The Official Random Video Thread!

[MasterBlaster]

That's fricking amazing! 100 times better than NASCAR! COOL!!!

 

[Thor's Hammer]

More for ya Butch. I love the sound they make.
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[MasterBlaster]

Crikey, those are tiny trucks.

 

[flushcut]

Truck racing who wudda thunk it!

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Crikey, those are tiny trucks.

Bigger than you think. Most European rigs run higher GTW's than their US counterparts - we don't have bridging laws here. The other thing is that racing trucks tend to have the cab lowered right down with no cab suspension. That lowers the cab by a few feet.

 

[pantheraba]

"Don't be stupid!!"

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[Paul B]

Haven't seen this one before:
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[MasterBlaster]

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've never seen anything like this!

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[CurSedVoyce]

Those guys would never stand a chance with Ninja Bill!

 

[Strikermike]

That was pretty good. Most people think the longsword was slow and unwieldy. Now imagine doing that with a blade so sharp it will slice paper.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Hope Peter sees that, he's the expert in fencing. The 'ninja' or samurai were no match to european swordsmen at the time the two cultures met.

 

[bill22]

to funny not to share.

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[Tree Reb]

Well, none of you sound American.

That's for sure.

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[woodworkingboy]

The 'ninja' or samurai were no match to european swordsmen at the time the two cultures met.

When did they meet in conflict, and what basis do you have for saying that? It has been pretty thoroughly hypothetically analyzed, with no clear conclusions beyond speculation. Pretty much apples vs oranges and quite different manners of fighting. Japanese swords wouldn't cut through medieval shields. Medieval swordsmen relied more on brute force, samurai on speed and agility. Knights had limited range of motion when wearing full armor.

 

[MasterBlaster]

My money's on the Samurai!

 

[Strikermike]

Japanese swords are primarily a cutting weapon. Chain mail would be very effective against that type of sword and while heavy is still quite flexible.
It is unfortunate that the art of combat with the European longsword was not as well preserved as it's eastern counterpart. there is a small group of people trying to resurrect it, by translating the ancient books. Here is my current library.

The sword is a Angus Trim Bastard sword Of the type XIIA it ways about 2 lbs 14 oz and is shaving sharp.

sorry for the crappy pic it is from my phone.

 

[stig]

An invisible sword...............cool!

Seems to me the modern copies of broadswords are too light compared to the originals.
My parents have an old copy of a Spanish broad sword. That thing is way heavier than 2 pds 14 ounces.

Chainmail was heavy, too.

Clad in mail and armed with a broadsword, you'd be a sitting duck facing a Nito ryu swordsman.


Oh, when I say Nito Ryu, I'm not talking about the bamboo sword, Kendo stuff it has evolved into, but the original Miyamoto Musashi style.
He wasn't exactly known for using a shinai ( bamboo sword).

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Damn. Now I'm going to have to pull out a ton of research from various sources I have. A lot of information is in this site - http://www.thearma.org/essays.htm

I was'nt doing the old comparison of knights VS samurai, although the world renowned swordsman expert J Clements* has this to say on the so called 'clumsy' Knights -
http://www.thehaca.com/essays/knightvs.htm

Generally speaking, European plate armor was designed primarily as a defense against sword points and other bladed weapons, whereas, Japanese armor was primarily designed more as a defense against arrows and spears. Significantly, it frequently had open feet and hands and a design that permitted archery. The knight's encased armor by contrast was idealized more for mounted charge with lance and or for dismounted close-combat. Japanese heavy armor contemporary with the period of the High Middle Ages knight was not considerably lighter than European plate.

A complete suit of fully articulated rigid plate-armor, which has been described as unequaled in its ingenuity and strength, was nearly resistant to sword blows and required entirely different specialized weapons to effectively defeat it. With its tempered steel and careful curved fluting it was just invulnerable to sword cuts-even, it can be surmised, those of the exceptionally sharp katana (some high-ranking 16th century samurai lords actually owned pieces of contemporary European armor, gifts and purchases which they even wore into battle -they did not prize them merely as exotica). Plate-armor for foot combat was well-balanced, maneuverable, and sometimes even made of tempered steel. It was well-suited for fighting in, and is far from the awkward, lumbering cliché presented by Hollywood. Unless you've worn accurate well-made plate of this kind, it is impossible to really know how it influenced the way a knight would move.

Knightly blades could be excellent swords, but are often denigrated merely as crude hunks of iron while samurai swords are venerated and exalted sometimes to the point of absurdity by collectors and enthusiasts (something the Japanese themselves do not discourage). Bad films and poorly trained martial artists reinforce this myth. The bottom line is that Medieval swords were indeed well-made, light, agile fighting weapons equally capable of delivering dismembering cuts or cleaving deep into body cavities. They were far from the clumsy, heavy things they're often portrayed as in popular media and far, far more than a mere "club with edges." Interestingly, the weight of katanas compared to longswords is very close with each on average being less than 4 pounds.

the samurai might also underestimate the power of the Medieval sword's cleaving blows and agile thrusts, even against his armor. The average European two-hand sword is longer in handle and blade than the average katana by several inches to as much as a foot or more and is not at all slow. It has a versatile hilt used for binding, trapping, and parrying. But the katana is also a fast weapon that cuts strongly and guards well and comes in a variety of lengths.

Despite its considerable reach though, there are numerous techniques for infighting using the long-sword's "half" guards and there are many techniques for striking with a shield. But then the katana is very good at close-in slices, which a straight blade cannot effectively do nearly as well. Of course, against good armor such actions can be negligible and fighting against shields was relatively unknown in Japan. So on one hand, the knight's fighting style –either of close-in sword and shield clashing, or large passing steps with long-reaching shearing cuts and plunging thrusts with a longsword or greatsword –might prove decisive

Now for what accounts I've read - When the British and French attacked the Chinese and burned the summer palace to the ground, they faced the Emperors best warriors and mercenaries. In G macdonald Frasiers historic novel on the subject he quotes accounts of the period of British and French unmounted cavalry facing these warriors with sabres - and the very poor close up swordsman skills they possesed.

There is also an account I read, Of the first Portuguese who landed in Japan, and how their swordsmanship, steel working armour etc was highly praised and prized by the Shoguns of the time. I read that in a book though, and cant find it online.

Its also worth montioning that when the Samurai had to face other outside enemies, mainly the Mongols in Manchuria, they were given a sound battering and sent packing.


* Having pursued the craft since 1980, John Clements is one of the world's foremost authorities on Medieval and Renaissance fighting skills. Clements has authored two books and more than a dozen magazine articles on historical swordplay. A leader in historical fencing studies, he has researched swords and sword combat in ten countries and taught seminars on the subject in eight. He has lectured and demonstrated at numerous museums and universities and is a frequent consultant on Medieval and Renaissance combative systems. He works full-time teaching and writing on historical European fighting arts.

 

[Strikermike]

Full mail would probably be about 30 to 40 lbs. But much of that weight would be at your core. So I am sure it would affect your stamina. Your limbs could still move quite fast. The point of a Katana or Musashi type sword would have a hard time penetrating chain mail. About the only area you could thrust to would be the face and just below the chin. The large full 2 handers or war swords are in the 3 to just under 4 pounds. Katanas that I have come across are usually 2 lbs 4 oz to 2lbs 10 oz.

 

[High Scale]

We should also remember that sword combat was over pretty quickly so mail armours weight wouldn't be too taxing for a big strong Knight, or so Sir Lancelot told me the other night at the banquet.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I have some connection to this man, know his biographer very well.

A trial lawyer who took a vow of poverty, and he has represented many people often considered by mainstream society to be the less desirables.....drug busts, murder trials...going to bat for a wide divergence of people who needed help agains the legal syatem. He often dresses in thrift store clothes, and drives an old beat up car, a unique individual.

His views on snitching, and sorry, not the best recording. There is a part 2.
:
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[woodworkingboy]

I have some connection to this man, know his biographer very well.

A rather famous trial lawyer who took a vow of poverty, and he has represented many people often considered by mainstream society to be the less desirables.....drug busts, murder trials...going to bat for a wide divergence of people who needed help against the legal syatem. He often dresses in thrift store clothes, and drives an old beat up car, a unique individual.

His views on snitching:

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[sotc]

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[sotc]

Ex-spurt!
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