I really wanted to draw at least something for Swordtember hehe, ladies with swords are always fun to draw c:.

Cultural Weapons: Fire Nation Swords Pt. 2

Zuko’s Broadswords

The broadswords that Zuko uses are niuweidao (牛尾刀) or “oxtail sabers”. Niuweidao are characterized by their flat and wide blades, flared tips, rounded cutting sections, and noticeably bent hilt; all characteristics present in Zuko’s swords.

The niuweidao actually has a rather unique history compared to other Chinese weapons. Whereas most Chinese weapons were adapted to be used by the imperial troops, the niuweidao was created and used exclusively by civilians. The primary reason for this was that their design was optimized to efficiently cut through flesh rather than harder surfaces; making them impractical for slashing through armored soldiers on the battlefield but perfect for petty robbery and common street violence. Unsurprisingly, these 19th-century swords came to be associated with rebels and criminals.

That Zuko chooses to wield niuweidao as the Blue Spirit is yet another example of his intelligence. After all, no one would expect the Prince of the Fire Nation, with a ship full of military-grade tools at his disposal, to utilize a weapon wielded by the lowest levels of society.

The niuweidao being the weapon of thugs also explains why that one Earth Kingdom jerk had a pair on him as well. In fact, you’ll notice that Zuko only ever uses his broadswords when he’s behaving criminally or rebelliously. Even his dual-wielding breaks from typical sword-fighting convention. The swords are the embodiment of his innate brashness.

This also provides a unique foil to Sokka and his sword. Sokka is often dismissed as a “peasant” and many characters simply write him off as dimwitted goofball. Yet his sword, the jian, is an ancient weapon dating back to 500 BC and is considered to be the weapon of scholars and gentlemen. Sokka’s sword embodies all of his most overlooked qualities: His intelligence, creativity, and honorable nature.

Zuko, by contrast, was seen as the elitist prince obsessed with honor and maintaining the Fire Nation’s imperial legacy. Yet his swords of choice, the niuweidao, are a relatively new kind of weapon from the fringes of society. Their entire purpose is to undermine the established power structure. Zuko’s swords embodies all of his most overlooked qualities: His boldness, his cunning, and his willingness to break from tradition.

Like what I’m doing? Tips always appreciated, never expected. ^_^

https://ko-fi.com/atlaculture

Celtic Silver Mounted Lapis Lazuli Studded Bronze Sword. 6th Century BC?.

the 50$ sword i got from a shady flea market was diagnosed to be a wall-hanger rather than a prop so i spent today making it the prettiest wall-hanger in the land

My favorite part is the colors of the bird nest, and the highlight color on the brambles.

lmfao

he's not executing an actual strike because he doesn't know any. he's holding it that stupidly to pop his muscles out for the camera. a relaxed and ready combat stance doesn't show off your arms as well, and, again, he's an idiot with all the steadfast determination of a ritz cracker in soup.

as always, he's all show and no know.

"Blood and Wind"

Sword, Korea, 17th-19th century

from The National Museum of Korea

How do you fit a lesbian into the masculinist, nationalist dreaming of classic swords and sorcery?  It’s remarkably easy!

As many of you know, I recently purchased an Uruk-Hai scimitar.

Well let me tell you, it was quite the pragmatic purchase. It has endless uses in my morning routine.

Such as making the bed:

Making toast:

Getting things off high shelves:

Making coffee:

Reaching the remote when it’s too far away:

And assisting me when I ran out of toilet paper:

I don't know how I survived life without it.

Happy 10 year anniversary to this dumbass post.

the years start comin’ and they sure don’t stop comin’

I have since moved out of my moms house, stopped destroying my hair with drugstore bleach, went back to school, got a job in tv, went through a pandemic, got married, quit that job, moved across the country, and gone back to school again to make video games.

The scimitar is proudly mounted on the stairs surrounded by LotR posters. It is still my most pragmatic purchase, aside from my bread machine. This bitch loves some fresh baked bread.

Anyways stay cool and stay kind everybody. <3

.║\ ║▒\ put this on your blog ║▒▒\ ║░▒║ ║░▒║ ║░▒║ ║░▒║ ║░▒║ ║░▒║ to show others ║░▒║ ║░▒║ ║░▒║ ║░▒║ ║░▒║ ▓▓▓▓▓ [█▓] [█▓] you are gay [█▓]

Question: why is a sword, a representation of being gay?

cause im gay and i like swords whats not to get

I went looking for this post specifically and only just realized that the op was the same person

you know an awful lot of people dont realise this actually. but rest assured if its about swords and being gay, there is a high chance i wrote it

I hope you don’t mind, but I slowed the gif down because that is a FANTASTIC move.

this is the kind of shit that gets described as “quickly disarmed him” in writing and truly doesn’t do it justice

Just because it /wasn't/ done doesn't mean it wasn't possible. Best example of this I can think of is JoergSprave's "Instant Legalos", a repeating longbow made of period materials.

You mention it's possible with special scabards, so the real question is are those scabbards possible with period materials and... I honestly don't see why it wouldn't be. As to slicing your own earlobe... That's a bit silly. You could easily make the same point about slicing your arm with a side scabard, or shooting your own foot with a side holstered firearm. The latter has verifiably happened, and the former almost certainly happened. In all cases it comes down to negligence.

I can respect the lack of historical accuracy, there is no historical evidence as far as I'm aware; however with specific regards fantasy I think when it comes to "realism" whether something was done historically is much less important than whether it was possible historically. Could it have been done with period materials? Were the crafting techniques of the era sufficient? Is it pragmatic? If all those things are true I fail to see why it's unrealistic in a fantasy setting.

I found this buried in Drafts, so far down that the original reblogger is deactivated and gone, and wondered should I post it anyway?

Yeah, why not... ;->

*****

As I wrote in the OP, drawing a sword is a slicing motion, and a draw over your shoulder performs that slicing motion right alongside your own neck. Unless there’s a helmet and gorget or mail coif in the way, an over-shoulder draw means slicing your own earlobe - or something more vital - is a Real Risk.

Single-edged swords are relatively safe, because one side of the blade is (usually) blunt; this, and short blades, helps with some Eastern back-carry such as Thai. However, double-edged long swords, like most medieval European ones - the kind most frequently featured in fantasy, also most frequently featured in Back-Carry And Draw From There - are another matter entirely.

I’ve tried it.

That’s not an experiment I’m going to repeat - and I was being careful; doing the same thing at combat speed would be Dangerous.

*****

However, this is what made me scratch my head.

Um, whut?

That goes beyond "a bit silly" into downright daft, because of the improbable contortions required for it to happen.

Here are two medieval illustrations (David & Goliath) of a European arming sword being drawn...

Here's an 18th-century smallsword being drawn.

...and modern photos of a Japanese katana being drawn.

An inexperienced katana-wielder might slice a finger or thumb of their scabbard-holding hand; IIRC the chance of this is highest when returning the sword to its scabbard after completing a kata, and is why new students work with blunts.

But not one of these images gives any clue about how or when the right and left ARM risk being sliced.

*****

As for why "modern style" back-carry-and-draw is unrealistic even in a fantasy setting...

In order to work properly, all these modern designs have set aside some features of what a scabbard is FOR.

Carrying the sword, yes; they accept that. But they ignore that it’s also for protection. Firstly, to protect other people from the sword’s edges. Exposing this much blade is safe enough for a repro blunt, but a sharp is distinctly hazardous.

Secondly, it's also hazardous for the sword; a scabbard should protect the blade, and any open design whether the hooks-and-point-cover arrangement or this split-sided one...

...is going to allow rain, mud, salt sea air and all the rest to get at what was NOT modern stainless steel.

A sword exposed by those point-cover things is also vulnerable to inquisitive fingers - whether the fingers are vulnerable in turn depends on the sharpness.

"Please don't touch the blade" is something probably said by every sword owner. It's not just because they're sharp (most of mine aren't); it's because if they're regular carbon steel instead of stainless, fingers will leave marks.

*****

Real medieval scabbard-makers knew about these problems. Their products completely enclosed the blade, were often lined with raw fleece which gripped the blade more tightly and was also lanolin-greasy for rustproofing, and made a snug fit where hilt met scabbard.

Many also had flaps extending up from the scabbard and around the sword’s crossguard; these may have been purely decorative or to help keep water out,...

...while some late-medieval / Renaissance swords had flaps or collars on their hilts instead. Again, possibly decorative only, but they certainly look like weather-shields to me.

All of which proves (to me, anyway) that the partial scabbards and open-sided scabbards to enable drawing from back-carry are mere modern fantasy creations, with inconvenient realisms ignored in favour of Make Back-Draw Work Or Life Is Incomplete.

A back-scabbard in any of these modern styles was certainly possible using period materials and techniques, but weren't made in-period.

The artisans of centuries ago knew better.

chiming in to point out that the modern appeal of a back-draw is that it’s a very convenient way to feel like a badass with a sword....when you’re not used to carrying a sword around all the time.

carrying a sword of any significant size sheathed at your hip makes you feel like an awkward poser the first time you’re confronted with a chair. or a crowd. or a tent with unexpected ropes. or uneven ground. or a tree you could have sworn was a bit further away. you’re pretty sure, pretty fast, that this can’t have been how working professionals used to do it!

solution: if you carry it across your back it’s very secure and comfortable and doesn’t waggle around even if you’ve got the biggest bastard sword at the faire. looks great, doesn’t hit anyone, and you feel extremely manly. this has to be the right way! a

meanwhile in the past i am completely certain people just got used to occasionally bonking into things with their swords. i mean, if you get hit with someone’s sword... are you gonna make a big deal of it. they have a sword.

I can help you out with one, but not the other

cc: @petermorwood: should we bother getting one of these, or have we got a plain old sword we can repurpose? 😏 (…without destroying it, of course…)

ten of. fuck

(image description in alt text)

war and murder are awful. killing another human being is a horrible thing to do. swords and guns are cool as fuck. these two beliefs exist simultaneously in my mind and do not conflict at all

hideo kojima