Author Topic: the sword that rules all swords (Read 2500 times)

jamaldog87 · « **on:** October 10, 2009, 10:17:40 AM »

Which sword do you think is the best? I like my wakizashi sword cuase it short(has a 24 in blade) and i can used it somewhat, but i can say the Gladius is a sword i would love to have!!

ShadowMover · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:59:50 PM »

That's sort of like asking what truck is best or what bullet is best. Are you going to fight men in armor, on you on horseback, are you going to be fighting other men with swords, as an auxiliary weapon with a revolver, or just mounting it next to your flag in the den? The tool must be guided by the job it must do.

My question is what sort of sword goes best with an 1807 Harper's Ferry Flintlock for a wall plaque? I was thinking of some kind of cutlas, but maybe somebody here can guide me?

Cheesehead · « **Reply #2 on:** October 10, 2009, 03:42:36 PM »

This is what I use when ever I get in a sword fight.

Victor3 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 10, 2009, 10:24:15 PM »

I like them kinda short swords that use a rifle for the handle.

They've beat out any other type of edged weapon over the past 200+ years, and without the blade hardly ever being used for anything more effective than slicing cheese with...

Arier Blut · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2009, 04:03:39 AM »

Quote from: ShadowMover on October 10, 2009, 12:59:50 PM

That's sort of like asking what truck is best or what bullet is best. Are you going to fight men in armor, on you on horseback, are you going to be fighting other men with swords, as an auxiliary weapon with a revolver, or just mounting it next to your flag in the den? The tool must be guided by the job it must do.

My question is what sort of sword goes best with an 1807 Harper's Ferry Flintlock for a wall plaque? I was thinking of some kind of cutlas, but maybe somebody here can guide me?

As you know your Harper's Ferry probably would have seen The War of 1812. May have even been issue to the Mormon Guard later on. A saber would look nice. Most of them in the late 1700-early 1800's have an eagle head pommel.
A civil war sword would look pretty good IMHO. Most likely would look better antiqued a bit.
http://www.swordsswords.com/1860-American-Light-Saber-Civil-War-Sword.aspx

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2009, 12:27:59 PM »

Quote from: ShadowMover on October 10, 2009, 12:59:50 PM

That's sort of like asking what truck is best or what bullet is best. Are you going to fight men in armor, on you on horseback, are you going to be fighting other men with swords, as an auxiliary weapon with a revolver, or just mounting it next to your flag in the den? The tool must be guided by the job it must do.

My question is what sort of sword goes best with an 1807 Harper's Ferry Flintlock for a wall plaque? I was thinking of some kind of cutlas, but maybe somebody here can guide me?

Ok, if you were in the past and you could be fight men with swords but you could have any swords you wanted.

JeffG · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2009, 12:14:33 PM »

The katana or claymore for me.

BBF · « **Reply #7 on:** October 16, 2009, 05:48:20 AM »

I'm not into the martial arts stuff so this is a hypothetical question.
Would a well trained person in the use of a rapier be able to deflect/parry a sword stroke and inflict a fatal thrust into the opponent with that light weight and very agile weapon??

JeffG · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2009, 07:35:48 AM »

Quote

Would a well trained person in the use of a rapier be able to deflect/parry a sword stroke and inflict a fatal thrust into the opponent with that light weight and very agile weapon??

Maybe.

I am not being cute. Think of it like being a toilet plunger handle with a red felt tipped pen on the end. (But)More whippy and agile. How skilled are you? How lucky? With a rapier you have two wrist moves -like fencing. Pronate, and supplinate. The rapier slashes better. The blade has some mass, but you might wind up very close to the hilt with parrying the heavier oponent. The tactic would likely involve footwork, deception, and opporunity target thrusts or slashes.

Moving off of the line of the opponent's attack to create your own opportunity is crucial.

Dances with Geoducks · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2010, 04:07:42 PM »

Quote from: jamaldog87 on October 10, 2009, 10:17:40 AM

Which sword do you think is the best?

What ever you can afford.

Master Musashi Miyamoto killed his first 13 opponents with a wooden sword, for that's all he could afford.
The widow of his 13th victory gave him his first metal sword.

A Kantana may not be the best, but it is durable and fast.

This is the best I could afford

BBF · « **Reply #10 on:** February 13, 2010, 01:45:23 PM »

Quote from: Cheesehead on October 10, 2009, 03:42:36 PM

This is what I use when ever I get in a sword fight.

Until you run out of ammo

BBF · « **Reply #11 on:** February 13, 2010, 01:50:03 PM »

oops.............double reply

scootrd · « **Reply #12 on:** February 13, 2010, 01:54:29 PM »

Quote from: jamaldog87 on October 12, 2009, 12:27:59 PM

Ok, if you were in the past and you could be fight men with swords but you could have any swords you wanted.

Star wars light saber

Cheesehead · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2010, 03:11:46 PM »

Quote from: BBF link=topic=185200.msg 1099026975#msg 1099026975 date=1266108323

Quote from: Cheesehead link=topic=185200.msg 1098911392#msg 1098911392 date=1255225356
This is what I use when ever I get in a sword fight.

Until you run out of ammo

26 rounds of 6.8 SPC, probably will not need to reload, or just "fix bayonet".

Cheese

jlwilliams · « **Reply #14 on:** February 13, 2010, 04:53:54 PM »

1917 patern saber. Long reach, good cut and thrust. Way better reach than a gladius or a Wakizashi. Better cutting than a rapier. One handed swords have better reach than a katana, thought the katana is about the best cutter. The late type sabers really have an optimum balance between thrusting and slicing weapon. You can also use the hand guard basket to punch like a brass knuckle. And it looks pretty hanging on the wall.

That said, the machette is the pre-eminent long blade weapon in the world today. Easy to use, easy to get. They work because the blades are thin. It's a tool. you can get them anywhere in the world. From bush wars to gang bangers the machette is THE long bladed weapon. And, since it is a tool, you can do work with it while you're waiting for the zombies to come

scootrd · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2010, 09:34:18 AM »

Quote from: jlwilliams on February 13, 2010, 04:53:54 PM

1917 patern saber. Long reach, good cut and thrust. Way better reach than a gladius or a Wakizashi. Better cutting than a rapier. One handed swords have better reach than a katana, thought the katana is about the best cutter. The late type sabers really have an optimum balance between thrusting and slicing weapon. You can also use the hand guard basket to punch like a brass knuckle. And it looks pretty hanging on the wall.

That said, the machette is the pre-eminent long blade weapon in the world today. Easy to use, easy to get. They work because the blades are thin. It's a tool. you can get them anywhere in the world. From bush wars to gang bangers the machette is THE long bladed weapon. And, since it is a tool, you can do work with it while you're waiting for the zombies to come

Opponents of equal skill match and strength ..one wielding a Katana , the other a Light English saber with Hatchet point might just be best to walk away from each other. I don't even think Vegas odds could pick the winner of the outcome.

That said I think some of the most decorated and best looking swords are the Persian scimitar's ,
Most graceful is by far a Tachi.
Brutish strength - claymore

jlwilliams · « **Reply #16 on:** February 14, 2010, 04:35:14 PM »

Looks do count in a sword. I think that one real advantage to a sword is that you can use one as decoration, and have it there to grab if you find an intruder. they just look good on the wall and you don't have the same restrictions you would have with a loaded gun hanging on the wall. Swords are great home defense for those who can't or won't keep a gun handy. You can get a sword that compliments any culture, so you can get one that looks right with whatever other stuff you have around. Just buy a good one.

Reverend Recoil · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2010, 03:21:08 AM »

The swords that I have seen advertised appear to be theatrical swords. Many of them are fitted and finished well but would not hold up in real combat. The ones marketed by Cold Steel may be an exception. A knight marching off to a crusade would spend as much on a sword as would on his horse. It was a prized possession tailored to his build and expected use. Expect to pay about $3000 to $5000 for an expert hand crafted sword of combat performance. Today few blade smiths can make such a sword.

I agree with the comments about the modern machette. It is very effective in the hands of a third-world cane cutter.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2010, 02:08:45 PM »

Museum Replicas also sells reasonable swords that won't break on impact. Cold Steel is a good place to get a usable sword that looks good on the wall.

BoomLover · « **Reply #19 on:** February 16, 2010, 06:39:11 AM »

There are a number of good/great sword-smiths today, many here in the United States. Dragonfly Forge, Michael Bell, and his son Gabe, come readily to mind. If one is really interested, don't look at the Chinese made wall hangers for a few $'s, look instead for quality, Damascus, hand forged Blades. Like the Reverend said, expect to pay as much as you would for a good horse. Hand crafted quality ain't cheap. BoomLover

jamaldog87 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 16, 2010, 11:48:14 AM »

the simline machette(26'' long and looks like a swords) or a heavy machette are the 2 i have right now. I like my wakizashi but for cutting things for the fun of it those 2 get the use. I cut up a wood table with the heavy machette and the other one took down some tree limbs.

Dances with Geoducks · « **Reply #21 on:** February 20, 2010, 11:12:33 AM »

Even in a SHTF scenario swords will never be used for fighting again.

They do make very effective close range weapons.

and they are quiet

jlwilliams · « **Reply #22 on:** February 21, 2010, 12:36:55 AM »

Quote from: Dances with Geoducks on February 20, 2010, 11:12:33 AM

Even in a SHTF scenario swords will never be used for fighting again.

When they banned the guns in Australia, they had a huge jump in....sword violence. Seems the gang bangers in the cities decided that it was cool to hack each other up with swords. Machettes are arguably swords, and they are used all over the world for fighting. I would agree that swords will never replace guns, but I'd also argue that swords never stopped being used.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #23 on:** September 23, 2010, 05:41:05 AM »

Sorry to revive an essentialy dead thread, but I had a score and I have to tell someone. You guys are it.

I won the bid on a Dutch Naval cutlass. Late 19th, early 20th century made. Exactly like the US Naval cutlass of the same era except for the piercing pattern on the guard. This is a good expample of what I consider to be a good collector/usable sword. Looks good hanging on the wall. Built to be used so it still could be (way better than a BudK lookalike) and it has some history so there is a real intrinsic value there. Because it's Dutch instead of US made I got it for a fraction of what a US collectable would be worth. ($115 verses $300 or more). I'm confident that I could sell it if I need to and I'm equally confident that in the unlikely (really unlikely) event I ever need a sword to play for keeps this one is up to the task. It was made as a combat sword, not a symbol of rank.

Incidently, the cutlass is a good sword for those not trained in swordsmanship. A sailors job was to do manual labor on a ship, not to be a swordsman. They drilled a little, but swordsmanship wasn't a huge prioroty. Cutlasses would be handed out to repell boarders. Men who had little training and a desire to survive would dish out whoopass in confined spaces with a cutlass. Not too different from defending your home with the closest wall hanger, when you think about it.