Costumes & Reenactment

Practical Uses Of Foam Swords

The reason to use a foam sword?

On the subject of battling within LARP, Martial arts and Fencing as well as within films, foam swords have grown to be the #1 weapon of choice. Foam sword fighting has been around for around 21 years and it’s been created and enhanced and perfected over those years. With foam sword fighting, simply no protective clothing is required, and also the style is more like how a knight might fight with a weapon and shield.

Why should I consider a foam sword over a replica sword?

Picking a foam sword as a practice sword is wonderful in regards to learning brand-new abilities and methods while still delivering the basic safety of a practice replica. Practice swords manufactured from high quality rubber foam enable you to get better at the historical strategies of self defense.

These kind of practice foam blades provide the appear and feel of the real thing. . You can now practice your sword strategies and learn new skills with no risks or expenses of using actual steel swords. It’s quite easy for most novice LARPERS or sword fighting fanatics to confuse a foam sword with a Boffer sword. Boffers tend to be made by hand swords that use PCV piping, foil and duct tape. These kinds of swords could possibly inflict harm if not used properly.

Martial arts experts, re-enactors and stunt people just about all need gear to keep their skill set and they would rather use foam swords within their everyday use for practical and safety reasons.

What types of people would use a foam sword?

LARP

Live Action Role Playing, a.k.a. LARP is actually a role-playing pastime where a characters actions are physically and mentally acted out. Each and every character makes a identity that fits directly into an imaginary role inside the game setting. Inside every game, numerous weaponry, costumes and settings are used. Regulations happen to be quickly changing inside the LARP games and basic safety of the players is paramount. This is why foam swords are rapidly turning into the blade of choice throughout the numerous fighting scenes.

Fencing

On the subject of building basic fencing skills, most newcomers will opt for a foam weapon over real fencing foil. Foam fencing foils help to acquire basic fencing capabilities without having to spend money on all of the real fencing equipment.

Children

Foam swords for children make a fantastic toy; they are very safe and fun to play with, parent approved and they leave no marks on the child’s skin. Foam swords and shields have been developed with realistic role-play at heart and have been created and developed for safe playtime fun for all ages from Preschool up. Be it a budding Robin Hood, Knight of the Round table or even a fearless dragon slaying adventure, children can enjoy the make believe fun that foam swords and shields are meant for.

Martial Arts Events

Foam weapons in many cases are used in fights more akin to martial arts competitions. These competitions often resemble historic reenactment combat but will need significantly less protective gear. Foam weapons are also used in quite a few sport-like battle games.

SCA Activities

SCA or Society for Creative Anachronism often use foam rapiers inside their fencing practices. During their melees a genuine rapier is used, but in order to pass the SCA judges authorizations, knowledge and demonstration of basic safety must first be challenged. For these reasons, individuals in the SCA will use foam rapiers while practicing to boost their skills.

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About the Author

 Visit http://www.hanzoswords.com for a large selection foam swords and foam weapons.

Can anyone tell how what kind of impact resistance Polymer clay has once hardened?

I am thinking of using it to make plastic armor for LARP combat and if strong enough SCA combat. Does it have basically the same properties as PVC?

It should. The real problem is going to be producing a uniform tough sheet without flaws or weak areas. And I suspect that rolling out enough to get to 1/4″ or more thickness will be fairly costly.
If I were wanting to use PVC in this kind of application, I would go buy a piece of fairly large diameter PVC drain or pressure pipe. An 8″ pipe has a circumference of over 25″, 6″ almost 19″. Cutting off a piece and then sawing length wise, the material can be heated in an oven and it will soften and can be laid down using gloves and hot pads. Once flattened, it can be cut to armor shape, and resoftened to fit the body. We used to use PVC pipe for stage set parts, bending it by heating with stage lights down close, 500 or 1000 watt quartz halogen work lights also work.
You don’t have to invest in a 10′ piece of 8″ pipe to check this out, you can buy 4″ thick and thin wall pipe at most home centers and practice – make arm guards or something.