# Chainsaw fencing—perrying without damaging one's own weapon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291 "2013-02-04T06:48:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/1 "2013-02-04T06:48:14Z")
As part of my [ongoing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=180537) [efforts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=610509) into modernizing sports, I’ve been doing some brainstorming…on using chainsaws in fencing. Specifically, could you parry an opponent’s “blade” with a chainsaw of your own without damaging your own weapon’s chain into inoperability? And, if not, what might be the best way around this problem—some kind of guard for the side of the “bar”? Or adopting some manner of specialized main-gauche? I regret to say that I don’t have enough experience with chainsaw use to say what kind, size or model of chainsaw would be used in such a “sport.” Although, obviously, if a parrying dagger was to be used, that’d limit the size of the primary weapon. Would anyone care to weigh in? (Also…apologies, but this actually _did_ seem to qualify as a GQ. God help us.) ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/2 "2013-02-04T08:17:39Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/3 "2013-02-04T09:39:16Z")
If you adjusted the clutch to slip at the slightest provocation such that when the chains of the 2 saws locked, their clutches would both slip, then both saws should be fine. However for the purpose of emulating a rapier more closely, bumper bars could be added to the guide bar. I’m thinking of something solid steel, maybe 1/4" thick that would go from the tip to the housing along the top and bottom of the guide bar on both sides. Maybe it could be angled up (toward the chain) to make engaging the chain directly more difficult, but not impossible. This would also leave the tip mostly free for thrusting. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/4 "2013-02-04T10:38:24Z")
A half-round section of concrete or other abrasive material affixed to either side of the blade - the material properties could be adjusted depending on whether the intent was to permit extended blocking, or to damage the attacking opponent’s blade. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/5 "2013-02-04T13:52:00Z")
Whatever you do, if the chains hit each other there’s a good chance of one or both binding or breaking. I’d like to add that this is one of the stupidest ideas I’ve heard recently. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/6 "2013-02-04T14:45:23Z")
That’s why they only do it with Nerf chainsaws at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/7 "2013-02-04T14:56:50Z")
Another problem: Doesn’t a chainsaw blade pull towards the user? I’d want to reverse it, to kick the enemy blade _away_ from me, rather than pulling it closer. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/8 "2013-02-04T14:59:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Another problem: Doesn’t a chainsaw blade pull towards the user? I’d want to reverse it, to kick the enemy blade _away_ from me, rather than pulling it closer. One bottom pulls, the top pushes. Either way, when the chain breaks it’s most likely to hit you. That doesn’t matter which chain on which saw breaks, that’s the way chain saws are. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/9 "2013-02-04T15:09:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Another problem: Doesn’t a chainsaw blade pull towards the user? I’d want to reverse it, to kick the enemy blade _away_ from me, rather than pulling it closer. If your motors were electric it would be a simple thing to have it reverse when encountering more than X load. If a freakin paper shredder can do it, why not a chainsword. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/10 "2013-02-04T17:31:14Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > If your motors were electric it would be a simple thing to have it reverse when encountering more than X load. If a freakin paper shredder can do it, why not a chainsword. A chainsaw running at speed is quite a different machine to a paper shredder, is why not. It would be very.hard to engineer a chainsaw that instantly reverses direction without self-destructing ---
**Author:** ![AndrewL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/11 "2013-02-04T17:32:56Z")
Back in the early days of those robot combat events (Robot Wars, Battlebots, etc) some of the competitors tried to use chainsaws as weapons. It turns out that chainsaws make for terrible weapons. The mechanism is far too fragile, the first good impact against something hard either breaks the chain or jams the mechanism. Hitting one chainsaw against another would probably result in both failing. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/12 "2013-02-04T21:45:44Z")
Maybe what you really want here is a set of extra large, extra strong, electric knives. They use more of a back-and-forth sawing motion; much more conducive to active swordplay, and just as gore-inducingly-effective as a chainsaw. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/13 "2013-02-04T22:03:22Z")
Modify a hedge-trimmer with blades more like an electric knife. They’re already big enough, and use the back and forth motion. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/14 "2013-02-04T22:16:38Z")
Hedge-trimmer. Brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Lurker\_Above](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@The\_Lurker\_Above](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Lurker_Above)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2013, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/15 "2013-02-04T22:53:22Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Hedge-trimmer. Brilliant! You’d have to rename them though. “Hedge-trimmer fencing” doesn’t have anywhere near the same cool/badass factor as “chainsaw fencing”. ---
**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/16 "2013-02-05T01:10:26Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Whatever you do, if the chains hit each other there’s a good chance of one or both binding or breaking. I’d like to add that this is one of the stupidest ideas I’ve heard recently. Now, now, lets cut him a little slack. I think it’s a fine idea, considering there has been a serious proposal to weaponize a chainsaw for military use. If your interested here’s a rough sketch of this black ops weapon: [![](https://ravenrepublic.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/RocketPropelledChainsaw.jpg) ](https://ravenrepublic.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/RocketPropelledChainsaw.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/17 "2013-02-05T02:59:00Z")
> [@The\_Lurker\_Above](#): > > You’d have to rename them though. “Hedge-trimmer fencing” doesn’t have anywhere near the same cool/badass factor as “chainsaw fencing”. I got a chainsaw stuck in chicken-wire, once. I’ll take hedge-trimmers over that, any day. Even Knife-edged ones. \<_shudder_\> ---
**Author:** ![BunnyTVS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BunnyTVS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyTVS)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/18 "2013-02-05T03:22:50Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Now, now, lets cut him a little slack. I think it’s a fine idea, considering there has been a serious proposal to weaponize a chainsaw for military use. If your interested here’s a rough sketch of this black ops weapon: > > [http://ravenrepublic.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/RocketPropelledChainsaw.jpg](http://ravenrepublic.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/RocketPropelledChainsaw.jpg) APFSDUDSC?\* \*Amrour piercing fin stabilised depleted uranium discarded sabot chainsaw. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chainsaw-fencing-perrying-without-damaging-ones-own-weapon/649291/19 "2013-02-05T03:51:17Z")
> [@obbn](#): > > Now, now, lets cut him a little slack. I think it’s a fine idea, considering there has been a serious proposal to weaponize a chainsaw for military use. If your interested here’s a rough sketch of this black ops weapon: > > [http://ravenrepublic.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/RocketPropelledChainsaw.jpg](http://ravenrepublic.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/RocketPropelledChainsaw.jpg) Well, I have to admit that now the OP’s idea is only the second stupidist I’ve heard recently.