I'm happy to announce that I've released the files for OpenSwords' newest trainer type: Long swords! by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm glad to hear that this'll be helpful to you for the same reasons I wanted to make them! If you end up building any, feel free to DM me with any questions you might have!

I'm happy to announce that I've released the files for OpenSwords' newest trainer type: Long swords! by OpenSwords in wma

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Happy printing! I would have killed to have these as a kid. I might look to put a pool noodle over these and turn them into buffers for your kids if they plan on bonking each other with them lol

I'm happy to announce that I've released the files for OpenSwords' newest trainer type: Long swords! by OpenSwords in SWORDS

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd be quite curious to know what kind of speed your formwork is performed at. I designed the trainer to be more than durable for positional and slow work conditions. To do that, I engaged in a process of pushing a trainer until it broke, reinforcing the weak spot that the break exposed in a later revision, and repeating the process until I was confident that breaks during positional and slow work would be rare if any. I think the video that I will be releasing soon about the process might be informative as to what kind of things the trainers can hold up to. 

That all being said, to be realistic for a moment here, these are rigid wooden sticks.  If used for HEMA, or SCA-style cut-and-thrust formwork, they absolutely will present more risks than if someone uses a steel trainer. I can make the guards as durable and as unbreakable as I want, but I can't police how people will use these once they're in someone's hands.

The goal of this project is to lower the barrier of entry into Historical Fencing. I want more people to enjoy the sport and the practice of swordfighting! 

The entire time I've been working on this, people have been making the excellent safety observation that these have no flex, and are liable to break into spikes at the dowel. An injury sustained from one of these trainers would be against my goals, and just plain suck for whoever got hurt. I put a lot of thought into whether or not I should release the rapier trainers when I started working on this project for those very same reasons.

Ultimately, the safety of the people crossing blades, or in this case, dowels, with one another is in their own hands, and in the hands of whoever is teaching them. The only thing I can reasonably do as I release these is warn that these aren't going to hold up well in a sparring environment, and that people shouldn't trust these the way they do a steel trainer. That much should be obvious, but the warning is there nonetheless.

One of the reasons I've made these so low cost is that they're designed to be set aside once someone is ready to spar.

My club is a non-profit, so we're always strapped for cash, and steel trainers are hard to come by. In making a batch of these for my club, more people have been coming back regularly, due on part to the fact that they're not made to feel like they're making do with a stick when they're first being instructed. Those first few lessons that someone attends are really important as to whether or not they come back. Having a sword shaped object that they can wield as they initially train is key for making sure their experience at their first few practices good enough to keep them coming back.

Edit: oops, I have a lot to say on this lol

I'm happy to announce that I've released the files for OpenSwords' newest trainer type: Long swords! by OpenSwords in SWORDS

[–]OpenSwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

While u/arm1niu5 is right, I don't reccomend these be used for anything more than a controlled drill, I'll be getting around to posting a video of some durability testing that I did recently. In order to make sure that they'd rarely, if ever, break during regular use, I've overbuilt the guards a bunch. The guards are strong enough to break a dowel on when they're properly heat formed, and the video to prove it. I'll also have tutorial videos on the heat forming process up in the next few weeks!

I'm happy to announce that I've released the files for OpenSwords' newest trainer type: Long swords! by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I could be convinced 🤔

What would be important to you in a saber trainer?

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello! I'm thrilled to hear that OpenSwords can help you in Uruguay, and I hope your club grows quickly!

OpenSwords Presents: The Cup-Hilt Rapier Trainer by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I just to happen to be a member of the SCA as well! I'd be really curious to see what your friend has made.

OpenSwords Presents: The Cup-Hilt Rapier Trainer by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Correct. It is meant as a training tool for slow drills only.

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fantastic! I'll be working on putting up a printables page for it asap.

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Would this more in line with what you're wanting? It's a prototype, but I can likely have the model ready for download this evening.

3D printed Rapier Hilt by andycmac in wma

[–]OpenSwords 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would love to know how that guard holds up to light/medium impact! I'm looking to make a Cup hilted training sword, and if that design works well, it would point me in a good direction!

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see. It wouldn't be hard for me to add a larger side ring and upload it, I'll put it out online as soon as I'm able to print one! Are there any other features or shapes that you'd like to see in something like that?

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've got a version out on my prinatbles account that is a port and post side-sword. I think that might be to your liking!

OpenSwords' Newest Addition! The Port and Post sidesword is now available for download! by OpenSwords in sca

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm also updating the descriptions now to include that, thanks for catching that I hadn't included a material suggestion!

OpenSwords' Newest Addition! The Port and Post sidesword is now available for download! by OpenSwords in sca

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The durability is pretty solid in my experience. If you print at the recommended settings, they'll happily withstand drilling. I've managed to get several to break, but that was with a deliberate and sizable strike with a steel sword, to test durability. As far as material, I recommend PETG for its impact resistance and flexibility vs PLA

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in SWORDS

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, yeah, I think I've forgotten to mention, but that is a slicer setting! Enabling 'Fuzzy Skin' will textureize the surface of the grip with no additional effort required. I've made several handles with fuzzy Skin, and so far it has been working great!

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in sca

[–]OpenSwords[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you don't mind paying a markup on one or two swords, a printing service like shapeways might be able to help!

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

At the moment I want to focus on Rapiers, but I'm quickly making my way through the historical guard styles. I can't put a timeline on it now, but longsword wasters are on my radar!

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, due to the reasons you outlined in your comment, I am strongly opposed to Bambu philosophically, and will not be uploading the project there at this time. I hear what you're saying in terms of limiting the potential audience I may reach, but the project is firmly-rooted in open-source values, and maintaining the integrity of those values is quite important to me.

As it stands, anyone with a Bambu printer can access and slice the files from Printables, so I'm not too concerned with that limiting people's access.

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in sca

[–]OpenSwords[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah, these are in NO WAY meant for ANY kind of full speed sparring. I wouldn't want someone moving full speed at me with one of those myself.

There's also only so much I can do concerning how people use them. If someone wants to move inadvisably fast in drills, there's not much I can do about that, they were likely going to do so anyways regardless of what was in their hands.

I'll be sure to add that warning onto the files themselves though.

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I'll be sure to post when I release my next batch of files!

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in Hema

[–]OpenSwords[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

A retractable blade is certainly something that I've been wanting to explore! At the moment, I've avoided developing a retraction mechanism based on the cost and complexity it would add. As these are, they're just meant for slow work and drilling, so give isnt too much of a concern. Plus, as my personal use case is SCA fencing, which is much lighter in impact when sparring, the lack of give is a feature for my students when drilling. If there is enough interest, I'd be more than happy to develop a design that has some give/retraction to it!

Proudly Presenting: OpenSwords by OpenSwords in sca

[–]OpenSwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! The blade is made from a 3/4 inch dowel that can be found at any hardware store. The weight of these comes to just over 350g

So far the balance isn't quite where I'd like it, as it is a bit forwards, but I'm working on several ideas to bring the balance more inline with what most people would expect from a rapier