Samurai swords don't run out of bullets...

[Phantom Captain]

Figured I'll share a few of mine since I dig them so much.

I love swords and bladed weapons and have a few different examples from different historical eras and regions. In my opinion there is nothing greater than Japanese Samurai swords. For function and aesthetic beauty nothing comes close in my opinion.

Here is my daisho. These are Paul Chen, Hanwei, hand forged, clay tempered, razor sharp (like ridiculously so) high quality functional swords made with traditional methods. These are the Shinto models. Top to bottom are: Katana, Wakizashi and Tanto.

I love them. They are some of my most prized of possessions.

If you look closely you can see the temper line (hamon) on the katana and wakizashi. The katana was the samurai war sword, the wakizashi had the function of being your self defense weapon, the wakizashi would go everywhere with the warrior, even places where the katana had to be put aside, and he would even sleep with it. Out in public or in battle both the katana and the wakizashi would be worn at the same time.

 

[rcmodel]

Samurai swords don't run out of bullets...

But don't take a sword to a gun fight or you will surely die before you get to it.

rc

 

[Shoobee]

It is good to have a sharp jack knife or two in your pocket at all times. I absolutely never leave home without one, except for church or funerals.

But swords have come and gone in usefulness or popularity.

The last time swords were useful in combat was when the horse was useful as a cavalry platform. The helicopter and battletank have since replaced the horse, and the sword is gone with it.

A good machete makes a much better weed cutter, and it functions well as a practical sword also.

The machete is still a modern issued item for the infantry in jungle conditions.

There is a machete on my hunting gear belt. I use it for trail maintenance.

 

[clem]

A sword should be used once your' out of ammo and cornered.
Besides, you don't have to reload a sword.

Check out this link:

http://www.kultofathena.com/product.asp?item=CS97GMS&name=Cold+Steel+Gladius+Machete

 

[rcmodel]

A sword should be used once your' out of ammo and cornered.

Didn't work for the Japanese officers in WWII.

Still won't work for you today.

Anyway, if you are going to carry a sword just in case you run out of ammo?
Better to leave the sword at home and carry more ammo.

rc

 

[Phantom Captain]

It was said "tongue in cheek" fellas. I wasn't being literal or serious. Believe me, I don't walk around with a sword on my hip (however my Mak is always there ). I just wanted to share a couple pics of some of my favorite pieces.

 

[gunnysmith]

Paul Chen "Peach Monkey' Hand forged, I too appreciate the hand made folded.

 

[JShirley]

The katana was not in fact the war sword. The daisho pair came into vogue after the major Japanese wars. The tachi was the pure (older) battle sword, and was designed to be used from horseback. It's like the difference between a fencing rapier and a cavalry saber. Both are dangerous in the right hands, but one is a battlefield weapon, and the other is a court weapon. Some tachi were converted to katana, which usually involved shortening them a bit and changing their fittings.

I love katanas, too.

John

 

[Mac Attack]

Nice!

 

[Shoobee]

RC is quite right, the Japanese pushed the usefulness of the sword in WW2 and they found out ole' 1911A1 works much better. That's as true now as it was then.

And to make sure I do NOT run out of ammo when I need it, I have 4 magazines on my 45ACP gunbelt. Total of 50 rounds, 10 + 1 capacity in the pistol, and 40 more in the mags on the belt.

Bring on 50 samurai. I am ready.

 

[Carl Levitian]

While a sword may have faded into history as a weapon, there are some places where it still may not be a bad idea. New York city, Washinton D.C. and Chicago come to mind.

Last year sometimes, there was a college kid here in Maryland, Baltimore to be exact, that used a samurai sword to kill a burglar. Found the intruder and I think in the scuffle, cut the intruders arm off and the perp bleed to death. I think the sword wielder was a student at Johns- Hopkins medical school.

It sure worked for him. I can only hope when he becomes a surgeon, he uses something with a little more finesse.

Carl.

 

[dprice3844444]

if you need to be quiet

 

[Dave McCracken]

Perp's name was Donald Rice, he got on my nerves at The MD House of Correction lo these many years ago. A lifetime of bad judgement. Offical COD was "Exsaugination" of course.

Left hand was almost completely severed, abdomenal and thoracic wounds also.

The med student swung once.

However, there's a lot of Japanese swords in America because prior owners of them ran across GIs with BARs, Garands, Springfields, 1911s, 12s, 97s,etc.

There's a lesson there....

 

[12gaugeTim]

I seriously think OP chose the title as a clever way to introduce his photographs, and in no way was endorsing using a katana for self defense... Just saying

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Beautiful swords, PC.

 

[Slamfire]

Well there used to be a saying that a "bowie knife won't misfire".

I am happy that decent affordable Samuria swords are on the market. Used to be you got rubber swords or things made from pot metal.

 

[Shoobee]

No doubt. But these ran out of ammo in 1945 in Japan.

DaveMc you crack me up! Good visualization.

 

[clem]

Didn't work for the Japanese officers in WWII.

Still won't work for you today.

Anyway, if you are going to carry a sword just in case you run out of ammo?
Better to leave the sword at home and carry more ammo.

rc

You will eventually run out of ammo. Then what do you do?

 

[Shoobee]

Clem -- You will eventually run out of ammo. Then what do you do?

As the Spartans proved at Thermopylae, you will eventually run out of everything, after everything finally breaks, and then you are left only with your teeth and claws.

And for the ancient Olympics, where no holds were barred, only biting and eye gouging were forbidden. Ergo these are the ultimate weapons. Same as the other animals.

 

[jrdolall]

Wait for HQ to send more of course. Great swords!

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I guess I'll buy one now after seeing the last scene of the last episode of "The Walking Dead"

No - better not. I wouldn't have the discipline to leave them in the stand like yours. many trips to the VA ER would ensue!

 

[Phantom Captain]

I guess I'll buy one now after seeing the last scene of the last episode of "The Walking Dead"

No - better not. I wouldn't have the discipline to leave them in the stand like yours. many trips to the VA ER would ensue!

Haha!

That's Michonne from the comic books. If you don't know who she is you are in for a treat.

I won't mess up my blades by chopping things with them, for what it's worth. It's not what the blades were designed for and it kind of disrespects the weapon by using it in a function it's not made for. I would utterly hate to chip or otherwise scratch or mangle the blades. I see people hacking away with swords on youtube etc. cutting bottles and wood and other things they aren't meant for and it always makes me cringe. I take really good care of mine and clean and oil them etc. They are high carbon steels and will rust just from fingers touching them and leaving them unoiled. Too much money spent to mess them up in my opinion.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

My wife and I specifically liked the metaphoric set up of friends then firearms then finally her own endurance letting her down only to be "saved" by a zombie-pet-toting-blade-weilding chick. Then my gal says to me... "Do we have any swords?" To which I paraphrased SGM Basil Plumley... "Sir, if the time comes I need one, there'll be plenty lying on the ground."

 

[Phantom Captain]

gunnysmith said:

Paul Chen "Peach Monkey' Hand forged, I too appreciate the hand made folded.

Gorgeous! Love em. I have a Musashi folded katana as well and I really like the look of the folded steel. My tanto is folded as well but you can't tell from the picture.

 

[Owen Sparks]

A sword is really the ultimate refinement of the stick but it is still not a proper backup for a firearm. If I were going to carry around an extra few of pounds of metal it would be a backup handgun or a several more magazines. I am a big proponent of sticks NOT because they are the best weapon, but because they are the best weapon you can generally have nearby without legal problems or getting fired. If for some reason you could not own a firearm in your home a sword would be a good choice (along with a bow and arrow) If you could not own a weapon at all, something like the butt half a two piece pool cue would do.