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Werner Stiegler
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 Posted: Sat 13 Sep, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: |
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| James H. wrote: | I also believe that the Japanese Sword were excellent swords FOR WHAT THEY WERE DESIGN FOR. One has to remember that the armors and fighting style are completely different then those of Europe. While I admit that I am limited in my knowledge of their construction I do enjoy very much learning of their use and how they were carried. Compared to how the Europeans carried their swords the Japanese seemed to carry theirs in more of a "Fast Draw" short of way. The saya was tightly held to the side of their waists, with Ha or blade edge up and at an angle with the tsuba centered to the body. The Technique for drawing the sword moved fluidly into an attack or perry depending on the need. I am bad at words but what I mean to say is even in the same motion as drawing the word the advance or defense had already begun. Or you are attacking as you are drawing the blade. (I'm not an instructor, sorry for bad wording) i guess you might say a one stroke one kill type mentality. However these were not the plate armor and chain mail wearing opponents of Europe; which, such technique would have been most likely very useless. I have a very high regard for both styles of swords and the skill needed to successfully use them and would sell neither short in regards to their own fields of use.
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The Kantana was actually worn blade down in a sword holder with military dress/armour.
http://www.lasieexotique.com/paintjapan/UH11010.html
http://www.lasieexotique.com/paintjapan/UH11015.html
http://www.lasieexotique.com/paintjapan/UH11011.html
http://www.nichiren-etudes.net/dico/dicoimage...gatori.jpg
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Darryl Aoki
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| Posted: Sat 13 Sep, 2008 10:29 am Post subject: |
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| Gabriel Lebec wrote: | Hello Tomas,
Imperial Japan's propaganda machine made much of this, using the sword as a potent symbol of Japanese superiority (even producing an impossible video of a sword cutting machine gun barrels).
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I read something about this. Apparently, the Japanese Army did do a staged demonstration of this, albeit with a non-heat-treated MG barrel (which may have had other skulduggery done to it as well.) It's amazing what you can do with the right props. 
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Christopher H
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| Posted: Sat 13 Sep, 2008 10:53 am Post subject: |
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Hi Werner,
Those look like tachi to me (which are worn edge down like you've mentioned) due to their curvature and koshirae, not katana (which are worn edge up, to the best of my knowledge).
Regards,
Chris
Last edited by Christopher H on Thu 18 Sep, 2008 11:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Justin King
Industry Professional
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| Posted: Sat 13 Sep, 2008 11:33 am Post subject: |
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To what point? This can in no way relate to the function of a sword and the outcome is quite predictable. The sword used is unlikely to be an original unless someone completely lost their mind so what useful conclusions could possibly be drawn from this video, assuming that it is real?
A .50 BMG will destroy any sword made, period. Bullets will fragment on much softer material than hardened steel. I could have told them that beforehand and saved them the ammo and the sword.
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Bartek Strojek
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| Posted: Sat 13 Sep, 2008 11:44 am Post subject: |
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Indeed, this video is nothing more than a peak of katana fanboism.
This what happened could be most certainly be performed by a kitchen knife as well. Test has no sense at all, doesn't relate to any functional quality of sword. It's pretty eye catching, that's all.
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Bram Verbeek
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| Posted: Sat 13 Sep, 2008 11:45 am Post subject: |
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| Stephan Johansson wrote: | When I talked about armour piercing XIII, I didnt mean piercing all armour (plate armour etc) but lighter things like maille or thick leather.
My Munich do have a reinforced point that obviously is made for harder opposition than bare flesh.
But, it is of course not an HEAT-grenade 
Best Regards
Stephan |
Ah, an XVIII That is another beast entirely, I get the point now.
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Lafayette C Curtis
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| Posted: Wed 17 Sep, 2008 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Christopher H wrote: |
Hi Werner,
Those look like tachi to me (which are worn edge down like you've mentioned) due to their curvature and koshirae, not katana (which are worn edge up, to the best of my knowledge).
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Can't help but agree with this. The paintings show tachi mountings instead of buke-zukuri (i.e. katana) mounts. Still, it is worth noting that these terms mostly distinguish the mountings, and there a known instances of blades that are more typical of the tachi being mounted in katana mountings and vice-versa. There's a good visual glossary that might be able to help clear up the confusion about the mountings, especially when read in conjunction with the related article on the history of Japanese blade shape changes.
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This is a standard topic