Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > Reinforced tip? Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Levente M.




Location: Hungary
Joined: 19 Aug 2009

Posts: 35

PostPosted: Tue 01 Jul, 2014 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reinforced tip?         Reply with quote

Many times when reading about longswords (especially type XVs) i see the term "reinforced tip" come up. What does this mean?
Does the distal taper "reverse" near the tip of the sword, so that it's thicker? Wouldn't that make the thinnest part a potential weak spot?
Or is just that the sword tapers less and has a more uniform thickness?

On a related note, how thick should type XVs and type XVIIIs be at the base with how much distal taper? I know it varies a lot, but some numbers would be nice.
Thanks!
View user's profile Send private message
Edward Lee




Location: New York
Joined: 05 Jul 2013

Posts: 393

PostPosted: Tue 01 Jul, 2014 4:44 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

I have a del tin type XV Estori visconti sword that has a thick tip. By that I meant the sword got thicker at the tip portion and made the sword very stiff at the tip instead of distal tapering down. I'm not sure if they made it this way historically.
View user's profile Send private message
Ryan Renfro




Location: Reno, NV
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
Reading list: 5 books

Posts: 118

PostPosted: Tue 01 Jul, 2014 9:26 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Yes, a reinforced tip is a thickening of the distal taper at the tip. This can be quite minor or quite pronounced. Below is an example of a longsword from Kelvingrove in Glasgow. In some instances the blade geometry remains roughly the same and in others it changes, as can be seen in this gladius at the Royal Armouries in Leeds which transitions from roughly lenticular to diamond section. Another method of reinforcing the tip may be exhibited in one of the best-known type XIXs, which in addition to a 15% increase in thickness is also unsharpened for the last couple of centimeters.

I wouldn't be too concerned about a weak spot before the reinforcement as it usually occurs in conjunction with the final narrowing of the profile.

If you want to get an idea of total distal taper, Kult of Athena provides two thickness measurements for most of the swords it carries. Have a look at some of the more well-researched manufacturers and you'll be able to get an idea of what is fairly representative for a type.



 Attachment: 20.17 KB
IMG_4851.jpg


 Attachment: 34.17 KB
IMG_4854.jpg


 Attachment: 37.2 KB
IMG_5452.jpg

View user's profile Send private message
Grayson C.




Location: NCF, Sarasota, FL
Joined: 25 Oct 2006

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 223

PostPosted: Tue 01 Jul, 2014 9:40 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

In some cases, a reinforced tip very much means that the distal taper will increase slightly. In a certain light, you could consider any sword whose distal taper ceases to taper before the point termination to have something of a reinforced tip - as long as the ratio of width to thickness becomes closer together, the tip is being reinforced. Where you draw the distinction precisely, however, is broad and open to interpretation - many times it is hard to tell whether such a characteristic was intended by the smith or was simple a result of uneven make. Of course, most of the time people will use this term to refer to swords where the reinforced tip is more obvious, such as an abrupt stop to the taper altogether or as you suggested, a thickening. It all depends on the context of the sword, I guess Happy
View user's profile Send private message
Matthew P. Adams




Location: Cape Cod, MA
Joined: 08 Dec 2008
Likes: 8 pages

Posts: 462

PostPosted: Tue 01 Jul, 2014 10:14 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

My Albion Fiore's distal taper reverses about 8 inches from the point, but since it continues to taper in blade profile the mass at the tip diminishes. The thinnest point on the sword has enough width to prevent it from becoming a weak spot, and in fact, helps the performance by placing the thinnest portion at the primary percussion node. This is where the sword doesn't vibrate when struck. So the best place to transfer energy to a target, also has the narrowest cross section for ease of penetration.
"We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training" Archilochus, Greek Soldier, Poet, c. 650 BC
View user's profile Send private message
Levente M.




Location: Hungary
Joined: 19 Aug 2009

Posts: 35

PostPosted: Wed 02 Jul, 2014 1:02 am    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Very good info, just what I was looking for.
Thank you!
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Historical Arms Talk > Reinforced tip?
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