Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Hollow ground blades in battle Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
C Bosh




Location: France
Joined: 10 Aug 2009

Posts: 15

PostPosted: Sun 16 Aug, 2009 11:50 pm    Post subject: Hollow ground blades in battle         Reply with quote

I am a keen fan of the sword in the wallace collection A-459 and have even had a couple made for me. I also like the sword of Hhenry V. I was wondering :How practical would a hollow ground sword be in battle against armoured opponents ? I have seen some hollow grinds edge fold when the angle of attack for the cut was wrong. Cheap swords ?
My forger also hammers in most of the supposed hollow grind during the forge.
my regrets for my English
View user's profile Send private message
Peter Johnsson
Industry Professional



Location: Storvreta, Sweden
Joined: 27 Aug 2003
Reading list: 1 book

Spotlight topics: 3
Posts: 1,757

PostPosted: Mon 17 Aug, 2009 12:06 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

A blade with concave edge bevels, or hollow ground cross section can be very strong. Still, anything made by man can be destroyed by man. Swords break, armour dent and men die in war.

That hollow ground blades were practical, or functional in practical fighting, there should be no doubt.

Some original swords that I have seen have had very thin edges indeed. These were weapons made during the age of plate armour. That such edges would have folded on contact with steel armour did not prevent them being made. I do not think they were the result of mistake, but intentionally made so.

Swords have never been very good at defeating armour. Instead you want a blade that can reach behind or inbetween gaps. You can also aim for openings.
In the end, if you survive, but your sword gets nicks, you are still the winner of the fight.

One hollow ground section can be very different from another. The thickness of the spine, width of blade and radius of the hollow all plays a part in how much material is left or removed. Also of great importance is how much thickness is left in the very edge where the sharpness is shaped (normally with an apple seed section).

Of the many original blades with hollow ground section that I´ve seen many have rated in the highest level of quality.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
C Bosh




Location: France
Joined: 10 Aug 2009

Posts: 15

PostPosted: Mon 17 Aug, 2009 12:53 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Thank you for your reply., I just wondered if there main wearing was more civil than military? A sword of choice for some and not for others on the battle field , like most things.
Thank you
View user's profile Send private message
Morgan Butler




PostPosted: Mon 31 Aug, 2009 2:49 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

In the 18th cen, many officers carried hollowground blades with smallsword type hilts. And not just because they were staff officers who were not expecting to fight. Many line officers who marched in the field with a troop of infantry carried these type of weapons. They were broad enough to parry a heavier weapon and gave a very stiff thrust that would penetrate a heavy uniform coat. Here are some pics of one kind of military hollowground sword. It is very business-like.


 Attachment: 31.85 KB
french smallsword.jpg


 Attachment: 29.6 KB
french artillerysword 6jpg.jpg


 Attachment: 22.18 KB
french smallsword.3jpg.jpg


 Attachment: 21.63 KB
french smallsword.4jpg.jpg


inkothemgard!
View user's profile Send private message
Jared Smith




Location: Tennessee
Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Likes: 1 page

Spotlight topics: 3
Posts: 1,532

PostPosted: Mon 31 Aug, 2009 3:02 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

An advantage of the hollow grind is that one can get a thicker spine in the center compared to a diamond cross section of the same mass. This can make a blade stiffer in thrusting than it would have been otherwise (comparable mass in a more thin lenticular cross section.) I envision the result as possibly more versatile if used judiciously; thrusting against plate, cutting against soft targets.
Absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence!
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Hollow ground blades in battle
Page 1 of 1 Reply to topic
All times are GMT - 8 Hours

View previous topic :: View next topic
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum






All contents © Copyright 2003-2024 myArmoury.com — All rights reserved
Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group
Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum