[Ansteorra] siloflex swords

[Sir Morgan Buchanan]

Siloflex is a polymer tubing material which can be purchased at a variety of 
places like home improvement or plumbing supply, as I understand it.  It 
doesn't substitute for rattan, but is used to enhance rattan.  One takes a 
core of rattan and drives it into a siloflex tube.  The hard(er) polymer 
tube keeps the rattan healthy longer, or so the theory goes.

The piece of rattan used is smaller than 1 1/4" as the outside diameter of 
the siloflex is usually that measurement.

They handle pretty well exactly the same as a "full" rattan sword.  Siloflex 
swords, in at least my experience, tend to be on the lighter end of the 
spectrum.  The problem as I see it with siloflex swords is that internal 
damage isn't as immediately apparent.  With a tape and rattan sword, you can 
put your hand on the sword and simply feel that the rattan has pulped out. 
With siloflex, you just get an increasily flexible sword.

There's really not a great deal to say about it.  Hope this helps - I'm sure 
that fans of it will speak up on some of the stronger pros.

Morgan


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stefan li Rous" <StefanliRous at austin.rr.com>
>
> From time to time I've seen mention of this material. I assume this
> is being used as a substitute as rattan gets more expensive or
> difficult to get. In the Florlegium I have a file on rattan with
> sources and how to work it. I'd like to hear some similar information
> about this siloflex.
>
> How does it compare to rattan? What are its pro? and cons? When made
> into an SCA weapon does it handle differently than the same type of
> weapon made of rattan? Where do you get the stuff?