What is purpose of fullers on blades?

ariel · 21st June 2016, 09:55 PM

AFAIK, just to decrease the weight without compromising stiffness.

I have heard opinions that they actually increased blade stiffness by approximating profile of the blade to the I-type configuration, but several engineering souls said that it was nonsense, and that stiffness actually decreases but not by much.

Beyond that I am totally ignorant: math was never my strong suit:-)

ariel · 21st June 2016, 09:58 PM

Ooops....
You were too fast , or I was too slow:-)

But I am glad I was able to transmit the wisdom of the professionals without major errors:-)

Oliver Pinchot · 21st June 2016, 10:10 PM

Strictly speaking, a fuller is a depression which is forged into the blade with a fullering tool. Anything cut or ground into the blade following rough forging by mechanical means is called a groove.

ariel · 22nd June 2016, 03:12 AM

That's new to me!
So fullers are in fact better than grooves?
Thanks Oliver!

kahnjar1 · 22nd June 2016, 05:27 AM

Thanks for info so far, but I am still not sure WHY they are there. Most European (military) swords do not have them and do not seem to suffer from either weakness of heaviness. So the question really remains as to what purpose they serve.
Stu

Oliver Pinchot · 22nd June 2016, 06:15 AM

I think Timo answered the question quite concisely above.

kahnjar1 · 22nd June 2016, 07:39 AM

Thanks Oliver. Yes I see and understand the reasoning outlined by Timo.

RobertGuy · 22nd June 2016, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kahnjar1

Thanks for info so far, but I am still not sure WHY they are there. Most European (military) swords do not have them and do not seem to suffer from either weakness of heaviness. So the question really remains as to what purpose they serve.
Stu

Not sure what time period you are referring to but most of my European military swords have fullers. All of my 18th and 19th century cavalry swords do as do most of the infantry ones. There are a few exceptions; British 1833 General Officers sword, Drummers swords, some hangers and cutlasses. Pipe backed blades were a slightly different attempt to add stiffness without compromising weight too much but were not used for long.

21st June 2016, 09:55 PM	#1
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	AFAIK, just to decrease the weight without compromising stiffness. I have heard opinions that they actually increased blade stiffness by approximating profile of the blade to the I-type configuration, but several engineering souls said that it was nonsense, and that stiffness actually decreases but not by much. Beyond that I am totally ignorant: math was never my strong suit:-)

21st June 2016, 09:58 PM	#2
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	Ooops.... You were too fast , or I was too slow:-) But I am glad I was able to transmit the wisdom of the professionals without major errors:-)

21st June 2016, 10:10 PM	#3
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 468	Strictly speaking, a fuller is a depression which is forged into the blade with a fullering tool. Anything cut or ground into the blade following rough forging by mechanical means is called a groove.

22nd June 2016, 03:12 AM	#4
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	That's new to me! So fullers are in fact better than grooves? Thanks Oliver!

22nd June 2016, 05:27 AM	#5
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,809	Thanks for info so far, but I am still not sure WHY they are there. Most European (military) swords do not have them and do not seem to suffer from either weakness of heaviness. So the question really remains as to what purpose they serve. Stu

22nd June 2016, 06:15 AM	#6
Oliver Pinchot Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 468	I think Timo answered the question quite concisely above.

22nd June 2016, 07:39 AM	#7
kahnjar1 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND Posts: 2,809	Thanks Oliver. Yes I see and understand the reasoning outlined by Timo.