saudi executioners sword

fenlander · 19th June 2007, 05:15 PM

[QUOTE=Bill]I agree this is a unplesant subject but I think there is value in how some swords did develope for this matter. QUOTE]

Exactly. People only find it disturbing because it still goes on today.
I was actually interested in the kind of metal used. It is a good way for me to understand metal types used in swords. For example i know that most "samurai" swords would be softer in the middle and harder on the edges therefore creating a hard edged sword that was not too brittle etc etc. Therefore I presume an executioners sword would be very brittle as a good edge would be the most important attribute. Sharpness I presume would be the most important priority as it would not be colliding with something as hard as an enemy shield or parrying sword etc etc. I think learning about how swords are designed and made for certain puroposes can teach the beginer like myself an awful lot about swords. Lets face it what percentage of swords were really designed to do anything nice to another human being ? yeah a few just for ceremonial purposes, but then again we just have ceremonial swords because swords represent power (power through the ability to take life). Yeah sure i don't want to see real executions no thanks (yuk) not my cup of tea but discussing how they (the swords) are made can lead to great learning.
So what steel would be the best then ? High carbon ? or what ? How are they made ? No one really answered that. If you were a sword smith and some rich shiek a few hundred years ago said make an executioners sword. Would that be different to a battle sword ? How would it be different etc etc. I think it is a decent academic question

And of great value to the beginer like myself.
Kind of like the physics question to students of physics. The teacher asked them how would they make a nuclear bomb. Nuclear bombs are far worse than executioners swords, but it was a useful way to teach the physics students about physics.
However I guess there is something in our memes that makes us more terrified and repulsed by swords than atomic bombs.

Montino Bourbon · 19th June 2007, 07:55 PM

Which is a very slanted blade, I would say that a panabas might be the most efficient.

Heavy, well-tempered blade. short cutting edge, abrupt slant; sounds very effective, if not the best in a fighting situation.

In some countries, practicing decapitation on live criminals was the norm for young warriors; the actual experience was believed to be vital (!). Other countries and ethnic groups used animals to get the feel.

Sort of like a round of golf; practice, anyone?

Just don't start enjoying it and lose your head over it. (Sorry, couldn't resist)

katana · 19th June 2007, 09:05 PM

I suppose the requirements of a 'good' be-heading sword would include a two handed hilt. A 'heavy' blade, carbon steel with a 'v' edge and 'clipped point' The sword's balance would need to be 'top heavy' to aid the downward stroke. Axes were the norm. in Britain's earlier history....and a sword, such as I described above, would have 'axe-like' qualities. The advantage over the axe is the fact that with an axe,the weight is 'concentrated' at one end and it would be easy not to strike cleanly

Joe · 20th June 2007, 04:51 AM

Pictures of a few beheading swords from around the world:

Sorry if this seems a little out of order, I'm exhausted, but I'll try and clean it up when I get the chance.

fernando · 20th June 2007, 10:27 PM

An impressive German specimen of the 16th century.
blade length 925 m/m= 36 1/2"
blade width 90 m/m= 3 1/2"

19th June 2007, 07:55 PM	#2
Montino Bourbon Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Santa Barbara, California Posts: 301	Judging from the guillotine... Which is a very slanted blade, I would say that a panabas might be the most efficient. Heavy, well-tempered blade. short cutting edge, abrupt slant; sounds very effective, if not the best in a fighting situation. In some countries, practicing decapitation on live criminals was the norm for young warriors; the actual experience was believed to be vital (!). Other countries and ethnic groups used animals to get the feel. Sort of like a round of golf; practice, anyone? Just don't start enjoying it and lose your head over it. (Sorry, couldn't resist)

20th June 2007, 04:51 AM	#4
Joe Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 48	Pictures of a few beheading swords from around the world: Sorry if this seems a little out of order, I'm exhausted, but I'll try and clean it up when I get the chance. Attached Images

20th June 2007, 10:27 PM	#5
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	An impressive German specimen of the 16th century. blade length 925 m/m= 36 1/2" blade width 90 m/m= 3 1/2" Attached Images

19th June 2007, 05:15 PM	#1
fenlander Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 62	[QUOTE=Bill]I agree this is a unplesant subject but I think there is value in how some swords did develope for this matter. QUOTE] Exactly. People only find it disturbing because it still goes on today. I was actually interested in the kind of metal used. It is a good way for me to understand metal types used in swords. For example i know that most "samurai" swords would be softer in the middle and harder on the edges therefore creating a hard edged sword that was not too brittle etc etc. Therefore I presume an executioners sword would be very brittle as a good edge would be the most important attribute. Sharpness I presume would be the most important priority as it would not be colliding with something as hard as an enemy shield or parrying sword etc etc. I think learning about how swords are designed and made for certain puroposes can teach the beginer like myself an awful lot about swords. Lets face it what percentage of swords were really designed to do anything nice to another human being ? yeah a few just for ceremonial purposes, but then again we just have ceremonial swords because swords represent power (power through the ability to take life). Yeah sure i don't want to see real executions no thanks (yuk) not my cup of tea but discussing how they (the swords) are made can lead to great learning. So what steel would be the best then ? High carbon ? or what ? How are they made ? No one really answered that. If you were a sword smith and some rich shiek a few hundred years ago said make an executioners sword. Would that be different to a battle sword ? How would it be different etc etc. I think it is a decent academic question And of great value to the beginer like myself. Kind of like the physics question to students of physics. The teacher asked them how would they make a nuclear bomb. Nuclear bombs are far worse than executioners swords, but it was a useful way to teach the physics students about physics. However I guess there is something in our memes that makes us more terrified and repulsed by swords than atomic bombs.

19th June 2007, 09:05 PM	#3
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,658	I suppose the requirements of a 'good' be-heading sword would include a two handed hilt. A 'heavy' blade, carbon steel with a 'v' edge and 'clipped point' The sword's balance would need to be 'top heavy' to aid the downward stroke. Axes were the norm. in Britain's earlier history....and a sword, such as I described above, would have 'axe-like' qualities. The advantage over the axe is the fact that with an axe,the weight is 'concentrated' at one end and it would be easy not to strike cleanly