Arms collecting and nostalgia

Jim McDougall · 22nd January 2025, 06:20 AM

Very good points about the balance of swords and the impact of awkward weight and balance in wielding the reproductions in many cases, or the fantasy types. I recall in years later when I took fencing...my dad grumbled, 'oh good, something you can always use!'

We exercised for quite a while before we ever began using the blades, and it was surprising how quickly you could be spent in many forms of these combats.

With kids using 'real' swords playfully (this often accounts for many of the supposed combat nicks in blades) I can recall once I had been asked about a sword a guy had, and I called him to tell him it was a Caucasian shashka.
He had no idea what it was, and then asked, well what is it worth?

I told him.......he gasped and looked out at his young sun whacking away at weeds and brush with it in the backyard, instantly screaming....AUUUGHHH! STOP IT AND BRING THAT SWORD IN HERE , NOW!!!

Werecow, FANTASTIC cuphilt BTW!!!!

francantolin · 22nd January 2025, 07:36 PM

Thank you for have created this post !
A lot of different influences with movies but two TV series seems to be the most important for me:

Sandokan , the tiger of Malaysia
And Zorro from Walt Disney

A lot of fights in the schoolyard with sticks 😅

PS: in Zorro, my favorite character was the Sergent Garcia 😁😁

francantolin · 23rd January 2025, 04:22 AM

I just read that Guy Williams , the actor who played Zorro in the serie did himself all stunts and fights in all episodes.
the swords tip were uncovered and he was hurted two times.
Hooray for Zorro 💪🙂

Jim McDougall · 23rd January 2025, 08:58 PM

Francantolin, I absolutely was powerfully moved by the Zorro movies! from the old Fairbanks films, Tyrone Power in the later versions, and of course the Disney series. Growing up in Southern Calif. the Spanish influence, scenery and the architecture of course was all around.

It was of course the SWASHBUCKLING that piqued the 'heroic' gene in most of us as young boys, and for me in later years taking fencing. Actually much of what we studied was 'stage combat' which naturally was quite a bit different from the more regulated forms with foil, saber and epee.

From what I have understood, in many cases swords were somehow rebated or altered to prevent injuries, but not always adequately. Many of the stars were actually trained in swordplay, but one of the most dangerous situations were being paired with opponents less than properly trained. Usually it was the more dynamic actions used in staged combat that injuries might occur, as these were by no means part of normal swordplay.

Sgt. Garcia was indeed a colorful character, and these performances would not have been the same without him!

Im glad you guys have mentioned these comics and stories which I had not heard of and now am interested in learning more on them!

Werecow, great on that TAKOUBA! and you should NEVER let it go! It has served as the benchmark for the joyful adventure you, like us, have gone into lifelong! I still have my first 'purchased' sword too......it was a rusty relic of a British M1796 heavy cavalry sword, which had the blade broken and welded back together. It was a lot of $ for me in those days, but what excited my young awareness was it matched a picture of one in a book. Then I began reading about the history of these swords, and that they were carried at Waterloo! It was thrilling to have and hold a sword like the ones carried by the Scots Greys in that battle! History came alive!

gp · 23rd January 2025, 10:47 PM

as a young boy I recall being wild about 4 series in the sixties;

1. Ivanhoe with Roger Moore, based upon Sir Walter Scot's novel about Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe during the 12th century reign of King Richard the Lionheart

2. the French series Thierry la Fronde ( the slingshot), played by Belgium actor Jean-Claude Drouot, during the Hundred Years' War, France occupied by the English, and the Black Prince rules France with an iron fist. In Sologne in the heart of France, Thierry of Janville is the hero.

3. a young Rutger Hauer in the series Floris , made by Paul Verhoeven, about the Burgundy wars in the Netherlands.

4. and a marvelous German series "Die merkwürdige Lebensgeschichte des Friedrich Freiherrn von der Trenck" / The Peculiar Life Story of Friedrich, Baron von der Trenck being Trencks history by the outstanding actor Matthias Habich

did any of you lads seen this series...?

gp · 23rd January 2025, 10:57 PM

talkin' 'bout Rutger...2 movies

Ladyhawk and Flesh & Blood

gp · 23rd January 2025, 11:23 PM

and not to forget Nikolaj Gogol's "Taras Bulba"...about the Zaporozhian Cossacks

romantisized film in 62 with Tony Curtis and Yul Brynner and in 2008 a more realistic one with Bogdan Stupka

22nd January 2025, 07:36 PM	#2
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	Thank you for have created this post ! A lot of different influences with movies but two TV series seems to be the most important for me: Sandokan , the tiger of Malaysia And Zorro from Walt Disney A lot of fights in the schoolyard with sticks 😅 PS: in Zorro, my favorite character was the Sergent Garcia 😁😁 Attached Images

23rd January 2025, 10:47 PM	#5
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 830	as a young boy I recall being wild about 4 series in the sixties; 1. Ivanhoe with Roger Moore, based upon Sir Walter Scot's novel about Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe during the 12th century reign of King Richard the Lionheart 2. the French series Thierry la Fronde ( the slingshot), played by Belgium actor Jean-Claude Drouot, during the Hundred Years' War, France occupied by the English, and the Black Prince rules France with an iron fist. In Sologne in the heart of France, Thierry of Janville is the hero. 3. a young Rutger Hauer in the series Floris , made by Paul Verhoeven, about the Burgundy wars in the Netherlands. 4. and a marvelous German series "Die merkwürdige Lebensgeschichte des Friedrich Freiherrn von der Trenck" / The Peculiar Life Story of Friedrich, Baron von der Trenck being Trencks history by the outstanding actor Matthias Habich did any of you lads seen this series...? Attached Images Last edited by gp; 24th January 2025 at 01:05 AM.

23rd January 2025, 10:57 PM	#6
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 830	talkin' 'bout Rutger...2 movies Ladyhawk and Flesh & Blood Attached Images Last edited by gp; 23rd January 2025 at 11:11 PM.

23rd January 2025, 11:23 PM	#7
gp Member Join Date: May 2020 Posts: 830	and not to forget Nikolaj Gogol's "Taras Bulba"...about the Zaporozhian Cossacks romantisized film in 62 with Tony Curtis and Yul Brynner and in 2008 a more realistic one with Bogdan Stupka Attached Images Last edited by gp; 24th January 2025 at 01:03 AM.

22nd January 2025, 06:20 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Very good points about the balance of swords and the impact of awkward weight and balance in wielding the reproductions in many cases, or the fantasy types. I recall in years later when I took fencing...my dad grumbled, 'oh good, something you can always use!' We exercised for quite a while before we ever began using the blades, and it was surprising how quickly you could be spent in many forms of these combats. With kids using 'real' swords playfully (this often accounts for many of the supposed combat nicks in blades) I can recall once I had been asked about a sword a guy had, and I called him to tell him it was a Caucasian shashka. He had no idea what it was, and then asked, well what is it worth? I told him.......he gasped and looked out at his young sun whacking away at weeds and brush with it in the backyard, instantly screaming....AUUUGHHH! STOP IT AND BRING THAT SWORD IN HERE , NOW!!! Werecow, FANTASTIC cuphilt BTW!!!!

23rd January 2025, 04:22 AM	#3
francantolin Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 905	I just read that Guy Williams , the actor who played Zorro in the serie did himself all stunts and fights in all episodes. the swords tip were uncovered and he was hurted two times. Hooray for Zorro 💪🙂

23rd January 2025, 08:58 PM	#4
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,281	Francantolin, I absolutely was powerfully moved by the Zorro movies! from the old Fairbanks films, Tyrone Power in the later versions, and of course the Disney series. Growing up in Southern Calif. the Spanish influence, scenery and the architecture of course was all around. It was of course the SWASHBUCKLING that piqued the 'heroic' gene in most of us as young boys, and for me in later years taking fencing. Actually much of what we studied was 'stage combat' which naturally was quite a bit different from the more regulated forms with foil, saber and epee. From what I have understood, in many cases swords were somehow rebated or altered to prevent injuries, but not always adequately. Many of the stars were actually trained in swordplay, but one of the most dangerous situations were being paired with opponents less than properly trained. Usually it was the more dynamic actions used in staged combat that injuries might occur, as these were by no means part of normal swordplay. Sgt. Garcia was indeed a colorful character, and these performances would not have been the same without him! Im glad you guys have mentioned these comics and stories which I had not heard of and now am interested in learning more on them! Werecow, great on that TAKOUBA! and you should NEVER let it go! It has served as the benchmark for the joyful adventure you, like us, have gone into lifelong! I still have my first 'purchased' sword too......it was a rusty relic of a British M1796 heavy cavalry sword, which had the blade broken and welded back together. It was a lot of $ for me in those days, but what excited my young awareness was it matched a picture of one in a book. Then I began reading about the history of these swords, and that they were carried at Waterloo! It was thrilling to have and hold a sword like the ones carried by the Scots Greys in that battle! History came alive!