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From: hutch@sdcsvax.UUCP (Jim Hutchison)
Newsgroups: net.games.frp
Subject: Re: Blunt Weapons
Message-ID: <876@sdcsvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 17-May-85 20:08:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcsvax.876
Posted: Fri May 17 20:08:02 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 23-May-85 01:05:21 EDT
References: <5128@ukc.UUCP> <5441@ucla-cs.ARPA>
Reply-To: hutch@sdcsvax.UUCP (Jim Hutchison)
Organization: UCSD EMU Project (Educational Microcomputer Unix)
Lines: 54
Summary: 

Subject: Re: Blunt Weapons
Date: 15 May 85 21:49:02 GMT

>In article <5128@ukc.UUCP> ncg@ukc.UUCP (Nige Gale) writes:
>>
>>But what advantage(s) do blunt weapons have over axes of equivalent size?
>>
>
>The edge of an edged weapon has to hit in order to do much damage, while
>most blunt weapons (ie., mace) are symmetrical and hence can be wielded
>somewhat more sloppily without loss of effectiveness.  

Yes, this is true, but they also weigh more.  This effects the ease with
wich they can be manipulated.  A swinging blade tends, atleast from the
short time that I was able to handle one, to have a greater chance of
having killing/disarming finesse.  It is hard to get under armor with
a mace.  One can not stab through an arm whole with a mace/cudgle/club.
Actually I have had more experience with the working end of an axe,
he he he... :->, on wood that is.  The war axes I have seen in museums
are trimmed down versions, compared to wood axes, and are pretty light.

>							This probably means
>that blunt weapons can be learned to greater proficiency more quickly than
>edged weapons (but in general won't do as much damage?).


>							   Do we have anyone
>out there in the SCA who would like to comment?
>
>Also, blunt weapons are probably cheaper to make, since they require less
>crafting and can be made from a lower grade of metal (don't need to hold
>an edge).

A matter of note, a blacksmith can make a mace.  It takes a swordsmith
to make a sword, and generally a high grade of metal for any edged weapon
from axes to chinese rapiers to ranseurs.  But what fun is an axe if you
did not personally quench it in a muscular slave? :-) After all isn't
that where they get there strength? :-)

>
>    Scott R. Turner

Just a moment while I get my axe...

-- 
/*
    "When you are dying, a wombat is better than no company at all."

	Jim Hutchison	UUCP:	{dcdwest,ucbvax}!sdcsvax!hutch

			ARPA:	hutch@sdcsvax

    < Ofcourse these statements are only mine, not my employers. >
*/