Incredible statement about cutting in Mc Bane

[Jaron Bernstein]

Hi Tim,

Going on this, what do you think of Silver's criticism of the rapier vs. his beloved English arms?

[TimSheetz]

I think that Silver is great fun to read, and I used to think like him when I made fun of such a "whimpy and weakling weapon" as the Rapier (NOTE: That was BEFORE my Rapier Appreciation Training! )

I think his complaint is against sensationalizing a weapon system and teaching techniuqes that get people killed and hurt. He saw that fencing should help prepare people for war, and the rapier Doesn't do this at all.

I still think I prefer a cut and thrust, but maybe it is because I am not trained enough with rapier.

Tim

[Casper Bradak]

Kind of on the subject of Silver, I just noticed his works have been published on the paladin site by that australian group, sorry I forget the name.

[Stuart McDermid]

Hi Casper,

The name of our group is the Stoccata School of Defence. We are pretty much the only game in town if you want authentic Western sword arts. ARMA Gold coast is 10 hours drive from here.....

Anyway, the author is my very good friend Paul Wagner although there are papers in the book from Steve Hand of Stoccata Tasmania and Mark Hillyard of Academie Glorianna (UK). The book includes both Brief Instructions and Paradoxes and a number of papers including one called "The Untrue Weapon". (This refers of course to the rapier).
Cheers,
Stu.

[Craig Peters]

Has anyone read the book? How is it? (Sorry, not you Stu Mc.; I am afraid your review might be biased. <img src="/forum/images/icons/wink.gif" alt="" />)

[Jaron Bernstein]

Hi Tim,

"I think that Silver is great fun to read, and I used to think like him when I made fun of such a "whimpy and weakling weapon" as the Rapier (NOTE: That was BEFORE my Rapier Appreciation Training! )"

I wouldn't call it wimpy. Silver seems to argue that an overly lengthy rapier is hard to withdraw, so if you can get past it with a shorter weapon, you can just have fun. He also seems bothered by its limited ability to ward off big hacking cuts. Whether this is valid, I don't know.

Tim wrote: "I think his complaint is against sensationalizing a weapon system and teaching techniuqes that get people killed and hurt. He saw that fencing should help prepare people for war, and the rapier Doesn't do this at all."

Harder to make a "true cross" to defend with, if I read it correctly.

Tim wrote: "I still think I prefer a cut and thrust, but maybe it is because I am not trained enough with rapier."

I ain't trained with either yet. Ask me in a few years.