sharp pointy things

[Mike n NC]

Sorry guys but I have to go to the other side of the world. Been making them longer and better than europe ever thought of. I can do much more with my training and bokken than you can with your broadswords. A Katana is just so much lighter, faster and sharper.
I own a 18c. No Dachi that I practice with about 3 times a week in addition to practice with the bokken. This little jewel weighs in at just a bit under 4 pounds, is 5' 6" in length and will easily cut through all but heavy plate armor. It is fought very low so that all the power comes from the hips instead of the arms/shoulders.

Otherwise I carry an Oldtimer with a two inch blade that serves me very well. :smile:

Mike

[yoippari]

I had a big respose trying to debunk the whole "katana is better stance" but decided that it would be better to just say, no style of sword is the best, just better wielders, and NO REGIONAL STYLE IS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER. All swords are designed for one purpose or another. A 4 pound nodachi (which is a little heavy on the sword scale) is a slow unwieldly thing in close quarters compared to a grosse messer or katzbalger, while on a battle field a nodachi would have a definite advantage to someone with only a katzbalger.

I did not want this to become a sword vs sword thread but I don't like it when katana fans say their swords are better than a european style sword without reasonable basis (and this has been rehashed so many times on the internet that it isn't even funny). I just wanted to see what people on the forum liked and what involvement they have with swords, not a debate on what sword is better than another for whatever reason.

[Mike n NC]

I had a big respose trying to debunk the whole "katana is better stance" but decided that it would be better to just say, no style of sword is the best, just better wielders, and NO REGIONAL STYLE IS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER. All swords are designed for one purpose or another. A 4 pound nodachi (which is a little heavy on the sword scale) is a slow unwieldly thing in close quarters compared to a grosse messer or katzbalger, while on a battle field a nodachi would have a definite advantage to someone with only a katzbalger.

I did not want this to become a sword vs sword thread but I don't like it when katana fans say their swords are better than a european style sword without reasonable basis (and this has been rehashed so many times on the internet that it isn't even funny). I just wanted to see what people on the forum liked and what involvement they have with swords, not a debate on what sword is better than another for whatever reason.

And do please note, I prefaced my comments with the word "I". This is my "opinion" (which evidently isn't welcome here) and wasn't to be taken as set in stone.

I do however find your rather sweeping attack on my comments a bit annoying. I won't trouble you with any more such rubbish.

Mike

[bubba]

The European swords and the Katana are designed for entirely different fighting styles. No real comparison is possible.

[bikercelt1]

The European swords and the Katana are designed for entirely different fighting styles. No real comparison is possible.

And I like Apples better than Oranges! Amen Bubba!

While I have great respect for Japanese sword art and craftsmanship, it just isn't what interests me. Neither are the German or Italian sword disciplines. I'm interested in rediscovering the Celtic martial arts. That doesn't mean my Dad can beat up your Dad or that my area of interest is any better, or worse, than yours.

I got interested in Broadsword as an extension of my interest in wearing the kilt. I saw guys strutting around with the worst looking chunks of scrap metal "Broadswords and Dirks" hung from their sides because they thought it looked cool with the kilt. None of them had any idea how to use them, so they were just decorations. I don't like useless items so I decided to learn what yeilding a sword is all about. I found out I like the physical challenge and sport of it. And I'm basically a pacifist. Go figure.

Jamie

[yoippari]

And do please note, I prefaced my comments with the word "I". This is my "opinion" (which evidently isn't welcome here) and wasn't to be taken as set in stone.

I do however find your rather sweeping attack on my comments a bit annoying. I won't trouble you with any more such rubbish.

Mike

I never said opinions are unwelcome or even attacked your opinion, that is what the thread is about. I said that statements such as

Been making them longer and better than europe ever thought of

are wrong in that it is a blanket statement saying, as bubba and bikercelt put it, apples are better than oranges. The phrasing of your statement, in fact your whole first paragraph, was an absolute.

Sorry guys but I have to go to the other side of the world.

= you opinion differs, ok.

Been making them longer and better than europe ever thought of. A Katana is just so much lighter, faster and sharper.

= Absolutes

I can do much more with my training and bokken than you can with your broadswords.

= may be true but you don't know that it is.

Please, make your opinion known, but don't try to say, keeping with the analogy, apples are better.

[Dreadbelly]

Give me a good hammer or a reinforced mace, and I could smash yer wee daintly blades in to slivers.

All this fuss over swords.

You people take your selves to seriously.

[KiltedCodeWarrior]

Give me a good hammer or a reinforced mace, and I could smash yer wee daintly blades in to slivers.

All this fuss over swords.

You people take your selves to seriously.

Dread, thanks for injecting some reality. For my part, if I decide to go armed, I think a Stinger missile and a .357 should equip me to deal with most situations!

And before anybody gets too out of whack, I know that this is a thread about swords and traditional weapons, just providing some levity.

[Southern Breeze]

I have a small number of Buck knives and have several that I carry.(utilitarian only). As for swords I have a claymore and two generic broadswords that are wallhangers.The development of firearms made swords and maces kinda useless. Don't get me wrong,re-enacting,sword and knife making ,plus learning how to use them is a good thing.If we forget the past,how can we see the future?

[Brasilikilt]

Give me a good hammer or a reinforced mace, and I could smash yer wee daintly blades in to slivers.

All this fuss over swords.

You people take your selves to seriously.

Dread.......I could totally see you utilizing a bearded pole axe much more effectively