Sliding weights

[Ian]

Kirrill:

I have taken this way beyond my knowledge or comfort zone and cannot address your latest comments.

Much of what I have presented comes from the book that I referenced above by Robert Kemp Adair. He is presently Sterling Professor Emeritus of Physics at Yale University. You can find his contact information at http://www.yale.edu and using the search function for people on the home page.

Much of what you disagree with is cited in his book, including the comment that the resonant frequency of a baseball bat is related to its length and the thickness of the handle. He also points at that the centers of gravity, percussion and inertia are not the same and occur at different points along the length of a baseball bat.

BTW, Adair's book is available on the web for $1.00 plus shipping through this site http://www.abebooks.com

Ian.

[Jens Nordlunde]

In ‘The Indian Antiquary’, August 1873, page 217, W.F.Sinclair writes:

A common weapon among Hindustanis and Musalmans is a long steel rod with three or four small rings sliding on it. These, slipping forward as the weapon descends, add force to the blow, which is far more severe than might be supposed from the slender appearance of the weapon. It is also a good guard against sword-cuts.

[Andrew]

Hi Jens.

Interesting. Have you ever seen such a weapon?

How was your trip?

Best,
A

[Jens Nordlunde]

Hi Andrew,

I am not sure, as I seem vaguely to remember such a weapon. If I have seen one, it is very long ago, but from the description I think it must be a mace without a head, only with a rather long and slender haft with sliding weights. The weapon Sinclair describes is interesting, but if they made such a weapon, why not a mace with sliding weights?

The trip was terrific, we saw the reserves at V&A, but it is with time like with fire, it is a good servant but a brutal master. When we arrived we had hours ahead of us, but suddenly the time was running out fast. We did however see a lot of things, amongst other the Kitchener collection, which is fantastic. We met Robert Elgood and Jonathan Barrett, but again, the time – rather frustrating I must say. I hope to see them again next year when we go to England once more.

At the V&A I did notice something about some weapons from Kutch, and will write about it later.

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, how can a trip like that not be a success, when you have the best guide of all.

Best

Jens

[kronckew]

this thread was linked to in another thread today about a blade with sliding balls incorporated.

as i read this thread (post 31) there appeared a rapier with a sliding section hailed as a sliding weight sword example. this is incorrect as it was actually created to solve a completely different problem.

as rapiers became fashionable, they increased in length to almost silly proportions.m some wielders went accompanied by a servant that would help them draw and re-sheath the blade as needed.

numbers of gentlemen carrying these long swords were quite a tripping hazard and cumbersome to manoeuvrer in crowds, and could actually provoke duels. laws were passed to limit blade lengths. i recall london set a maximum BLADE length of 40 inches.

guards at the city gates would actually measure blades, and if found too long the owner could be fined and/or his blade snapped off to make it fit the regs.

this sword posted earlier was a design to circumvent the law, as it's long blade was slid back to allow it to be sheathed without requiring a servant while also becoming a regulation blade length with a long grip to bypass the regs - which did not specify an overall length.

if drawn in anger, the blade was slid out and locked in place rather them sliding in and out freely.

overly long rapiers with thrusting only type blades were an affectation of society that died out fairly quickly - that's why so few examples exist. they didn't really work well in a duel, gentlemanly rules of engagement which covered the flaws thankfully were rarely carried over to military blades that stuck to a more practical carry & use length suitable for the no rules melee of hand to hand desperate combat.

[Jens Nordlunde]

Interesting discussions we had in the good ol' days .

[kronckew]

luckily we keep on learning instead of stagnating.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by kronckew

... as rapiers became fashionable, they increased in length to almost silly proportions.m some wielders went accompanied by a servant that would help them draw and re-sheath the blade as needed....

I am truly amazed with such resource ... a sword drawing servant; would never dream of it. Do you racall the source where you read such passage, Wayne ?