Swords
Remember, I do this to entertain me, not you.
Uncle Pays the Bills
 |
|
Find Local
|
Categories
- ATF (769)
- Death Match (10)
- Eminent Domain (225)
- In the bag (9)
- Notes to Junior (546)
- Poker (74)
- Recipes (142)
- Shotgun Noob (11)
- The Airing of Grievances (19)
- uncategorized (47,725)
July 9th, 2010 at 10:10 am
The Ma Zhang Dao came in many variations in China. The Ones I used in CMA were either short like that one or oversized (for physical training–I never expected to fight mounted cav).
I see no reason why the Japanese would not do the same when they converted the Horse Chopping Saber into the katana.
If authentic, that sword would be very valuable.
July 9th, 2010 at 10:37 am
It was more of an art cult thing with the Japanese, I think. Beauty and craftmanship.
The Greeks and Italians never romanticized swords. They were just secondary tools of the trade when the spears broke or the pilums were spent. The word hoplon means weapon in modern Greek but it was just a heavy shield (bronze and bullhide) back then.
The Northen Europeans did romanticize swords but it could be that they had neither the right iron nor the skill like the Dorians and Celts so when a good one was made it seemed like a magical thing to them.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
I’ve updated the post with a Japanese officer’s saber — totally Western design (you could wear it at Annapolis) that has a chrysanthemum (pure Japanese) decoration on the hilt.