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I've gone to the Dark Side... I bought a katana

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Das Bill:

--- Quote from: Sir Wolf on 2009-01-22, 11:16:32 ---too much highlander talk got you thinking eh? hehehe

--- End quote ---

Heh, no, the desire to buy one started long before that. But it is kind of funny that we were suddenly talking about it, and then Ed and I end up buying these. :)

Ed, if you come for my head, I'll cry like a little baby.

Sir Edward:

--- Quote from: Das Bill on 2009-01-22, 15:51:58 ---
--- Quote ---It's interesting that I didn't really have any interest in Japanese-style swords until I started taking an interest in the Highlander movies and shows. It wasn't one of those "I want to be a ninja!!" sorts of things, or "I want to be like McLeod!!" sorts of things either.
--- End quote ---

Heh, my interest in these started when I was about 11 or so, and it was totally because I wanted to be a ninja. :)


--- Quote ---Rather, it caused me to take a closer look, and realize that these weapons could also be beautiful works of art.
--- End quote ---

That came much later for me. After the ninja phase. :)

--- End quote ---

lol! For me, I thought the Japanese weaponry looked weird and foreign. Now, playing D&D on the other hand. I totally wanted to be a dungeon adventurer. :) I wanted to be like Gandalf-- A wizard with a sword. And I first fell in love with wheel-pommels after watching the BBC's Robin of Sherwood series (which I have on DVD too!).



--- Quote from: Das Bill on 2009-01-22, 16:02:00 ---Ed, if you come for my head, I'll cry like a little baby.

--- End quote ---

Is VAF considered holy ground? :)

Dragonlover:
Actually, if a Samurai were in armor, (a Yoroi) he would most likely be sporting a tachi,
which was actually the forerunner of the katana. Since it took to hands to draw, a Samurai
would usually hand his bow to an attendant and draw it.
 the daisho (katana and wakizashi) didn't appear until later years and in armor, the wakizashi,
or short sword is not carried. It would be replaced with a tanto, or dagger, and maybe even
two or three. A LOT of skirmishes by High-ranking officers were decided with a tanto to a
vital area in what can only be described as a Mexican stand-off.
I picked up a daisho folded steel set by Imperial weapons two years ago and I adore them.
I think I got just about the last of the sets and I love the way they handle, etc. Good
High-carbon blades. They reside over my tack-stitch yoroi....
Both of you guys blades are NICE! I've drooled over them myself so Congratulations!

Das Bill:

--- Quote from: Dragonlover on 2009-01-23, 02:19:45 ---Actually, if a Samurai were in armor, (a Yoroi) he would most likely be sporting a tachi,
which was actually the forerunner of the katana. Since it took to hands to draw, a Samurai
would usually hand his bow to an attendant and draw it.
--- End quote ---

Actually, that's not quite true; Its more internet lore than fact. The tachi was a cavalry weapon, probably most popular around the 10th to 12th century in the Heian era, though the design certainly lasted through the Kamakura Era (up through the 14th century). It did not take two hands to draw, or even to use (though it obviously was large enough to use with two hands), else it would have been inefficient for horseback usage. But by the 15th century, in the Muromachi era, it was becoming more common to use shorter swords, and that's where we start seeing the "classic" katana design. This weapon was used both in armor as well as outside of armor, with the notable difference being that it was more common to see it used on foot than previously. So armor doesn't really relate to which weapon was used, but time period does.

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