Bandshoppe pole, 1" you can order online or Kilanos says we can get locally. They are the preferred "Red" or pole weapon core. No or very little flex. They can break, we have seen it happend (Think Knubbs and the beehive, hey, sounds like a movie title).
PVC is terrible for Pole weapons and MUST be stiffened with something to be a passable red. I had put two 3/8" fiberglass rods along the outside edges, (Big axe and min glaive) both eventually flexed out. PVC just won't take the stress too long or our heat.
1/2" square fiberglass rod is the best for a red, no or little flex.
The only way to make a scimitar from fiberglass is to make a foam box and carve its shape. You can't curve the rod. Curved weapons are made from PVC. You can hold it over the stove and as it warms up, its pliable. You can bend it to the shape you want, then dip in cool water to harden. Then foam it up.
We will have a weapon's building day before SamHain. That will be a good time to learn. We should do this, in fact, before Rennfair. 2 reason's, K'urn the master weapon's smith, will still be with us, and we need good weapons to put on a good show.
Konradr