486 replies to this topic

[John Maddox Roberts]

It seems to have been a generic term for a curved, single-edged knife or sword. Within that definition the variations were numerous. Early gladiatorial sicas had an even curve, like a jambiya, but in the Imperial era they acquired an angled point unlike any other sword. One Roman writer said that the curved shape of the sica blade facilitated drawing from a concealed sheath hanging below the armpit (Roman tunics had very wide armholes). This shows that gangsters and shoulder holsters go back a long way.

Edited by John Maddox Roberts, 13 March 2011 - 06:56 PM.

[Seamvs]

Tthis make speak to the functionality of the Fathers Sword from Conan the Barbarian, 1982.

[Seamvs]

Also, an interesting example of the Lost wax method.
Clink link then press play in the upper left hand corner.

Edited by Seamvs, 24 March 2011 - 06:25 AM.

[TheDarkslayer]

There are several problems with this essay, some of which have been pointed out in the comments.

It would be more interesting to see how Howard's ideas about swords came from Burton's Book of the Sword or other works.

I haven't heard about 'The Book of Swords' in a long time. I read through it long ago. An amazing piece of work. I didn't know Howard used it. I have 'Captian Sir Richard Francis Burton' by Edward Rice here on my desk. Incredible man!

[TheDarkslayer]

I have several replica swords, many of which I aquired in the exotic lands of the Philippines (ASAF). I'll take some photos and post them later. Pretty solid at a cheap price.

[Freebooter]

Hello all,
I have not posted a pic or anything in some time so I figured I would post a pic of my collection. It is nothing fancy or extremely expensive. Other than three or four fantasy pieces it mostly came from MRL. My katana is not in it. it is standing in an upright stand next to my bed, along with an Uberti copy of a Colt .45 SAA. Just thought I would share this with everyone.
Later,
Freebooter

Edited by Freebooter, 17 May 2011 - 04:14 AM.

[Freebooter]

Hello again,
You can't see it in this pic, but to the right is a full size mannaquin fully dressed and outfitted as a DAK Soldat (German WWII AfrikaKorps soldier). The little half mannaquin in the pic is the beginning of a Japanese soldier of WWII. I keep their rifles locked up of course. I had orginally planned on having several mannaquins representing the major countries who fought in WWII: Russian, Germany, British, U.S., Japanese, and Italians. But, I am retired now and doubt if I will ever complete that display.
FB

[John Maddox Roberts]

Is your Uberti the blackpowder frame, with the frame screw for freeing the cylinder pin instead of the 1890s-era crossbolt, and the bullseye ejector rod button instead of the crescent? Mine is the BP frame. The "smokeless" arrangement is more convenient, but I like the frontier-period authenticity of the old design. I load my own blackpowder .45 cartridges, too. Smoke and boom!

Edited by John Maddox Roberts, 17 May 2011 - 04:25 AM.

[Freebooter]

Hey John,
Interesting. We have the same likes. I too reload my .45s with BP, Pyro, Triple 7, etc.. I like the authentic deep boom and the smoke. I too would rather have the original style with the screw retainer, and in fact have had one. But have not seen any around here. Mine is a standard 1873 SAA (I think the cattleman or Dakota) in .45 with 5 12" bl. and has "Stoeger-Ackokeek, Md-Uberti, Italy" on the barrel and has the brass back strap and trigger guard. I know this is not authentic but I grew up watching Speghetti westerns and I always liked the looks of the brass backstap and trigger guard. So when I ran into one at a local store I bought it. It is the only one I have at the moment. But I have had several of the regular Uberti Colt SAAs, two or three 1875 Remingtons, several cap and balls, etc, over the years. But me being an old horse trader, I will get tired of something and trade it off for something or sell it, and within a day or two I am regretting it.

Btw, are you by any chance from northern Ky? I am related to some Roberts from Midway, Woodford Co., Ky.
FB

Edited by Freebooter, 17 May 2011 - 04:41 AM.

[John Maddox Roberts]

FB,
If it has the brass backstrap I believe it's the Dakota, at least that used to be the way you could tell. Mine is the Cattleman with the steel backstrap, plus the BP configuration and the charcoal-blue finish which is actually blue, instead of black like so many modern "blue steel" guns. My branch of the Roberts clan were Dustbowl Okies who migrated to Texas in the '30s, where my Mom's family (Maddoxes and Scarboroughs and Sculls) had been since the Republic. Before Oklahoma, they'd been in West Virginia, whence I think they probably emigrated from Pennsylvania, shortly after the Revolution.

[monk]

is that an assegai FB?

[Freebooter]

Hello Monk,
Are you talking of that little short spear on the top "rung" of my sword rack? If so, I got that from MRL and it is what they call an African "Iklwa", just an African short spear. It is pretty neat and well made.
FB

[Freebooter]

Now that I think of it, it is more of an Asaigai than a short Iklwa. Most I have seen were shorter than that one and had a pointyed butt spike as well. The Asaigais were a big larger like this one I believe.
FB

[Dave the Rage]

Awsome dude, would not wanna cross you on a bad day!

On a serious note, have you ever used these in real combat?

A woman in Spain was decapitated the other day in broad day light!

[John Maddox Roberts]

is that an assegai FB?

"Assegai" is a Portuguese word that got used for the short Zulu stabbing spear. MRL chose to go with "Ixwla,"(there are many spellings), the Zulu word for it. Interestingly, it is believed to be an onomotopaic word imitating the sound of the broad blade as it is withdrawn from the enemy's viscera. Beat that for a weapon name!

Edited by John Maddox Roberts, 18 May 2011 - 01:35 AM.

[Axerules]

is that an assegai FB?

"Assegai" is a Portuguese word that got used for the short Zulu stabbing spear. MRL chose to go with "Ixwla,"(there are many spellings), the Zulu word for it. Interestingly, it is believed to be an onomotopaic word imitating the sound of the broad blade as it is withdrawn from the enemy's viscera. Beat that for a weapon name!

The Portuguese word azagaia, as well as the French sagaie (Old French: harsegaye / azagaie / azagaye) come from the Arabic az-zagaya, based on the Berber word: zagaya.

[Taranaich]

Love that (cavalry?) sabre.

[Freebooter]

Dave, no, I have never had to fight with any of them. My bows are not in the pic (longbow and recurve), but I have killed a few things with my bows hunting. By the way, what happened with the decapitated woman? I mean was she the victom of a murder, self defence involved or what? If it was murder, just some nut hacking at people with a sword, it will be a matter of time before they outlaw swords too!!

And Taranaich, yes, that is a sweet cavalry sabre. It is MRL's 1860 Lt Cav Sabre which I ground down certain ways to be more a closer copy to an original my buddy a has, then I blued it. Nothing can be done about the incorrect blade thickness and digital taper. An original 1860 Lt Cav Sabre has a rounded back (1840 hvy has flat back) and is danged near a 1/4" thick at the guard and distally tapers to nothing at the point, etc. The repros, and I mean every repro from every vender or company I have see are all 3/16" at the guard and stay that way until just a few inches from point.

But I practice with that sabre more than anything else, mainly because I love sabres and cavalry fighting and also because I was a reenactor for several years (U.S. War for Southern Independence), three of it in a mounted cavalry unit and we took the sabre drill seriously and trained to it. And now for some years I have had Cold Steel's "Fighting with the Sabre and Cutlass" DVD martial art set and have followed and sort of trained with it.

Taranaich, also, since you like that sabre, you ought to see the little Ames U.S. 1861 Naval Cutlass on the other side. It is also very sweet and well balanced and I feel would be quite deadly close up, in hall way, etc.. There are ways to hold a full sabre and fight in close, cramped quarters too.
Later,
FB

[crossplain pilgrim]

Very fine display, freebooter. Thanks for sharing.

[Freebooter]

Thanks Crossplains. I could never do that while I was married, had it all leaned and stuck over in a corner. My wife used to say "You aren't putting that crap on my walls!!" Well, I finally filed, we divorced, now I do what the "F" I want to, when, where, and how I want.
FB