#( curves&edges. )

[petermorwood]

I have a sword question, if I may. Or more of a sword confusion Im seeking clarification on.

In my mind a fantasy european standard sword (that obviously doesnt really exist, but like, when a knight or someone in a story has an unspecified sword), I always imaged a straight blade with a triangular tip, both edges sharp cutting edges.

Then at some point I learned about eg scimitars that have a cutting edge and a ...blunt edge?

I was looking at your recent addition to the post about the Turkish sword, where you distinguish between an inner cutting edge on a sword v an outer cutting edge.

And then Im thinking of those enormous zweihander types that are all about momentum and do those even need a particularly sharp edge? They seem in dnd parlance to be a bludgeoning weapon not for slashing.

And while Im asking, like. Rapiers are very stabby weapons, do they have sharp edges at all or judt a sharp point?

I guess my overall question culminates something like "what parts of swords are designed for what damage and why? Is there anything all swords have other than blade and handle like can they all be used for stabbing or do some have very blunt points etc? Is it a big deal for a sword to be double-edged, does that necessitate specific training? Whats up with different sword blades?"

I realise thats a pretty enormous question that might be unreasonable to ask. Im happy with whstever response you are or arent willing to give. Hope you have a good day :)

Sharp edge / blunt edge is the setup on any kitchen or table knife you've ever encountered, and being able to put a hand on the blunt "edge" - usually called the back of the blade - not only helps when mincing herbs or garlic, but also features in some techniques of swordplay.

Other techniques employed non-blade parts of the weapon, using the pommel like a mace and the crossguard like a pick-axe.

*****

Whether swords should be straight or curved, single- or double-edged, was an argument which continued as recently as the early 1900s.

The last swords issued to cavalry for combat use (modern parade swords don't count) were both remarkably similar designs, straight-bladed for thrusting, adopted by the UK in 1908...

...and the US in 1913.

There was, of course, strong opposition from those who insisted cavalry swords should be sabres curve-bladed for cutting instead.

Equally of course, both sides failed to notice - or ignored, since a certain kind of cavalry officer was only bright as regards boots, buckles and buttons - the uncomfortable fact that machine-guns and repeating rifles had made the whole ta-ran-ta-rah "cut them down with your swords, men!" cavalry charge an exercise in futility.

*****

D&D, unless they've considerably upped their accuracy game, isn't much of a reference for weapon realism.

"Enormous Zweihanders" and other big swords such as the Montante were a lot lighter and more nimble than they'd seem from reading an encumbrance chart.

They had their own techniques to take best advantage of length, leverage and momentum and were indeed sharp. Given a choice between a sharp combat weapon and a blunt one, sharp makes far more sense.

In addition, a sharp blade is lighter than a blunt one simply through having less metal. It may only be a few grams of difference, but it IS a difference.

That's also the reason behind a fuller, the groove(s) along a blade.

They're not "blood gutters", tough and cool though that may sound, but a way to reduce a sword's weight while preventing its blade from getting excessively flexible.

Finally...

The re-enactor is wearing half-armour, but these big swords were also meant for use against unarmoured opponents. Bodyguards often carried them (they looked impressive) and those sweeping strokes could block an entire street while The Boss got away.

That's when an ability to cut rather than merely bludgeon makes all the difference. Determined assassins might try to rush a blunt sword, but a sharp one would give anyone second thoughts...

*****

Double-edged swords versus single-edged ones seem to vary depending on cultural preference - also on period of history and intended function.

Bronze Age European swords had straight or leaf-shaped blades with double edges...

...while Ancient Egypt had the curved, single-edged khopesh, a shape which also turned up in Ancient Assyria (this one's in the Metropolitan Museum, New York USA).

It's listed as a "sickle sword", an incorrect term which I wish would go away because sickles are sharp on the inside of the curve while swords like this - their grip-shape shows how they're meant to be held and swung - are sharp on the outside.

And just when "the Ancient Middle East used curved single-edge swords" looks like a handy generalisation, along come straight swords, one from Ancient Egypt...

...another from Luristan, now part of modern Iran.

This next one comes from Ancient Iberia (Spain), right at the other side of the Mediterranean. Evidence of trading links? Your guess is as good as mine.

Iberia went on to use the falcata, a short single-edged forward-curved sword.

Those extra bits round the blade are scabbard metalwork; the wood and leather scabbard is long gone. This repro shows how they would have looked when in place.

Iberia also used a straight double-edged sword which so impressed the Romans that they adopted it, refined it and used it for several centuries. Here's one of the several Roman versions of that gladius Hispaniensis (Spanish sword), double-edged, mostly meant for stabbing but capable of very effective cuts as well.

Here's my repro of a similar sword, the elegant "Mainz" pattern with its long point and waisted blade. Very pretty, and pretty wicked.

*****

"Curved single-edged swords are Eastern, straight double-edged swords are Western", is another generalisation that won't work.

Here are Eastern straight swords...

...and Western curved ones.

*****

Viking swords were all double-edged...

...except when they weren't.

*****

Many rapiers could cut. Smallswords, which came later, couldn't.

Earlier rapiers with broader blades cut better than later ones with narrow blades, but IIRC even the later Italian and Spanish rapier styles include cuts directed at the opponent's face and sword-arm.

I have a notion that the modern thing about cutting with rapiers is based (like back-carry) on seeing it done in movies. IMO - more about it here - that's actually more a modern stage-combat safety thing than a period real-combat move. A fumbled cut is bruising and unpleasant even with a "safe" prop sword, but a fumbled thrust into the eye-socket or throat with that same "safe" sword can be fatal.

Even those early rapiers wouldn't sever a head or limb - a finger maybe, hence the elaborate hand-protection of swept and cup hilts - but blood from a forehead wound running into the eyes was, and in boxing still is, an efficient way to finish a fight by ensuring the opponent can't continue. One of the duels in "The Duellists" ends this way.

This example is a bit optimistic, IMO...

...but a longsword (double-edged)...

...or a messer (single-edged)...

...was quite capable of disarming an opponent in a very literal way.

*****

Some swords had minimal points, being intended mostly for cutting. One example of this is the Indian khanda broadsword. The second example is also very clearly single-edged.

Another cut-only sword without a point (but with double edges) is the Richtschwert (justice sword)...

...though this was a single-function (and hopefully single-cut) tool rather than weapon, neither balanced for nor intended for combat.

Hope this has helped answer the questions!

[chelseajackarmy]

[spockandawe]

And then the other set! Both of these were nightmares to typeset in their own way, but my memory did not prepare me for the sheer onslaught of diacritics in Lord of the Rings. My first reality check in this project, but not my last! The first time I zoomed in on my high res edoras reference (after finishing my pencil sketch) was another notable Oh No moment 😂 And then satisfying my own standards for a fabric that matched the deep blue leather and endpapers but still had the right vibes was unexpectedly difficult (until I tripped across northcott's 'art of marbling' fabric line), but I think it was so worth it for the end result!

[polls4you]

Julie and the Phantoms: Choose your favorite song!

Listen to the songs below the cut!

[danandfuckingjonlmao]

i’ll never forget that the first time i watched julie and the phantoms, during the last episode after they became corporeal and hugged i just shouted “THEY CAME BACK TO LIFE BECAUSE OF THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP” and immediately burst into tears

[llamagoddessofficial]

I feel like Nightmare would, secretly, be a very adept traditional artist. He obviously wouldn't draw often and absolutely wouldn't show his art to anyone, probably burning it immediately after completion. But I can easily imagine him slowly catching feelings for someone, and (while alone) making very beautiful portrait art of them with varying poses and expressions. It's how he processes his growing attachment without ever saying a word of it aloud.

[bortmcjorts]

[ID: three drawings of edgar from electric dreams in different styles on a dark red polka dot background. in the first, he is drawn as a red humanoid robot from the chest up with a computer monitor head, devil horns, and a pointy tail. he's wearing an off-white shirt with a light brown sweater vest, and he has one hand behind his head, grinning sheepishly. in the second, he is drawn as a regular computer with thin scribbly lines. the screen is displaying his face with a cartoony smile. in the third, he is drawn in a blocky, lineless style, as a red computer with devil horns and a tail, with his screen displaying a mischievous smiley face. end ID]

sketchy style experimenting with edgar <3

[umblrspectrum]

mspaint is so fun when i've got no fucking idea what im doing

[eights-world]

i just like drawing my wife in silly outfits okki

[adashofniallandasprinkleoflunacy]

new glasses will have you feeling like you can actually see for the first time

[polls4you]

Julie and the Phantoms: Choose your favorite song!

[age-of-moonknight]

Variant cover for Moon Knight (Vol. 9/2021), #28 by Elizabeth Torque.

[vigilskeep]

ohoho. fenris replacing his tevinter armour with that rivaini style i’m obsessed with

[knightofleo]

[mxrtified777]

i have lots of thoughts regarding him and his Conflicting Color Palette

[lycankeyy]

Hate that TMNT fixation made me pedantic about traditional Japanese swords of all things. Every time I see Hanzou's sword referred to as a katana I make a Face because it doesn't fuckign curve,,,,,,,,, /lh