

Valid points from all the Regs........too many variables for such a
question!

Asking that question is like trying to compare Martial Arts styles!

Remember what David did to Goliath with a rock?

And as history & technology progressed.....Winchester & Colt made everyone
equal!!!!!!

Peace,
Harp


"Richard Garner" <rgarner@vidnet.net> wrote in message
news:bg9mhe01dtl@enews3.newsguy.com...
> > In reality fights to the death are between people not weapons.
> >
> > The greatest swordsman in the world armed with the finest sword ever
made
> > who looses his nerve could well be defeated by a novice with nerves of
> steel
> > armed with a kitchen knife.
> >
>
> I have seen several well accomplished fencer loose to a novice simply
> because the accomplished fencer is used to fencing the mechanics and/or
> style of other accomplished fencers and forgets that a novice has no style
> and does not know the mechanics, other than the point goes there, any way
> you can get it there.
>
>

[ObeeKris]

"Harpman" <@nowhere.com> wrote:

> Remember what David did to Goliath with a rock?

Got in a lucky shot?

Chris "ObeeKris" Lisy

[William Marshal]

obeekris@hotmail.com (ObeeKris) wrote in message news:<22f6e2db.0307311435.281036a8@posting.google. com>...
> "Harpman" <@nowhere.com> wrote:
>
> > Remember what David did to Goliath with a rock?
>
> Got in a lucky shot?


Indeed...or one guided by the hand of God, if you prefer. NOT an
advantage upon which most of us can count in an affray!

[Trim Plus Expert]

Since I may call myself a novice fencer and I trainned a little bit with
damn really good fencers. Anybody knows Jerome Menuera ? (Foil) the reason
why we may get some touches is not that we got no style or they doesn't take
that in account. The right reason is that they can get really easy touch by
complicating things, so not know what to do in front of a much better
swordplay a novice like me just counter attack and may get a touch if the
better fencer got a little bit to far! Note to everyone use well the
tactical wheel in the first bout keep it simple and know your adversary!

Agleos Arkeneight

> I have seen several well accomplished fencer loose to a novice simply
> because the accomplished fencer is used to fencing the mechanics and/or
> style of other accomplished fencers and forgets that a novice has no style
> and does not know the mechanics, other than the point goes there, any way
> you can get it there.
>
>

[ObeeKris]

trebuchet30303@yahoo.com (William Marshal) wrote:
> obeekris@hotmail.com (ObeeKris) wrote:
> > "Harpman" <@nowhere.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Remember what David did to Goliath with a rock?
> >
> > Got in a lucky shot?
>
>
> Indeed...or one guided by the hand of God, if you prefer. NOT an
> advantage upon which most of us can count in an affray!

True, otherwise I would have done much better last weekend.

Chris "ObeeKris" Lisy

[z]

"Richard Garner" <rgarner@vidnet.net> wrote in
news:bg9mhe01dtl@enews3.newsguy.com:

>> In reality fights to the death are between people not weapons.
>>
>> The greatest swordsman in the world armed with the finest sword ever
>> made who looses his nerve could well be defeated by a novice with
>> nerves of
> steel
>> armed with a kitchen knife.
>>
>
> I have seen several well accomplished fencer loose to a novice simply
> because the accomplished fencer is used to fencing the mechanics
> and/or style of other accomplished fencers and forgets that a novice
> has no style and does not know the mechanics, other than the point
> goes there, any way you can get it there.
>
>

ya -- ive seen that a lot. What gets you is throwing a feint as part of
your attack. The novice will not react like a regular fencer -- they won't
automatically defend. Sometimes it catches you out bigtime

-z