by Aidenn Ketla » Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:59 pm
I disagree with that assessment. From a structural standpoint, they're not entirely dissimilar to a "nail-bat" concept. While the sticking-out-blades would be the only sharp aspect of the weapon, disallowing strikes from the continuous edge (meant as "side," not "sharp edge," naturally) they'd be "implanted in" would be akin to saying maces, staves, warhammers and mauls do not qualify as weaponry because they aren't sharp. They were still a narrow enough strike surface to shatter a forearm quite easily, even without having the sheer heft to them of a maul. Probably moreso than a modern Louisville, if strictly due to the surface area of impact.
That said, the plastidip idea has some merit, barring the fact that I see compressions of the "blade" foams causing people to be accidentally struck with the plastidipped portions, which in my understanding, is a no-no.
I was also under the impression that cloth tape was disallowed for melee weapon striking surface covers. Which is a shame, because I could easily see them being a workaround - to both two-tone the weapon (for that obsidian-meets-wood appearance) and allow for hemmed openings in the "base flat blade" cover for the "obsidian bits" to stick out from.
Perhaps a dual cover system. One to cover the pips, and a secondary exterior cover with the hemmed openings to allow the pips to peek through.
Sounds unwieldy as sin, but could still manage to be both legal and aesthetically pleasing... I may have a project to add to the list.
Lord Aidenn "Dusk" Ketla