Samurai Lightsaber

[tetsujin]

Originally Posted by Monkey Boy

Ha ha, not sure how you would do that with an energy blade!

Well nothing about the lightsaber really makes any kind of sense anyway... so I wouldn't worry about it... I was thinking a curved blade would be fitting, too, for a "samurai" design...

[Aresius]

A very unique design. Very interesting.

The grip is very Katana-like with the strips. However, the spike will render you incapable of doing lunges (spike will hinder you on pulling your hand up fast enough) and whirls (spike will interfere with your fingers or even also with you hand).
I'm a swordsman after all, so I know, what I'm talking about.

[Monkey Boy]

Originally Posted by Aresius

A very unique design. Very interesting.

The grip is very Katana-like with the strips. However, the spike will render you incapable of doing lunges (spike will hinder you on pulling your hand up fast enough) and whirls (spike will interfere with your fingers or even also with you hand).
I'm a swordsman after all, so I know, what I'm talking about.

I will say from the outset, I am *not* a swordsman.
But I dont see how the spike would stop you doing lunges? People lunge with cavalry sabres, with basket-hilt broadswords, and the guards on these are far more extreame.

As to whirls, I was given to understand that twirling your sword was just something to look cool in movies, and was actually a tactically unsound thing to do - actually letting your guard down.
Anyway, surely a Jedi would have the skill and foresight to work around these problems

This all aside, how many totally impractical sword designs have we seen in comics, movies, cartoons, computer games? (Final Fantasy 7 and 8 anyone?) Should not let practicality get in the way!

@Tetsujin: Yeah, a curved blade would be much more katana-like, and I guess that if a force field can curve, then why not an energy blade?
There are katana-like swords with straight blades (don't know what they are really called, but are usually captioned as 'ninja' swords, rather than 'samurai swords)

I don't think a character should be created for this, I think you would be hard pressed to create a character worthy of this hilt. Leave it on it's display stand, like a starwars action figure still in it's packaging - and worth more for it!

cheers.

[Aresius]

Okay, I hope I can make this understandably, if not, please say.
The image shows that the buttons are on the same side (with the first one located under the edge) as the spike. As you usually have your thumb placed on them it means that the spike is parallel to the thumb.
Now, with a lunge, you get your sabre fast forward into the enemies line and then pull it up by 3 joints. The arm goes up, the wrist and (that's the important point) you loosed your small and ring finger, sometimes even your middle finger.
Latest when the blade is vertically to your arm, the spike will block you from continuing the lunge (usually done until the blade is about 40-60° above arm)

As for the whirls; I didn't mean the taunts. I rather pointed at the defensive movements such as the "windmill" (usually done with two, but also able with one).
This is usually done by releasing the grip and only having thumb and index finger on the hilt (with the thumb on both buttons again).
Not, if you engage the move, you usually swing it to the opposite direction of your leading hand (right handers thus swing it to the left and vice versa) and there is the point. For the wrist, this is equal to a lunge, only angled and horizontal. The spine will hinder you to continue as the blade usually has to go about 25-30° off arm to gain speed and balance.

If you try to hold the hilt different, you risk to lose touch of the buttons and thus deactivating the sabre.

[Armondikov]

Trust me when I say that the picture that inspired this design was of a much less practical sword, compared to that, this one is easy to use :P.

Thanks for the comments, I'll probably look into altering the positions of the buttons if it looks like their too much of a problem. At the moment though, this isn't really about making a practical sword, this is very much guppy-wear at it's finest. After that, I'll probably do the wakizashi and tanto versions and stack them on the same stand.

As for characters, probably not. I'm sure I could design a character that would match this, but putting it into 3D is something else entirely.

[Monkey Boy]

I'd leave the buttons were they are, I mean, to be honest the buttons on a cannon sabre are not exactly in the best locations either, I don't see how the Jedi were not accidentally turning theirs off at inopportune moments! (or worst, cutting their own knees off when the sabre accidentally turned on while still on thir belt, while they do all that leeping around!)

@Aresius: Point taken, but are you not really talking about 'fencing' which is mainly about speed at the wrist with a single handed blade?
A katana is a two handed blade, which with it's curve edge, is essentially a slicing weapon, and not really meant for thrusts anyway.
It is actually the opposite of traditional European swordsmanship, in that the dominant arm mainly steers the sword, while the lower hand provides the power, because you do not stab or hack at you opponent, rather you 'draw' your sword through your opponent with an action like a carving knife through a roast. (Now there is a lovely image!)
I find your comments very interesting, and must have a try at the Epee sometime soon. Thanks.

Must say, that it is very refreshing to find another who spells it 'sabre' rather than 'saber'

@Armondikov: A Wakizashi? And a tanto?, Gee that would look cool on one of those triple blade display stands. Lovely, look forward to it!
How about a small removable mini laser-knife built into the hilt like some Katanas have (blade only 2-3 inches long)? No, probably going too far there?

cheers.

Additional: Looking at the slight curvature of the handle, if this were a Katana, the cutting edge would be facing upwards in this picture, so the thumbs would actually be on the opposite side to the buttons, which would be under the other fingers.

[Aresius]

@Armondikov: Guppy-wear, eh? Well, very guppy...

@Monkey Boy: No fencing. They might use lunges (though not in a range of about twice the sabre length) but they do never use whirls!
I also know the difference between European and Asian swords. I've got a Katana, a Varangian sword and a broadsword at home, so I can differ them in size, use and style..

[Ramiel]

Neat design, ME LIKES!

[Monkey Boy]

Originally Posted by Aresius

I've got a Katana, a Varangian sword and a broadsword at home, so I can differ them in size, use and style..

Be careful, with an arsenal like that, you might have the security forces banging on your door soon!

I challenge you to use all three at the same time! cutting yourself shaving would be nothing ompared to that accident!

cheers.

[star_creations]

This must be the most unique idea I have ever seen with it comes to Lightsabers.

Great Job my man...Great job