# Different Cultures, Different Swords: Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2001, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669 "2001-08-02T17:20:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![rynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@rynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rynn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669/41 "2001-10-01T09:56:44Z")
Isn’t the big two handed wavy bladed sword called a flamberge? Thought a falchion was a single edged, one handed curved chopping deal. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2001, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669/42 "2001-10-01T13:56:28Z")
OK, I don’t know much about swords, but I’ve always wanted an opportunity to say: _My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die._ That felt good. RR ---
**Author:** ![Tenebras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@Tenebras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenebras)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669/43 "2001-10-02T03:10:06Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Menocchio** _ > > I’m no duelist, but I do fence epee, as well as a little foil, and I’ve had the oppoiste experience. Epee bouts can be marked by long periods of feinting, experimentation, and just sizing your opponent up and waiting for your shot. Sabre (and to a lesser extent, foil) is the quick weapon. The bouts themselves are still shorter, because there is no right-of-way or target area concerns for the director to bother with. Um… Epee has no right of way/target areas. The other two do. Or did I just read this wrong? I love sabre, and I suck at foil because I never practice it anymore, and whenever I see that dinky little blade coming at me, I parry and then catch them with the flat across their chest. Oops! Happens all the time, I’m afriad. Tenebras ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669/44 "2001-10-02T18:49:07Z")
I think what Menocchio was trying to say is that while epee bouts are shorter because there’s no right of way or target area, the time between halts is longer (more probing than saber, for example). ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2001, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669/45 "2001-10-02T21:28:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by rynn \* > \*\*Isn’t the big two handed wavy bladed sword called a flamberge? Thought a falchion was a single edged, one handed curved chopping deal. \*\* YES! Thank you! And Chronos, it was in my D&D Combat and Tactics book, I couldn’t dig it up though. I know what a falchion is. It’s a reverse tulwar! ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669/46 "2001-10-06T18:48:48Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m no duelist, but I do fence epee, as well as a little foil, and I’ve had the oppoiste experience. Epee bouts can be marked by long periods of feinting, experimentation, and just sizing your opponent up and waiting for your shot. Of course. But modern fencing and classical fencing are different and incompatible. In a serious dueling environment, there is simply no reason to start out of distance, as is so common in modern fencing. The poor sod who has to move in distance is going to get himself killed instantly. So while in classical epee there is in fact a great deal of feeling about, sensitity, and manipulation, a skilled fencer does not have to do this for more than a few brief moments. Three engagements is all a master of the epee should need. As for my feelings towards HACA, I posted them to the other swordsmanship thread. I shall link it presently. MR ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2001, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669/47 "2001-10-06T18:49:59Z")
[Here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=91330) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/different-cultures-different-swords-why/74669.md?page=2)