Research and Discussion Forums

I'm still in favour of my original thesis.

So far we've mainly been discussing drag reduction.

Later today I'll analyse the beneficial effects of lift and the advantages of wavy blades via improved lift.

That's the icing on the cake.

Not at all. Not at all. We don't take sticks and do whirling drills because that's not how swords of our period of study, including dopplehanders, were used. I beg to differ. The use of two handed swords against many opponents is described and gives clear evidence that such cuts were used to defend...

It's not possible to deny that undulating blades ( whatever else they do ) give an aerododynamic advantage in wide cutting blades , as the laws of physics dictate that it is so. The only issue is how large that advantage is. Actually I'm not completely convinced yet that the kind of undulations we ...

With even a 50 inch staff the air resistance is the predominant factor limiting speed in any wide seeping continuous cutting motions which travel through 360 degrees as required by the martial 'one against many' scenario we are discussing. The staff has LESS air resistance than a stalled blade of s...

It's not possible to deny that undulating blades ( whatever else they do ) give an aerodynamic advantage in wide cutting blades , as the laws of physics dictate that it is so. The only issue is how large that advantage is. In my own field of design and construction I go to great lengths to make even...

I suppose you can swing it, but when delving into pike formations I get the impression that they are changing to a half-sword like technique. They are using it more like a spear, but one that can cut along it's full length. Many of the two handers have spatulate tips, so thrusting was probably a se...

In order to get a feel for the sort of air resistance generated by a wide blade which is stalled ( keeping in mind that tubercules reduce drag even when not stalled ) one can swing a lightweight wooden staff or batten with a similar width. A flat sided batten will work best. In doing so it's immedi...

In order to get a feel for the sort of air resistance generated by a wide blade which is stalled ( keeping in mind that tubercules reduce drag even when not stalled ) one can swing a lightweight wooden staff or batten with a similar width. A flat sided batten will work best. In doing so it's immedia...

Hi Stacy, That's interesting thankyou for your reply. It's clearly stated in the historical records that the two handers were used in continuous circular cutting motions, and that they had an advantage over thrusting weapons when dealing with many opponents. For that reason I'm wary of seeing them a...

Thankyou Steven

It's a tad off topic but I'm wondering what size of person would have wielded the two handers, in height and weight, just in case of accidental custom orders for flame bladed two handers.

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Firstly it is not an obsession, it's an interest in the subject. Obsession is an ugly thing to be accused of. I am merely very interested. I must also add that it is my job as a designer to investigate these phenomenon, it's not just a hobby. Secondly, we read that these large two handed sword were ...

Wind tunnel tests should be easy to do ideally with the original weapons. Certainly if the gains made with wind generator blades are an indication, the undulations would give a big advantage. Anyway I'll leave you good gentlemen with the idea for a while, as I'm snowed under with work. One thing's c...

Thanks Steven I just wanted to add that the speed of the blade at 20 m/s assumed by Vincent is possibly quite slow. From what I've read speeds of 30m/s are achieved, and although I'm not sure of the relaitive speeds of large two handers, it seems likely that given enough room to accelerate, and/or w...

Interesting theory, I like your thinking but am not yet wholly convinced. One of the reasons it isn't totally working for me, is I do not believe true two-handers were ever used in wide 360 degree sweeping circles like some sort of wushu competition. Certainly large wide swings are sometimes made, ...