ARN - Cold Blades

[Wayne Ross]

Please do not misconstrue my question as an attack, but I have to ask: Both
Piet and Marquet said they were told to warm their blades. By whom were you
told, and what expertise or experience gave them unquestionable authority on
the subject? As far as strip fencing goes, isn't that usually done at
climate controlled indoor facilities? Why would you be warming blades there?
Also, has anyone documented an increase in blade breakage due to cold
weather ( I believe that this was Marquet's original question)? Facts, not
hearsay, or "there I was..." stories please.

Duncan Hepburn
The Steppes of Ansteorra

----- Original Message -----
From: <JEvans5420 at aol.com>
To: <ansteorra-rapier at Ansteorra.ORG>
Sent: Sunday, December 05, 1999 9:18 PM
Subject: Re: ARN - Cold Blades


> In a message dated 12/5/99 1:09:09 AM Central Standard Time,
> CADET1313 at aol.com writes:
>
> << In a message dated 12/4/99 10:45:53 PM Central Standard Time,
> mbhite at arn.net
>  writes:
>
>  << Greetings,
>
>   When I first started playing some years ago, I was told that practicing
>   with an Epee (or any other metal blade) in cold weather was a bad idea
>   because there is a larger chance of the blade braking.  I have always
>   followed this advice, but I was wondering if anyone had so data to back
>   this up.    And if so at what temperature is it considered unsafe to
>   practice in?
>
>   May we meet on the field as friends,
>   Marquet de la Heyt
>   Cadet to Don Donovan >>
>
>  I also have always been told to "warm" my blades before using them. In
both
>  the SCA and when I fenced in the Navy and UT Fencing Club. I think it is
>  because the cold makes the blades more brittle. And warming them helps
them
>  to bend the way they should.
>
>  Pieter >>
>
> Hello,
>
> I have no doubt that you Lords know something on this subject.  Yes, I
> understand that cold temperatures make metal brittle.  But, how cold does
it
> need to get before it changes the quality of metal blades significantly or
to
> the point that we humans need to worry?  If it is cold enough to change
the
> reflexive quality of my blade, do I fence or store meat?
>
> Harry
>
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