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Zak Nesbitt




Location: Toronto ON. Canada
Joined: 15 Jan 2008

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 6:50 pm    Post subject: How do i hold a small-sword?         Reply with quote

hey guys, i just perchesed arms and amour's fantastic small-sword for only $440!

and i was just wondering how i should hold it.

(you'll probably have to show a good pic. cuz i dont know a lot of tecnical terms)

Zak Nesbitt
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Stirling Matheson





Joined: 12 Jan 2007

Posts: 36

PostPosted: Mon 13 Oct, 2008 8:15 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Pinch the ricasso (the part between the two vestigial finger rings) between the second segment of your pointer finger and the pad of your thumb. Don't put a finger through the ring, it being vestigial and all that.

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Zak Nesbitt




Location: Toronto ON. Canada
Joined: 15 Jan 2008

Posts: 12

PostPosted: Tue 14 Oct, 2008 8:38 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

just a question,

why have the finger rings become vestigial?

i would think they would give you more control of the blade.

Zak Nesbitt
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Greg Coffman




Location: Lubbock, TX
Joined: 24 Aug 2006
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PostPosted: Tue 14 Oct, 2008 8:59 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

They give you more control in cutting, not thrusting. And the small-sword is a foyning weapon.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
-Hebrews 4:12
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Bill Grandy
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Location: Northern VA,USA
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PostPosted: Tue 14 Oct, 2008 9:15 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Greg Coffman wrote:
They give you more control in cutting, not thrusting. And the small-sword is a foyning weapon.


Actually, they give you more control in thrusting *with certain weapons*. After all, you can find 18th century Spanish rapiers that are nearly edgeless with finger rings. The Albion Doge feels better as a cutting weapon when you don't finger the ricasso, but feels much better as a thrusting weapon if you do. On the flip side, many swords become much better cutting weapons when you wrap the finger around. It really just depends on how the sword is designed.

Fingering the ricasso is a matter of style. In the French style of fencing, there was more control to be gained by putting the main pressure along the ricasso, which is more-or-less how it is still done in modern fencing today. If you look at Italian fencing from the 17th to 19th century, there seems to have been a preference to put the finger through the arms.

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