An Tir Dearg

It should work like that. Honestly, though, I don't see a significant enough weight savings to justify losing the versatility and safety that comes with two edges. The only reason compelling enough to build it single sided in my mind is stylistic.

One thing I would change is the spiral wrap on the incidental padding. It only needs to be a strip of blue since only one side can be used for striking.

Hai Tibby, Out of curiousity, when you were at yestare, did you get a chance to view the 'Quaterstaff' that Forkbeard said he built that is lopsided, an 18" side and the otherside with the rest of the padding, that he uses like a spear with a buttspike? Was thinking of making my 7 foot spear just such a contraption.

Konradr

Isk: My intention was to go for style by only blading one side of it. As far as the safety aspect, I was going to put a length of blue along the non-striking top of it over the gray shop floor mat that would be my box. As far as the 1/3 that was only courtesy padding, I was still going to spiral wrap it, but only half-way down that third, so that the part closest to me would just be gray shop floor mat. You think I can save on foam by only padding the bottom/blade side? Of course, I'd oblong my handle to prevent flatting.

Overall, it would look something like this:

[........blade........][double haft | single haft][........handle........]

I was thinking that on our field, I really wouldn't be losing too much versatility because I'm rarely fighting a line where I can just sweep back and forth. Certainly, I would be affected on an event field. Do you really think two sides is better than one?

Konradr: No, I didn't get a chance to see it. In fact, I had meant to but completely forgot. The next time I get some bandshoppe poles I'm going to make a standard spear with a shield hook and one of these quarterstaves. I can't help but think they'll be sort of fun, if novel.

Blade is on (double sided) - just like my red, same stabby tip too.

Need to do the haft padding, cover, pommel, and tape.

Would anyone suggest counter weights? Also, its a bit whippy.

I use the tire balancing weights to counter-weight, but I'd try it first with just the pommel and then try it with the weights until you find a balance you like.

well best of luck to you i converted my spear into a glaive as i have been meaning to and so it should be cool to see how it works good luck on it and pardon my absence.

Come out on wednesday man! We'll have a glaive-off.

now that schools out and no more studying for finals i plan on comeing every week, but of course i am bringing it along with several other weapons i am makeing, and i have been working on a special project ill bring it this wednesday to see what you guys have to say and possible comments on how to improve it.

i was looking in the hobby stores and i saw some lead stripping that is used for faux stained glass, its not very exsxpensive and this way you could put all the weight inside the handle instead of around it.

For my son's Pinewood Derby car I needed to make cylindrical lead weights (worms) so I melted the tire balancing weights and used potatoes as molds. This would be really simple to do for making tube weapon counter weights as well if anyone wants to do it with me sometime.

Both ideas sound interesting.

Isk, I know you've got the background in metallurgy, but with what did you melt the lead? I always tried screwing around with home made forges and bellows as a kid trying to mint my own "ancient" coins for games I made.

Never worked.

I have done traditional smelting and forge work with bellows that I made. I can teach how to make a bellows properly sometime if you'd like. As far as this goes, though, I used a stainless steel pan over a natural gas burner OUTSIDE. This actually worked really well since the heat was just enough to melt the lead, but not enough to heat it to where it was really popping or volatilizing off fumes. We could do here sometime is anybody wants to. I've got the lead and the designated lead melting pan already.

I remember melting lead for minnie balls on an old Sharps Carbine I use to have back in the day. black powder gunstores carry lead and small iron frying pans with spouts for melting the lead and pouring into .50 bullet molds.

Konradr