Poll: What is your favourite kind of sword?

[demoman_chaos]

I bet the katana will have the most votes and most of those will come from people that know very little about weapons and buy into the katana myths.

The flammenschwert is the best sword. It is both a greatsword, a polearm, and is the meanest looking blade you'll ever see. it could range from 6 ft to 8 ft long and weighed in the 8-10 lb range. It was built to cut the heads off of pikes but it also excels at cutting the heads off pikemen. The wavy design gives it an aerodynamic advantage over its straight bladed counterparts as well as increasing cutting power. It also means it leaves a nasty thrusting wound.

Spoiler: For your viewing pleasure

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Katanas are so terribly overrated. They're a thin curved rectangle with a disk. Anyway, since this beautiful ************ isn't an option (although I wish the blade was longer)-

-I'll just go with good old longswords. Can't go wrong there.

Do you know where the sword comes from?

That's the Manado from Xenoblade Chronicles. That isn't a blade, that's the sheath.

The 'blade' portion splits open and a beam sword appears (which is pretty damn long).

 

[jpoon]

Katana takes the cake for me, followed closely by the good 'ole trusty longsword.

 

[jpoon]

Katana takes the cake for me, followed closely by the good 'ole trusty longsword.

 

[BabySinclair]

Sorry to disappoint but Kopesh, Falcata and Shiavona. In that order.

<spoiler=Kopesh>http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g-jw5uZ6ACw/Thn-7-3ca2I/AAAAAAAAACU/DdwY0l8CbIE/s1600/weapons10.jpg

<spoiler=Falcata>http://www.faraos.dk/Content/photos/Live%20Rollespil/A060F01D_large.jpg

<spoiler=Shiavona>http://www.sword.cz/schiavona1.jpg

Pretty much this, just about the right order too. I would insert a bastard sword before the Shiavona because of the versatility of a hand-and-a-half sword and it's what I've had the most training on lately.

 

[BlackEagle95]

Gah I can't pick! I'll go with scimitar, just to be different. An excellent Calvary weapon for it's time. Nothing like some good old slicy slicy!

 

[Teddypimm]

Rapier, mostly because its light and fast. Also because I won't break my arm trying to lift and swing it.
(Its also got a huge crit range in DnD, aka more chances to hit for double damage.)

 

[William Ossiss]

Broadsword. specifically with a hand and a half to the hilt, so I can drop my shield and use both hands. Or use the axe at my side. A weapon in each fist. my first blow would make his helmet crack. The axe cut to the teeth. 'I rip the axe from the head, covered in blood and brains. I leave the body lying dead, ready to strike again."

 

[Seaf The Troll]

claymore! swing

 

[Seaf The Troll]

claymore! swing

 

[Lunar Templar]

Long sword, generally with a shield of some kind, failing that

The flammenschwert is the best sword. It is both a greatsword, a polearm, and is the meanest looking blade you'll ever see. it could range from 6 ft to 8 ft long and weighed in the 8-10 lb range. It was built to cut the heads off of pikes but it also excels at cutting the heads off pikemen. The wavy design gives it an aerodynamic advantage over its straight bladed counterparts as well as increasing cutting power. It also means it leaves a nasty thrusting wound.

Spoiler: For your viewing pleasure

one of these

 

[Spiritofpower]

I bet the katana will have the most votes and most of those will come from people that know very little about weapons and buy into the katana myths.

The flammenschwert is the best sword. It is both a greatsword, a polearm, and is the meanest looking blade you'll ever see. it could range from 6 ft to 8 ft long and weighed in the 8-10 lb range. It was built to cut the heads off of pikes but it also excels at cutting the heads off pikemen. The wavy design gives it an aerodynamic advantage over its straight bladed counterparts as well as increasing cutting power. It also means it leaves a nasty thrusting wound.

Spoiler: For your viewing pleasure

Problem: My bastard sword lets me use a shield. Also, it's faster. If I use the shield to block you and get in close so the length is a hindrance rather than an advantage, I can stab you before you can back off. I have no doubt it's a weapon to be feared, but to say it's the best sword ever is premature. And pikes have the notable weakness of being pikes, and therefore only having one (maybe two) pointy ends and nothing else. That weapon appears to be made solely for killing spear/pikemen, and that means it was excellent for war, but rare is the fool who takes a spear or pike into single combat.

Also, for people who voted katana:

 

[Thistlehart]

I likes me a big two-handed straight-blade, so I voted for longsword. If used correctly, it's deceptively quick and devastatingly powerful. Though it may leave one open to quicker fighters with small stabby weapons, that's a flaw in the fighter not the weapon.

 

[theheroofaction]

If I had to pick one sword type it would be the gladius.

Good grip, and a just long enough blade so as to be easy to use.

Spoiler: some gladii for reference

Of the image, the leftmost one seems the best.

 

[theheroofaction]

double post, sorry bout that.

 

[The Madman]

Bastard Sword. It's just the most practical sword out there, capable of filling pretty much any role it needs to. And I at least would rather have that than a shiny piece of metal really good at one thing and one thing only, but absolutely rubbish in any other scenario (I'm looking at you Katana and Rapier).

 

[JesterRaiin]

Pft, they aren't real lightning claws unless they've got a "unique" bolter attachment like everyone seems to have nowdays.

I'm only old fashioned, humble servant of Emperor.

One rule: If I can't use it to chop off my enemy's head, it's not a proper sword. I don't want to poke or tickle him, I want to *&#)ing decapitate him.

With that kind of attitude you'd die pretty soon.

More seriously : maybe you should consider switchinh to axes then ?

Sorry to disappoint but Kopesh, Falcata and Shiavona. In that order.

Pretty much this, just about the right order too. I would insert a bastard sword before the Shiavona because of the versatility of a hand-and-a-half sword and it's what I've had the most training on lately.

PICS ! For God's sake, don't be shy !!!

 

[flaming_squirrel]

Longsword is the most versatile bladed (non polearm) weapon ever made, it's also rather elegant.

Katana's are, as several people have said, horribly overrated. They're heavy, stiff and relatively inflexible in their use. They've benefited from a lot of fanboy-ism amongst nerds.


But on another note, poleaxe > all. Why choose between hacking/clubbing/impaling when you can do all three.

 

[omicron1]

Ninja'd on the khopesh. Stabbing, slashing, and it makes a pretty good disarming tool to boot.

 

[Spacewolf]

If I had to pick one sword type it would be the gladius.

Good grip, and a just long enough blade so as to be easy to use.

Spoiler: some gladii for reference

Of the image, the leftmost one seems the best.

well there more army weapons than single combat as there meant to stab to cover the person by your side and hope they covered you, they are also meant to be effecent, one stab up to an inch in with draw move on as an inch deed stab is almost always fatal and probably incapcitating.