28 March 2023

Blade

An item on the mustering benefits in the LBB Traveller era was the "blade".

It's a "hybrid knife weapon with a heavy, flat two-edged blade nearly 300mm (11.8") in length, and a semi-basket handguard."  It's listed as Traveller TL3 and tares 350g (0.8 lb.)  Cr50.

It's mostly associated with the Imperial Marines.

GURPS is a bit cagey about defining knives so as to not step on the toes of preconceptions and keep things flexible.

I think a large knife with an open-frame basket hilt fits the feel correctly.

TL3; Blade; sw-2 cut or thr imp; C, 1 or C; -1 parry; $50; 1 lb.; ST 6.

See Low Tech 4e p.67 and Low Tech Companion 2 p.15.

It's neat to see that the prices align between two different games published 30 years apart!


4 comments:

  1. Never really liked the partial basket-hilt, but then again, when it's designed to be used with or without a space suit, not having to worry about your hand slipping could be a good thing. Though a decent cross-hilt would do the same thing and not be so stick-outy and catchy-everything as the half-basket.

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  2. Whenever I read the term 'basket hilt', I think WWI trench dagger. Sometimes shown with 'knuckleduster' grip. Something which cannot be wrenched away from the user easily. Maybe one of those designs might fit the parameters you list. I just wonder how hard are those to keep on your person sheathed, yet ready for instant use.

    I hope you find exactly what you are looking for.

    jrg

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The 1918 trench knife is a small knife with a partial basket hilt in GURPS terms.

      From the pictures in The Traveller Book, the Blade always looked like it'd be awkward to wear.

      Delete
    2. The 1918 knife is ALSO a combination weapon with brass knuckles...

      Delete

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