Okay folks, I will admit it. How does the thumb ring on the saber function? Is it simply a way to prevent the opponents blade from sliding down during a block/ parry and slicing off you thumb...OR is it some sort of device for putting your thumb through to generate leverage and snap...I haver never handled one and I am sure our knowledgable crowd will enlighten me. Thanks in advance for any input. JF
It's a guard for keeping your opponent's sword from sliding down... I have a 15th century Falchion with the same 'thumb ring' and yes, I tried to put my thumb in it... :blush: and couldn't get it out :blush: Also I notived that (at least on my falchion) the so called 'thumb ring' was on the other side. (right is were your thumb is left and vica versa) It's an guard..and fashion I believe.
Greetings,
Gert-Jan
Attachment: 72.64 KB
Greetings,
Gert-Jan
Attachment: 72.64 KB| Gert-Jan Beukers wrote: |
| It's a guard for keeping your opponent's sword from sliding down... I have a 15th century Falchion with the same 'thumb ring' and yes, I tried to put my thumb in it... :blush: and couldn't get it out :blush: Also I notived that (at least on my falchion) the so called 'thumb ring' was on the other side. (right is were your thumb is left and vica versa) It's an guard..and fashion I believe.
Greetings, Gert-Jan |
Gert,
What you're showing is considered a side-ring. A true thumb-ring is supposed to have a thumb slipped through it. See the pic below:
[ Linked Image ]
The apparatus on the right side of the hilt is the thumb ring.
Here are some threads that deal with thumb rings:
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=9240
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=8935
http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=4925
Here is another one with a thumb ring, a !7th century German military sword.
Attachment: 31.39 KB
from Hermann Historica
Attachment: 31.39 KBfrom Hermann Historica
Thumb-rings help with a secure grip and, in my opinion, aide in creating powerful cuts. In this regard, it's not for protection (as other hilt parts are), but is a feature added to affect performance/handling characteristics.
From the Anatomy of the Sword article:
[ Linked Image ]
From the Anatomy of the Sword article:
[ Linked Image ]
| Chad Arnow wrote: |
|
Gert, What you're showing is considered a side-ring. A true thumb-ring is supposed to have a thumb slipped through it. See the pic below: The apparatus on the right side of the hilt is the thumb ring. Here are some threads that deal with thumb rings: |
sorry *feels really stupid*
| Quote: |
| sorry *feels really stupid* |
Gert, don't feel that way, man. How do you get to know unless you ask, eh ? B-)
How a thumb-ring looks with a THUMB in it ... and NR has it right, well made and well positioned
the thumb-ring will provide an incredible anchor to the gripping of such a sword as a saber.
I love thumb rings, but I've heard their major disadvantage is if the sword is knocked from your hand, the ring can really do a number on your thumb.
| Roger Hooper wrote: |
| I love thumb rings, but I've heard their major disadvantage is if the sword is knocked from your hand, the ring can really do a number on your thumb. |
Nevertheless, it seems that the thumb ring was quite popular over vast areas in europe of the 17th century.
Gert-Jan, what you have is a messer/hauswehr rather falchion. The side-ring is an element added in order to give an everyday implement more means of hand protection, thus making it more suitable for combat. The side-ring protects the knuckles from the side, as the regular guard is very small and exists only downwards. Fighting manuals show that if you need to parry a blow from your left, you should invert the hand holding the messer, so that you will absorb your opponent's blade by the side-ring. Check Talhoffer taffel 224: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons...er_224.jpg
Great answers, thanks for the pics, that really clears things up, have a glorious day, JF
I split off the posts that were off-topic to this one. They can be found here: http://www.myArmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=15814
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