swords?

[Krieg]

If you believe the hype, basically it's just ridiculously resilient.

Thanks. For the record I would be very surprised if it were superior to steel in all of the relevant properties.

We almost never give our predecessors the credit they deserve.

That's NOT what Dogbrain was talking about. ../snip/...

I honestly do not think RW was trying to be snarky.

Incidentally, I find it incredibly odd that someone blew up defending Dogbrain on a thread in which he has been remarkably restrained himself.

"Real" swords, however, are not made of stainless steel. I'm not 100% sure why, but I'm sure somebody on this thread does.

Most likely because Stainless steel is a 20th century invention.

 

[Driddle]

My friend, please relax. ...

Sorry. One of my online weaknesses is frustration when I see one person taking on the authoritarian responsibility of correcting everyone else, and not being nice about it in the process. You've seen me in the past jack-up my own aggressiveness to match, as an attempt to make that point.

But I shall turn down my snarkiness a notch at your request, oh fearless leader, and humbly beg your leave. (bow, back away, bow, back away ...)

 

[Krieg]

Originally Posted by reanjr
Then why are there entire books written by German swordmasters dedicated to fighting while holding the blade? True, they weren't stainless steel, but if properly maintained a sword would have no problems with someone touching the blade, dropping it in water, fighting in the rain, etc.

Because A) you were often wearing gloves or gauntlets while halfswording, and B) a blade won't collapse into rust powder the second you touch it, but you do have to wipe off fingerprints immediately and keep the thing oiled.

There is also the difference between someone looking at a sword as a practical tool and someone else looking at it as a collectible item of value.

 

[knitnerd]

Then why are there entire books written by German swordmasters dedicated to fighting while holding the blade? True, they weren't stainless steel, but if properly maintained a sword would have no problems with someone touching the blade, dropping it in water, fighting in the rain, etc.

I think they are not distinguishing between the everyday maintenence of a tool and the musemum preservation of an antique.

 

[Drifter Bob]

"Real" swords, however, are not made of stainless steel. I'm not 100% sure why, but I'm sure somebody on this thread does. If someone expresses a lack of concern regarding rust and their sword, it's probably a good sign that either A) the sword isn't real (see above regarding real swords and stainless steel), B) they don't know anything about their sword or C) they're perfectly happy to clean their sword once you're done touching it.

I posted two links earlier in this thread which pretty much give you the definitive breakdown on all kinds of steel used in swords, but the readers digest version is that most stainless steels cannot be made both flexible and hard the way carbon steel can be. They are either too brittle or too soft. This is due to the way the chromium affects the molecular structure of the iron. (for more details, have a look at those links) Most commercially available stainless steel swords won't hold a good edge, break easily, and are usually heavier for some reason.

I understand that they have recently developed some new alloys of stainless steel which are better performing, but extremely difficult to work with.

Here are some answers to other questions raised in the latter part of this thread

• The finger print issue I know this from painful personal experience. If you don't want your sword to be messed up, you should wipe it down carefully immediately after every time it is handled, and keep it oiled. You also aren't supposed to keep swords in most scabbards (in the "olden days" some people used to use wool lined scabbards so the lanolin from the wool would sort of continuously oil the sword...)
  
• super steels and modern super metals, it seems the 2,000 year old old technology of high carbon steel is still essentialy the most "miraculous" super metal around for many applications, notably sword making.
  
• collectors swords vs real conflict, generally they are one in the same. The real usable ones are also often aesthetically much nicer. Some people are ok with cheap weapons for use as "wall hangers" and that is perfectly ok. Most even semi serious collectors stick with the most realistic possible, even though 90% never do much of anything with their swords.
  

Incidentally, I personally have no interest in lording weapon knowlege over other people. I post to these types of threads in spite of the often snarky responses in the hope that more people would end up better educated about weapons, especally gamers who can proffit from the knowlege.

DB

 

[Drifter Bob]

I honestly do not think RW was trying to be snarky.
Incidentally, I find it incredibly odd that someone blew up defending Dogbrain on a thread in which he has been remarkably restrained himself.

lol