The future of blade technology

[Atlantia]

Originally Posted by Rick

Larry Niven's Variable Knife ...
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=58

Its a great idea! There have been a couple of great 'screen versions' of Nivens idea too!

If you can stomach your sci-fi with a large dose of Kevin Sorbo, there is a great episode of Andromeda called 'The Honey trap' where a Nitzschean Princess uses a 'Mono-Molecular Lash'. Its a small handle with about 4 feet of whip-like thread that snakes out from it.
It cuts up everything from walls to people!

Also if you can, check out 'Xchange' starring Steven Baldwin and Kyle McLaughlin. Great fun, and it also has a version of the variable knife in it. This time its actually a 'pull out' thread where you hold both ends and cut with the thread between.

Of course neither are held 'rigid' with the slaver stasis field, but the idea is the same.

Moving away from Nivens vision to more general Sci-Fi applications of blades..
Lucas Star Wars vision of the Light Sabre is clearly one of the most iconic, but also one of the least likely to ever exist. However, there ARE more interesting ideas if you look at the other bladed weapons used in the films. The Gamorean Guards and others carry 'Vibroblades' which seem to be a pre light sabre technology.
There do seem to be some possibilities when you imagine a 'dampened' separate ultra high speed vibrating edge on a weapon.

Of course my personal favourite sword in a sci-fi film is this:


Regards
Gene

P.S.
I made the Cylon Sword. Its got a functional polished tempered steel blade, and solid aluminium handle parts cut with a grinder and hand polished.
It sits near my Centurion: