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Ask me about swords.

Demesnedenoir

Myth Weaver
Expaninding on an arlier comment, I messed around with the main gauche again the other day... I can only draw one conclusion... I HATE ambidextrous people! My left hand is useless! Gah!
 
So, I have diagnosed Asperger Syndrome with swords as my special interest. What this essentially means is that I'm obsessed with swords, to the point of them being my default thing to think about, and I have spent years assimilating sword-related trivia.

Since swords are a staple of fantasy fiction, I thought I'd offer my expertise to the benefit of the community. I don't claim to know everything on the subject, but if anyone of you have a question regarding swords I'd be happy to try to answer it. Frankly, if you have a question about swords I can't answer, it's probably something I'll end up researching on my own anyway.

Oh, and I've also had some training as a blacksmith and know the basics of bladesmithing, so I may be able to offer advice in that area as well.
Anders, wow, you've been at this for a decade! Many thanks for your willingness to share the fruits of your research!

I have a question about research I'm doing for my WIP, a near-future scifi/fantasy take on Arthurian themes. Have you, by any chance, come upon any really good info or sources regarding Excalibur (or its mythic progenitors)? My interest ranges all the way from what such a sword might have been like in, say, 6th century Britain (possibly a Roman gladius?), to the best swords around these days for actual combat (as opposed to ceremony), all the way to the overarching topic of the place of swords in world mythology.

I'm going to be looking through your ten years of Q & As, but if anything comes to mind to you, I'll be grateful for any leads you can give.

Cheers!
 

pmmg

Myth Weaver
Timeline and History of Swords

This site look like it could answer the question of what type of sword Excalibur likely would have been....only....It might more have been imagined as the type of sword common when the stories about it were fashioned.

Here is a link to a history of Excalibur.

Excalibur


I might also argue that due to is nature as a sword given the lady of the lake (aka, a goddess), the sword could also be of any variety that might be considered a 'best' form of the sword. For me, I would stick with a knightly broad sword or long sword myself.
 
Timeline and History of Swords

This site look like it could answer the question of what type of sword Excalibur likely would have been....only....It might more have been imagined as the type of sword common when the stories about it were fashioned.

Here is a link to a history of Excalibur.

Excalibur


I might also argue that due to is nature as a sword given the lady of the lake (aka, a goddess), the sword could also be of any variety that might be considered a 'best' form of the sword. For me, I would stick with a knightly broad sword or long sword myself.
Fantastic web page, pmmg, looks like a great place to start!

And it brings up a typical problem with Arthurian tales, to whit: there are actually TWO swords with two separate origins, both of which have been called "Excalibur" by different sources in different version. One is the one given by the Lady of the Lake, the other the one thrust in the stone by Merlin, which young Arthur pulled out--the only one in the kingdom who could--to prove he was the heir to the throne of Uther Pendragon. Haven't quite sorted it out in my own mind, TBH.
 

pmmg

Myth Weaver
Well. Just sayin and young Arthur pulled out a gladius from the stone when all the knights had long swords, i am not sure if hed of filled them with a sense of awe.
 

Malik

Auror
It's been a while since I posted on this thread--since anyone has, actually--but I'm getting a custom Tinker Pearce Great Sword of War in a few days, the sword featured in my article from years ago. And yes, I'm very, very excited.

I'll have it over my shoulder at Norwescon, and Tinker is going to do the balance work and customize the handle and grip for me this spring after I've had some time to work with it. I'll post pics as soon as it arrives.
 

pmmg

Myth Weaver
Ah...I probably should have asked before. I have a sword similar to this one in my story.

iu



Where the blade is curved, and the haft curves down, kind of giving it both a cleaver and sword like capacity. But I was at a loss as to what to call it. A saber? A Scimitar? A falchion?

This sword is Valeria's sword, from the Conan movie, and guess what its called...Valeria's sword.

What would you call it?

The one in my story is bronze, and I gave it a made up word to match the culture. But I might use a more familiar word if it was defining and not too cultural from the wrong culture.
 

Demesnedenoir

Myth Weaver
Sweet! I've had my eye on the "Munich" and "Talhoffer" over at Albion swords for years, but just can't justify the money until I get my girls through college. There's another in their "Museum" line I'd love, but they still haven't gotten to it from what I know. Trouble is, once I get the money for those toys, I'll probably end up buying period pieces with a higher collector value... Or none at all, because practicality will set in! Damn practicality. If I only I hadn't sold my Apple stocks. so many, many years ago...

It's been a while since I posted on this thread--since anyone has, actually--but I'm getting a custom Tinker Pearce Great Sword of War in a few days, the sword featured in my article from years ago. And yes, I'm very, very excited.

I'll have it over my shoulder at Norwescon, and Tinker is going to do the balance work and customize the handle and grip for me this spring after I've had some time to work with it. I'll post pics as soon as it arrives.
 

Demesnedenoir

Myth Weaver
Not what I would call a saber, for sure, but also not necessarily a true scimitar. Arming swords I certainly tend to think of as classic straight-bladed European weapons. There are so many variances in swords around the world it gets crazy with naming, heh heh. There's a name on the tip of my tongue, but my brain is just not wanting to spit it out.

EDIT: Tulwar! I think that's what my brain was grasping at. Indo-Persian. Some tulwar have a similar look. Not severe enough curve for a shamshir or pulwar, has a bit of kilij look. So, some samples of tulwar and kilij are similar, but closest in my brain is tulwar.
 
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Demesnedenoir

Myth Weaver
Actually, with that hilt, I've also seen a couple of Chinese swords similar to this, with the straight hilt and blade style, and I think it was simply called a Chinese scimitar.

By etymology, scimitar is a safe generic term since it refers to a family of eastern weapons.
 

A. E. Lowan

Forum Mom
Leadership
Actually, with that hilt, I've also seen a couple of Chinese swords similar to this, with the straight hilt and blade style, and I think it was simply called a Chinese scimitar.

By etymology, scimitar is a safe generic term since it refers to a family of eastern weapons.
I agree with calling it a scimitar. I think it will satisfy most readers and be workable, and the more sword-savvy will enjoy debating it. But what I really think it is is a dao, one of the Chinese swords you're thinking of. Lovely blades.

I only have one sword. :( It's a movie replica from "The Legend of Zorro," Don Diego's rapier. Every fantasy writer needs at least one good sword, and preferably lots. lol

31606599_10156694356015649_1363567883581390848_n.jpg
 

Demesnedenoir

Myth Weaver
I tend to think of the dao as heavier... but that might just be me, LOL. I almost nabbed one a few years back.

So far, I've got a WW2 Japanese saber that some GI foolishly nickeled, a Union Civil War saber that once belonged to a general (but the evidence of that faded into oblivion, my mom actually bought this from a small private museum going out of business in the 1950's or 60's), a WW1 Turkish dagger which is bronze with a waved blade (very cool), a WW2 German boot knife, 2 1700's axes from the Carpathian region—my absolute favorites so far—a reproduction katana based on an emperor's, an arming sword I picked up from a smith at a Renaissance Faire, an antique Victorian reproduction of a 1600's Spanish Main Gauche... I have a feeling I'm missing something. Oh! I've got three of the LoTR movie swords: the Witchking's, Aragorn's, and Arwen's.

A period rapier or nice reproduction is high on my list, but I've also got a love of non-swords... I really want to buy this one Polish war hammer (1600's I Think) but the price is pushing $7k... I can't justify that until I hit the NYTimes best-seller list, LMAO. I tend to shop bargains.

And a halberd! I must not die before owning a halberd, heh heh.

I agree with calling it a scimitar. I think it will satisfy most readers and be workable, and the more sword-savvy will enjoy debating it. But what I really think it is is a dao, one of the Chinese swords you're thinking of. Lovely blades.

I only have one sword. :( It's a movie replica from "The Legend of Zorro," Don Diego's rapier. Every fantasy writer needs at least one good sword, and preferably lots. lol

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