Post by Dan-Andrei Moldovan on Apr 5, 2015 6:30:04 GMT -5
Katana
An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age, it is the result of need and ingenuity, being the most advanced sword that has ever existed. The traditional katana weighs between 1.1 and 1.3 kilograms, and have a length varying from 60 to 73 cm and the handle being long enough to accommodate 3 hands. They are made from a special, layered steel, with different concentrations of carbon in each layer and with many of the metal's impurities being hammered out during the smelting process. The signature curvature of the weapon is a result of differential hardening, the blunt side of the blade being completely covered in a special clay made by the smith, and the blade only in certain parts. During the hardening process, the blade heats up more than the spine, resulting in a difference of alignment of the molecules and density which cause the curvature. Another result of this process is a fine line, visible when the weapon is polished, between the blade and spine, named 'Hamon'. Traditionally, they are very balanced weapons, it's center of weight being drawn close to the guard. Even if its cutting power is unparalleled, using it requires proper training (certain styles of martial arts use a katana, such as: Aikido, Kendo, Ninjutsu) or risk the blade breaking and a lot of maintenance to prevent damage to the steel.
Long-sword
The longsword traces it's long and bloody history into medieval Europe. It is a simple weapon, with a blade measuring between 90 and 110 cm in length, a 2 handed handle, and between 1.1 and 1.4 kg in weight, and two cutting edges, but its simplicity is power. There are many variants of the blade's profile, having different shapes and ornaments, but, underneath, it's still the same basic weapon. It's largest advantage is the fact that it doesn't require special training to use, being a jack-of-all trades approach, but there are two main schools of use for the longsword, as described by the German school of fencing. More specifically, they are: armored and unarmored, each having their specific techniques and focus, but both require two hands of the hilt. However, the Italian school of fencing added another method of use for the shorter and lighter swords, which involved the use of a single hand, not two. This method granted better reach.
An elegant weapon, for a more civilized age, it is the result of need and ingenuity, being the most advanced sword that has ever existed. The traditional katana weighs between 1.1 and 1.3 kilograms, and have a length varying from 60 to 73 cm and the handle being long enough to accommodate 3 hands. They are made from a special, layered steel, with different concentrations of carbon in each layer and with many of the metal's impurities being hammered out during the smelting process. The signature curvature of the weapon is a result of differential hardening, the blunt side of the blade being completely covered in a special clay made by the smith, and the blade only in certain parts. During the hardening process, the blade heats up more than the spine, resulting in a difference of alignment of the molecules and density which cause the curvature. Another result of this process is a fine line, visible when the weapon is polished, between the blade and spine, named 'Hamon'. Traditionally, they are very balanced weapons, it's center of weight being drawn close to the guard. Even if its cutting power is unparalleled, using it requires proper training (certain styles of martial arts use a katana, such as: Aikido, Kendo, Ninjutsu) or risk the blade breaking and a lot of maintenance to prevent damage to the steel.
Long-sword
The longsword traces it's long and bloody history into medieval Europe. It is a simple weapon, with a blade measuring between 90 and 110 cm in length, a 2 handed handle, and between 1.1 and 1.4 kg in weight, and two cutting edges, but its simplicity is power. There are many variants of the blade's profile, having different shapes and ornaments, but, underneath, it's still the same basic weapon. It's largest advantage is the fact that it doesn't require special training to use, being a jack-of-all trades approach, but there are two main schools of use for the longsword, as described by the German school of fencing. More specifically, they are: armored and unarmored, each having their specific techniques and focus, but both require two hands of the hilt. However, the Italian school of fencing added another method of use for the shorter and lighter swords, which involved the use of a single hand, not two. This method granted better reach.