En Gardé

[dferg]

Any other fencers out there? (And before all the predictable jokes start, that's sword fencing, ok?)

dferg

[This message has been edited by dferg (edited 15 September 1999).]

[IrnBruKiddy]

Put yer bendy toothpicks doon an' grab a claymore ya woos!

[dferg]

No problem IrnBruKiddy, foil, epee, sabre, rapier, broadsword, gladius, katana, scimitar, whatever. When you say claymore, do you mean an actual full length two handed claymore or the basket hilted broadsword which is comonly mistakenly named thus? If its the first, I've not had oportunity to practice with that yet, but it looks like fun!

ScotlandRules, wooden weapons also - boken, jo, shinai, rattan!!! Shinty looks like a lot of fun, do you play?

[This message has been edited by dferg (edited 15 September 1999).]

[IrnBruKiddy]

The big beastly two hander of course. I don't think a canvas suit and face guard would offer much protection somehow!

Don't people mistake the basket handled one because its on the "claymore milk" logo?

[dferg]

IrnBruKiddy, I often wondered that myself. Do people make the mistake for that reason, or is that sword on the carton because people think its a claymore? I think it is the second, the error seems to be a fairly old and common one, probably some writer who didn't do his homework! on a par with a scene in the book version of "Highlander" where during a battle scene a clansman supposedly pulls a "dirk" from his "sock" rather than a sgian dubh (note for those not in the know, a dirk is over a foot in length, proably longer in those days).

THe big claymores are certainly nice, they are actually lighter (and thus more "weildable") than more typical European style greatswords.

As you seem to have a pretty well formed opinion of sport fencing, can I presume you have actully tried it? Although if you think its soft, you clearly haven't fenced anyone of caliber (got the bruises to prove it) I can't believe you'd comment so forthrightly on a subject you were ignorant of?

[clumsy_nutter]

Fencing creates delusions of grandeur.

In my experience - people who fence are usually hooray henries that think they are above everyone else, therefore they tend to talk down their nose at somebody.

**raises eyebrows**

Who cares why there is a sword on a box of milk. If they stuck cow's tits on it - do you think they would call them 'udders'.

God, I don't think I have seen such a display of 'more than thou-ness' since my school days when everybody competed in class to show who had more 'knowledge' of the 'subject'.

Oh - but I don't want to appear ignorant now, do I? I just have a well formed opinion of people.

Have a nice day.

------------------
Where's the booze?



[This message has been edited by clumsy_nutter (edited 17 September 1999).]

[IrnBruKiddy]

I can't believe you'd comment so forthrightly on a subject you were ignorant of?

Well, I can't believe your grammar.

Ignoramus.