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Pauli Vennervirta
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Posted: Sun 28 Oct, 2012 3:27 pm Post subject: Cross-hilt sword for Bolognese fencing? |
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I have had in my mind to get a sword that I could use in Bolognese fencing, but also in other styles that involve one-handed arming sword. I would prefer a weapon with a cut and thrust - blade, but with a simple cross hilt (no finger rings) and round disk pommel. Blunt of course. Did weapons like this exist in early/middle 16th century and can anyone give examples?
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Roger Hooper

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Posted: Sun 28 Oct, 2012 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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How about this Del Tin - DT6165
Also, check out this Sword put together by Sean Flynt. Look at his finished product on page 2.
Of course they do have a side ring, but no finger rings
Last edited by Roger Hooper on Sun 28 Oct, 2012 7:01 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Craig Peters

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Posted: Sun 28 Oct, 2012 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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If you are wanting a plain, cross hilted sword without any finger rings or complex hilt configurations, I think it would be best to look for examples of late Oakshott Type XVIII swords. There might be a few that meet your description. However, most single handed swords in the 16th century, particularly single handed swords, had some sort of additional hilt elements. I think, for the sake of accuracy, you are probably better off getting a slender 16th century blade with or without additional hilt elements, and use that.
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Sean Flynt
myArmoury Team


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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 4:27 am Post subject: |
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swords of the "Henry V" style have been found on the Mary Rose. Type XVIII, simple downturned cross with wheel or globular pommel. so, you're safe with that form into the 1540s.
-Sean
"Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book"- Thomas a Kempis (d. 1471)
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Pauli Vennervirta
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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 5:47 am Post subject: |
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Roger Hooper wrote: | How about this Del Tin - DT6165
Also, check out this Sword put together by Sean Flynt. Look at his finished product on page 2.
Of course they do have a side ring, but no finger rings |
The Del Tin is quite fancy. The sword made by Sean is a good example of what I have in mind.
I might get a Darkwood sidesword blade, about 35 inches long and try to find the hilt parts somewhere.
Thanks.
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Sean Flynt
myArmoury Team


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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 7:22 am Post subject: |
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The horizontally recurved cross with globular pommel appears to have have been common, too.
I'm pondering another project of this type because I really like the whole concept. If I do that, it'll be on much the same line as this previous one, using either the H-T bastard or longsword blade and the same pommel treatment, but with a modified A&A Dürer cross.
I think that if you keep it simple, you can cover a wide chronological range with a sword like this. As far as I can tell, it would be more Italian than anything. Generic, unless you add some decorative detail to narrow the period. Filed pommel and quillon terminal, wire-bound grip, etc.
My earlier project, shown below from the inside perspective, shows what I would think is appropriate for both sides of the cross--no ring needed. With or without a ring, I'd prefer horizontally recurved quillons. This is a very handy weapon in this configuration and with that particular blade. Very quick, and very capable in the thrust and cut.
This is a relatively cheap setup, too, if you can do a bit of work on your own. The H-T blade is now around $130. An Alchem pommel is $12. A flat and flared cross is pretty easy to find and easy to recurve. You can definitely put together something nice for under $200 IF you can DIY. You might even be able to find a cheap Windlass or Hanwei rapier and saw off most of the bars of the hilt to make something of the earlier style.
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-Sean
"Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book"- Thomas a Kempis (d. 1471)
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Kai Lawson

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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 8:18 am Post subject: |
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Not normally my cup-o'-tea, but I looked at Sean's project and the pictures here, and am very pleased and amazed with the final result of the 'Italian Job.' Great lines--what sorts of techniques is it most appropriate for, though? What does it feel like it 'belongs' to?
"And they crossed swords."
--William Goldman, alias S. Morgenstern
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Sean Flynt
myArmoury Team


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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 9:11 am Post subject: |
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Kai Lawson wrote: | Not normally my cup-o'-tea, but I looked at Sean's project and the pictures here, and am very pleased and amazed with the final result of the 'Italian Job.' Great lines--what sorts of techniques is it most appropriate for, though? What does it feel like it 'belongs' to? |
That's a tough question. It's a light arming sword, suitable for field and civilian carry. Beyond that, I would simply guess that it would work with any double-edge sword technique that doesn't specifically rely on hilt protection of the hand. I don't practice WMA, so I'll have to leave details to my fighting friends.
I will observe that it's light enough that you don't really have to put a finger over the cross. Plenty of control without that.
-Sean
"Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book"- Thomas a Kempis (d. 1471)
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Jean Thibodeau

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Pauli Vennervirta
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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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Ah, the swords in the Doge's palace! I visited the palace this summer. It was marvellous to see all those swords.
Sean, your sword is the style I am after, but a blunt training sword. The blade I can get from the Darkwood. No doupt also the hilt parts, but I would prefer recycled hilt.
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Sean Flynt
myArmoury Team


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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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Pauli Vennervirta wrote: |
Sean, your sword is the style I am after, but a blunt training sword. The blade I can get from the Darkwood. No doupt also the hilt parts, but I would prefer recycled hilt. |
If you're training/sparring, that's the way to go. You should price a simple Darkwood hilt, too. By the time you find a used hilt and modify it properly, build a grip, assemble, etc., you might find it worth the price to have DA do it.
This place does affordable custom work: http://www.yeshuas-sword.com/sword_hilt_parts.html
-Sean
"Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book"- Thomas a Kempis (d. 1471)
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Mackenzie Cosens

Location: Vancouver Canada Joined: 08 Aug 2007
Posts: 238
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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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Pauli Vennervirta wrote: | Ah, the swords in the Doge's palace! I visited the palace this summer. It was marvellous to see all those swords.
Sean, your sword is the style I am after, but a blunt training sword. The blade I can get from the Darkwood. No doupt also the hilt parts, but I would prefer recycled hilt. |
Talk Scott at Darkwood in my experience he as been willing to produce custom pieces at a reasonably price. He made me a custom simple cross hilt with side ring like those shown in Meyer. My Meyer has a DA3S Spada blade, I find it to be a little light but was legal on a now obsolete rule set for SCA style rapier play. Darkwood Broadsword/Side-sword blades are nice but I really like his back-sword blade.
If you get Scott to make the piece then all the bits will fit together without issue and you get his experience on what makes a good practice sword.
Do the people you are practising with have any rules for what simulator are legal?
mackenzie
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Bill Grandy
myArmoury Team


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Posted: Mon 29 Oct, 2012 7:34 pm Post subject: Re: Cross-hilt sword for Bolognese fencing? |
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Pauli Vennervirta wrote: | I have had in my mind to get a sword that I could use in Bolognese fencing, but also in other styles that involve one-handed arming sword. I would prefer a weapon with a cut and thrust - blade, but with a simple cross hilt (no finger rings) and round disk pommel. Blunt of course. Did weapons like this exist in early/middle 16th century and can anyone give examples? |
Not only did weapons like this exist in the period of Bolognese fencing, but they're also explicitly illustrated in the Bolognese fencing treatises. For example, simple cross-hilted swords are all over Marozzo's work:
HistoricalHandcrafts.com
-Inspired by History, Crafted by Hand
"For practice is better than artfulness. Your exercise can do well without artfulness, but artfulness is not much good without the exercise.” -anonymous 15th century fencing master, MS 3227a
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Pauli Vennervirta
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Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 2:22 am Post subject: |
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Bill, so it seems. In those pictures the fencer is holding his finger over the quillon but not in all cases. So I gather that the choise is free. I personally prefer to keep my fingers behind the quillon, in extended classes I find it slightly uncomfortable to finger the quillon and anyway the fingers are safer in sparring my way.
Quess I just prefer to keep things simple. So I search something that I can use as a medieval/early renessaince arming sword but not tied too tightly to any specific era or style. Thank you all for the tips.
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Sean Flynt
myArmoury Team


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Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Nicholas Carew, ca. 1532
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-Sean
"Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book"- Thomas a Kempis (d. 1471)
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Sean Flynt
myArmoury Team


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Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 9:02 am Post subject: |
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Two more
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-Sean
"Everywhere I have searched for peace and nowhere found it, except in a corner with a book"- Thomas a Kempis (d. 1471)
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Pauli Vennervirta
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Posted: Tue 30 Oct, 2012 9:04 am Post subject: |
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That would make a very nice custom sword. I have the Hanwei-Tinker longsword. Hmm.... get the hilt parts from Yeshua, make a handle myself... Blade to training version from Darkwood...
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Pauli Vennervirta
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