How long is a Flamberge?

[ShadowMaster]

As subject says, how long the flamberge, as stated in Quintessential Fighter, is?

 

[Wormwood]

IIRC, up to 62" long

 

[Sejs]

between 5ft and 5ft 6in. A flamberge was supposed to be almost as tall as the wielder,.. it was intended for use against cavalry and polearm formations.

 

[Dragongirl]

Which makes me have to ask, how were these stored? They are far too long to be drawn from a scabbard unless you have alien arm length.

 

[Oni]

Well I have read that the japanese would sometimes carry Nodachi to the battlefield in a paper sheath and basically just rip it out when they needed it. I've only seen this in one source (which I for the life of me cannot remember right now) so I don't know how accurate it is, but the topic of the thread reminded me of it and I thought I would share.



As for a weapon of that size, its something that you would have unsheathed ahead of time, not something you could just whip out when you needed it (logically anyway, 3E doesn't really take this into account).

 

[Sejs]

The shape of a flamberge also doesn't really contribute to sheathe-age, in addition to it's size. I'd imagine a harness with a couple loops to keep the blade from flopping around while you kept it slung across your back would be the norm. The blade would still be exposed ~ if you got into a fight, just shrug the strap off your back and you can still hack people up with the harness still attached.

A bit clumsy, I'll admit, but the flamberge isn't really a graceful weapon to begin with.


(edit: I missed a period. shame on me.)

 

[nameless]

I've seen over-the-shoulder type sheaths that kind of rotate while you pull... I can't really imagine the line the sword takes which doesn't include going through my shoulder, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't actually work. I tend to agree with Oni though, that you would store it kind of like a polearm, and if you plan to use it, you have it unsteathed.

On a side note, flamberge can and does refer to multiple things. Sometimes, it simply means any sword with a wavy-edge, and sometimes it refers to a huge cavalry monster. IME, it usually means the second one.

-nameless

 

[Agback]

Which makes me have to ask, how were these stored? They are far too long to be drawn from a scabbard unless you have alien arm length.

contemporary illustrations from the 15th Century show landknechts marching along with naked flamberges: hilts in their hands and blades resting on their shoulders.

Regards,


Agback

 

[ShadowMaster]

So, if I have to carry it in my hands (my character is 6'6 btw), can I still use my chain spikes and then, on the next round, use my Flamberge?

I planned, on the first round, to move my 20' and attack with my chain spikes (because It is considered a ranged weapon), and on the second round, move my 20' (if necessary) and continue fighting with my flamberge. Is that still possible?