makeing a red and need advice

[ahlwen]

ok i am trying to make a red i can use with one hand. i have 2 long kitespar cores and am using blue camping foam. the demensions of the blade are gonna be 3 feet long 1 foot wide blade and a 10 in. handel. i gess my question what would be the best way to counter weight the handel so i can use it one handed?

[Wumpus]

I don't know much about weighting a handle, but if I read your post right, your red sword isn't going to be red. A red sword is a minimum 48 in, but 3 ft (36in) +10in=46 inches. Make sure you get those last two inches! Also my red sword, which is 50 in, is 4 in wide at the blade. 1 ft would be almost laughably wide, that much heavier and harder to balance.

[/2cents]

[ahlwen]

well yea 1 foot was a gess i want the blade to be thicker than normal and it will probly be a lil longer than i origonaly posted ...

[Chicken]

I'm curious why you want a fatter blade? Wide blades can cut down on thump and help a weapon pass, but other than that there's really no reason to go with a fatter blade - it means more weight up top, a slower sword (hello, air resistance!), and a tougher time putting the sword into small openings. Especially if you're looking to be able to use it one handed you're going to regret the extra weight up there.

As for counterweighting it, here are some instructions for counterweighting the pommel with pennies. Some other commonly used alternatives are tungsten fishing weights, lead "tape", and wire wrapped around the handle.

[Sleeper]

Having a wide blade also presents another way of "cheesing" the rules. I sometimes use my one foot wide sword as an unbreakable shield, to bad arrows still kill me, lol

[kohntre]

counterweighing your one handed red?... put a shoulder strap on it