The "Ask Nathan a Question" Thread

Nathan the Machinist said:
"The katana! It's the ultimate sword!*

(*In feudal Japan)


The rapier.

Long and fast. I think it's the ultimate evolution of the sword. The only good way to realistically survive a sword fight against an opponent with a rapier is to also have a rapier.

Or a Glock

"Oh, if I were going against somebody with a rapier I would bring XYZ sword, it's so big he would not be able to parry it"

If your sword is heavy enough that a rapier can't stop it, it's heavy enough he can simply step out of the way but he will stab you in the brain, poke out both your eyes, and slit your throat before you ever got close to him regardless and you can't really effectively dodge a thrust from a rapier.

I know, before you fencing enthusiasts can say it, I am aware that there are better tools for combat sport. But, I think in real combat, going up against a real rapier with anything other than a rapier is suicidal.
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Depends on the armor in use. Absolutely correct if no armor but I would argue the point for periods with heavier armor.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
"The katana! It's the ultimate sword!*

(*In feudal Japan)


The rapier.

Long and fast. I think it's the ultimate evolution of the sword. The only good way to realistically survive a sword fight against an opponent with a rapier is to also have a rapier.

Or a Glock

"Oh, if I were going against somebody with a rapier I would bring XYZ sword, it's so big he would not be able to parry it"

If your sword is heavy enough that a rapier can't stop it, it's heavy enough he can simply step out of the way but he will stab you in the brain, poke out both your eyes, and slit your throat before you ever got close to him regardless and you can't really effectively dodge a thrust from a rapier.

I know, before you fencing enthusiasts can say it, I am aware that there are better tools for combat sport. But, I think in real combat, going up against a real rapier with anything other than a rapier is suicidal.
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Yup.

Did kendo, as well as Chinese sword styles, Filipino, as well as HEMA.

Sword vs sword, without armor, the rapier is absolutely my pick. It evolved into what it is, BECAUSE of its effectiveness in duels between unarmored opponents.

For the folks who’ve never trained in sword arts, there are a few “katana vs rapier” videos on YT. I’ll just say that every one I’ve seen is BS. The rapier wielder is always trying to stab the katana wielder through and through.

In a REAL duel/sword fight, a SMART rapier wielder isn’t going to risk a dual fatality, stabbing the katana wielder through, AS they get cut in half. The rapier wielder will simply aim to cut ANY body part within reach. Hands/wrists, forearms, knees, thighs… and rapiers tended to average blade lengths around 35” - 45”, with 40-42” being quite common.

Katanas should be sized to the wielder, so historical ones are shorter than ideal for the average Westerner, due to short average heights of samurai of the era (5’3” to 5’5”), but a 42” rapier has quite a reach advantage over a 30” katana blade sized for a Western swordsman.

Unlike the movies, ANY cut inhibits mobility and reduces your effectiveness as a fighter. Blood loss exacerbates that.

The final fight in the movie Rob Roy, is actually a decent depiction of someone with a light, fast sword (small sword, shorter, lighter and even faster than a rapier), vs a broadsword.

 
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Nathan the Machinist said:
"The katana! It's the ultimate sword!*

(*In feudal Japan)


The rapier.

Long and fast. I think it's the ultimate evolution of the sword. The only good way to realistically survive a sword fight against an opponent with a rapier is to also have a rapier.

Or a Glock

"Oh, if I were going against somebody with a rapier I would bring XYZ sword, it's so big he would not be able to parry it"

If your sword is heavy enough that a rapier can't stop it, it's heavy enough he can simply step out of the way but he will stab you in the brain, poke out both your eyes, and slit your throat before you ever got close to him regardless and you can't really effectively dodge a thrust from a rapier.

I know, before you fencing enthusiasts can say it, I am aware that there are better tools for combat sport. But, I think in real combat, going up against a real rapier with anything other than a rapier is suicidal.
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Death of a thousand pokes!

Always loved rapiers too, but also wondered if they might be too fragile for real "work".
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
"The katana! It's the ultimate sword!*

(*In feudal Japan)


The rapier.

Long and fast. I think it's the ultimate evolution of the sword. The only good way to realistically survive a sword fight against an opponent with a rapier is to also have a rapier.

Or a Glock

"Oh, if I were going against somebody with a rapier I would bring XYZ sword, it's so big he would not be able to parry it"

If your sword is heavy enough that a rapier can't stop it, it's heavy enough he can simply step out of the way but he will stab you in the brain, poke out both your eyes, and slit your throat before you ever got close to him regardless and you can't really effectively dodge a thrust from a rapier.

I know, before you fencing enthusiasts can say it, I am aware that there are better tools for combat sport. But, I think in real combat, going up against a real rapier with anything other than a rapier is suicidal.
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Awesome answer

Thank you !
 
Hey

Picked up this FK3 recently and I’m trying to nail down exactly what I’ve got here.
Details:
– “CAROTHERS” on the presentation side + the triangle “3V” stamp
– Looks like a hand-rubbed horizontal satin (pretty clean work)
– Orange G10, three-screw setup
– Leather sheath is NOT factory, just an aftermarket job
– No extra numbers, no proto markings, nothing on the spine/ricasso besides the usual

Based on the logo placement + the finish, I’m leaning toward this being a Batch 2 FK3, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s handled a bunch of these or owns multiples.

What I’m trying to figure out:
1. Batch confirmed? Anything here point to a different run?
2. Any chance this was part of a small hand-rub batch or a show table piece?
3. Ballpark value these days without the factory sheath? (USD preferred but GBP/RMB also fine)
4. Anything else I should be looking for to confirm authenticity or run?

Knife is super clean — looks barely used if at all.

Appreciate any insight. I can snap more detailed pics (ricasso, screws, spine, tip, handle edges, etc.) if that helps.
 
RyanQ said:
Hey

Picked up this FK3 recently and I’m trying to nail down exactly what I’ve got here.
Details:
– “CAROTHERS” on the presentation side + the triangle “3V” stamp
– Looks like a hand-rubbed horizontal satin (pretty clean work)
– Orange G10, three-screw setup
– Leather sheath is NOT factory, just an aftermarket job
– No extra numbers, no proto markings, nothing on the spine/ricasso besides the usual

Based on the logo placement + the finish, I’m leaning toward this being a Batch 2 FK3, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s handled a bunch of these or owns multiples.

What I’m trying to figure out:
1. Batch confirmed? Anything here point to a different run?
2. Any chance this was part of a small hand-rub batch or a show table piece?
3. Ballpark value these days without the factory sheath? (USD preferred but GBP/RMB also fine)
4. Anything else I should be looking for to confirm authenticity or run?

Knife is super clean — looks barely used if at all.

Appreciate any insight. I can snap more detailed pics (ricasso, screws, spine, tip, handle edges, etc.) if that helps.
Click to expand...
No photos show up....
 
RyanQ said:
Hey

Picked up this FK3 recently and I’m trying to nail down exactly what I’ve got here.
Details:
– “CAROTHERS” on the presentation side + the triangle “3V” stamp
– Looks like a hand-rubbed horizontal satin (pretty clean work)
– Orange G10, three-screw setup
– Leather sheath is NOT factory, just an aftermarket job
– No extra numbers, no proto markings, nothing on the spine/ricasso besides the usual

Based on the logo placement + the finish, I’m leaning toward this being a Batch 2 FK3, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s handled a bunch of these or owns multiples.

What I’m trying to figure out:
1. Batch confirmed? Anything here point to a different run?
2. Any chance this was part of a small hand-rub batch or a show table piece?
3. Ballpark value these days without the factory sheath? (USD preferred but GBP/RMB also fine)
4. Anything else I should be looking for to confirm authenticity or run?

Knife is super clean — looks barely used if at all.

Appreciate any insight. I can snap more detailed pics (ricasso, screws, spine, tip, handle edges, etc.) if that helps.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by „Batch 2“ ?

If CAROTHERS is in capital letters, it’s a BFK, not an FK3.

Also, you need a Gold membership to discuss prices.

Welcome.
 
bluemax_1 said:
Folks who don’t do HEMA tend to think of rapiers when they see anything that looks close.

Here’s a decent video talking about rapiers vs smallswords.

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Huge thanks to Nathan and bluemax_1 for addressing this topic! That was a great video!

I received the Basic D&D starter set in 1977 and have played RPG’s on and off ever since. I fenced for 7 years through high school and college (saber and foil), consider myself intelligent, well educated, and intellectually curious, and am bemused that I never even considered looking into this topic before today.

Always liked katanas and virtually any other blades better than rapiers in all the RPG’s despite (or more likely because of) my background in fencing — didn’t realize that the lightweight fencing implements we used in our sport were of such different scale, weight, and utility as compared with actual rapiers.

Here’s hoping that Nathan and CPK will produce a rapier one day.
 
Hi all I'm new to this forum so not yet 100% sure on how things work here. I'm really interested in the "carothers 10" medium chopper" which is apparently coming soon based on their website. Just curious on when to roughly expect for it to drop and if its not yet too late? Thanks looking forward to hearing from you Nathan cheers.
 
sammy10 said:
Hi all I'm new to this forum so not yet 100% sure on how things work here. I'm really interested in the "carothers 10" medium chopper" which is apparently coming soon based on their website. Just curious on when to roughly expect for it to drop and if its not yet too late? Thanks looking forward to hearing from you Nathan cheers.
Click to expand...

The Light Chopper will start to ship around the end of the year. The Standard Chopper is a little behind that.
 
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