The katana isn't the best sword in the world.

[MomentOfInertia]

What's the difference between chainmaille and chainmail?

[Rusty Claymore]

Chainmail is "if u don't send ths to all you're freinds yu'll dye" kinda thing?

[Angel37]

Chainmail is "if u don't send ths to all you're freinds yu'll dye" kinda thing?

10 points. XD LOL.

[Mithrandir]

...I told you this would get bloody.
I have a bokken, does that count?

Have you studied? I studied Iaido for a while, and I still have my bokken. I never was serious enough to get a full set of swords, though.

[MomentOfInertia]

Chainmail is "if u don't send ths to all you're freinds yu'll dye" kinda thing?

I've always seen it spelled chainmail, although according to spellcheck it should be ether chain mail or chain-mail.

[ShiroiHikari]

By the way, "bokken" is largely an American/Anglophone term. If you say that in Japan they'll be like, "What the hell is that?" The Japanese term for a wooden sword is "bokutou". (Technically the kanji can be read "bokken" though.)

[Syreth]

From what little I can understand of the etymology, "chainmaille" seems to be the french variation of the spelling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chainmaille

In terms of the OP, I'd have to say it's all about context. Weaponry was only effective insofar as it was designed to fit a particular niche in combat in a given time and location in history. Examining the weaponry by itself doesn't take into account the disciplines of the respective warrior castes or geography. Take the weapon out of the context it was designed for, and you will be exposing any weaknesses it might have. It's not necessarily about one being better than the other.

[Radical Dreamer]

Hey, so I was watching Mythbusters yesterday, and they tested out a Katana on a bunch of different swords to break the myth that one real sword can slice through another real sword. They concluded that you can't--though some of the swords broke, they never broke because of the actual sharpness of the blade; only from the force of the hit. The ones that broke ended up snapping off in a different place than where it was hit!

[Rusty Claymore]

Have you studied? I studied Iaido for a while, and I still have my bokken. I never was serious enough to get a full set of swords, though.

No... I'm not sure anyone teaches it up here, but I definately can't afford it, esp. since I'm dolling out $100s for bi-weekly hand X-rays. I'd get kicked out anyways since my bokken is warped lol. I guess you should expect that from mail-order XD

@RD: The only time I've seen swords cut through swords was with a chinese blade, the thin broad flexie type. But they were also changing direction mid air, so I'm not positive about the reliability...

[Yamamaya]

Hey, so I was watching Mythbusters yesterday, and they tested out a Katana on a bunch of different swords to break the myth that one real sword can slice through another real sword. They concluded that you can't--though some of the swords broke, they never broke because of the actual sharpness of the blade]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y185/RurouniKaoru/Forum%20Pics/mythbusters.jpg[/IMG]

I love that pic.

That actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it. After all, both of the blades are made from steel so it would be rather odd if another steel sword could just cut through another one(not to mention that would do some heavy damage to the sword of the person cutting through the other sword). But if you apply enough force you can snap a weapon.

[Sailor Kenshin]

You gotta love Mythbusters.

But I think in anime and fanfic, anything goes as long as you stick the dismount.

[Strafe]

I'm surprised nobody said this, but Swords are sharp, shiny and can kill people. Not a happy thing. But they're shiny.

Lol. I used to do Kung Fu, and used a Dao for a form, but one of those flimsy replica showy ones that just look cool. Couldn't cut anything except maybe cardboard. Glad for that, or else I would have lost my arm about 50 times.

So I'm not too hot on liking swords. They can seriously kill people. I have a long, sharp ceremonial chinese dagger in the shape of a jian, and I have it locked away deep in my closet and never take it out but to oil it every once and a while. I have nightmares that I might accidentally lop off my brother's head with it, and it makes me sick. Knives can be useful, but the only thing you can really do with a sword is kill. Best left as a tool of admiration from afar in not real life drama where not real people are killed by not real people

[Whitefang]

Guns can kill people, too, but it doesn't mean they don't have recreational purposes. I highly doubt anyone here is condoning the use of swords for violence. At least I hope not. Weapons, like it or not, for good or for bad, are a part of human culture, and I feel that the practice of old arts is important to remind us of how we came to where we are.

[Rusty Claymore]

Before weapons, we were more civillized and killed each other with our hands. XD
Anyways, more on topicish, Katanas made with Damascen steel are neat! In one catalogue I saw one that was black and red Damascen, and am wondering about the posibility of it being real. It doesn't makes sense to me, and temper wie it would probably not be very functional. Anyone know?