Why Katanas? Options

[Erik Baird]

Both Japan and the Europeans used a similar technique.

Katana Cross section

Ok, I was gonna also show the same thing on a long sword but google decided it hated me.

I'd also just like to say that I love swords of all types, have studied their making and sword play for a long long time. I just grow very tired of hearing the American impression that the Katana was such a superior blade.

I think we're generally in agreement. Western and Japanese swordplay holds a lot of similarities as well. They are not identical by any stretch, but the katana is a specialized long sword, and the positions used in the Japanese katas bear a passing resemblance to the ones taught by the late medieval masters like Talhoffer and Lichtenauer.

[Wakshaani]

Imagine that, actually lethal weaponry hard to get a hold of that... I can't imagine why that is.
Availability R for a reason (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

*shakes fist* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[X-Kalibur]

Always fun to pick up a new sword, get a good grip on it, shake it, and hear the distinctive bell clang that says "This tang is tiny and it will laugh at you as it shatters".

$100 wall-hanging swords are easy to get, and costuming ones even easier, but it's darn hard, and *expensive*, to find anyone making anything remotely combat-worthy these days. Real shame that.

Does it need to look pretty? Zombie Tools makes some nice blades.

[Remnar]

Yep, still take a Wilson or Ed Brown 1911 with Esmerelda grips, thanks.

Or a Dan Wesson VBOB. Love those.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

So when you first get it do you have to make a Willpower(3) test not to "press the red button"?

Well, a REAL warrior would actually ASK about the Red Button. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Remnar]

Well, a REAL warrior would actually ASK about the Red Button. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Great movie, great movie.

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

For the record, there's a Samurai-themed thing I want to see if the guys upstairs will pay for, which includes stuff about Katanas in 2075 and talks about the Corporate Samurai Code among other things. If they pass on it, I'll probably drop some of that stuff in here. I hope you understand if I try to get paid for it first. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Heresy... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wobble.gif)

[Tymeaus Jalynsfe...]

Yep, still take a Wilson or Ed Brown 1911 with Esmerelda grips, thanks.

Or a Dan Wesson VBOB. Love those.

Ooooh... Wish I could afford me an Ed Brown. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

[Remnar]

Ooooh... Wish I could afford me an Ed Brown. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

You and I both my friend.

[Raiden]

Still, always worth a look around. came across a really good blade once at a shop. It actually felt semi balanced and was lighter than you would think. was a little expensive though not as pricey as it probably should have been.

[Slide]

You can find practice blunts from cold steel for a few hundred dollars. I'm pretty sure they have functional sharps as well. Never messed with their sharps though.

[Lurker37]

And now I want to see the rules for chance of a wall-hanger breaking when someone mistakes it for a real weapon and tries to use it in combat...

[Wakshaani]

Does it need to look pretty? Zombie Tools makes some nice blades.

Cold Steel's probably the best around right now, but I'll check out Zombie Tools.

The rare downside to living here is that there's no real infrastructure for this kind of thing like there'd be in, say, California or Michigan. Thsi means that while I can do online ordering, I can't really do hands-on, or talk directly to a swordsmith to get a properly fitted grip. If I get a year free time and fifty grand-ish to pay for a year of living there, Berkly has a course on blacksmithing that segues into a full-blown swordsmithing course. Probably can't do it until I'm retirement age, but at that point, owning a sword that's handcrafted won't be quite as keen since, let's face it, the fun's in using it.

Blarg.

ANyone want to spot me a few grand, start a "Forgemaster Wak" fund? No? Aw...

[X-Kalibur]

If I could legally carry a sword in California I would consider it.

[Temperance]

At some point i'm going to have to break out my copy of Weapon or the Atlas of warfare and pick some more pretty weapons for people to get gooey over.

Oh, please do. Yay for weapon porn. Throw me into that briar patch.

I'm not really a gun fan, but I do appreciate personal weapons of all stripes. Despite my personal dislike of firearms, I still appreciate their beauty. I dunno, there's something fascinating about a weapon's physical look being enhanced by their lethality. Truth be told, I feel the same way regarding (some) sharks and the big cats; yet not when it comes to (most) vehicles or large scale weaponry. Odd, that. Though a Lamborghini and the SR-71 will always be sexy in my book.

More on topic: Why katanas? I'll echo the allure of their mysterious/mythic/exotic nature and the 80's cultural throwback, while adding beauty plus lethality is always a win.

-Temperance