That makes perfect sense on the hafts. I was thinking bind work with a steel vs wood would give a serious advantage to the wood, and hadn't paused to think "wait, that's actually correct for period combat". I do want to throw in some spear / poleaxe / etc for next year when I can order one.
For me it's that wood seems safer - which I admit may well be only perception, since statistics on this kind of thing are pretty slim (can't imagine why
). I'm comfortable fighting with wood swords, but not with steel. I enjoy it greatly, but not enough to feel like putting my life on the line every time I step on the field. As much as I enjoy doing the demos, if it became a gamble every time on "possibly die from a sword through the eye" or "live and go home to clean/repair gear"... I'm going to quit fighting. Then I'll delve deeper into living history or just "playtron" at various faires. My primary joy is simply being in harness; the combat is a happy bonus.
Yes, driving and other things can kill me, and statistically are more likely to, no question. Those are risks I knowingly take as compared to the alternative of quit my job and move to DC and take the metro everywhere (or become an unshaven hermit). Driving is one of those necessary things for me, whereas combat with steel swords is not so high on the list.
To the people doing live steel combat? Keep having fun, I love seeing the pictures!
