--- In classicalfencing@yahoogroups.com, Neville Gawley
<nvl@c...> wrote:
> I had tried the same test on the blades I acquired from prieur
and they
> all weighed in at the 4 1/2 lb mark, as opposed to the blade
that I
> generally use which was slightly over 2lbs.
> (each blade was bent so that it shortened its length by 2")
> For metric users that's 2Kg Vs 1Kg
(Neville)

I imagine that with modern technology, they do get a bit more
consistency. Considering the vintage of my blades its likely they
were made by hand. Placed side by side, you can see slight
variations in the width of the blades from one piece to another.
When I did my testing, I found that once the blades passed the
point were they were compelled to bend, the resisitance was
very consistent, so that when a blade bent at 3lb., it maintained
the 3 lb. resistance over whether I pressed the blade down 2" or
6."
Nevertheless, I'll still make a point of asking for stiff blades when
I'm buying ;-)

I have handled some very old epee blades (about 80-100 yrs
old) and there are noticable irregularities in the tapers of some.
Interestingly, the curves of the blades were very even when bent,
and I'd guess that the blade makers filed down some areas of
the blades where irregularities in stiffness occured, to produce a
better overal bend.

Cheers,
J.


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for Your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at Myinks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/l.m7sD/LId...sNAA/VRUolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The CFML is sponsored in part by Purpleheart Armoury, now carrying rapier blunts and leather gorgets. http://www.woodenswords.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------


Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/