one sided sword

[linkicecold3000]

What are the advantages of a one sided sword over a two sided sword? If any.

[Slagar]

The advantages are pretty limited, they're generally a bad idea. Those who like them tend to list things like the reduced weight, and the look. Mostly some people think it looks cool.

No wrap shots, reduced sword lifespan, and the potential for some pretty ugly anvilling mean you'll never catch me holding one.

Hope this helps.

[Nikola the Bear-hat]

How does a one sided sword promote anvilling? Curiousity.

[No'Vak]

Wasn't promoting anviling.

Pretty sure he was saying it could hurt like a *.

[Nikola the Bear-hat]

I didn't mean it promoted anvilling as in saying anvilling is okay, promoting as in make it more likely to happen or some such.

But I get it; if you had it hit into you or some such it'd hurt a bit more than a fully padded sword. That still leaves it the same as a flat, though.

[No'Vak]

I know.

[Slagar]

Yeah, Noik got it. My sword-side blocking is a huge part of my static defense, and it's not completely unheard of for me to get tired or sloppy and have it anvil into me really hard. Not all that common, but it happens. I've been anvilled flat and it sucked, and the flat is a significantly wider surface area. An inch and a half or so of mostly un-padded core anvilling into you sounds like a good way to ruin your day.

Not the end of the world, or anything, just one of those things I'd rather avoid.

[Magpie Saegar]

Many of my swords are either are 1.5 edged. One side is completely legal striking surface, and the top 10 inches or so of the back are also.

I don't throw many wraps, but if careful I still could. I like the look of them, the feel of them, my ability to half-sword without anyone yelling at me, and I like saving that little bit of foam.

I would never argue to anyone that they are better, merely that I like them. Aside from my redsword, I do feel more effective with well built double sided weapons.

[Nikola the Bear-hat]

Got it. Thanks for clarifying. I've never had that happen; makes sense now that you explain it.

[GvK]

I guess I'm really (really) old school and given my heavy early involvement in the SCA, I DIG wrap shots of all types, from quick shoulder pops to "full-body" wraps when in really in tight with an enemy, if there is room to throw it of course. One-sided means not doing wraps safely or having them count (and yes, I've seen some min-maxers throw them with single-edged weapons on the non-striking side and expect the hit to be taken).

In foam fighting combat, there are just too many downsides with a single-edged sword that make any weight savings and "look" just not worth it.

[Derian]

In foam fighting combat, there are just too many downsides with a single-edged sword that make any weight savings and "look" just not worth it.

Especially considering even a novice foamsmith with a little attention to detail can make a double sided or round sword of a reasonable length that comes in right at or just a bit over 12 oz.

[bo1]

agreed, there is so little advantage and so much down side and lost saftey.
although it is really fun to walk up to someone with it backwards and when they get all worried, then throw a wrap shot, it has happened a few times, i laugh to the point of getting killed by a stander by.

[Brooder]

agreed, there is so little advantage and so much down side and lost saftey.
although it is really fun to walk up to someone with it backwards and when they get all worried, then throw a wrap shot, it has happened a few times, i laugh to the point of getting killed by a stander by.

Do you still have that long, single bladed axe you built at Kegg's place a couple of years ago? That was funny. You should use it at closer.

[Sir_Mel]

bUt gIze singul ejjd sords r soooo totally roxorz my soxorz the big one!!!!1111 thay r just like katanis wich r also totally awsome cuz thats wut kenshin and eenuyaasha yuse an blah blah blah...


Yeah, that seems like a pretty good reason, don't you agree?

[Big King Jimmy]

I would like to point out that Fox is the exception that makes the rule. You don't need two edges when you just power through everyones blocks.

[Slagar]

Fox throws wrap shots, same as the rest of us. Just because you can hit through sword blocks, doesn't mean you don't love slamming some poor bastad in the kidneys while standing in front of him. Makes my eyes go all misty.

[Big King Jimmy]

I know, but he also fights with single edged sword with the top 1/3 double sided. Didn't see them this season but did last.