Old School

M

Meerkatt

Joined
May 17, 2001
Messages
7
OK...I knpw that in the "real world" old school fencing is of limited value .....BUT..there is no doubt that in the right hands a smallswod,rapier,or sabre(like my trusty P1908) is a weapon of grace & power that can & will get the job done. As for those who want something to chop wood with... a sword is a weapon intended to kill or maim with, otherwise you are using a big knife..a tool for cutting. Geez ..I sound like a snob ,but its a point I gotta stand by.
 
I don't mean to sound rude, but I think such points have been covered before
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Welcome to the forum, by the way.

Shinryû.
 
Hullo Meerkatt (cool name BTW). I know that this topics has been covered, but I must have missed that thread. Here are my thoughts.

Your idea of what swords "should" be used for certainly seems to make sense. But, why does it matter to you what people are using their swords for? Seriously, I'm not getting your point (nice pun!).

Last summer I was at my Father's cabin in Wisconsin. It just happened that I brought my new sword with me to show off. One evening we decided to have a bonfire. I started using my dad's crappy old axe, and soon found it to be really dull. You see where I'm going with this. The sword worked way better for chopping up the branches than the old ax. Improper use of a sword? Maybe. Although, according to many sword aficionados, the sword I was using wouldn't even qualify as a "real" sword, because it doesn't have certain elements a sword "should" have, in order to actually BE a sword. Or maybe it was a sword until I used it to chop wood?(!)

Also (I apologize for sounding like I'm flaming you. I'm just rambling.), I would further surmise, by your definition, that your P1908 is not really a sword. I mean, have you, or do you ever intend to kill someone with it?

Ok, the can of worms has been opened. I understand that if one is training with a sword (in some sort of "traditional" way?), then I don't think anyone would argue over the definition of that instrument.

I'm certain that most swords bought today are for display and collection purposes only. Aside from "oohing and ahhing" over, they really have no real function at all. I would say that's a perfectly acceptable "use". Furthermore, who cares whether the owner is using it for cutting tomatoes or wood or necks (nix that last one)? If they are using their sword for those tasks, then that is the task it is meant for, in my opinion.

Or maybe I just wasted a bunch of time expounding a bunch of nonsense. It made sense at the time!

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John Gonzalez
Exclusive Dealer
Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works



[This message has been edited by Kumdo (edited 05-18-2001).]
 
Have I killed or maimed anyone with my sword? No.And I hope I never do.But that is what I train for & that is what my P'08 is designed for.Intention is what I am getting at.You can use a 9mm Glock to open a can of soup but that is not what it is intended for.You can use a 3" paring knife to kill with but that is not what it is intended for.

 
That's right. Look up sword in the dictionary and you'll see in any edition the word "weapon". But here's my point. I, and many others use weapons for "fun", not to train for killing. When I shoot IPSC or IDPA, it's for sport and entertainment. 45 caliber is meant for human targets, not paper or steel poppers. I also shoot all kinds of stuff- cans, old cars, vegetables. And I believe a lot of gun owners are like me; they have no intention of using their firearm against another human being. Some people hunt with handguns- handguns designed for combat or self defense. Some people use swords to cut things other than human flesh. If they are cutting say, aluminum cans in half off a picnic table, that's not part of the definition of what a sword is meant for. Can the above scenario be considered training? Sure. If you're using a sword for cutting, it can be construed as preparation for a real life altercation. Or maybe they're just goofing around. Besides, how practical are swords for combat or self-defense training anyway? I'd think that your Glock would be a much smarter choice these days. My point to sum: if you want to talk "logic", swords are kind of pointless in these modern times. Reasons for owning one are discipline and training, cutting large things, oohing and ahhing over, and anything else a sword owner might have up his sleeve. We all have different reasons we own swords. To each his own.

------------------
John Gonzalez
Exclusive Dealer
Mineral Mountain Hatchet Works
 
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