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Posted By : darkbow - 4/19/2008 6:25 PM

Another post about swords and weaponry ...

If you are rambling through your regional rennaisance festival or anywhere else where weapons are displayed and/or available for touching ... do NOT touch the metal parts of the weapons. Human skin has oils that are not good for metal and can help bring about rust. Wear gloves or use a cloth, please. Or, at least, make sure the blade is covered with heavy oil or wax or something before you touch.

Grrrrrrrr.

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Posted By : Bill Ward - 4/19/2008 6:31 PM

But it is OK to lick them.

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Posted By : darkbow - 4/19/2008 6:52 PM

Where's my battle axe when I need it?

Posted By : RHFay - 4/19/2008 7:30 PM

Yes, stainless steel is not really used for functional weapons - only what are called "wall hangers". "High carbon steel", the steel used in functional blades, will rust fairly easily. And fingerprints will rust in a finger-print pattern. I've seen it, it's not pretty. So, do indeed resist the temptation to rub a bare finger across the blades, or any steel parts, on sharp and shiny playthings.

I tend to use a gun cloth to wipe down my swords periodically. It seems to work well. My blades are pretty well rust-free. I've got one sword hilt that's troublesome, but that one came with some minor pitting that tends to rust every so often. (The perils of living in the damp Northeast, I guess.)

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Posted By : crystalwizard - 4/20/2008 11:39 PM

Did somebody rub your sword the wrong way, Ty?

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Posted By : xiaotien - 4/20/2008 11:47 PM

crystalwizard said...
Did somebody rub your sword the wrong way, Ty?

no, i think that someone touched his sword

without asking. with grubby fingers, no less!

ty, when did you go to ren faire and what

were you dressed as? fotos please!

i want to see guys in armor swinging heavy weapons.

now.

i loved the ren faires, but it's too far a drive

for me. there's a great one near los angeles each year.

cindy p.

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Posted By : darkbow - 4/21/2008 10:21 AM

Cindy,
It's been at least 7 years since I've been in period clothing, and I don't have any pics available. Sorry.
I never wore armor, but usually a brocade vest, white puffy shirt, black breeches and thigh-high black boots. Muffin cap or something similar on my head, sometimes a cloack, depending on the weather. Usually wore a schiavona at my hip, sometimes a hand-and-a-half. On my latigo belt were a dagger and one small carrying bag or other.

Armor was never my thing. Besides, it was hot enough (and tiring enough) just carrying the weapons and a cloak all day long!

Posted By : xiaotien - 4/21/2008 3:39 PM

darkbow said...
Cindy,
It's been at least 7 years since I've been in period clothing, and I don't have any pics available. Sorry.
I never wore armor, but usually a brocade vest, white puffy shirt, black breeches and thigh-high black boots. Muffin cap or something similar on my head, sometimes a cloack, depending on the weather. Usually wore a schiavona at my hip, sometimes a hand-and-a-half. On my latigo belt were a dagger and one small carrying bag or other.

good 'nuff. that's hot!

love costumes, tho i never did

dress up.

i also love shiny things but i don't

think i'd touch swords, etc.

there was a great exhibit on armor at the

met in nyc. and it's amazing how much

shorter men were back then. that's why

henry 8 was considered a giant at 6 foot

or what not.

them armor is clunky, tho.

cindy p.

a little sweet, a little sour.

http://xiaotien.blogspot.com

Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 4/25/2008 12:01 PM

xiaotien said...

i also love shiny things but i don't

think i'd touch swords, etc.

there was a great exhibit on armor at the

met in nyc. and it's amazing how much

shorter men were back then. that's why

henry 8 was considered a giant at 6 foot

or what not.

them armor is clunky, tho.

- Many men were shorter. Remember though, armor that got used was banged up and eventually useless. A lot of the armor we have now days is either display armor or childrens armor.

I've seen Henery VIII listed at anywhere from 6'3" to 6'5" and William Wallace was reported to be even bigger. (People who grew up with money got real food and were taller.)

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Posted By : Rob Mancebo - 4/25/2008 12:11 PM

xiaotien said...

i want to see guys in armor swinging heavy weapons.

now.

i loved the ren faires, but it's too far a drive

for me. there's a great one near los angeles each year.

- In the 1500s no one was as big as the Germans & Swiss:

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