Would you want a Katana?

[HigherTomorrow]

A Katana would be completely useless in a zombie apocalypse. Hell, most bladed-weaponry would.

 

[technoted]

Yeah cause there were Vikings running around Japan in the 1500's after all, that's why I cannot stand the show anymore, two warriors that would have never met each other, and no test is the same for either team, one will cut through pig carcas, the other a lump of meat with no bone at all.

It's hypothetical situations, like a medieval knight fighting a pirate, never happened probably never will happen but it's all about what if. You're also forgetting the Viking sword cut through the metal bar inside the dummy with a horizontal blow, and I think steel is a wee bit stronger than bone.

 

[rekabdarb]

I believe my proper retort is, do i... fuck it i'm not in the mood to be witty, i have one already. Grandfather was in WW2 pacific front, and The Japanese used Katanas as a symbol of officer. My grandpa got one, and i inherited it when he died. PRETTY FUCKING BOSS I WON'T LIE. also got a sacrificial kris

 

[Xyliss]

Oh yea, I'd love to have one and be able to use it properly. But there's really no need to have one here and I'd get some awkward questions from the police so it's probably easier not to have one

 

[Outamyhead]

It's hypothetical situations, like a medieval knight fighting a pirate, never happened probably never will happen but it's all about what if. You're also forgetting the Viking sword cut through the metal bar inside the dummy with a horizontal blow, and I think steel is a wee bit stronger than bone.

I wasn't complaining about what it can cut through, I was complaining how they conducted what the blades could do in two totally different tests like the claymore cutting through pork rolls with no bone, verses the Zulu blade carving the crap out of a pig carcas, through the bone I might add. You cannot compare the two, with different tests that are not applied to both weapons.

 

[Kimarous]

I already own two katanas and a rapier. My first kanata actually came sharp, much to the family's surprise and concern. My next one, purchased as a birthday present by my older brother, is purely decorative, however. My rapier is dull as well, although it's too long for me to use even if I wanted to.

 

[William Dickbringer]

not just a katana other swords as well (I interested in bladed weapons)

 

[Mannayz]

A katana? Screw that, I want a Scottish claymore.

Buuut since you asked: sure, why not?

 

[Unknown Hero 888]

If I'd have any weapon around I'dstick with a staff, because they aregood and reliable but if used well they don't need to kill. But I've admired swordsabit, and wouldn'tmind collecting them...

 

[yoda3d2]

either use it as a defense weapon in my home or duck tape it to a shotgun for maximum bayonet effectiveness...

12-gauge: damage: 80-95
bayonet attachment: damage: OVER 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Grey_Focks]

I already have a .45 for home protetion, and thus I see little point in having a sword other than for decoration. If I had a sword of decoration I would MUCH prefer a claymore.

 

[Outamyhead]

Sword or any blade for that matter does not run out of ammo

 

[joshuaayt]

I have a katana and two wakizashi. Now, the real question is how long will they last in a fight? I got them for like one hundred apiece...

 

[himemiya1650]

I'd want a katana, but it's not a very practical weapon due to it's size. You'd probably want something smaller like a kodachi or something. I used to have a katana, I gave it to my cousin and vanished to godknowswhere.

 

[Direwolf750]

I have a cheapo replica Daisho (well maybe not daisho, it has the 3 swords, the Katana, the Wakazashi and the the one in between that I can never remember the name of) set from the Last Samurai. Display only, it would break if I tried to use it in the manner of my other practical swords, but it's still a very pretty sword set none the less.

But personally, I prefer Longswords. I own one of these [http://www.medieval-fightclub.com/products/Longsword.html]. I got it was because it was cheap, but it seems to be based on an earlier form of longsword, which had a wider blade and didn't taper off so sharply as the quintessential German examples, and I can't afford one of those at the moment. But longswords are more practical and durable. You get a longer, stronger sword for the same weight and the entire sword, from point to pommel, can be used in combat (that is, if you are a member of a reaction group).

Firstly, the katana is a much more efficient killing weapon than a European broadsword, or any large straight edged blade, because of its curve, the two kinds of steel used to make it, and it is as a general rule, also a work of art.

Some people have already pulled you out, but I must throw in my 2 cents. A more 'efficient' killing weapons is just not true. A more efficient cutting weapon, I can agree with. This is what the Katana was designed for and is regarded as one of the best in that field. And in the end, the European sword was primarily used as a thrusting weapon in armoured combat. But to say it is not as good a katana is to ignore why the European sword evolved in the manner it did and how it was used.

First and foremost is the development of armour, particularly plate armour. With plate armour covering more and steel increasing in quality, slashing weapons became less effective, indeed pretty much useless against a fully armoured knight. In the realms of weapons, the response to this was the development of weapons like the Halberd, the warhammer and the pollaxe which relied less of cutting power but concussive force or crushing force. For the sword, it developed a more tapered point with which to get into gaps in armour, or joints which were less armoured for mobility reasons. Several schools of fighting arose, probably the most master famous being Johannes Liechtenauer who founded the German school of fencing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_school_of_swordsmanship].

So yes, as a specialised cutting weapon, the katana is king. But for a more practical sword, I'd take the longsword.

More practical against a trained, armored knight you mean. Also, the katana could split a steel helmet in half.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

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

Nope. That would be a crowbar.

No arguements there... unless you could have a lightsaber.

Maybe then I would argue with you.

 

[Angerwing]

I wanna get a cheap replica and mount it above my TV. Just for looks. We have this sort of South-East Asian vibe going in our house (used to live in Indonesia), so the Katana would fit in well. Yes, I know Japan isn't in South-East Asia.

But I wouldn't intend to use it for anything.

 

[rekabdarb]

It's hypothetical situations, like a medieval knight fighting a pirate, never happened probably never will happen but it's all about what if. You're also forgetting the Viking sword cut through the metal bar inside the dummy with a horizontal blow, and I think steel is a wee bit stronger than bone.

I wasn't complaining about what it can cut through, I was complaining how they conducted what the blades could do in two totally different tests like the claymore cutting through pork rolls with no bone, verses the Zulu blade carving the crap out of a pig carcas, through the bone I might add. You cannot compare the two, with different tests that are not applied to both weapons.

yo dawg i'm like 98% sure i didn't say that, the guy above me did