EK Schlager Punch Test-Tivar's comments

[Chris and Elisabeth Zakes]

(snip)

>The Drop:  The tip of the blade was held 30 cm above the sample, and dropped 
>straight down through a 35 cm length of copper tube to prevent deflection 
>(and creaming Dylan on the noggin).


I'd be curious to see the results if you dropped the blade through a ring
30cm above the target, and allowed the blade to bend upon impact. I suspect
that a lot of the force (especially with the lighter blades) would be lost
in the bend, and you'd need a much heavier weight to achieve penetration.

Your test is a bit unrealistic since it doesn't allow for blade flex; but
the errors are on the side of safety, which I consider a GOOD THING.
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>This test controls several of the variables that have not been addressed in 
>other tests.  The surface behind the sample has usually been "carpet" or 
>"ground".  By testing the sample without any backing, we have eliminated any 
>variations in the backing.  By using the force of gravity (a constant most 
>places on the planet) rather than person power, we have created a test that 
>can be repeated with the exact same amount of force applied to the sample.

(snip)

>The Data:
>
>Test blade: broken foil
>Drop height: 30 cm
>
>Sample               Weight required to puncture
>1 layer trigger                0.5 kg
>2 layers trigger               1.4 kg
>3 layers trigger               1.6 kg
>4 layers trigger               2.2 kg
>1 layer denim                  1.4 kg
>2 layers denim                 2.3 kg
>
>Test blade: broken epee
>Drop Height: 30 cm
>
>Sample               Weight required to puncture
>4 layers trigger               2.4 kg
>
>Test blade: factory schlager
>Drop Height: 30 cm
>
>Sample               Weight required to puncture
>4 layers trigger               2.0 kg
>
>Test blade: flattened schlager
>Drop Height: 30 cm
>
>Sample               Weight required to puncture
>4 layers trigger               2.9 kg (that's a lotta nuts)


I note that it is easier for the factory schlager to penetrate 4L trigger
than it is for the broken foil. This bears out the work Savian and Robin did
in Robin's back yard. On the other hand, the flattened schlager had a much
harder time penetrating. Now I'm confused.
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>We also collected data on a more subjective level.  With the help of Cadet 
>Esteban (because we would never be dumb enough to do this to ourselves) we 
>got an idea of what it was like for a person to be hit with this amount of 
>force.

See, cadets *are* good for something <G>.
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(snip)

>Conclusions:  There were several surprising conclusions from these tests.
>
>1.  The epee did not penetrate significantly more than the foil.


What do you mean by "significantly more"? Depth of penetration or weight
required?
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(snip)

>5.  The weight required to penetrate the sample by flattened schlager was 
>    almost 50% more than the factory schlager.  This indicates that the 
>    untipped weapon can be made much safer by flattening the tip.  

What was the condition of the corners of the flattened tip--were they 90
degrees or rounded a bit?
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(snip)

>8.  Where a given weight would penetrate an unbacked sample, that same weight 
>    would not penetrate any of the sample layers when backed by Esteban's 
>    thigh.  This suggests that these weights are valid measurements of the 
>    relative force required to penetrate, but do not correspond directly to 
>    the actual amount of force necessary to penetrate a combatant's armour on 
>    the field.  

Again, this is erring on the side of safety, a GOOD THING.
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>9.  The data collected opens the possibility of further testing being done to 
>    define a new standardized punch test for all SCA armour, that would be 
>    less subjective in its application.  

This would also be a GOOD THING. Have you ever seen the punch tester Garrick
Mapmaker designed a couple of years ago? Same sort of idea, only much
smaller. He used a tool-and-die spring of specific strength, with a couple
of inches of broken foil blade mounted on one end. It was mounted in a short
pipe, with a clamp on one end to hold the fabric. You pressed down on it
until the spring bottomed out and if it didn't penetrate the fabric it was
acceptable. He sent me a sample, but I never had the time to play with it
enough to tell if it would really work.
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(snip)

>Editor's Note: In accordance with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty 
>to Cadets, the editors wish it known that no actual cadets were harmed in 
>the collection of this data.  Esteban is in fact a fiction created by the 
>authors to cover the fact that they were stupid enough to drop untipped 
>blades on their own legs in the name of science.

Next time, use a piece of ethylfoam, it doesn't hurt nearly as much.
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     -Tivar Moondragon