help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/12 16:17Hi, I just joined this forum and I was wondering if anyone could help me or give advice in making dual sythes(sicles/kamas). The non bladed part is 25' long on both and i was hoping to make a 7 to 9 inch bladed part. If anyone can help i will really appreciate it.
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Rewth
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/12 18:12well, the first thing i would do is point out that in amtgard they will be completley ineffective. the style of combat we use just isn't condusive to them, and more importantly, the materials we use are not able to withstand the strain they will receive if they are effective. if yer dead set on doing it, i say all power to you, but otherwise i'd REALLY suggest you just pick up a sword.
that said....
the biggest issue, and hte one i'm sure you are havign trouble with, is the L joint. no matter how you build it, thats gonne be the weakest point. that will be where they break.
as i would see it, you've got a few options...
pvc and a pvc joint. simple, 3 bucks at the hardware store. epoxy it up and add some duct tape for reinforcement. even then, expect the L joint to crack and break after a few days, or immediately if the temp is below 50.
craft it from foam. use the dense white foam we use for shields. sculpt it up and then add a layer of pipe insulation around the striking surface + a stabbing tip. no core means the only rule you have to worry bout is minimum widths. but no core also means less stability.
custom extruded fiberglass.... gonna cost you an arm and a leg. but it's the most durable option. then you jsut build it like a normal sword. just make use to courtesy pad the non striking surfaces, because wit ha weapon like that, you are gonna hit people in ways you didn't expect."But right now I'm a little concerned about my pants, since I don't know where they are." - Valathina Nailo
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Krahe
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/12 19:21Well, I tried making it and like you said, wont last long it seems. Thank you for the help and advice.... Do you mind teling me if it is really legal to use the aluminum looking golf clubs for cores?
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QuietEyed1
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/12 20:26Carbon fiber. Aluminum is a metal, thus no.
Maybe drill a hole through a PVC pipe big enough to accomidate a golfshaft core, stick it on there... put a noodle on the golfshaft with the pvc pushed through the foam so it slides together nicely. Tape the bejesus out of the cross-section of foam between the 'handle' and the 'spike' in an 'X' for some strength, then be sure to campfoam all your striking surfaces, namely the spike tip, and the tip of the golf shaft.
Interesting idea... you might end up with a pickaxe looking contraption, which might be good for controlling an enemy's weapon, and grabbing shield edges, that sort of thing.Quiet
Baron of the Northern Holdfast, August '08 -
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Reverend Loki
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/12 21:34it might be good cause when someone punch blocks it will stick them anyways but the problem is that the only part that will be considered a striking surfice will be the blade, that means no thrusts, i know it sucks, swords overpower all and it would be cood if things like the reaper staff or axes were just as effective but they just arent.I'm the mighty Lion in the thicket who be spying on the wicked- Shabaz the Diciple
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.- Conan the Barbarian on what is best in life.
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Just cut out the desired shape for the blade. To reinforce the blade joint I took these "L" shaped plastic brackets from a three ring binder and straping taped/glued them to the center shape of foam after attaching it to the core, leaving ample padding on all strike legal surfaces. ( you could also use those cheep dell mouse pads with the hard plastic cover, just cut the L brackets out and glue/strap tape them to the center faom shape.) I see another tutorial coming on...
I also added a small top spike so I could stab with it.
It ended up looking like a cowboy boot when it was done but it was lots of fun to play with. Wrapped shields well, hocked polearms awesomely, and was strike legal on all edges (flip it backwards and it acted like a normal flat blade sword.
I gave it to Raozool a year ago, don't know if he did anything with it, at least I haven't seen it back on the floor.
Fitz
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QuietEyed1
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 11:15You know Roazool?
...He's not really retarded, right?
But yeah, Fitz's point holds true. If you hit somebody with the back of a kama, you've just made yourself a bludgeoning weapon (assuming you made it strike legal). So you wouldn't have to nail somebody with the tip in the traditional sense for it to be a technical 'hit'.
I like this idea. It'd be classified as a short weapon, by my approximation, depending on the 'handle' length.
But hell, a scythe would just be too damned cool, assuming it was stable, safe, and you figured out how to use one effectively.Quiet
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Rewth
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 13:18scythes, reapers, etc were never effective on the battle field. they were peasant weapons at best. the ONLY thing they were good at was cutting wheat. when both history AND amtgard limitations are against you, you are kinda screwed. especially since you are most likely to trip someone than anything else.
at least with a kama you've got a chance."But right now I'm a little concerned about my pants, since I don't know where they are." - Valathina Nailo
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Kaeil
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 13:54Rewth wrote: especially since you are most likely to trip someone than anything else.
I would imagine that would be the best way to use a full size scythe, in a real battle, anyway. I know it's not legal in Amtgard, but IRL, use that weight and size to your advantage. Gotta agree with Quiet, though, it'd look really cool. May not be useful at all, but sometimes you gotta build a weapon just for the fun of it. It's not how many people you shoot. It's who you shoot. - Quick
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FitzCaliston
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 14:05Yeah I know Roazool, he's a member of my company. He may seem like a hothead but he's really a good guy, just very new to the internet forums and an up and coming teenager. Perty much everyone here loves him. We all effectionately call him Nave. I've had a talk with him about toning it down, thanks to rewth for pointing me to this (teach me to neglect the im forums for a week).
But yeah, if you make it so that the entire piece is one consistant striking edge you have better versatality.
You don't want to use a pvc joint in any amtgard weapon, I'll break eventually.
The other option (which I've done as well) is to heat mend PVC. you cann't make it a hard 90 degree angle rather more of a curve or a hook.
I did one using a heavy fiberglass ski pole for the base and then about a 12 inch piece of pvc that I heated and cured. Slit the ski pole up the pvc as far as it would go, ancor it with ducttape to keep it from rattleing then carefully slid funnoodle all the way down it.
Walla, whole thing strike legal, nice hook, added extra padding to the tip just to be extra safe.
Fun for the newbie monk or the person wanting to RP thier combat experience,
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FitzCaliston
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 14:27And In real life you could do some serious damage with a sythe. My grandpa had a real nice one that he'd have me trim the weeds along the ditch bank with. Took me a few years before I was big enough to wield it properly but by the time I was 17 I could chop down inch and a half saplings that grew among the weeds like butter. He had an aluminum handled shafted one that was much easier then the old wooden handeled one.
I'd clasify it along the same lines as a claymore, 1-3 shots and you'd better have already killed them or have a backup weapon.
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Reverend Loki
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 14:39fitz wrote: Wrapped shields well, hocked polearms awesomely, and was strike legal on all edges (flip it backwards and it acted like a normal flat blade sword.
i dont think that it should have been strike legal ot the backside or flat side. from what i have been told when you have a hinged weapon it is only strike legal on the hinged part, like with a flail the only part to strike with would be the ball and maybe the chain, the shaft even if padded properly would count as only shaft. so if that is correct than only the plade on the sickle would be strike legal and not the backside or the shaft, which means you cannot thrust with it either. someone let me know if i am wrong.
Post edited by: loki of the lance, at: 2005/09/13 14:41I'm the mighty Lion in the thicket who be spying on the wicked- Shabaz the Diciple
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.- Conan the Barbarian on what is best in life.
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Takezu
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 14:49Loki, welcome to the gray area of the rules ask 6 amtgarders that question and you will get 7 differnt opinions.It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. --Aristotle
Patriotism: The willing act of putting one's life & well being at risk for politicians who are not similarly disposed.
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Reverend Loki
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 15:09my opinion is that it should be strike legal if it has legal amount of padding. flail shaft should be no different than hitting with a staff, and if you curve or put a spike on the tip of an axe than you should be able to thrust with it. but there has to be an actual set of rules concerning it right?I'm the mighty Lion in the thicket who be spying on the wicked- Shabaz the Diciple
Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.- Conan the Barbarian on what is best in life.
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Yoshi
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Re:help needed in making dual scythes - 2005/09/13 16:04I was wondering, could you make a staff with flails at the ends? the sands of time heals all wounds, but dont let it get in your eyes....... that really hurts
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