Training swords through out the ages

[tallwingedgoat]

When swordsmen of the past sparred, did they use a special training sword?

The Japanese favored the boken, but I don't know if wooden wasters have a valid historical foundation in other parts of the world. For certain types of swords, rapiers for example, a wood replacement do not seem likely.

In Hamlet, the duel was fought with presumably metal practice swords. Have some of these survived to modern times? How much would they be worth on the antique market today?

I think seeing them up close would be highly instructive to understanding how past sword masters trained and fought.

[This message has been edited by tallwingedgoat (edited 08-31-2000).]

 

[FullerH]

The Romans used a wooden practise sword and shield to train their troopers that weighed twice what the actual combat versions weighed, on the theory that the troops would build up strength to handle the weapons that way. It apparently worked, as others have used that system throughout history. As troop training had come from gladiator training, it would seem that gladiators were trained the same way, and, if you remember the movie, "Gladiator", a freed gladiator received a wooden sword as a symbol of his freedom. This was an accurate representation of the Roman records.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh Fuller