Plastic Edged Weapons

[flagpiper]

All,

This will sound odd to some of you that live in large communities (yeah, like a city) but I am having difficulties finding rubber edged weapons or plastic clubs appropriate for close in, safe, trench fighting. Are there any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mike

[oskar2ndchev]

The simplest solution, albiet a bit hokey, is to check out toy stores, especially around Halloween time (preferably the ones that don't get all PC). I can take a look in the local toy district and see what I can find.

P.S. The "Toy District" in Downtown Los Angeles is a network of outfits that wholesale toys, mostly of the cheesy variety which is exactly what we need for this. Time to make a run... ;D

[flagpiper]

Thank you Adam and Seph! Adam, I trade some prime Ticklers Apple Jam for a good example!

[aefstraggler]

Seph and others.

The rubber knives I bought (for Seph, myself, my son, and a
couple others) were purchased at a martial arts supply store.

Specifically Pro Boxing Equipment which has two store locations
in the San Fernando Valley (7515 Topanga Cyn. Blvd. in Canoga
Park and 4405 Laurel Cyn. Blvd. in Studio City). They also have
an online store: //www.proboxingequip.com

The knife (online) is product #179 (under weapons) and is
currently listed at $5.00. I do not know how much they charge
for shipping.

[Wolfgang]

I don't like plastic knives-- they always look fake and there are no period sheaths for them-- but if you must have them, martial arts supplies stores are the place to find the better looking knives. I urge those interested in acquiring weapons for hand-to-hand combat to check into trench clubs instead. Fairly realistic ones can be made from whiffle ball bats and toy police batons (please, no cave man clubs). When the next foam rubber molding session is arranged, I will be molding trench clubs using a mold made from an original German trench club head. I'm also looking into making more e-tools weapons and rubber pionier axes . Mark Goulet has a rubber movie prop that looks exactly like an American e-tool-- a pity those aren't more readily available.

[oskar2ndchev]

What I'd really love is a rubber entrenching tool. Tim Kano was kind enough to loan me his and it definately had the just the right weight and heft. Unfortunately, this one was made for the movie "Windtalkers" so I have no clue how to make one. It was very convincing, complete with fake rust spots. One of the Germans actually thought I was swinging the real thing at him. :-)

[1886lebel]

thefieldwerks.com/index.html

[Transport]

Ahoy!

I have on a thumb drive how to make a plastic German Trench knife. I will locate it and post if there is interest in it.

Transport out

[Marcus]

If you can't find a knife, you can always go with a club (my personal preference). If anyone noticed my "cogged trench maul", you'll see that it is a replica of an original type of club used by the Allies. There is a gentleman in the UK who makes that type and the type with hobnails in it.

picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/dxXN7QMSutJUn_FcH7J6pA?feat=directlink

[trench digger#50]

i found acouple things for clubss... one is a toy bat ( the slammer) thats not exactly nerf, i think Seph had the same one but he glued eraser heads on it to make it more "lethal" . also i found a small nerf bat that i play to make a tad bit shorter (its about 21" right now) and paint up..
Will these work? i have paid a total of two dollars to get them so i dont really care if they wont be appropriate
Tony Aguilera

[lci115lewis]

Can anyone point me to good directions for getting a good mold off of a British E-tool helve and a suitably safe construction method?

Hey, if the Red Caps were using them up through at least WW2 for ending bar fights, surely some honest Tommies (and ANZACs, etc) in the trenches would have used them too?

Rob Lewis
RMLI