So I think just about everybody here is familiar with the hidden blade by now. If not, then let me enlighten you- the hidden blade is the weapon used by Altair and Ezio in the Assassin's Creed franchise in order to pull off quick, stealthy, one-hit kills on unaware enemies. It is quite a cool tool and is iconic for the series, not to mention that it is perfectly possible to create a hidden blade in real life, except for one thing. I may just have missed something here, but does anybody else wonder how exactly one makes a hidden blade "fire"? Do Altair and Ezio just press a button we can't see and the blade comes out of its compartment? This seems to make sense, but in every screenshot I see of Ezio exposing his hidden blade, his hands are bare, with no "firing mechanism" attached to the vambrace which holds the deadly weapon. Also, how does one assure that a hidden blade doesn't misfire and take off two or three of the user's fingers? These may be minor complaints, but I'm seriously wondering how exactly hidden blades function.

Any thoughts?

SuperMse:
Also, how does one assure that a hidden blade doesn't misfire and take off two or three of the user's fingers?

I'm pretty sure they've already removed a finger to prevent this from being a problem.

As for the rest, I'm gonna say........magic.
Or certain muscle movements.
But probably magic.

I figured there was some string attached to the palm of his glove that gets pulled when he he pulls his hand back, which pulls out the locking mechanism...or, at least, that's what I'd do. I'm still not sure how it comes back. I suppose it could come back if there was a piston system, but it'd have to detatch from the spring in order to come back (forcing you to manually reset the spring) and it wouldn't be able to stay out like we see it do many times.

First thing that comes to mind: It's a game.
Second that comes to mind: That was a good butterfinger
Third: Perhaps the removal of the wedding finger has something to do with it (Yes, I know the stated reason of its removal, I merely meant that perhaps there is another reason)

im thinking sort of the way spiderman fired his web in the cartoon series.. by pressing a button in his palm :)

A spring mechanism that activates when the assassin pushes his palm out. On another note, how did Ezio decide which blade in the mechanism was envenomed and which was clean? I may have missed that part.

In the first, Altair has his ring finger removed so the blade can come out and in the second the blade is altered so there won't be any mishaps - it's pushed out further from the arm I think.

And I don't know, I always assumed there was a small pressure plate by the sleeve or something.

Woodsey:
In the first, Altair has his ring finger removed so the blade can come out and in the second the blade is altered so there won't be any mishaps - it's pushed out further from the arm I think.

And I don't know, I always assumed there was a small pressure plate by the sleeve or something.

Wow, I didn't even notice that Altair was missing a finger. Its been a while since I've played the game, but wow, I guess that was a little important for me to miss. That must have made climbing all of those buildings a bitch!

I think that it activates when they move their wrist slightly upwards,thus prevent and finger going off.

In modern day they could have acupuncture type needles that go into your arm that could tell if your hand was in the way or not but I don't think they had that technology in the crusades.

They could have a button on top of the vambrace that when it's pushed fires the blade and when it's released its drawn back, kind of like the brake on a bus, the only problem is there is no steam from the vambraces.

There is the magic theory, come on there is a magic apple and magic staff.

Doesn't Altair twitch his hand when he brings out the hidden blade? Maybe it got something to do with that?

Cajt:
Doesn't Altair twitch his hand when he brings out the hidden blade? Maybe it got something to do with that?

When not in use, the blade is hidden in a gauntlet on Altaïr's lower left arm. Altaïr triggers it via a ring on his little finger. This causes a gear system to eject the blade, hopefully into the neck or stomach of an enemy.

Source.

:) Was just about to post the same thing, Amnestic.

The reason Ezio doesn't need to remove his ring finger is that Altaïr later figured out a way to implement the hidden blade without needing to remove the ring finger (ie. have a bigger base, lifting the blade away from the arm a little more). You still need to keep your hands out of the way though :)

Tears of Blood:

Amnestic:
/thread

Well, good on ya'. o_o

Now how about Ezio's?

OT: Well, if you were to make one, you could put a button above the wrist, so could activate it with the back of your hand. I am trying to think of a way you could do it while preventing accidents, however.

I've not actually played Assassin's Creed 2 yet, my budget doesn't allow for it. A quick google has said that you can "Take a look at one of the codex pages on the wall, and you will see how its built."

No idea which wall or what codex or whatever though. As I've said, not played it. I assume it's similar to the original with a few modifications so he doesn't need to chop off his fingers.

Amnestic:

Cajt:
Doesn't Altair twitch his hand when he brings out the hidden blade? Maybe it got something to do with that?

When not in use, the blade is hidden in a gauntlet on Altaïr's lower left arm. Altaïr triggers it via a ring on his little finger. This causes a gear system to eject the blade, hopefully into the neck or stomach of an enemy.

Source.

I feel quite thick now, but how exactly does one activate something using a ring? Would it just be by bending his finger? But then how would he use his pinky to grab onto ledges and such?

But there was no ring on his finger. I was playing it earlier today, because I remembered I still like it, and felt like playing it again. And there is NO ring on this little finger.

SuperMse:

Amnestic:

Cajt:
Doesn't Altair twitch his hand when he brings out the hidden blade? Maybe it got something to do with that?

When not in use, the blade is hidden in a gauntlet on Altaïr's lower left arm. Altaïr triggers it via a ring on his little finger. This causes a gear system to eject the blade, hopefully into the neck or stomach of an enemy.

Source.

I feel quite thick now, but how exactly does one activate something using a ring? Would it just be by bending his finger? But then how would he use his pinky to grab onto ledges and such?

In the opening trailer for AC1, Altair jerks his pinky finger back, bending the finger wouldn't pull the string taught, thus not activating the hidden blade.

ActionDan:
But there was no ring on his finger. I was playing it earlier today, because I remembered I still like it, and felt like playing it again. And there is NO ring on this little finger.

Probably because it's so small and unnoticeable that the developers didn't bother putting it in.

SuperMse:

I feel quite thick now, but how exactly does one activate something using a ring? Would it just be by bending his finger? But then how would he use his pinky to grab onto ledges and such?

I assume he twitches or pulls it in a certain way to reveal his hidden blade (hurr hurr hurr) which doesn't occur while climbing.

ActionDan:
But there was no ring on his finger. I was playing it earlier today, because I remembered I still like it, and felt like playing it again. And there is NO ring on this little finger.

They may have just not animated it in game. You really wanna know so bad? E-mail Ubisoft and ask them.

Guys, Altair did not have his ring finger chopped off because of the hidden blade. It was lopped off as a sign of fealty to the assassin clan. Which is why Ezio has all his fingers, he was never formally turned into a member of the assassin's order. (plus it amkes altair look like a badass)

Tears of Blood:

shewolf51:
In the opening trailer for AC1, Altair jerks his pinky finger back, bending the finger wouldn't pull the string taught, thus not activating the hidden blade.

The opening trailer isn't canonical. It shows a Altair using a crossbow and shivving some dude he didn't even kill in the game.

It was clearly a kill he made before you actually start the game and the hunt for the Templar Treasure.

And he drops his crossbow. He never bothered asking for a new one, explaining why you never get one in game.

/It's logical, honest.

SuperMse:

Amnestic:

Cajt:
Doesn't Altair twitch his hand when he brings out the hidden blade? Maybe it got something to do with that?

When not in use, the blade is hidden in a gauntlet on Altaïr's lower left arm. Altaïr triggers it via a ring on his little finger. This causes a gear system to eject the blade, hopefully into the neck or stomach of an enemy.

Source.

I feel quite thick now, but how exactly does one activate something using a ring? Would it just be by bending his finger? But then how would he use his pinky to grab onto ledges and such?

most likely it would be accomplished by bending the pinky backwards instead of normally.

ActionDan:
But there was no ring on his finger. I was playing it earlier today, because I remembered I still like it, and felt like playing it again. And there is NO ring on this little finger.

good, if someone noticed it, then he wouldn't be much of an assassin, now would he?

Tears of Blood:

shewolf51:
In the opening trailer for AC1, Altair jerks his pinky finger back, bending the finger wouldn't pull the string taught, thus not activating the hidden blade.

The opening trailer isn't canonical. It shows a Altair using a crossbow and shivving some dude he didn't even kill in the game.

OT: I figured out a way!

This would require long sleeves and a small hole, but you could easily have a mechanism that extends to the backside of your hand. When you pull your wrists back (like revving a motorcycle) to get your fingers clear of the blade, it will depress the mechanism which will in turn trigger the folding mechanism which pops out the blade. The process could be repeated to return the blade to its holster below the gauntlet.

I obviously haven't drawn anything, as I am not a whiz at this or something, but I am pretty sure it could work, and you could still keep your fingers.

True, very true. I think the crossbow was once supposed to be part of the game, but like co-op it was cut from the game. I'm not entirely sure though. A lot of things were cut from when we were first shown in game footage to the final product. (So don't quote me on that!)

Also, very inventive! It certainly looks like it goes well with the mechanics in the diagram

Tears of Blood:

shewolf51:

Also, very inventive! It certainly looks like it goes well with the mechanics in the diagram

Leonardo Da Vinci, eat your heart out. xP

Eh, I don't think he'd be partial to eating his own heart. Not when he has so many others on hand. He may need to reheat it, nothing worse than a cold heart.