Postby termyt » Tue Oct 12, 2004 8:47 am
If I smack you in the face with my rifle, you will feel pain, bullets or no.
That is beside the point, though. The topic of this thread appears to be one of preference. I own swords, both short and long, and guns, both handguns and rifles.
If we are speaking only of what is practical, then I still ask for a situation. In war or for hunting, it's a rifle. It's the best all around weapon when your intent is to do grievous bodily harm to another living being.
For self defense, it's a toss up between a handgun and a short sword/knife, assuming you are sufficiently trained in the use of either. Both are small, easy to carry, and quick to bare. The gun is more powerful, but you are less likely to miss with a knife. Range should not be an issue because you should not be "defending yourself" from an assailant who is more than a few yards away.
If we are speaking of less practical things, then it's a matter of style. Swords hold a great deal of romance and the flash of polished steel is enticing, but I love the smell of gunpowder and Hoppes (gun oil).
Over all, I prefer guns. I love rifles, they have such a great history. That's where the romance is for me.