I browsed the site, but couldn't find anything. I was wondering what the criteria, the rules, and/or any guidelines were for submitting sword reviews to the site. Obviously I can use the existing reviews as a model, but I didn't know if there was anything else specifically looked for. Also, is there a maximum or minimum length for reviews?

In addition to the information people already tend to give, I plan to pit my swords against varied targets to evaluate their durability.

Soft targets: Tatami mats; I may eventually get around to raw lamb or pork shoulders, but it's not in the foreseeable future; cloth; padded cloth; leather

Hard targets: staves/pole-weapon shafts; steel buckler; maille; other swords (in a safely controlled environment)



Thanks
David Kite
ARMA in IN

I'm thrilled that you're interested in sharing with the comunity!

Anybody wishing to contribute content to our site can refer to our Contributor Center for some basic guidelines. It will talk about the necessary photographs and whatnot, as well. Once you decide you want to, and are able to, participate, contact me and I'll direct you to our content guide that will give the specifics for the review.

While we don't have a minimum length for the reviews, we have a baseline expectation for the value of the contents of the article. Each article has to cover certain points and offer the right amount of value to our readers.

I'm very eager to read this one! It reminds me that several years ago on the ARMA forum we were discussing the possible value of using ballistic gelatin in test cutting. Seems like it might have SOME value, especially if molded in, say, two liter bottles and/or around sticks/bamboo to approximate limbs/bones and then wrapped in leather, cloth, armor, etc. To my knowledge, nobody has tried this yet. It would take lots of thought and work, of course, and would still fall far short of actual period combat testing. Cheaper than a side of beef, anyway.

Good luck with this, David!

Hmm...
I wonder if ballistic gelatin is not too sticky? I have not worked with it so I´m only guessing here.

Gelatin might behave much like flesh when shot at, but that is no guarantee that it behaves like flesh when cut.

If it is sticky it will be like trying to cut semi-cured glue, and that will not yield very realistic results. A gelatinous material that clings to the blade will make the sword drag in the cut.

Flesh is slick but still fibrous. As it has been cut it does not offer much in the way of friction.
I think well soaked news papers (folded back + staples cut away) is a more realsitic approximation of flesh.
Semihard plasitc pipe can be fulfilling the role of bone. Bamboo is a tad too hard, I should think (if it is not fresh).

As long as the paper is really wet all through it behaves very much like beef (I´ve been using this type of target quite a bit, and it seems to work well).
The lubrication afforded by the water adds an important aspect in the cut.

..just a thought.

Very interesting....Thanks, Peter!

Wow, thanks guys.

I've been hearing quite a bit about using newspaper recently, but for some reason I keep forgetting about it. I'll definitely add it to my list.

So what does everyone think about using wooden dowels (soaked or not) as a substitute for bone instead of using bamboo or plastic pipe (which I assume would just be PVC pipe)?

David Kite
ARMA in IN