The Marines Scimitar

[Loddfafnir113]

http://www.cracked.com/article_20634_6-things-movies-get-wrong-about-swords-an-inside-look.html (specifically, Numbers 5 and 1) has important information on how swords are forged, and explain why I'm so cynical towards the idea of a Space Marine forging a sword as a rite of passage. The article states, "A single longsword can take anywhere from 40 to 80 hours of forge time. And THAT only nets you the blade. By the time you take into account making the pommel, guard and handle, that one sword might have as much as two weeks of full-time labor invested in it." To anyone other than a Techmarine (whose duty it is to make and maintain his battle-brothers' weapons), wouldn't those two weeks be better spent in combat training, if not ACTUAL COMBAT?

  

 

Couldn't we say the same for the amount of time in a day a marine spends in prayer to the god emperor who most of them don't even think is actually a god? I think for this its the symbolism that's important, and the actual blade is just a by-product when alls said and done. Look at the Blood Angels, they use a chalice to hold blood for the insaguination rituals. There's no practical reason for that, in fact it would probably make things more complicated, but the symbolism is so important that they still use it.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

A good point regarding the time a Marine spends in prayer- and a likely mistake on Games Workshop's writers, due to the contradiction (I wouldn't be surprised if those writers believe Communism= Nazism). Well, if you have the writing skills, you can explain a Space Marine's need to make his own weapons; just take care to ensure the explanation is believable to us, as well (another problem I have with Games Workshop's writers, especially with the cliche of planetary governors leading their planet in rebellion against the Imperium, when a governor has the most to lose and THE LEAST TO GAIN in any such rebellion).

[Jape]

In the decades of a marine's early life I wouldn't say two weeks is a big deal. I'm sure if would take long than that for what ritualistic reasons but its stretched out over years, so its not a big deal IMO.

 

I will certainly be making power scimitars - only question is where to get the blades from? A lot of 'evil' armies use them but to reflect that they're often chipped and warped etc.

[Sete]

I think there are some White scar bits that look like a sabre. Maybe forge world?

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The only Forge World product I saw with scimitars, is the Legion MkIV Power Weapon Set, which only has two (2) scimitar-like weapons. I then checked 'Warhammer' and 'Warhammer Forge' products, specifically, those for High and Wood Elves (The Empire is obviously out), and saw NOTHING suitable. Figures for 'The Hobbit' do have suitable weapons (see Warriors of the Last Alliance for one example).

 

You may have to rely on Puppetswar, who have Hussar sabers and katana in ten-count packs. Alternately, use Kromlech's vibro-katana, which come in six-count packs. I've never purchased either company's products before, however, so I can't comment on their quality.

[Sete]

The only Forge World product I saw with scimitars, is the Legion MkIV Power Weapon Set, which only has two (2) scimitar-like weapons. I then checked 'Warhammer' and 'Warhammer Forge' products, specifically, those for High and Wood Elves (The Empire is obviously out), and saw NOTHING suitable. Figures for 'The Hobbit' do have suitable weapons (see Warriors of the Last Alliance for one example).

 

You may have to rely on Puppetswar, who have Hussar sabers and katana in ten-count packs. Alternately, use Kromlech's vibro-katana, which come in six-count packs. I've never purchased either company's products before, however, so I can't comment on their quality.

Well i did. the katana from puppets does seem a bit thin but kroms vibro katana is cool and can be used as a greatsword. you just need to replace the hilts or do a bit of a kitbash to add some hands on the hilt. But either way i dont like resin products. Thats why im doing a full plastic army.

[Jape]

Cheers guys. I think those hussar sabres from puppetswar could do very nicely.