Smallsword Duelling

[urbanspaceman]

Thank-you Chris.

[M ELEY]

Fascinating information from all involved. I personally loved that movie 'The Duelist'. Just wanted to add that as far as fencing goes, the German academic schools also were heavily involved and it was quite popular to bare the scars provided by the matches, so much so that it became a Hollywood steriotype to show movie villains of the era with such scars-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dueling_scar

[urbanspaceman]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Fascinating information from all involved. I personally loved that movie 'The Duelist'. Just wanted to add that as far as fencing goes, the German academic schools also were heavily involved and it was quite popular to bare the scars provided by the matches, so much so that it became a Hollywood steriotype to show movie villains of the era with such scars-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dueling_scar

That is a truly fascinating article on scars - thank-you - which I would never have encountered if not for your post.

[M ELEY]

Glad you liked it, Keith. Admittedly, I'm a wuss and would rather have not been scarred up in this way!

[urbanspaceman]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Glad you liked it, Keith. Admittedly, I'm a wuss and would rather have not been scarred up in this way!

I only visit this planet occasionally, so I have to confess that the behaviour of the male species is sometimes even more perplexing than the female

[fernando]

Originally Posted by M ELEY

Glad you liked it, Keith. Admittedly, I'm a wuss and would rather have not been scarred up in this way!

Common sense, Captain ...common sense. Many years ago (long before Internet) i watched a documentary in the TV where a bunch of these guys 'fought' for a scar; close to each other, wearing goggles, crossing swords at high speed (you can't call it fencing, nor duelling) and looking to get cut; indeed the willing to get themselves a scar was more their goal than inflicting one to their foes.
In a different scenary, who doesn't remember the movie Royal Flash, where Malcom MacDowel (Flashman) had to be scarred in his face to impersonate the Danish prince; but at least here there was some practical sense ... so to say.


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[mariusgmioc]

Originally Posted by fernando

Common sense, Captain ...common sense. Many years ago (long before Internet) i watched a documentary in the TV where a bunch of these guys 'fought' for a scar; close to each other, wearing goggles, crossing swords at high speed (you can't call it fencing, nor duelling) and looking to get cut; indeed the willing to get themselves a scar was more their goal than inflicting one to their foes.

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As far as I remember this was a common practice... and fashion among German students in the 19th... maybe even early 20th century.

[fernando]

Originally Posted by mariusgmioc

As far as I remember this was a common practice... and fashion among German students in the 19th... maybe even early 20th century.

Yes indeed, Marius; still is healthier to collect antique arms than fashionable scars .

[Chris Evans]

Hi Fernando,

Is this what you were referring to? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OSaFdDko_k

Cheers
Chris

[fernando]

That's the one, Chris. Good catch .

[Mel H]

Mark Twain devoted part of his well known 1880 book, A Tramp Abroad, to a view of his own observations of Heidelberg students' fencing.
An amusing read.

[Chris Evans]

Originally Posted by urbanspaceman

Thank-you Chris.

And thank you for posting the link to that most informative paper on the Colichemarde.

Apropos to which, the conventional wisdom had it, as implied by Castle, that its demise was due to that whilst it served well parrying against heavier swords it was at a disadvantage, on account of its weight, against the lighter and therefore nimbler uniformly tapering triangular blades that became normative in France.

Having said that, I remember seeing some years ago (for sale) a matched pair of 19th century dueling epees with Colichemarde style blades - As to what purpose the wider fortes could serve in a duel with evenly matched swords I am at a loss to understand. Perhaps they were made on special order to an eccentric customer!

Cheers
Chris