[G. Scott H.]

We all know the standard targets used for cutting swords: tatami mats, mailing tubes, pool noodles, milk jugs, etc. My question to those of you who are rapier (or any other sword used primarily for thrusting) enthusiasts: do you practice your thrusts on any sort of targets, for example to give you an idea of your swords penetrative abilites, etc.? If so, what kinds of materials make suitable targets?
I ask because, while I started out as a cutting sword fan, I've recently found myself drooling over a few rapiers. I also like the "Tuck" as offered by MRL. Will the madness never cease? It seems like every week a new type of sword catches my eye! Where does this addiction to sharp steel end?
But seriously, target suggestions? Thanks.

[William Goodwin]

Water filled milk jugs and/or burlap sacks tightly packed with straw works fairly well. The addiction never ends only subsided briefly when funds are running low.

Cheers,
Bill

[Bill Grandy]

I'm a big fan of fruit with a hard husk, such as canteloupe. Just make sure you oil the blade before hand, and completely wash it off after each thrust, as the acid can stain the steel very easily. Unless if you don't really care (and too many of my swords have shown that at the end of the day I'm just too lazy!).

Test-thrusting with the rapier doesn't really test skill or technique or anything other than possibly aim, which can be done with a blunt sword as well. But it does really impress upon the user just how deadly they are. If you get something with a very hard husk, feel it a little be to understand how much pressure it would take to push your thumb through, and how effortless the rapier will pass all the way through.

[Chris Holzman]

[G. Scott H.]

The straw-filled burlap sack sounds good, as do the melons. I was also thinking of using one of those dense, closed cell foam archery targets.

[Alina Boyden]

[G. Scott H.]

[Alina Boyden]

[Sam Barris]

I used to use a bale of alfalfa. But I grew up with horses, so bales of alfalfa were plentiful. If you live near a feed store of any kind, it was about $7.00 per bale (if memory serves). A pillow or some other cushion duct taped to the front of the bale gives a nice feel to the thrust. However, there is sometimes a small amount of dirt in these bales that can scratch the blade. I had a cheap MRL rapier at the time. You might not want to risk the aesthetic damage to a nicer weapon. I never thought to wet the alfalfa down, as I knew little of tatami back then, but wet alfalfa can grow mold easily, so perhaps that wouldn't be a good idea after all.

[Chris Last]

When we did our demos last year at the Bristol Ren Faire we used some off cuts of meat from one of our members local butchers. Legs of lamb and hams are sickenly nifty for demo purposes in front of large crowds. We then had our barber surgeon show how to stitch up or otherwise heal the damage. Worked really nice.

During the fall we have our Pumpkin Carving contest and that usually results in an interesting demo as well.