Results and comments from the Aug/Sep 2003 survey.

	Ýves’ big SCA rapier survey #1 ~ Fiberglass blades
	Updated: May 24, 2005

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Policy blurb

By default, authors of comments sent in response to this survey are named only by their permission. Usually, other people mentioned in a comment are named only with their permission as well. Each comment represents only what the author typed in for the survey at the time.

» This survey was conducted during August-September 2003. Things change over time. «

Some comments were edited for content. Certain harsh words have been changed for your amusement. Opinions expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect those of the surveyor.

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# of Responses
by Kingdom
 
AEth.  = 34/235
Anst.  = 36/240
An Tir = 56/347
Art.   = 12/124
Aten.  = 27/460
Atl.   = 60/425
Caid   = 49/400
Drach. = 21/76
Eald.  = 12/77
East   = 46/480
Loch.  = 22/120
Mer.   = 27/140
Mid.   = 52/640
Nor.   = 25/164
Out.   = 26/214
Tri.   = 46/237
West   = 14/70
Unk.   = 2

The gist

These comments were sent in response to Question 11.

Most people do not like fiberglass blades ... for MANY reasons.

Some people, mostly in the kingdoms that still use fiberglass, like them for safety, low weight, and the ability to create different weapons.

The comments

Note: Any remarks in the comments below from Yves look like this.

Jump to: Neutral/Mixed comments, Unfavorable comments

For more comments and stats, see the links at the bottom of this page.

FAVORABLE

Φ An Tir ~ Loved the fibreglass, it was quick and safer to use for me.  ``Draven

Φ An Tir ~ Short well made fiberglass with metal hilts can be fun too.

Φ An Tir ~ Like - fiberglass, if made properly, then they are the safest thing out there.  ``Caiaphas

Φ Anst. ~ I live in a kingdom where most fighters start with epee -- I would rather see them have fiberglass as a starting blade.  ``Doré

Φ Loch. ~ Fibreglass, safer to fight at full speed.

Φ Loch. ~ Fibreglass - love the ability to create own blade shape and length.  ``Francois

Φ Loch. ~ Like fiberglass gives more scope on the types of weapons that can be created.

Φ Loch. ~ Fibreglass varies according to design and construction, but a very good entry weapon.  ``Aldwin

Φ West ~ Love fiberglass - it's light, maneuverable, and does not require extraneous strength and effort in order to be able to recreate and examine through practice the ideas of period combat.

NEUTRAL/MIXED

Φ An Tir ~ Fiberglass are ... okay. Good learning tool. A tad too stiff when used by the unskilled.  ``Laurin

Φ An Tir ~ No problems with fibreglass, although it is generally a little less consistent and reliable than a steel blade.  ``Argan    [This was paraphrased.]

Φ An Tir ~ I like fiberglass if they're heavy enough to be a halfway real simulation, because they are cheap and accessible. I dislike them (especially when constructed very light) because they encourage flailing over form.  ``Vincent

Φ An Tir ~ I started with fiberglass and it has it's place (when properly constructed so as not to be excessively whippy) for those who are still trying to find out if they want to continue in the sport or are on limited budgets but it also doesn't act or sound like a steel blade.  ``Alicia

Φ An Tir ~ I love fiberglass, because fiberglass was what I could afford when I started out, and I don't think I would have gotten into rapier combat without it. I hate fiberglass because it doesn't transmit touch near as well as steel, it's too light, and the tape covering sticks instead of slides.  ``Ruaidhri

Φ Anst. ~ Fiberglass was interesting, but too much work to make and they were often just ugly.  ``Lionardo

Φ Loch. ~ Fiberglass - like because it's cheap, but it doesn't look that great.

Φ Loch. ~ Fiberglass is all right, but it flexes wrong, looks wrong, and sounds wrong.

Φ Loch. ~ Fibreglass - like and dislike. Don't like weapons that are whippy and too light. They get used too much like modern weapons and it becomes a sniping game. They are cheap and easy and last a long time, so they are great for the beginner fencer, especially if they are built with a bit of weight and rigidity.  ``Gregory

Φ Tri. ~ I did not care for fiber glass at all and neither did the other people I fenced with in the Kingdom of the West. I did like how it bent.  ``Lillian

UNFAVORABLE

Æthelmearc

Φ Ecch!  ``Michael

Φ Hate Fiberglass...way too light and whippy!

An Tir

Φ Ban this garbage.
Φ Fiberglass - goopies, whipy ugly.  ``Cormac

Φ Fiberglass. Ick too whippy. Not responsive.
Φ I most dislike fiberglass because it is so light.  ``Juana
Φ I used fiberglass once and hated it because it was too "whippy."   ``Luaithrenn

Φ Dislike- Fiberglass- with the length restrictions in Antir, fiberglass is at a disadvantage.

Φ Fiberglass is terrible because of the lack of consistency in [weight, flex, balance, and appearance] although I guess that's why they go over so well with some.

Atenveldt

Φ Fiberglass is a travesty.  ``John Patrick

Atlantia

Φ Fiberglass, the look stupid and are more dangerous than the metal blades. I will not fight against them, ever.

Φ I picked up a fiberglass blade once and couldn't fight for laughing. The weight is wrong, the floppiness is wrong, the balance is wrong, the sound is wrong, and the whole sword looks like [buttocks].  ``Rois

Caid

Φ Despise them.  ``Tora
Φ Don't like Fiberglass - too whippy, too light, can whip people.  ``Alexander K
Φ Cannot stand fiberglass, blew one once and the powder was scary.
Φ I detest using fiberglass blades. The feel and the sound is all wrong.  ``John James

Drachenwald

Φ Hate: Fibreglass ... I don't think of them as rapiers). One seen one of these, it kicked like a mule when hit and was soo ugly! ARRGH! NOO!!!  ``Cernac

Ealdormere

Φ Fibreglass: BAD! Feels and handles nothing like a real rapier.  ``Sebastian

Lochac

Φ Fiberglass, too whippy.
Φ Not a great fan of fiberglass.
Φ I hate fiberglass, stupid idea.
Φ Fiberglass, as they look crappy after a bout or two.

Midrealm

Φ Fiberglass I hate. They don't feel, look or behave like the blades we're trying to reproduce as well as the heightened danger of a broken blade run through from them.  ``Uadahlrich

Outlands

Φ I tried fiberglass ... and didn't like it much because it had no "ting" noise, and the vibration was different.

Φ I dislike fiberglass: it shares all of the worst aspects of most other forms - it does not look authentic, is too light, too whippy, hits stiffly, and requires a lot of maintenance. Fiberglass is not used in the Outlands. Nobody around here likes it, and I don't blame them.  ``Guillaume

Trimaris

Φ Fiberglass... not real enough!

West

Φ Yech! I don't enjoy fiberglass it's like fighting in mud.  ``Crispy

Φ Used Fiberglass on rare occassion at practice, I think it is too lite weight and flimsey. I think they should be done away with.  ``Etain

Plus generic unfavorable mentions from: East 1, Midrealm 1, and Northshield 1.

More pages comments on blades

Del Tin . Epée and Foil . Hanwei . Schläger . Zamorano

Heavy blades . Miscellaneous comments

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Original page posted: October 18, 2004. Last tweaked: July 1, 2006.

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