are you being f@cking serious?
stop posting things which are self explanatory
you honestly needed to ask someone that qustion ?
why are some fans bigger than others??? maybe because people like to stay cooler in the hot weather
there that didnt take much thought did it now
yes a fan is likely to be innefective against a sword thast why people were fighting wars with swords and not fans
it seems to me that a pen is innefective against an AK what do you think???:rolleyes:
As for the use…depends on the fan.
Personally, I prefer a fan that is about the length from the middle of my hand to my elbow…about 17" fan.
Typically, you can’t get a metal fan in anything beyond a 12" length so I don’t bother…Now, if I had the money, I would have a titanium one made…the spins titanium and the body silk. Silk is pretty strong and titanium is strong and very light…great combination.
But, I have played with an old traditional metal fan. it had a small pike that could be flipped out from the bottom of the fan. The pike or dagger portion folded back into the bottom of the fan with the regular spines when not flipped out. It gave you a 3 or 4 inch dagger at the base of the fan. The spines were also pointy and sharp. So, you could do jabbing/stabbing with either end of the weapon. The one I played with was poorly made and much the worse for age…bad balance and sticky to open.
Techniques, close the fan and it is a small staff or short rod. You can block and hit with it…and it would hurt. Open, it hides intention. There ARE some techniques with the fan open but I have always found them interesting to look at and artful…but not very practical for use.
With the fan open AND with spikey ends on the spines, you DO have a slashing poking area…so cuts and slashes ARE possible. You have to know how to hold the fan securely to do these, though.
With the pike flipped out, you have a stabbing area at the base of the blade as well.
But, given a choice, I would rather have a different weapon… However, if you were walking down the street with a metal fan, you might look a bit froo froo but no one would think you had a weapon. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vwZ5FQEUFg&feature=related
ok, had to steel this link fro DR’s robot thread. Robots with fans. 
[QUOTE=GeneChing;1325359]A New Series from our Publisher! READ EDC: Iron Fans by Gene Ching
[/QUOTE]
The fan is my favorite. I can swap it into my dagger and sword forms. The real iron fans are like a dozen swords that can work like scissors so you could even lose some of your OWN fingers using it, and the clackin’ sounds like gunshots! You should research the legend of a fan master that took-on multiple Samurai at once and snapped all their swords. I think its probably based on a real event because I’ve seen something written about an estimate of the cost of all the swords that were destroyed, which was enormous…
Greetings,
There are pre-1949 designs that have the fan with spiked ribs. I consider it the equivalent of a blackjack. It was no joke. Additionally, the weapon had some heft to it, requiring strong wrist, forearm and finger strength: offering very good training for those involved in the grappling disciplines.
The ones out on the market really suck. They are not even a pale shadow of their former glory.
mickey
TCEC 2024: Fans
2024-Tiger-Claw-Elite-Championships-amp-KUNG-FU-TAI-CHI-DAY-May-4-5-San-Jose-CA
Iron-Fans
Iron fans…
Sounds like only fans with a twist.
