Swords and Era Options

[FuelDrop]

Ok, can anyone tell me if there was any noteworthy difference in design between the katanas produced in the 16th century and those of the 18th century?

Also, was the Tachi traditionally a 1 or 2 handed sword?

[Sendaz]

As for design up until the 15th century the blades are 70+ cm, but during the 15th & 16th century due to a growing need for close quarter fighting the blades were made shorter, around 60 cm, while later on going into the 17th century they went back to over 70+cm being the norm.

Tachi would vary, the calvary model was usually 1 handed, while some lords had massive ones over 3 meters long. Ironically tachi were sometimes chopped down to be made into katanas.

[FuelDrop]

As for design up until the 15th century the blades are 70+ cm, but during the 15th & 16th century due to a growing need for close quarter fighting the blades were made shorter, around 60 cm, while later on going into the 17th century they went back to over 70+cm being the norm.

Tachi would vary, the calvary model was usually 1 handed, while some lords had massive ones over 3 meters long. Ironically tachi were sometimes chopped down to be made into katanas.

And this is why I hang out here. People KNOW things!

[Umidori]

Do you honestly think we KNOW these things? Like, we've actually committed antique japanese blade length and design specs to memory?

No my friend, what we know is how to find information, how to research something. I guess you could say we have a fair number of points in Computer, decent Intuition scores, and no cap on our Extended Test time intervals. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

~Umi

[Crazy Ivan]

Data Search, Data Search, Data Search...Maybe Browse...

[Slide]

I know lots of these things, but that also has to do with me being a sword freak.... Well actually i know a good bit more about European swords but hey... As I recall the early Katanas were cavalry swords, and the armor piercing tip was implemented when they fought the Mongles in Korea. They needed something to pierce through several layers of hardened leather.

[FuelDrop]

I know lots of these things, but that also has to do with me being a sword freak.... Well actually i know a good bit more about European swords but hey... As I recall the early Katanas were cavalry swords, and the armor piercing tip was implemented when they fought the Mongles in Korea. They needed something to pierce through several layers of hardened leather.

European swords? Well, I'm not exactly a sword nut, but I do like my European blades. I love the 18th century smallswords, as they tend to be works of art in addition to functional weapons.

[CanRay]

Sword Freaks, Gun Nuts, and Veterans abound here. It's great!!!

BTW: Every Shadowrunner should have a Katana now, like in the 'trids!

[FuelDrop]

Sword Freaks, Gun Nuts, and Veterans abound here. It's great!!!

BTW: Every Shadowrunner should have a Katana now, like in the 'trids!

I think the Schiavona is a more stylish weapon. Just saying.

[Shortstraw]

Sword Freaks, Gun Nuts, and Veterans abound here. It's great!!!

BTW: Every Shadowrunner should have a Katana now, like in the 'trids!

So 2050's it's all about the faux Viking now - combat axes and horned helmets.

[binarywraith]

I think the Schiavona is a more stylish weapon. Just saying.

I'd usually opt for a gladius, myslef.

Dikoted, for preference. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[FuelDrop]

I'd usually opt for a gladius, myslef.

Dikoted, for preference. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

I dunno, the Gladius has always seemed a little plain to me. I mean, I get function over aesthetic: If it works, who the hell cares what it looks like?
Personally though, I feel that if you're wielding a sword in the future then it's a matter of style. if not, you'd just be wielding a gun. Hence I like the possibly over-elaborate designs that cropped up when swords became the weapon of a gentleman and a status symbol, hence the European Smallswords.

[binarywraith]

I dunno, the Gladius has always seemed a little plain to me. I mean, I get function over aesthetic: If it works, who the hell cares what it looks like?
Personally though, I feel that if you're wielding a sword in the future then it's a matter of style. if not, you'd just be wielding a gun. Hence I like the possibly over-elaborate designs that cropped up when swords became the weapon of a gentleman and a status symbol, hence the European Smallswords.

Ah, but for close in nasty fighting where you might have to punch through some armor, that gladius is nasty sorts of handy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif)

[FuelDrop]

Ah, but for close in nasty fighting where you might have to punch through some armor, that gladius is nasty sorts of handy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif)

Not sure the gladius was really designed to punch through armour, I always had it pegged for a more all-rounder of a blade. Then again, nothing at all wrong with a sword for all occasions.

Though I have to add that for close up no-holds-barred beatdowns the WW2 era knuckle-duster trench knives are freaking brutal.

[ShadowDragon8685]

If you're up against a fellow in armor in the 2050s-2070s, chances are his armor is very, very good at stopping ballistic impacts, and fairly good at resisting stabbity and slashing types of harm.

It's probably some kind of fancy armor-weave that wears like cloth, or form-fitting ballistic catsuit.


How well do you think it'll resist something like this?

[Voran]

Yknow, I'd recommend watching the documentary about viking swords (Netflix), interesting stuff. Ever since I've been all "pft, Katana, they used shitty steel that's why they needed to do all that folding and hammering" but an Ulfberht, that was pretty bad ass.

[binarywraith]

Not sure the gladius was really designed to punch through armour, I always had it pegged for a more all-rounder of a blade. Then again, nothing at all wrong with a sword for all occasions.

They have a serious thrusting point and a heavy spine for just that. You'd need to use some modern materials science to make it punch through armor, but then again ballistic fabrics have been terrible against knife points since Kevlar came about.

[FuelDrop]

If you're up against a fellow in armor in the 2050s-2070s, chances are his armor is very, very good at stopping ballistic impacts, and fairly good at resisting stabbity and slashing types of harm.

It's probably some kind of fancy armor-weave that wears like cloth, or form-fitting ballistic catsuit.


How well do you think it'll resist something like this?

I do love my bludgeons. However, let's face it: There is only one weapon WORTHY of modern melee.

Or, you know, you could set them on fire. Synthetic clothing tends to go up like a torch.

Oh come on, I had to say that! I have a reputation for gratuitous overkill and burning stuff to maintain! You think this is easy?

[Shemhazai]

I saw a documentary that said the curve formed by folding katana steel cut better that straight blades, especially through the kinds of things they needed to cut through during that era (leather, cloth, etc.). In fact, that beautiful shape cuts about optimally. What do you think?

[FuelDrop]

I saw a documentary that said the curve formed by folding katana steel cut better that straight blades, especially through the kinds of things they needed to cut through during that era (leather, cloth, etc.). In fact, that beautiful shape cuts about optimally. What do you think?

Curve=larger cutting edge=higher tissue damage=less effective against armour.
Stabbing tip=small cutting edge=low tissue damage=high penetration.

Different weapons do different things well. That's why sword designs continued to evolve over the centuries. No one design beat all the others in every aspect.

That said, the two-handed monsters wielded by the Doppelsoldener would give any blade you care to name a run for their money. Those things were BAD ASS.

[Voran]

I saw a documentary that said the curve formed by folding katana steel cut better that straight blades, especially through the kinds of things they needed to cut through during that era (leather, cloth, etc.). In fact, that beautiful shape cuts about optimally. What do you think?

Interestingly, in the same documentary they showed, all those cool shots of a katana and its super edge cutting through rolled up tatami mats and stuff? Seems a well made european sword without a serious edge (you can run your hand over it), can do the same thing just as well.

[Slide]

I saw a documentary that said the curve formed by folding katana steel cut better that straight blades, especially through the kinds of things they needed to cut through during that era (leather, cloth, etc.). In fact, that beautiful shape cuts about optimally. What do you think?

http://www.thearma.org/Videos/Blunt_Bastar...rd_onBamboo.MOV

Most of the people I have talked to have said the difference is marginal at best.

[Louis Ferrouskha...]

Yeah but nothing gives that satisfying wet melon "pop" like a katar sliding through corpsec body armor.

[Neraph]

I saw a documentary that said the curve formed by folding katana steel cut better that straight blades, especially through the kinds of things they needed to cut through during that era (leather, cloth, etc.). In fact, that beautiful shape cuts about optimally. What do you think?

It's mostly due to physics. The curve of the blade naturally causes the edge to cut, requiring less energy than forcing a wedge to cut (like a straight blade). In other words, the curve of the blade caused the blade to slice, whereas with a straighter blade you'd need a forward/backward motion as well.

As for tatami mats: you could feasibly move a high-tensile rod of titanium fast enough to cut one. The edge simply reduces the amount of speed required to get the desired result. Yes, you can cut with a dull blade. You can cut much more easily with a sharp one, however.

[Fiddler]

I'd usually opt for a gladius, myslef.

Dikoted, for preference. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

I'll stick with my toy phaser enchanted as a wand of manabolt or stunbolt depending on my mood