A straight blade or a curved one?

Jens Nordlunde · 2nd February 2006, 05:23 PM

A lot of good and bad things can be said about straight blades, as well as about curved blades, it all ends up, in which way the sword was intended to be used.

I don’t know if my theory is correct, so please correct me if it is not, but it seems to me that a straight sword, although good for stabbing, when it was used for chopping the impact must have given quite a chock to the hand and to the arm. Whereas a curved sword, with its cut and draw, would give a far lesser impact force, which would have been good for the hand and arm.

Does any of you have any experience with the two kinds of blades?

ariel · 2nd February 2006, 06:29 PM

maybe, we can ask some postal workers?

MABAGANI · 2nd February 2006, 07:26 PM

I'm not a postal worker, lol, but I like to swordplay with antiques. There are a bunch of factors you need to take into account with the hilt, length, blade alignment, grip, impact area, target, etc. with either the straight or curved blade. In general, a straight blade in relation to the hilt could have a forward lean, straight or back lean and each is going to move different so it depends on what one wants to accomplish in a fight. Most the time its not really a chop but a cut drag on impact. A straight blade with a forward lean drags deeper, back lean slices more automatically, and a blade straight with the hilt, one would cut draw. A curved blade slices more naturally leading into arced motions to another cut or ends and leads into another cut if needed. The effects on the arm and hand with either the straight or curved blade depends on the skill and conditioning of the swordsman and it deals more with body mechanics and structure besides what one strikes. Of course, one could rig it all into a machine and do calculated measurements but it'd miss the whole complex human aspect and reality.

Radu Transylvanicus · 2nd February 2006, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

maybe, we can ask some postal workers?

Jens, this is such a vague subject, unless you have specific examples in mind, no answer should be satisfactory.
And a reminder that straight swords are generally associated with thrusting and pedestrian usage while curved swords (sabers) are associated slashing and cavalry usage. As far as a chop cut , yes the straight sword impact on target has more blunt stop than a curved blade, therefore it does stress you wrist more. There are some most interesting and disturbing written military accounts on the subjact of sword comparation used by the French versus English soldiers in combat during the Napoleonian wars, the English one was the curved 1796 Light Cavalry pattern saber.

B.I · 2nd February 2006, 07:57 PM

hi jens,
maybe worth considering the time and place, as well as the form. maybe the sabre is more useful when encountering a certain type of enemy, armed with a specific type of weapon.
i remember getting a lesson/lecture/speech about why the british 1908 was the most effective of military swords, even though it was straight amidst a pattern of curved predecessors (including the previous best - the 1796). cant remember the details (may have fallen asleep :-) but know the military history and current wars were taken into consideration when the design was approved.

manicdj · 2nd February 2006, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.I

hi jens,
maybe worth considering the time and place, as well as the form. maybe the sabre is more useful when encountering a certain type of enemy, armed with a specific type of weapon.
i remember getting a lesson/lecture/speech about why the british 1908 was the most effective of military swords, even though it was straight amidst a pattern of curved predecessors (including the previous best - the 1796). cant remember the details (may have fallen asleep :-) but know the military history and current wars were taken into consideration when the design was approved.

when the need is great, insperation is the rule " so they say"

fearn · 2nd February 2006, 10:29 PM

Hi Jens,

A couple of quick thoughts.

1) You might find this article interesting: http://www.thearma.org/essays/nobest.htm

2) Burton's Book of the Sword has a really good discussion about the relative advantages of straight vs. curved.

We can also add in a discussion that has popped up here, about how blunt, squarish tips are better for chopping than long, thin tips, because there is less tip shock.

Those are some quick thoughts. I'll get back to this later.

F

manicdj · 2nd February 2006, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

A lot of good and bad things can be said about straight blades, as well as about curved blades, it all ends up, in which way the sword was intended to be used.

I don’t know if my theory is correct, so please correct me if it is not, but it seems to me that a straight sword, although good for stabbing, when it was used for chopping the impact must have given quite a chock to the hand and to the arm. Whereas a curved sword, with its cut and draw, would give a far lesser impact force, which would have been good for the hand and arm.

Does any of you have any experience with the two kinds of blades?

I have had a little exp. with both only as a hobbie. in the spirit of pounding the heck out of A hay-stack I had to much fun to notice the dif.

manicdj · 2nd February 2006, 07:59 PM

I like both, they are both fun when pounding the heck out of hay-stack

Tim Simmons · 2nd February 2006, 08:05 PM

I have to agree

Tim Simmons · 2nd February 2006, 07:56 PM

Great either way, as long as it does not stay curved down

.

not2sharp · 4th February 2006, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jens Nordlunde

...when it was used for chopping the impact must have given quite a chock to the hand and to the arm. ...

All knife and sword blades have a point of precussion somwehere along the blade. It is the point at which the sword mass is centered, and where the maximum amount of force will be transferred. I would suggest that a skilled user would be trained to deliver powerful blows with that portion of the blade; and, as long as the point of impact occurs there, the vibration and shock transmitted to the user would be minimal.

n2s

2nd February 2006, 05:23 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	A straight blade or a curved one? A lot of good and bad things can be said about straight blades, as well as about curved blades, it all ends up, in which way the sword was intended to be used. I don’t know if my theory is correct, so please correct me if it is not, but it seems to me that a straight sword, although good for stabbing, when it was used for chopping the impact must have given quite a chock to the hand and to the arm. Whereas a curved sword, with its cut and draw, would give a far lesser impact force, which would have been good for the hand and arm. Does any of you have any experience with the two kinds of blades?

2nd February 2006, 07:59 PM	#9
manicdj Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 18	from straight to cuve? I like both, they are both fun when pounding the heck out of hay-stack

2nd February 2006, 06:29 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	maybe, we can ask some postal workers?

2nd February 2006, 07:26 PM	#3
MABAGANI Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 221	I'm not a postal worker, lol, but I like to swordplay with antiques. There are a bunch of factors you need to take into account with the hilt, length, blade alignment, grip, impact area, target, etc. with either the straight or curved blade. In general, a straight blade in relation to the hilt could have a forward lean, straight or back lean and each is going to move different so it depends on what one wants to accomplish in a fight. Most the time its not really a chop but a cut drag on impact. A straight blade with a forward lean drags deeper, back lean slices more automatically, and a blade straight with the hilt, one would cut draw. A curved blade slices more naturally leading into arced motions to another cut or ends and leads into another cut if needed. The effects on the arm and hand with either the straight or curved blade depends on the skill and conditioning of the swordsman and it deals more with body mechanics and structure besides what one strikes. Of course, one could rig it all into a machine and do calculated measurements but it'd miss the whole complex human aspect and reality.

2nd February 2006, 07:57 PM	#5
B.I Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 485	hi jens, maybe worth considering the time and place, as well as the form. maybe the sabre is more useful when encountering a certain type of enemy, armed with a specific type of weapon. i remember getting a lesson/lecture/speech about why the british 1908 was the most effective of military swords, even though it was straight amidst a pattern of curved predecessors (including the previous best - the 1796). cant remember the details (may have fallen asleep :-) but know the military history and current wars were taken into consideration when the design was approved.

2nd February 2006, 10:29 PM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Hi Jens, A couple of quick thoughts. 1) You might find this article interesting: http://www.thearma.org/essays/nobest.htm 2) Burton's Book of the Sword has a really good discussion about the relative advantages of straight vs. curved. We can also add in a discussion that has popped up here, about how blunt, squarish tips are better for chopping than long, thin tips, because there is less tip shock. Those are some quick thoughts. I'll get back to this later. F

2nd February 2006, 08:05 PM	#10
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	I have to agree

2nd February 2006, 07:56 PM	#11
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,806	Great either way, as long as it does not stay curved down .