<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT COLOR="#0000ff" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Georgia Ref" LANG="0">Bonjour<BR>
No you do not unless you want to use strapping tape to hold on the basket hilt with at the tabs. This is the method I use and it works but the sword will loosen up in time and will need to be retaped to tighten it back up. Also I have the very say 12 inches of the end spiral warped in strap tape to keep it from mushing out over time this is also when I apply the thrusting tip to the end. then lay strips of duct tape NOT spiral warping. Just enough to cover the stick and if its a thrusting tip mark it just as you would the edge.<BR>
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Ich Dine<BR>
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Olaf Ulfbrandrsson</FONT></HTML>