this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2024
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[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago

The quillons are particularly interesting. The way the blade widens as it approaches the base means that the upper set of quillons is basically useless - either you catch whatever weapon you'd be trying to catch at a steep angle so the blade bites and binds, or it slides down, likely skipping right over those quillons.

Widening blades with a narrower part right above the cross-guard aren't uncommon. Typicay that will a Ricasso, a section that isn't sharpened for various reasons. You won't be cutting that close to the hilt anyway, so why bother? Occasionally it is also used to put your index finger over the cross-guard for greater control (particularly with later swords that got an extended guard, like a typical rapier).

But crucially, those swords all feature cross-guards either straight or curved forward, not backward, which - continuing the "weapon slides down my blade" scenario from above - will do a great job at not catching said weapon and instead letting it slide past your guard. Hopefully, it'll swing past you as well, but I wouldn't bet my life on it. Simultaneously, as the meme describes, the decorations and shape of the guard make it harder to put your hand all the forward for better control, let alone putting your index finger over the guard to at least attempt to justify those second quillons.

Add the material distribution putting the center of balance way forward and you've got a slab of metal that's very hard to control, if you can wield it at all.

Honestly, I don't think getting your sword caught in a thrust will be a problem. You'd have a hard time thrusting in the first place. If you can get it lined up to thrust at all without skewing your aim because your hand is a nautical mile away from the center of balance, you'd still have to contend with getting a fairly broad point into the target. If your aim is off though, or the target moves, chances are the alignment of the blade (particularly the center of balance) won't match the direction of your force and reduce its effect.

Before your blade even has a chance to get caught, you'll probably sprain your wrist.