A few questions

[Eric Dougherty]

OK, I've got a whole bunch of questions and I figure I might as well get most of them out of the way in one post. Anyway, I'm a Youth member, turning 18 next month and ready to get serious about ARMA as an "adult" member. I've dabbled up to this point, but I want to go further now. My main interests (though they seem to be ever changing) right now are rapier and longsword. My question is, how do you make a wooden rapier? I know that woodenweapons has them, but seventy-five dollars is more than I'd like to spend. I'm trying to save for a quality replica. Any ideas there? Another query is about steel practice(blunt) rapiers. Any suggestions? Finally, if there is anyone in the Lancaster, PA area interested in practicing with a partner, PM me. And I'm definitely open to any other suggestions for practice, solo drills, etc. I'm really excited that I'll have access to the member's area soon as I'm sure there will be more helpful info. Thanks so much in advance.

[Ryan Ricks]

well how you'd go about making a rapier waster depends on the tools you have availible. if you have a wood lathe, it should be pretty straight forward. i'd start with a hardwood dowell rod, and turn it down on the lathe until you get the thickness you want for the blade. i'd leave the point somewhat bigger, as a kind of foiled tip. i'd also leave the diameter of the handle a good bit bigger than the blade for balance. finally, you can cut out a round piece of wood, and drill it out to fit over the blade for a guard. you can also sand it really easily while it's still on the lathe.

the best thing would be to use pictures of rapier wasters on the net as your guide.

if you don't have power tools, then you could do it with hand tools. however at that point, you'd have to ask yourself what you value more, the time spent making the waster, or the $75.

although i have a good deal of woodworking experience, i'm sure there are some here who would know a better way to do it.

ryan

[James_Knowles]

Maybe Brian or somebody from the Provo group can say something about the rapier simulators that they showed off at the Ogden, UT NTP. ?

Very nice. I don't remember construction other than a couple of fiberglass rods were in the mix.

[Brian Hunt]

Hi James,

they are made from three fiberglass rods that are held together with Hot Glue for the core. I used a cross made of four pieces of the same fiberglass rods & hotglue for the cross, with a 1 quart stainless steel mixing bowl for a bell guard and attached a pommel and wood for grips plus for the fun of it I wirewrapped the grips. That is the basics of it anyway. I am planning on a how to article for those that are interested. They are very stiff, and I must say that Casper left me with some lovely bruises when he and I put them through their paces that day. Casper seemed to really like them and felt that their performance was very nice.

hope that helps.

Brian Hunt.
GFS.

[Casper Bradak]

I am anxious for the article. Sorry about the bruises <img src="/forum/images/icons/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Brian Hunt]

Hey Casper

When it comes to rapier, bruises let me know I had fun and that I learned something new. <img src="/forum/images/icons/smile.gif" alt="" />

So no problems there.

I am planning to get started on the article sometime in the next couple of weeks. I have put together the items that I need to make a new one of these and I will do a step by step pictorial and post it on the internet. When it is done, I will post a link here.

laters.

Brian Hunt.

GFS.

[Casper Bradak]

Great, looking forward to it.

[James_Knowles]

Thanks for the information. There was so much to see and do that day that some of it was a blur. I liked the rapier simulators simply from holding them and doing a handful of lunges.

I, too, look forward to the "how to" article. Lots of details and pictures, please. I'm a klutz when it comes to making things. <img src="/forum/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />