[Radthorne]

Lovely? There's no lovely in weapons. There's functional and non-functional and these are definitely the latter. How the hell would she use them in a fight except to conk the opponent over the head?

Ahem.
Please to check here (http://www.extremely-sharp.com/es/catalog/31086.html) for one example. If you Google "hook sword" you will find more entries. ;)

[Hereford Eye]

Two thingies, yer wership, sir:
Thingie Numero Uno: In your picture, the blades appear to be rounded, no edge at all. Consequently, swoyi, and otherwise, I stand by my statement that all she could do is conk somebody on the head.
Thingie Di Er: Rounded end means a good Claymore is goping to shatter that steel because bent steel isn't as strong as straight steel. So, all the hype at your reference point seems to me to be precisely that: hype.

[Radthorne]

Then let me refer you to this one. (http://i-chuan.net/pages/Choy12.html) These are actual weapons, used in China.

The blades on the weapons in the picture are not rounded, they actually do have an edge. Aside from the formal techniques discussed in the linked article, I can envision a variety of actual combat uses for these things. One of the principles in close combat is that, given equal skill in the use of their weapons, the person whose weapon has longer reach than the other will have an advantage (i.e., sword over knife, spear over sword, etc.). And of course it took at lot of skill to be a swordsmen. The hook sword could serve in part as an "advantage negator" against a swordsmen, by blocking with one of the hook swords while pulling the opponent off his feet with the other, thus getting the swordsman on the ground and less of a threat from down there. Similarly, against a mounted horseman, while blocking with one hook sword the other could be used to grab either a part of the rider or his armor and yank him off the horse, thus removing the horse part of the rider's initial advantage. Once "inside" the extended range of the swordsman's weapon, his length advantage is negated and the hook swordsman then has the use of his two crescents and two sharp points on his swords at close quarters.

Let me mention that I am not an expert on weapons by any means, but I do feel on fairly safe ground here in saying that these are actual weapons that have seen use in the past. They make look funny or slightly dull compared to regular swords, but they aren't simply clubs either.

[Radthorne]

In the spirit of compromise, TSOTNW has suggested an alternative weapon. This one is sure to bring even the hardiest warrior to his knees. And I've altered the lass's face to be more anime-like to address any concerns about under age drinking. (A slightly sloshed-looking anime, mind you...)


http://www.kevinradthorne.com/Graphics/Mila3.jpg

[Radthorne]

Okay, gotta take off for a few days on a business trip, so rather than leave you with a besotted elf as your only picture, here's one more, called "Caught You Looking."

http://www.kevinradthorne.com/Graphics/CaughtYouLooking.jpg

[lin]

There is definitely "loveliness" in weapons. Absolutely. Not these necessarily, but in many. As opposed to ugly weapons.

[KatG]

There you go -- I think the martini glasses and the changed look do wonders. The Caught you Looking, I love the sumptuous background and how you use it, color-wise, and I like her body pose and expression. So this one's sort of fun. I like the fairy ones when the fairy is not just standing there with a glazed expression on the face, but instead things like the fairy who's reading a book, etc. So I guess that's how I'm judging the fairy pictures.

[Hereford Eye]

And now the rest of the world can appreciate why she is TSOTNW. A truly thoughtful woman!
Considering martinis as a weapon is new to me though I can appreciate the possibilities. "Okay, idiot, sit down and let's get his over with. We start drinking nothing but Beefeater martinis, dry, with olives, the more the merrier. Whoever makes the biggest ass of himself loses and must go home never to show his face in this area again." I'd probably have to move after every contest.
I appreciate the art though. It's a shame in all my years of enjoying the nectar, the only time a woman as comely as in the picture joined me was with TSOTNW. If that had been a contest, I would have lost. In the picture, if the hair was mostly gray, it would look a lot like mine.
Re Caught You Looking, I met a girl wearing a dress like that in a bar in Taipei back in Sixty-Seven. Her hair was falling down like that but she didn't have the bun and comb. And the background was not as sumptuous.

[Radthorne]

There is definitely "loveliness" in weapons. Absolutely. Not these necessarily, but in many. As opposed to ugly weapons.

TSOTNW wants to know, "So what would he consider ugly, weapons-wise?" :eek:

And now the rest of the world can appreciate why she is TSOTNW. A truly thoughtful woman!

She says you are very sweet. I said to her, confused, "We are speaking of the same HE here, are we not?" :confused:

It's a shame in all my years of enjoying the nectar, the only time a woman as comely as in the picture joined me was with TSOTNW. If that had been a contest, I would have lost.

She says, "He clearly had too much Beefeaters if he believes either of those statements!" :rolleyes:

I met a girl wearing a dress like that in a bar in Taipei back in Sixty-Seven. Her hair was falling down like that but she didn't have the bun and comb. And the background was not as sumptuous.

And I say, if you were still upright enough to be noticing the background in those circumstances, you were clearly not having enough Beefeaters. :D

[lin]

TSOTNW wants to know, "So what would he consider ugly, weapons-wise?"

MAC 10 submachine gun. Marine K-Bar knife. Jagged rock. Garotte made of wire twisted around two random sticks. Nambu Automatic pistol. And Glock. British India company jingal. Blunderbuss.


Lovely weapons might include, Toledo rapier with chased blade, S&W Bearcat Singleshot .22, Almost any small caliber automatic pistol by Beretta company. F-16 fighter. Almost any sword with a name. Italian court stilletto...or main-gauche. P-38 Fighter. Any sword cane selling for more than $200. Hand-forged katana.