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

[joecil]

I have a couple of sets myself all working blades that cut though from China not Japan since they don't make anything now except ceremonial swords from what I understand.

However with that said some guns don't need to be reloaded either just watch this video and count the shots. It tells you way the Beretta/Taurus 92 models are so popular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy6PmybuSgk

 

[Coltdriver]

I have an old friend who inherited his wife's family's genuine ancient samurai swords.

He has a long one and a medium length one. They are incredible to look at and hold and yes they are absolutely razor blade sharp.

According to family lore the swords are around 600 years old. Fearsome weapons.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Neat.
I believe that if Musashi were alive today, he'd find value in swords and all the other weapons we have available, depending on the situation.
Just wouldn't be too attached to one.

 

[joecil]

My father was with the 4th Marine Division during WWII in the Pacific. He took a sword of a Japanese officer after he killed him and was also wounded in the confrontations by the sword. Well without any one ever know it he stored in a trunk in the attic. Well right after I got married he got a letter from the Japanese and US State Department asking for the sword back with an offer to pay for it also. Well he took no money for it and did return it but this particular sword was about 5 centuries old and had been in the family since their one time samurai members had it made. I asked him why he didn't take the money and his answer was I killed their family member and had gotten enough then. At any rate the only time I saw it was when a person from the State Department came and picked it up with a letter of gratitude from the State Department, the Japanese Government and a hand written letter from the family's head (brother of the officer that had it) with a translation of what it said, done by the Department of State.

 

[19-3Ben]

My father was with the 4th Marine Division during WWII in the Pacific. He took a sword of a Japanese officer after he killed him and was also wounded in the confrontations by the sword. Well without any one ever know it he stored in a trunk in the attic. Well right after I got married he got a letter from the Japanese and US State Department asking for the sword back with an offer to pay for it also. Well he took no money for it and did return it but this particular sword was about 5 centuries old and had been in the family since their one time samurai members had it made. I asked him why he didn't take the money and his answer was I killed their family member and had gotten enough then. At any rate the only time I saw it was when a person from the State Department came and picked it up with a letter of gratitude from the State Department, the Japanese Government and a hand written letter from the family's head (brother of the officer that had it) with a translation of what it said, done by the Department of State.

Wow. very cool story. Thank you for sharing that.

 

[Gordon]

If someone gets too close, within 4 feet say , with all but a leveled and retension position firearm ,I'd just as soon have a drawn Katana or short sword. A non telegraphed properly executed stroke is gonna take off the fire control hand or arm in less time than it takes to react and pull the trigger by all but the best trained or lucky. At least that is the theory and I have yet to test it Thank G-d , and now I am getting old I guess I'll take the gun thank you!

 

[Fred Fuller]

Some folks still like to have a good sized blade along in a pinch. The photo below shows one such individual, a crotchety old Army mule wrangler named Arthur D. Simons, aka "Bull." In the picture below he's about to launch on a mission with a few dozen other American soldiers and Air Force crew members into North Vietnam. It could have turned into a very 'pinchy' trip, but in this case it worked out OK.

The blade isn't a sword, I'm not sure exactly what it is, maybe a golok or the like. But it was along for the ride. IIRC that's a Ruger .357 revolver in the shoulder holster.



Photo source: http://www.psywarrior.com/sontay.html

One tiny bit of trivia - Simons' code name/call sign for the mission was "Wildroot." One writer speculated that the name was due to Simons' receding hairline. Actually Wildroot was perhaps the most famous artillery mule ever at Ft. Bragg. Simons got his start in WW2 in a pack artillery outfit (see http://community-2.webtv.net/masterofneon3/601stPackArtillery/index.html for pictures if not familiar with pack howitzers). The old brick Mule Barns were still standing on Main Post at Ft. Bragg when I left there, converted to office buildings.

 

[kamagong]

I have a couple of swords. Fearsome weapons certainly, although a bit outdated these days. Still, in the unlikely case that I ever run out of ammo I still wouldn't grab either one. I'd choose one of my khukuris for a couple of reasons. First, the khukuri has utility value on top of its weapon potential. Second, I am more confident with a khukuri than any sword because I have used them as tools. I know how they work and I am familiar with their dynamics. I don't know anything about how to properly use a sword.

 

[hso]

Can we drop the goofy "out of ammo" meme? The OP was just invoking it for humor.

I have a one of a kind Louis Mills tachi, Chen and Kris Kutlery katanas and a true Edo wakizashi. They're elegant and terrifying weapons and some of them have amazing balance and liveliness in the hand. There's an artistry in their craftsmanship. There's something about a live blade than makes it an extension of your will.

 

[CWL]

The Philippines Marines are the only active military unit that still issues swords, the "ginunting". Issued upon completion of training, they are optionally carried while out in the field in heavy forest & jungles. They are definitely not employed merely as machetes, but are considered weapons for use against the Muslim guerrillas, who carry barangs.

 

[Spot]

Fred Fuller

Some extra trivia, Bldg#6 at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas (TXARNG) used to be a horse barn; during 1986-87, it was barracks - I know,I was one of the 91A students. Good times.

 

[JShirley]

joecil, who has those letters now? Neat memorabilia.

The Japanese do still make swords in the traditional way (which is completely unnecessary with modern steel), it's just difficult and expensive to get them.

People abuse swords frequently, true. But it should also be understood that tatami mats simulating human tissue are traditionally used by the Japanese for practice. Working with water-filled plastic bottles is an excellent way to improve sword cutting.

The best reason to get a quality Chinese reproduction of a historical sword is exactly so you won't risk damage to a sword worth as much as your car. Getting one just to look at is, I feel, somewhat perverse. At close ranges, long blades are still extremely effective, fast weapons, and frequent practice with them can bring many benefits.

John

 

[kamagong]

I agree, there's something magical about a handcrafted blade. I don't have many of them, but my HI M43 and RMJ Forge tomahawk are two of my favorite things. In a couple of months a forged bowie will be joining the group. I don't need any of them, but they speak to me and simply put, I want them. Just like I want an Argentine criollo, a Hungarian fokos, and a Scottish dirk.

 

[hso]

In addition to the few Japanese blade-smiths that make tachi, katana, wakizashi and other traditional japanese weapons there are a few smiths scattered across the globe that still use completely traditional methods to craft these blades. There are several in the U.S. and Europe (several being a small "several" instead of a large group).

There are many more that forge from modern steels that are superior to ancient Japanese steels and use modern forging methods, but who still heat treat in ways essentially the same as traditional Japanese blade-smiths to produce swords that will perform as well as or better than the best historical blades. They use modern materials and methods and ancient skill and craftsmanship to create swords with the balance and finesse of the ancient swords that inspire them.

 

[taliv]

i was a student of iaido for many years and collected and used antique swords. The oldest I had was estimated around 700 years, but was in poor condition (obviously used A LOT) and so not very expensive. it was a giant and unbelievably heavy. I thought it was indestructible. Turns out I was wrong. I later sold it to someone who had it in the trunk of their car and got rear-ended. Mangled the blade.

I did have several nicer ones, most signed, some papered that were just amazing. I had a nice katana (estimated around 600 years) that had been polished so many times it was too thin to use. It had been shortened twice.


Any time i smell cloves, I think of those swords. I kind of miss them.

 

[JShirley]

And they should be used.

Buying a finely crafted sword made of materials superior to 99 (and several fraction points)% of all swords ever made and then just leaving it hanging on a wall or a display stand is like buying a F1 Racer just to keep in a show room.

Even Cold Steel's swords with cheap steel are probably superior to most historical swords. Modern steel is just far superior to almost all historical steels, and "history" is a long time. Bladed weapons were made from bronze, once upon a time.

John

 

[CSestp]

My buddy got a IMO nice Chinese Samurai sword. When I held it I understood why they were such a great weapon at the time. Also it made me feel really dumb when I tried to swing/control the damn thing. That got me to thinking is there anywhere that teaches sword control. Not like a fighting class, just something that teaches you basic stances and swings?

The only way I can pose my question is like this. If I just got a new AR-15, I dont want to go through a month long SWAT course to learn how to handle and use my AR-15. I just want a weekend course to learn how to care for and how to properly sight in my AR-15.

 

[DM~]

A friend of my fathers got this one,



When a Japanease officer brought it to a gun fight.

After my dad's friend got it home, he decided he didn't want it around to remind him of how he got it.

Dad traded him a BB gun for it, and as he never got around to turning it into knife blades, many years later he gave it to me.

DM

 

[joecil]

joecil, who has those letters now? Neat memorabilia.

My oldest son does now as I passed them on to him. Yes we still have the letters as well as other of my father's things from WWII.

I also collected swords for year until Hurricane Andrew hit us when every thing I had was lost. I had all kinds of swords from really ancient designs to more modern spanish designs. Many where true antiques but not all as some where reproductions but all where battle ready cutters. I was mostly into early Greek, Roman eras then expanded up to the middle ages then to the Asian swords including Japanese and Chinese weapons of the periods also. Now that I've gotten older and semi retired just can't afford to collect stuff any more.

 

[kamagong]

Japanese swords have long appealed to me. I would love to own a daisho, along with a tanto in matching koshirae. The thing is, I want them to be traditional. When it comes to ethnic blades, I prefer them to be made by a member of the culture that created them. That is why I own a khukuri from Himalayan Imports, a puukko by Pekka Tuominen, and a tomahawk by Ryan Johnson.

The problem is that authentic Japanese swords are unbelievably expensive compared to other ethnic blades. The money spent on a katana, much less the entire trio, would be enough to buy the bowie, criollo, fokos, and Scottish dirk that I've had my eye on. I'm not yet at the point where I'm comfortable spending that type of money, so I focus on other blade traditions.

 

[jdh]

I recently traded my Katana and Wakizashi in on a D handled Cutlass with a Skull pommel that has garnets for the eyes. The handle is wrapped with red leather and tied with glass beaded wire. The blade is chemically treated to give the blade a varying color pattern. Pictures would not do it justice.

A real sword hand crafted here in Texas.

 

[ironhead7544]

Everyone should have at least one sword. I have a Practical Wakizashi. Not the best, I know, but will have to do.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I guess I'm just too mundane and practical. If ever I was to resort to an edged weapon, which is not likely, I'd prefer a nice sharp machete. I can at least trim the brush that creeps over my property in the back when not fighting zombies.

Carl.

 

[Phantom Captain]

So for those who say it's ridiculous to own a set of functional quality swords and not use them, today I took some plastic water bottles out and did a few side cuts with my Paul Chen swords just to see how they felt.

They went through the bottles like butter. Clean cuts straight through, pretty amazing. The power and lethality of these blades is entirely evident.

I LOVE my swords. Practical or not there is a pride in owning such incredible weapons. There is just something about them...

I'll take a couple pics tomorrow of the temper (hamon) lines on the wak and katana.

 

[Phantom Captain]

jdh said:

I recently traded my Katana and Wakizashi in on a D handled Cutlass with a Skull pommel that has garnets for the eyes. The handle is wrapped with red leather and tied with glass beaded wire. The blade is chemically treated to give the blade a varying color pattern. Pictures would not do it justice.

A real sword hand crafted here in Texas.

Still, I wouldn't mind seeing it.