Sword

N. A sharp pointy metal object. A sword fundamentally consists of a blade, a hilt, and a pommel, typically with one or two edges for striking and cutting, and a point for thrusting. The basic intent and physics of swordsmanship have remained fairly constant through the centuries, but the actual techniques vary among cultures and periods as a result of the differences in blade design and purpose.

The Ottoman Empire, with its emphasis on cavalry, produced many fine swords, such as the yataghan sabre. This example could be up to 400 years old. It has a curved and grooved steel blade, a double-lobed horn grip and leaf decoration in repoussé silver or copper on the blade and grip. The yataghan served as the model for a double curved bayonet popular in Western Europe in the mid- 19th century.

Humans have manufactured and used metal bladed weapons from the Bronze Age onwards. The sword developed from the dagger when the construction of longer blades became possible, from the late 3rd millennium BCE in the middle-east, first in arsenic copper, then in tin-bronze. The oldest sword-like weapons are found at Arslantepe, Turkey, and date to around 3300 BCE. It's however believed that these are longer daggers, and not the first ancestors of swords. Swords longer than 90 cm were rare and not practical during the Bronze Age as this length exceeds the tensile strength of bronze, which means such long swords would bend easily. It was not until the development of stronger alloys such as steel that longswords became practical for combat.

Typical amtgard swords, made in the Celestial Kingdom

Definition in Amtgard

In amtgard our swords are "foam padded replicas of the real things". To tell the truth our swords are generally round or "Omni Blades". That look very little like real swords.

A Sword can be made to fit into any of the following categories; Short Weapon, Long Weapon, Reach, Great Weapon, Siege Weapon and Red Weapon. They are available, in some form or other to every class, though they do sometimes cost Spell Points for Magic Classes .

Sword Construction

• IMU link

from the Equipment Construction portion of the rulebook

Image of suggested sword construction from the 2.0 rulebook

(with Funnoodle™ or Camp-pad foam): 1 Use a length of Fiberglass, Kite spar, PVC, or a golf shaft for the core. Remove all sharp edges and points from both ends of the core.

2 Cap both ends of the core with alternating layers of tape and foam until the cap is secure and decidedly dull. Cover the pommel with enough closed cell foam to ensure that it is at least 2.5 inches in diameter. Note that all pommels must meet this minimum size requirement regardless of your specific fighting style.

Example flat blade sword, made by Gorin of Dragonspine

• a. To make a flat blade, sandwich the core between several layers of camp-pad foam.
• b. To make a round blade, you can use a piece of Funnoodle™ that has a factory hole in the center, and cut it to be the length of the blade. If your core moves back and forth within the hole, you can tape a long strip of camp pad foam to the shaft to reduce the noise and prolong the life of the blade. Tape the base of the Funnoodle™ to the shaft very well. Fiberglass strapping tape is recommended for strength and weight.

4 Tape several pieces of closed cell foam over the top of the sword with fiberglass strapping tape. You should have at least 3 layers of closed cell foam (1.5 inches) on your stabbing tip (and even more for a two handed stabbing weapon, such as a spear).

5 For the cover, choose a light, durable fabric. Cut it to length plus three inches, and outside diameter plus one inch.

6 Fold the fabric across and sew the side and top.

7 Roll the cover like a stocking, and then roll it down the sword.

8 Secure the cover to the hilt with tape.

Links

• Download Ultra light Tutorial by Fitz Caliston
• A Farewell to Arms by Arthon
• A Time to Kill by Arthon
• Best of Amtgard Combat:A Brief History of AmtSwords by Naes
• How to make a Flat Blade by Vaargard
• How to make a Round Blade by Vaargard
• Golf club and Funnoodle sword how To
• How to make a sword video by Kord
• Video on making a sword
• Sword making video by Robin