From: rja@batcomfs.Eng.Sun.COM (Ninja Squirrel Master)
Newsgroups: rec.martial-arts
Subject: Re: Which is most effective? Point/Edge weapons.
Date: 10 Apr 92 17:16:48 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Mt. View, Ca.
NNTP-Posting-Host: batcomfs

In article <1992Apr10.111829.770@gacvx2.gac.edu> karsten@nic.gac.edu (Karsten Hendrick) writes:
>In article <4900@igor.Rational.COM>  writes:
>
>> +>   Oh really?  I guess a couple dozen generations of Samurai just couldn't
>> +>   figure it out huh?  The reason that the Chinese and Europeans often      
>> +>   I say often) preferred straight swords is because they never developed
>> +>   the cutting edge technology (no pun intended) that the Japanese smiths
>> +>   did.  A katana or tachi can slash the wrist of a fencer in a sweeping
>> +>   motion before the tip of a long sword would be able to reach the
>> +>   kenjutsuka's body.
>
>True enough.  A katana is the ultimate blade.  The problem one has
>when pitting any other weapon besides a katana (or tachi, naginata)
>against a katana, is that the katana can typically cut through the
>alloys used to make other weapons, as well as any armor someone might
>be wearing.  Shock-jackets (bullet proof vests that stop high-
>powered rifle shells, even .475 supermagnums) are probably the only
>personal armor that would stop a katana.

    Let's dispense with the hyperbole here eh?

    First the easy stuff: "shock jackets" are better known as soft
    body armour, or flack vests, depending on what you're thinking of.
    The latter are heavy kevlar/nylon, about 1/2" thick, and stop low
    velocity/low-mass shell fragments (aka. "shrapnel").  The former
    are capable of stopping a variety of firearms rounds, and used
    to be made of kevlar fabric of various thicknesses.  The soft armour
    capable of stopping high powered rifles has kevlar on the outside
    and is backed up with stell plate to prevent blunt trauma and stop
    penetration.  Kevlar vests alone won't stop high powered rifles.
    There is also hard body armour composed of various ceramic composites,
    which will stop heavy rounds.  Of course they weigh 50 lbs. or more.

    Soft body armour stops bullets because the fabric is so strong.  The
    fibers don't rip, so they stop the bullet.  However, an ice-pick,
    tanto-type blade tip, or slashing weapon will penetrate soft body
    armour: the former because they penetrate between the fibers, and
    latter because it cuts the fiber.

    Now the tougher stuff: I've only had occasion to handle one real
    katana in my life, and that was some time ago.  Recognise first
    that a katana is a sword style, and has nothing to do with the
    metallurgy of the blade, which is what I use to determine
    "ultimate"ness.  The best katanas are made of steel produced from
    low-medium carbon wootz steel.  Based on what I've read from people
    on this list, even these nice katanas can be scratched by things
    you cut through, and they can be bent if your cutting style isn't
    proper.  I don't know if this includes the top of the line katanas,
    since I doubt many people use one of those to cut anything.

    I've heard stories about katanas cutting American rifles in half
    in WW II.  While this may be possible, I don't think it was the
    norm, and I don't think the blade would be in any shape to use
    again after having made such a cut.  FYI, a Buck hunting knife
    can cut through bolts too :-).
--
    Robert Allen, rja@sun.com		DISCLAIMER: I said it, not my company.

    "Traditionalists often study what is taught, not what there is to create."
			     - Ed Parker, Grandmaster, American Kenpo.