- Jul 20, 2001
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In Gene Wolfe's The Shadow of the Torturer, part one of The Book of the New Sun, the protagonist gets a headsman's sword that has a mercury filled core. The idea is that as the sword is raised the mercury rests in the pummel or at least at the pommel end of the blade and that as the sword is brought down, the mercury flows to the tip thus increasing the force of the blow.
I'm thinking that the mercury would be moving radially, perpendicular to the direction of impact, and not provide any increase in blow force but tend to pull the sword out of the hand of the headsman. What sayeth ATOT?
Also, if you haven't read Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun, I highly recommend the books.
I'm thinking that the mercury would be moving radially, perpendicular to the direction of impact, and not provide any increase in blow force but tend to pull the sword out of the hand of the headsman. What sayeth ATOT?
Also, if you haven't read Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun, I highly recommend the books.
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