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| Swords, Sword Parts, and Techniques; (for beginners) | |
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| Topic Started: 30 Sep 2007, 08:16 AM (385 Views) | |
| Alia-Hildwyn | 30 Sep 2007, 08:16 AM Post #1 |
Admiral of the Fleet
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Swords for Beginners, and the Basics (aka "If not going to make your swords completely historically accurate, how to fudge it well enough that it will past the majority of people's inspections") By: Alia-Hildwyn Part I: Introduction Part II: Types of Swords You Will Most Commonly See in Pirate and PotC RPGs Part III: Parts of Swords Part IV: Common Swordfighting Terms Introduction: This is an introduction to swords, designed for those with little to no experience in swords, and the techniques used for them. There are numerous resources dedicated to learning about swords and sword fighting, though, in reality the best way to learn to sword fight is by doing. Seeing as how we live in a time and age where our options are limited on that front, the closest and cheapest we often come to seeing sword fights are through the movies and stage. Now, I love a good movie sword fight as much as the next person, but something to keep in mind about sword fighting in the movies and the stage is, that by necessity those have to be big--movements must be much larger so that the audience can pick up on them. Large movements are not the most practical, because when fighting an opponent your goal is to kill him (or her) as quickly as you possibly can, and you want smaller movements to not tire you out and so as to not to advertise the next move you are going to make, until you make it. And once again, I love movie swordfights--they are very entertaining, and in cases like Star Wars (at least Episode III, I loved the lightsabre fights in that), and Pirates of the Caribbean, they were all elegant, clever, and funny in their own ways. Stage fighting adds in an element all of its own, and whether you aim to reproduce a staged fight, or something closer to a historical basis--that will change how you write a sword fight. Now because the medium is writing, it is slightly more difficult to explain whether a movement is large or small, unless you come out directly and say such. Now, I was a sport fencer (foil) for a couple of years, which I unfortunately had to give up do to a lack of time, so I do have some understanding of how that works. In addition and I am also involved with a Renaissance/Medieval sword group at my university as well, so we do a lot of work translating and interpreting manuals to figure out techniques. I won't claim to know exactly how everything was back then, because clearly I was not born then, but there is a lot that can be figured out and reasonably accepted. So, when I write this, I do have some familiarity on swordfighting on the whole, and am not simply a person who either just reads and then writes about it, or only a physical knowledge of how this works--I have have some of both. As an additional note, the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), as fun as they are and all, as well as LARPing, is really not the best base for a historical discussion of sword techniques. I really have nothing against the idea of what they do, like I said it's fun, but...it's not historically accurate. Even simply studying the techniques historically is not enough to impart what it was really like--for everything the less accurate SCA and LARPing, as well as the historical manual stuyding and recreation--they all lack one vital component. Fighting for one's life. That is what is most likely to come up in our writings, not simply a fencing for the heck of it--and when you are dependent upon your sword to save your life certain rules are not always followed, technique not always used, and it can drive you to accomplish things that perhaps...you did not know that you could do. Most likely all of us have never been in a situation where we stood on a vessel and repelled boarders with our swords and axes, so we will never know exactly what that is like, but we can try to understand it, and write with the best knowledge we have, so that we create a piece that is believable itself. And hopefully, some of this information can assist others to that end. Types of Swords You Will Most Commonly See in Pirate and PotC RPGs Rapiers "In the 16th century, the rapier became the weapon of a gentleman; a symbol that he was a man of substance and status, and that he knew how to use his sword. The term is derived from the 15th century Spanish term espada ropera (sword of the robes [not really 'of' the robes--Alia] meaning the weapon of a gentleman. By 1500 the rapier was used throughout Europe, and it would remain the premier gentleman's sword until the late 17th century. While it was certainly used on the battlefield, it is more readily associated with court, dueling, and fashion, hence the tendency toward delicate, intricate designs." -Regan, Paul, ed, et all. Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. DK Publishing: New York, 2006. Rapiers are often chosen in RPGs as a favored sword, because you often see them used in movies, or mentioned in them, and historically it is okay to use them up until the late 1600s. They are heavier weapons though, certainly more so than the smallswords which replaced them, and for that reason, it is possible that they could still be used past when the smallsword really caught on. However, the largest problem with using a rapier for a pirate/Age of Sail RPG, is the length. While rapiers very in length, they are, by and large, simply too large to be practical on a ship. You don't duel the enemy, and ships force you to fight in very close quarters, at which point your sword is just too long to use--your enemy would be too close. Swords were not, and still are not cheap items--and during the colonial era, the best swordsmiths (as far as Europeans were concerned) were in Europe--and the best swordsmiths stayed there since that is where the most money was, and people of status were to buy the swords. A sword is not a poor man's weapon. For the colonies, there were individuals who made swords, but they were often crude, and not as well made as the European counterparts, and for a while to help balance that out, it became common for them to take a European sword, reuse the blade, and simply manufactures a new handle and fix up the hilt a bit. There were historically very few to none Will Turner's to make you fancy and fine swords. Smallswords "A development of the rapier, the smallsword came into general use in Western Europe toward the end of the 17th century. It was a civilian weapon:an essential item of dress for any gentleman that also acted as a dueling sword. Intended solely for thrusting, the smallsword typically had a stiff triangular blade, without sharpened edges, which in the hands of a skil[l]ful swordsman was a deadly fencing weapon. Although simple in overall design--the handguard consisted of a small cup, and finger and knuckle guards--many smallswords were magnificently decorated, reflecting the status of their owners." -Source: Regan, Paul, ed, et all. Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor. DK Publishing: New York, 2006. Smallswords are very rarely used in pirate RPGs, because most pirate RPGs are set during the Golden Age, and while smallswords are certainly around then, one must keep in mind that they are the mark of a gentleman, and pirates are really not gentleman. Also--they really are not durable enough to stand up to what they would be subjected to on a constant basis--they really are too light to be up to the task of long extended combat, or strenuous usage, while triangular blades are stronger because of shape, they are very light compared to what they would fight against. They are still, arguably, too long for usage on a vessel, though the fact that they are thrusting weapons can also a hindrance. In their favor however, they are probably far less deadly to rigging than a rapier would be. Smallswords were the weapons of gentleman, and by extension a sword for officers in the Army, who were gentleman as well (excepting cavalry who would have other swords more effective to their task--sabres most likely). Officers are really supposed to be above the fighting, so their swords would have less need to be as strong as other swords, and they are more ceremonial. As an additional note, musicians carried swords on the battlefield, since drums and fifes, even when played very badly, are not very effective weapons. Musicians were granted some measure of protection, it was bad form to kill them, but that did not necessarily prevent it from happening. If you are a gentleman character on AG, given that our range is around 1740-70 CE, this would be the most likely weapon to have. Hanger The hanger looks very similar in design to a cutlass, the blade is curved, and it is often shorter. In the British Army, all Grenadiers were issued a hanger, and the hanger was even popular with sailors, since it was shorter, it was fairly effective on a vessel. Unlike the rapier, or smallsword, however, a hanger is a slashing weapon--and that was part of what could make it more effective at sea. If you play a pirate or other sailor on AG (not of the Navy variety), then a hanger, or cutlass would be the an appropriate weapon to have around. Royal Navy Swords "Officers and midshipmen had their own swords. The officers sword was to a standard design with a 30 inch blade, while midshipmen had a much shorter weapon known as a dirk, with an 18 inch blade. The gunner also held a large stock of cutlasses for issue to barding parties, together with a miscellany of other weapons, including pikes, axes, and tomahawks." -Miller, David. The World of Jack Aubrey. Running Press: PA, 2003. The swords that officers (lieutenants and up) would carry would be considered either cutlasses, or in a pinch, sabres (or as is standard in American spelling: saber). Depending upon your wealth, these could be fairly plain, or ornate. More ornate ones could traditionally have a lion's head as the pommel (the Lion symbolised England), and the lions head was utilised in the colonies for militia officers wealthy enough to have swords with such detailing made, up until about the time of the American Revolution and afterword, where the thirteen colonies began using an eagle's head instead of the lion's head. If there was a particular battle, where a commanding officer greatly distinguished himself, towards the end of the 18th century, there would often be swords specially paid for and made in honour of the actions. Keeping in mind though the bureaucracy that was inherent, whether or not some of the swords were actually made and paid for, is not always certain. RN/Marines Handguns "All warships carried handguns, predominantly muskets and pistols made at the Board of Ordances's aresenal at the Tower of London or by contractors. The "Short Sea Service Musket" was 46 inches long, weighed 9 lbs 4oz, and fired a 0.75 inch diameter ball. Being unrifled [that means the barrel of the weapon in ungroved meaning the bullet does not rotate thus reducing range--Alia] accuracy was not great and effective range was of the order of 100 yards, although a trained marksman might achieve slightly more. All Royal Marine [in AG's time they are not yet Royal Marines, that occurred in 1802--Alia] corporals and privates carried a musket and there was also a number for issue to sailors for shore operations or on boarding parties. Pistols were also always held and issued in pairs. A stock of hand grenades was also carried. All these weapons were under the charge of the gunner." -Miller, David. The World of Jack Aubrey. Running Press: PA, 2003. What is important to note, is that swords, as a real fighting weapon were starting to see their end. While their life as sea was longer than on land (due to the close quarters fighting, or more accurately brawling that took place), they were starting to hold a more and more ceremonial role. They were being relegated, from a weapon of war, to more of a sport usage. Today, the most common use for swords, beyond collecting them, is fencing--which is a sport, not that it does not have its basis in real techniques practiced in battle. Parts of a Sword Now that you have read about swords--both historical and how they are used in RPGs, let us move on the the parts of a sword. Knowing the proper terms for parts of a sword can go a long way to making your posts and writing more authentic, and like most specialised terminology, can allow you to get your point across in fewer words, with the bonus here of making you sound like you know what you're talking about. Now, there are some terms on here that are more appropriate to a longsword, others that are more commonly used with foils (those would be the normal weapons used for fencing--foil fencing--which is what most of the public pictures as fencing, though there is also epee and sabre fencing as well.). I shall try to point out which is which when I can remember. Sword diagram (click to view): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/hil...rtsofasword.jpg I forgot to label the blade. But everyone should know what that is--it's the bit from the quillons to the foible--it's the part of the sword that you hack at someone, or run them through with. It's the fun part. It holds an edge (which is the sharped part).
Edited by Alia-Hildwyn, 5 Jun 2008, 05:51 PM.
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3:58 AM Jul 30
