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Subject:(OT) A bit more on a real two-edged sword... From:David Neeley <dbneeley -at- gmail -dot- com> To:techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com Date:Sat, 30 Jan 2010 09:55:28 +0200
In an informal catalog of swords of various types, people mentioned
how a single-edged blade can be grasped by the blade itself for
increased leverage.
That was rarely a good idea, as it reduced leverage considerably.
Instead, the heavier blades simply had longer handles, designed to be
grasped when necessary by both hands.
For example, the Scottish broadsword had such a longer handle--but the
largest ones of these monsters were said to have weighed as much as
two hundred pounds. Not many swings could be made even by a strong
swordsman, but then not many were usually needed, I'd guess.
Of course, for a race whose entertainment included tossing logs
(tabers) for fun, I suppose wielding a monster blade might seem all in
a day's work.
Note, too, that the Japanese samurai swords had long handles as well,
and could easily be swung by two hands if desired. The best of these,
though, were sharp enough that two hands would rarely have been
necessary. Some of the ones made many hundreds of years ago have
rarely, if ever, been equaled.
Still, I'd avoid referencing any of them in documentation--unless,
perhaps, you are documenting a computer game featuring sword fighting!
David
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