Seven Palm Musket

fernando · 6th December 2009, 10:03 PM

The palm is of Roman origin, and comprehends the (width) length of a stretched hand; it was used to express the length of many a things.
Swords were also measured in palms. The laws published by the Kings to controll their length were in palms.
It also had a few variations, used in ship construction, loads, etc.
It measures about 22 cms (some 8,6"). It is still in use over here, specially in rural terms ... but not only.
Fernando

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Rick · 6th December 2009, 11:35 PM

Fernando, I'm confused .

Is a Palm the distance across the hand from thumb base to heel of hand ; or lengthwise, base of palm to longest fingertip ?

fernando · 6th December 2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick

Fernando, I'm confused .

Is a Palm the distance across the hand from thumb base to heel of hand ; or lengthwise, base of palm to longest fingertip ?

Across the hand, fully stretched, from thumb tip to small finger tip. If you have a 'standard' hand, measure it this way and you will have an approximate result.
I used to play buttons when i was a kid, and we still used Palms. You toss your button against the wall and if it falls within a palm from your foe's button, you score. I was not such a winner, as i had a small hand

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Fernando

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fernando · 7th December 2009, 12:04 AM

Like so

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Rick · 7th December 2009, 02:16 PM

Ahhh, thank you Fernando !

We used to play that game with pennies .

broadaxe · 7th December 2009, 05:06 PM

That palm is called shibr or shiber in Arabic and modern Hebrew, hence the term shibriyah which stands for the traditional dagger of the bedouins. According the arab folklore it indicates the lenght of the blade.

Queequeg · 8th December 2009, 08:57 PM

Thanks for the answers, gents. I appreciate having learned about this.

6th December 2009, 10:03 PM	#1
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	The palm is of Roman origin, and comprehends the (width) length of a stretched hand; it was used to express the length of many a things. Swords were also measured in palms. The laws published by the Kings to controll their length were in palms. It also had a few variations, used in ship construction, loads, etc. It measures about 22 cms (some 8,6"). It is still in use over here, specially in rural terms ... but not only. Fernando . Last edited by fernando; 6th December 2009 at 10:18 PM.

7th December 2009, 12:04 AM	#4
fernando (deceased) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,694	Like so . Attached Images

6th December 2009, 11:35 PM	#2
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Fernando, I'm confused . Is a Palm the distance across the hand from thumb base to heel of hand ; or lengthwise, base of palm to longest fingertip ?

7th December 2009, 02:16 PM	#5
Rick Vikingsword Staff Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 6,336	Ahhh, thank you Fernando ! We used to play that game with pennies .

7th December 2009, 05:06 PM	#6
broadaxe Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 334	That palm is called shibr or shiber in Arabic and modern Hebrew, hence the term shibriyah which stands for the traditional dagger of the bedouins. According the arab folklore it indicates the lenght of the blade.

8th December 2009, 08:57 PM	#7
Queequeg Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Detroit (New Mayapan) Posts: 96	Thanks for the answers, gents. I appreciate having learned about this.