Extendable Rapiers

[Cathey]

Hi Dmitry

Thankyou for the referral to Kombinationswaffen des 15.-19. Jahrhunderts, I have managed to track down a copy and order it on line.

Fernando
I believe I have seen the mechanism you have illustrated before (like you somewhere but can't remember the source) where the blade extends through the hilt. I know I have seen an example somewhere that has the blade extending via a sheath at the hilt which I thought would be very fragile to use. Again can't remember where I saw this originally.

Cheers Cathey

[Cathey]

Hi Guys

Found a link to a sword forum site that mentions an example in the Leeds armoury.

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/sho...extending-Hilt

Cheers Cathey

[fernando]

I do subscribe sources stating that, the basic purpose of this wile was to fool inspection on the legal length. An actual measuring verification would potentialy only take place if the owner walking on the streets carried a sword visibly longer than allowed, at the eyes of authorities. On the other hand, their encumbrance while sheathed or in handling was a minor factor, comparing to the advantage of having a weapon with a longer reach, when dealing with less ethic street fencing. After all, full length 'off mark' swords abounded, despite royal restrictions and, those yes, were far easier to detect by the law, creating a bigger problem to conceal, when going out to use them.
Now, whether the mechanism/s of these extendable swords was/were solid enough to be reliable, is another story.

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[Jim McDougall]

This really is an interesting topic, and I must admit though I knew there were restrictions on rapier blade length, I did not know of this kind of mechanism/device to conceal the entire reach of the blade.

This unusual aspect of weapons is fascinating and extremely esoteric, so thank you for bringing it up Cathey.

Fernando, I might have known you would have insight into this stuff!
I recall a few years back (2 or 10??) when the subject of sliding weights on blades to add force to cut? was brought up. While much of it was purely fanciful, it was present in other means such as the pearls (bearings) in blade channels which seemed more for sound than actual dynamics.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... Fernando, I might have known you would have insight into this stuff!
I recall a few years back (2 or 10??) when the subject of sliding weights on blades to add force to cut? was brought up. While much of it was purely fanciful, it was present in other means such as the pearls (bearings) in blade channels which seemed more for sound than actual dynamics.

Hi Jim,
Sliding weights, bearings inside blades ... you are going through difficult moments, dude


.

[Rick]

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ears+afflicted

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ears+afflicted

http://www.vikingsword.com/vb/showth...ears+afflicted

[fernando]

So what, Rick ?
Jim is got a terrific memory
I wasn't even born when these threads were started .


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