Poll: What is your favourite kind of sword?

[dave1004]

Hmm. It's not on there, but I do so love a Zweihander, but I picked a Scimitar. I like weapons that are light and fast, yet strong as well. A Katana doesn't work for that, since it only relies on speed, sharpness and balance, and would nigh shatter if struck against metal armour. Blades like a Rapier are more of the stabby kind, and I'm not good at lunging, so...Yeah. Scimitars.

I wanted to "In before hundreds of weeaboos pick Katana", but I'm too late. Fools, Katanas are made for slicing through light armours, and would be useless against anybody with a heavy blade, sturdy shield or half-decent metal armour.

 

[AdeptaSororitas]

Hand me a good Sabre anyday. The subtle curve, the beautifully effective grip. Damn, the best of a Rapier and Katana with none of the Pretentiousness.

 

[loch belthadd]

A katana made from a master smith.
So sharp it can cut a piece of paper dropped on it, or more practically, cut a man in two, right shoulder to left belly in a single swing.
I wanna see any european sword make that.

But the european sword will do it against armor. Katanas weren't really made for "real" combat. They are great for duels and small skirmishes, but because they rely almost entirely on sharpness they have low durability in mass combat. Samurai used more pole-arms and bows for war. Then they got guns.

 

[Nickolai77]

Sparthae swords, or swords typically used in the dark ages.

Probably not as good as a bastard sword because of the small cross-guard, but i like it's slim shape.

 

[Athol]

Give me a Hand-and-a half (Bastard), and a small shield...

 

[FalloutJack]

A Claymore.

Why yes, I AM Irish.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

A Claymore.

Why yes, I AM Irish.

Claymore is Scottish...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore

Claymores are Scottish variant longswords.

 

[FalloutJack]

A Claymore.

Why yes, I AM Irish.

Claymore is Scottish...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore

Claymores are Scottish variant longswords.

There's an Irish varient as well.

 

[Saladfork]

Good arguments.

Sorry to everyone who suggested larger greatswords like the Zweihander, slipped my mind when I made the poll.

Also I was a rather biased toward European swords, so my apologies again if you prefer, say, Chinese blades.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

A Claymore.

Why yes, I AM Irish.

Claymore is Scottish...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore

Claymores are Scottish variant longswords.

There's an Irish varient as well.

Well no.

It's a Scottish sword. An Irish blacksmith could make a claymore, but it's still Scottish in origin.

 

[FalloutJack]

A Claymore.

Why yes, I AM Irish.

Claymore is Scottish...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore

Claymores are Scottish variant longswords.

There's an Irish varient as well.

Well no.

It's a Scottish sword. An Irish blacksmith could make a claymore, but it's still Scottish in origin.

Lad, you're not gonna shift a stubborn man like me with a John Cleese "No, it isn't" and a Wiki page.

 

[Singularly Datarific]

I tend to prefer a good polearm over swords, just in theory, as I figure that having the same sword just on the end of a 2 meter pole is another 2 meters away from some guy who wants you dead.

 

[AngloDoom]

It's all about pointeh death with me, so rapier all the way. They look so sleek and elegant, and would certainly be my weapon of choice in a dual.

That or sabres, more most of the above reasons, but if I'm in a rare somewhat-slashy mood.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

A Claymore.

Why yes, I AM Irish.

Claymore is Scottish...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claymore

Claymores are Scottish variant longswords.

There's an Irish varient as well.

Well no.

It's a Scottish sword. An Irish blacksmith could make a claymore, but it's still Scottish in origin.

Lad, you're not gonna shift a stubborn man like me with a John Cleese "No, it isn't" and a Wiki page.

Even if there's an Irish variant, it's predominately a Scottish weapon.

Hell, the name is Scottish.

It just confused me a little with the whole 'Why yes, I AM Irish' thing, since when most people think of a claymore, they think of Scotland.

 

[Yokai]

I voted falchion, simply because I like a huge cutting edge. Zweihanders are great too, simply because they're almost comically huge and yet were actually used for more than just ceremony.

But let me be a sword hipster and draw attention to two more obscure varieties:

Spoiler: Egyptian khopesh

Spoiler: Dacian falx

They're just so deliciously weird. The falx especially, as it was used point forward, unlike every other curved sword ever.

 

[bismarck55]

Modern ideologies and weapons of dubious battlefield value are no match for a good spear at your side kid.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_IIHlFOEiI

 

[burningdragoon]

<spoiler=Sword chucks yo>
http://www.splitreason.com/Product_Images/10556fbc300c.jpg


I mean, realistically I would probably just go for a standard long sword

 

[vivalahelvig]

A Zwielderhander. Or however you spell it.
Basically a giant sword, with 2-handed grip.
http://www.swordsandarmor.com/images/SD901098_Flamberge_Sword_Hilt.jpg

It's an awesome weapon

 

[demoman_chaos]

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:

It is actually quite a bit easier said than done to close range on a long weapon, even with a shield. Being a live-steel viking combat reenactor, I know this to be true.
If you have a bastard sword than you likely would have a heater shield, which is quite small and strapped to your arm. That means any impact would transfer right into your arm and could possibly break bones.
Using my sword as a polearm, I can attack much quicker than you think (8 well balanced pounds is quite manageable, especially if given to a larger fellow than I). Using the ricassa (the leather bit above the handguard) I can still use my blade in tight quarters.
I can also easily get through your armor while a bastard sword will not as easily get through mine (assuming we both have plate armor).

I also see that I am not the only fan of lindybeige.

 

[2733]

A katana made from a master smith.
So sharp it can cut a piece of paper dropped on it, or more practically, cut a man in two, right shoulder to left belly in a single swing.
I wanna see any european sword make that.

You mean like any greatsword/zweihander/flammenschwert? Ok.
Now show me a Katana capable of going through the metal plating of body armour.

Also please show me a katana that slices paper dropped on it.

you are aware that even the largest of European swords could not cut heavy plate armor, correct? so the katana simply does the same task of cutting a man down with 1/4 the weight.