Latex Swords

[Iasin the Steward]

I was having a discussion with someone recently and with 'chief' on here about this.

I was thinking. IF ther is a way to create a kevlar sleeve over the existing ltex swords blades avail commercially, would this hold up in hard combat?

Any Thoughts?

[chief]

That would be pretty much overkill. The standard latex coating over the proper quality foam is tough enough to deal with heavy combat, including armor.

The latex has the ability to stetch to well over 200% its normal size, making it a top notch cover. When I am breaking down weapons for rebuilds I have trouble cutting the coating off with a sharp exacto knife.

Magnus/Chief

[Iasin the Steward]

So its really the issue of the core stick then?


I have seen a site where the 'builder' used two fiberglass cores. Is this a good alternative? Is it benefitical?

[chief]

Do you mean the quality of the core, or the foam sticking to the core?

Magnus

[Iasin the Steward]

The core. I have a good feeling that the DAP wil be just fine on its own.

[chief]

Core quality does play a big issue with latex weapons. Many of the commercial cores are just too small to handle combat of any sort.

I had the chance to examine a commercial latex weapon that exploded at one of my events, and the core in this model was smaller than a #2 pencil. I don't care what planet it was forged on, that will never hold up to any sort of real combat.

At another event I took a latex weapon blade off at the hilt with a swing from my mace. This core was a bit bigger, but once again thin and small for the size of the weapon.

DAP alone will hold a weapon together, but as of late I have added some features that increase the weapon's life span when core attachment is concerned.

Magnus

[Iasin the Steward]

And all of that is outlined here?

www.adventuresinmidland.com/sword.shtml

[chief]

The tutorial covers a basic weapon that is complex, but easy to build. If you add the blade upgrade at the bottom of the tutorial you are in the current generation of weapons.

Some of the upgrades I am working on now are not listed. I don't like to list them in tutorials until they have seen six months or more of field time.

The tutorial with upgrade is about the most the average fighter will ever need for a latex weapon. Most of the upgrades I am working on are total overkill for the day to day tap-contact LARP.

I spend a lot more time on my person weapons because it is not uncommon for me to fight at least once a week if not more. I also only fight in medium to full contact fighting groups.

It is also important to note that this same design can use duct tape or cloth covers if latex is not wanted. A weapon made out of plastazote foam and covered with duct tape will pretty much never die.

Magnus

[Iasin the Steward]

Thank you magnus, That is alot of good information.

On the PK land-site, I am hopingto see cobat go on atleast once a week. So I may have a good deal of use for you in this area. If you dont mind?

[chief]

Well, I am not sure how often I will get out your way, but I am always putting tutorials and how-to sections up for whatever groups I deal with. If you like I can put a few up here.

Magnus

[Iasin the Steward]

Actually, sounds like a good plan. i will insure that you get proper credit for any designs you post.