Misused: Gun Twirling

I don't this it's misused, exactly, but I the trope should be renamed "Weapon Twirling" and its scope broadened. The page already has some examples of characters doing this with melee weapons like knives and swords, and I could think of a few more examples. Unless Sword Twirling should be its own trope, which is possible, I think retooling the Trope to refer to twirling weapons in general would be a good idea.

Usage is decent, but small enough that a rename is feasible. I think sword and other melee weapon twirling has a slight difference though, namely the weight of the weapon makes it very difficult to do compared to a gun, which is just unsafe.

It can be redefined without being renamed. They are at least separate questions, to broaden and to rename. So twirling your dagger is Gun Twirling, awesome.

I actually have a bit of an issue with broadening this trope. I'd rather see us create some sort of Fancy Weapon Flourishing supertrope, and keep this limited to guns.

The reason being is twofold: The first is that is is extremely common in The Western and similar genres as stock display of fancy gun skills. The second being the fact that it is quite unsafe to do this with many modern weapons, a fact that is used as a source of comedy by having characters attempt to do this only to put a bullet in the roof, or their own foot.

Dagger twirling may still twirling a weapon, but it isn't going to result in a potentially lethal accidental discharge.

edited 1st Mar '12 3:46:56 AM by Catbert

Weapon Twirling could be the missing supertrope here.

I can think of three different kinds of weapon twirling...

• Twirling the weapon as you draw it; usually seen in John Woo-styled works. This is stylish, but it's not usually as overt of a pause as the next type. For a Star Wars example... I can't think of one.
• Twirling the weapon while it's out; this is much more common style and is usually used as an intimidation method or a much more overt way of showing off. This is almost always a pause in the middle of combat. I very rarely see this with guns. For a Star Wars example, see lightsabers in general, especially in the prequels.
• Twirling the weapon as you sheathe it; this is usually seen in Westerns with pistols, but I sometimes see the same thing with swords. This is stylish and a showoff move, but is typically done after combat. For a Star Wars example, see Jango Fett.

Also, using this with a gun, as said before, indicates that the wielder is very cavalier with safety standards (Although it doesn't mean that they're an idiot, obviously); using it with a sword often is used to indicate technical prowess and control, and conversely is often seen with much more calm characters.

I don't think they're distinct enough to be three different tropes, but this is my general observation about what types I see.

edited 1st Mar '12 8:29:28 AM by Scardoll

I agree with Spark and Catbert. I'm seeing a Missing Supertrope: Weapon Twirling.

Yeah, I went to YKTTW to create one for that, but then noticed this trope and began the discussion.

Agree with Missing Supertrope.

We do not repurposed old tropes for supertropes. Make the ykttw and then request a mod close this thread.

Yes, Gun Twirling is too narrow a name to transplant the Missing Supertrope in. We need to YKTTW Twirling Weapon or whatever it is going to be called, and pull all bad examples here that would fit the supertrope to the supertrope.

We repurpose old tropes for supertropes all the time. We just save it for when the title/trope actually works for a supertrope.

I was using hyperbole. Relative to the other actions we take, this one is rare.

edited 13th Mar '12 9:22:31 AM by crazysamaritan

Clocking due to lack of activity.

Well, that's easy. We create Weapon Twirling and move the non-gun examples there. Does that really need a crowner?

No, all it needs is for someone to actually do it and link it here.

EDIT: You know what, I'll do it. Hang on. YKTTW draft

edited 13th Apr '12 6:30:13 AM by ccoa

It appears that Intimidation Demonstration already covers weapon twirling, although it's much broader. Should we still make Weapon Twirling a subtrope, or just direct all other weapon twirling to there?

Personally, I think that Intimidation Demonstration is broad enough and weapon twirling common enough that it can be a subtrope.

Agreed. And twirling can be done after the fight, where it can't be for intimidation, or when there's just a demonstration or something and no actual fight.

Generally, Gun Twirling looks good, but Reality Ensues if you do it in the middle of a battle, unless it's just a demo competition (trick shooting contest) or the opponent lets him show off (Showing off is a free action: is that an existing trope?). Also, Westerns cowboys doing this could be a sub-subtrope of Weapon Twirling. Also, can we replace "Twirling" with something else, like Showing Off and Demoing?

edited 14th Apr '12 5:50:42 PM by spacemarine50

Showing Off Is A Free Action: Might start that. Couldn't find it.

ccoa launched Weapon Twirling, it seems.

edited 23rd Apr '12 1:12:24 PM by SeptimusHeap

Yes, Weapon Twirling is officially launched. None of the examples I pulled from Gun Twirling actually had Gun Twirling on the work pages, so I'm thinking a wick cleaning may not be necessary.

We may at a later point need to split off Sword Twirling as a subtrope if it garners enough examples.

I think we're done here.