Info Favorites Register Log in
myArmoury.com Discussion Forums

Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > quillons Reply to topic
This is a standard topic  
Author Message
Gordon Alexander




Location: Eagan, MN & Dubois, WY
Joined: 24 Dec 2012

Posts: 57

PostPosted: Thu 01 Jun, 2017 8:09 am    Post subject: quillons         Reply with quote

My fencing experience consists of only a modest amount of German Longsword schooling. Of late, I have been trying to contemplate functions of quillons. What abilities does one give up with a well hand protecting hilt that doesn't have them or has minimal ones? Other than weight, what is the disadvantage of having more than two angularly equidistant ones? I have some notions about the answers but my lack of experience leaves me with insufficient confidence in them and their completeness.
View user's profile Send private message
Vincent Le Chevalier




Location: Paris, France
Joined: 07 Dec 2005
Reading list: 15 books

Spotlight topics: 1
Posts: 870

PostPosted: Thu 01 Jun, 2017 1:58 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Hello,

With rapiers at least, the quillons have the advantage of forcing the opponent to make longer disengages around them. You can move the tip around a more compact hilt in a much tighter circle, hence quicker and more deceptive. This is eloquently described in Thibault.

Their ability to constrain and manipulate the opponent's weapon is applicable to most sword forms in my opinion.

Quillons can be a weapon in their own right, more devastating than looping branches. But I think this is secondary.

More than two would make the weapon far less convenient to carry around and store, with little benefit as far as I can see: a quillon is never far when you need it anyway.

Regards,

--
Vincent
Ensis Sub Caelo
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Timo Nieminen




Location: Brisbane, Australia
Joined: 08 May 2009
Likes: 1 page
Reading list: 1 book

Posts: 1,504

PostPosted: Thu 01 Jun, 2017 3:01 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

The increased motion needed for an opponent to disengage is very important when fighting against a spear. Thus the very long quillons you see on large two-handers. If your opponent will be using a sword, rather than whatever weapon they might have brought to the battlefield, you don't give up as much by getting rid of your quillons.

You also give up a convenient handle for your opponent to control your weapon (whether with their weapon, or by grabbing it if close), and a projection that can snag on clothes, shields, weapons, etc. A quillon isn't all advantage; there are some disadvantages, too, beyond just weight. If you won't get enough benefit from it in trapping and forcing larger disengages, and you don't demand one as a fashion item, then get rid of it.

I agree with Vincent re 3 or more quillons. Convenience for everyday wear matters a lot for a sidearm.

"In addition to being efficient, all pole arms were quite nice to look at." - Cherney Berg, A hideous history of weapons, Collier 1963.
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Gordon Alexander




Location: Eagan, MN & Dubois, WY
Joined: 24 Dec 2012

Posts: 57

PostPosted: Fri 02 Jun, 2017 2:18 pm    Post subject:         Reply with quote

Timo, Vincent, thank you. That is what I was looking for.
View user's profile Send private message


Display posts from previous:   
Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > quillons
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