Would you want a Katana?

[StrangerQ]

yes i like sharp things that look pretty

 

[Commissar Sae]

Couple of my friends bought some online. They are scary sharp and resistant. We spent some time last summer slicing large vegetables and heavy plastic containers. It's fun but ultimately they just bought some expensive wall decorations.

Okay, that was a pointless rant. Katana is just a sword. It's illegal, sadly, to own a sword without special permits here in Canada.

Plus I'm by no means rich and still trying to fund my college education, and a real sword - a katana or not, will cost in the range of a few thousands as a minimum reaching pretty unbelievable prices at the maximum. Professional blacksmiths aren't cheap, and that shitty sword you picked up from some uni arts student taking blacksmithing is by no means of a comparable quality with a professional forged sword.

Actually it is legal to own swords in Canada, its not legal to walk around with them unless you are a member of the armed forces and have it tied with a peace knot.(there may be other conditions but I can't remember them) But you can own one legitimately and even use it within the confines of your property.

As for the price you'd be surpised how cheap a good blade can be. The problem comes with seperating the quality from the replicas and the cheap pieces of crap. Make sure you look up every review you can about the manufacturer and the blade itself, but that said you can get a quality blade for a little under 500$ (still too much for my student budget mind you, hence why I don't have a sword. That and I don't care that much) My dad gave me a couple of cheap replicas at one point and they look alright, but they are by no means effective weapons.

 

[jake557]

I feel this is relevant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLWzH_1eZsc&feature=related

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

I'd like to have a Katana in my bedroom. I want to learn how to use it properly, buy a nice one and leave it in my room[footnote]hidden of course[/footnote] so I would have something to defend myself with if Ninja's or CIA thugs[footnote][small]or zombies for that matter[/small][/footnote] came after me for some reason.

A more serious answer to my own question is that I would like a Katana because I've always admired them and swords in general. I wouldn't pull it out very often and I'd, well, just think it'd be awesome to have one. With my current budget I will not be able to afford one anytime soon.

Would you want a Katana? Why?

I am curious: How old are you? DO you not have a local anime convention/renfest/stoner shop? Are you the product of some weird religious upbringing that doesnt care for swords?

I'm not trying to isult you, I'm actually curiious. I am mystified by questions like these because I've owned swords since i was 12 and knives since i was 7

Now I have 8 or 9 nine swords and i believe 47 knives. could be a little higher

anyway, yes. swords are good. go get some now. wallpaper your room with them

 

[Chunko]

Me being the "knife/sword/anything with a combat-plausible blade on it,or any combat-plausible weapon that doesn't require exploding for that matter" nut that I am,I would LOVE to have a katana. And a tanto. And a wakizashi. And a no-dachi. and a zweihander. The list goes on. I realize it's a personal choice,and if you really want a katana (combat ready ones are going to be almost impossible to find,just so ya know) and your financial situation allows it,go for it! It'd be an interesting conversation piece if anyone ever brings it up.

My avatar has officially met his nemesis.

 

[Clockwork Scarecrow.]

-snip-

You can get proper ones in Japan as well as other places. If you know a good blacksmith that might help. As for training you can just get a wooden replica and teach yourself.

 

[C117]

Sure, if I could have one, I'd want it. But I'd rather have a kunai.

 

[duchaked]

hey, a katana is a very nice looking (and working, roundabout) sword haha

 

[F-I-D-O]

I have one....
Yeah, it's awesome
Thing is, I'm not the best at using it. A single room full of clutter=not the best place to wave around a sword.

 

[F-I-D-O]

Not even in the most stereotypically redneck state in the USA (choose your own, I don't know too many states) it would be okay to shoot to kill someone for simply stepping on your lawn without any permission.

Actually, it is if you have an official no trespassing sign and a permit allowing you to have that sign.
In Texas, it's legal to shoot/kill someone stealing your stuff. This causes bankers a lot of difficulty when it comes to repossessing a car.
Not sure how the lawn thing got associated with swords though...
Yeah, you're right. It's not the most efficient of weapons. Most people who get one won't be trained. But if someone is a master at using it, then it's a hell of a lot more effective then a spear.

 

[Berserker119]

I would say "Who wouldn't want a katana", but apparently, quite a few people don't. Hm. For me, I'd prefer an axe, but a katana would be rather nifty.

 

[Eat Uranium]

You obviously have no idea about swords if you think a Katana would shatter on bone or steel and did you know Samurai learned an entirely different technique for fighting in confined spaces?

Since the weapon I would be using is assumed to have been bought by me - its not going to be of terribly high quality. Thus it probably will bend or snap and almost certainly chip. Not to mention I have absolutly no idea how I'm supposed to use this sword in tight spaces since I'm not trained as a Samurai.

What I do know is that I can go to a hardware store and buy a reasonably good quality hatchet (or a billhook if the shop's good) and that its short enough not to need any sort of speciality training for enclosed fighting (just a bit of care when going for swings). The blade is also going to be able to come out of an accidental hit to a wall in a lot better condition than any katana too.

 

[Mariakitten]

I would want one, perfect weapon for a zombie apocalypse.

Actually, it's not.

The number one way to kill a zombie is via severe brain trauma. Using just how sharp a weapon is may work for the first few times, but will quickly become unable to penetrate the skull or become jammed. You could argue that inserting the blade under the skull could work but in practical "oh shit, more than two zombies!" situation, it's just not really possible. However, if you use a bladed weapon that relies not just on sharpness, but also force and weight, then it's more likely to last longer (e.g. European swords (which I will admit, I prefer), besides things like rapiers for obvious reasons). Even then, the best melee weapon to use, as much cited a machete is, would be something like a weighted aluminium baseball. It's got weight, it's got strength (if the weight is applied internally and it's not just hollow) and it's got length. Second best would probably be a hammer, although it lacks the length other weapons have. Although the absolute ideal would be a traditional medieval war-hammer which combines all the things that are ideal to smashing skulls in. Just make sure you can swing it without leaving yourself off balance!

Haha, you can pretty much tell I've research it a bit.

well you didn't research it enough, the katana was originally made to slice through bone with ease. It would be unlikely that it would get stuck. Also a zombie cant attack you if its missing half its body.

 

[Eggsnham]

Yeah, it's a pretty cool piece of weaponry, but I just like swords in general.

Something about em' is just badass!

 

[Muramasa89]

Would I like to? Yes. However, I am broke and the only shop (near by) that specialises in swords is Medieval orientated.

On top of that I have no room in my bedroom.

 

[Eternalsun]

i have 14 knifes in my room so an extra big one would fit in nicely

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

I would like to have a Katana in the same way I would like a air-balloon.

A "been there, done that" sort of mentality.

 

[Dyp100]

If I was going to have a sword, it would not be a katana.

Katanas are pretty terribly made, and if I was sent back in time, lets asy, it'd want something like a short sword. Something not too brittle.

 

[Riobux]

well you didn't research it enough, the katana was originally made to slice through bone with ease. It would be unlikely that it would get stuck. Also a zombie cant attack you if its missing half its body.

It wasn't designed to cut through skull bone which tends to be harder to cut (at least in a disembowelling kind of way). Plus, it can still attack you since it's still alive. It still can crawl to you. Hell, just keep it's head alive and it'll probably try to nibble at your ankles and one bite is all it takes.

 

[Queen Michael]

Why wouldn't one want a katana? You could always e-bay it to somebody if you tired of it.