First Game, and Thoughts Thereof

[prophet118]

i cant recall the show, but it featured two guys from arma, who were showing how swords were used... its come on at least 2 times that i know of, and i taped one of them, unfortunately, my wife may have copied over it, i'll do some checking on the history channels website and see what i can find

[prophet118]

well, i found the tape it was on, however i recorded goldeneye over it, never got to see the movie..lol

no luck so far with historychannel.com though, still looking

[prophet118]

ok, one of the shows i mentioned was called "History Alive: Arms in Action Volume 3: The Sword"

that was the one i mentioned that had others in its series (castles and seiges ETC)

EDIT, found the name of the show, it was called "Axes, Swords, and Knives"

heres the description from the website

"They have been part of man's weaponry since the Paleolithic age, when the cutting edges were fashioned from flint and other stones. For the thousands of years before the invention of gunpowder, they were the mainstay of every army's arsenal. Today, they are still in constant use, whether for recreation, practical purposes or ceremony.

AXES, SWORDS AND KNIVES is a comprehensive look at the world of edged weapons. Trace their development through the ages by looking at ancient blades recovered at historic sites worldwide. Watch as a craftsman hones swords from scratch using traditional methods. Meet John Clements, whose research into historic combat has shed light on the reasons behind certain designs. Attend an axe-throwing contest in Eagle River, Wisconsin and tour the legendary Victorinox factory where Swiss Army Knives are made.

Whether felling trees or spreading butter, blades remain a vital tool today."

[prophet118]

http://www.armanortheast.com/John%20Clements.htm

thats one website for pictures from it.... that show singlehandly changed my approach to sword fighting in RPGs..especially when dealing with bastard swords.....

maybe i misunderstood mr clements in the episode.... who knows.. but the impression he gave me from what he was talking about at the time "mention that "a large sword of that nature (claymore style) had to move too much material out of the way, to be an effective cutting intrument"... something to that effect)

[Jake Norwood]

prophet-

I'm getting what you're saying a little better. First off, I know John C. and Paul Champagne both personally, so I get where they're coming from. The claymore does cut, but "chop" might be a better word. Fact is that it wouldn't have had an edge if it wasn't meant to use it. That's self-explanatory. I'm going to see john in 2 weeks and I'll ask him what he meant, which may help. It is not a "cutting" instrument like, say, a katana...but it can still cause the flesh to open up.

Another issue is one of armor. Greatswords (like the claymore) were used to "bash into" an opponent so that you could use different moves against him, and in this matter it is not unlike a club in that you're not even trying to cut the opponent.

Unfortunately, because I don't get TV, I haven't seen the program (but I keep hoping my copy will show up in the mail...even though it's been 8 months...)

Jake

[prophet118]

well if i hadnt recored goldeneye over my copy....lol

the tape from history channel is like 24 bucks... right now i have better things i couold buy with 24 bucks

[Jake Norwood]

http://www.thearma.org/Videos/NTCvids/greatswordonmeat.mpv

Also, you can't see it that well in the video, but he's executing half-arm cuts...meaning not a full-power swing by any degree.

See also http://www.thearma.org/Videos/NTCvids/testingbladesandmaterials.htm
For more cool stuff like that.

This is John C. cutting with a greatsword (a claymore is a kind of greatsword).

Jake

[prophet118]

well i think what he probably meant in the show was that the techniques behind it required alot less finesse than say a long sword or rapier, really in miy mind the claymore and many other great swords are just huge poles that happen to have a semi sharp edge to them, they didnt have to be sharp (thats part of what joihn said in the show, i think)... they didnt have to be sharp, because of the force behind the swing, in essence making it a club... sorta i think

as for the video... man im on dial up 56k (connected right now at 31.2), them videos would take all day to load...lol

[Jake Norwood]

Okay...

Understand that I talk with John all the time and that I've handled and cut with these things.

They require plenty of finesse. And almost no european sword has to be sharp. What is true is that a greatsword relies on a number of pole-weapon like maneuvers (the longer the sword, the more true this is). Check out the video...really.

jake

[prophet118]

i beleive you...ive seen the history channel show, i know the fun of what you refer to as half sword.... least i think thats what john was doing.....lol

basically using every surface of the bastard sword as a point of attack....quillons, pommel, flat, point, hilt itself......stuff like that.... really enlightening

[Ashren Va'Hale]

I saw that show on thehistory channel, The think what JC was sayin was actually contradictory to what you interpreted it to mean. He was talking about why a Claymore cut BETTER than thin swords. The broader the blade the better for cleaving through material due to the whole Bite thing and being able to push aside the material, he compared it to thin bladed weapons and how they are unable to cut as well and are better aimed to pierce armor and thus the mention of the tapered bastard sword and the estoc which had distinct cutting abilities compared to long and great swords.