Purpose of modern swords

H

Hesparus

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Oct 31, 2004
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Someone brought this up briefly in another thread, but I thought it deserved its own.
Many people here, myself included, are into modern 'tactical' swords (and I realize that 'tactical sword' is a bit redundant, but that's a different conversation). I'm very curious to know what people's thoughts are on what the purpose of these swords is in our modern society?

- Chris
 
I wanted a Katana because of the reverence that the Japanese placed upon the sword. Plus, Katanas are just so cool.
 
Well.. there really isn't one. The new modern defense weapon is a firearm. Has been for a long time now... Swords really only have an artistic value nowadays. Plus, it's illegal to carry a sword in most places, I would assume.
 
I have a Swamp Rat Waki, a modern short sword. I have it cause I wanted a funtional sword, that I can rely on. I can chop tree limbs, it won't break on me. The handle won't shatter. It's not traditional, I'm not training to be a samuri, but I don't need a "live, full sized" katana. I can control the Waki, about the same length blade as my ESEE machete. I don't know if I need a full length traditional sword. If I win the lotto, sure I might collect a few.
If I wanted a user sword, for cutting water jugs, melons, tami mats, then I might get a modern handled version of a katana. I need to do more research, but the balance would have to be correct, as well as the heat treat and geometry.
NO particular reason, collector sake, and for cutting some soft targets.
 
adrolak said:
Well.. there really isn't one. The new modern defense weapon is a firearm. Has been for a long time now... Swords really only have an artistic value nowadays. Plus, it's illegal to carry a sword in most places, I would assume.
Click to expand...

Well, in good old Canadia here (intentional mis-spelling:)), swords are viable for home defense.
The guns are less quickly accessible...and do YOU want to get hacked apart by a screaming naked guy running at you with with a sword???

You can carry them all you want in the woods, so the Rodent Waki makes for fun-time tree slaughtering (I mean "woodsmanship":D).
 
I daresay most swords are decorative, not functional or "tactical." Useful distinction.

Where is is illegal to wear a sword? That would put the kybosh on Knights of Columbus parades.
 
I think it's a special kind of art piece for most people. The modern sword represents a marriage of historical significance to modern democratic values... uh oh, drinking and posting again...

To me a sword reminds me of the past and expresses some desire to be part of that, and a modern version represents a huge relief because I don't have to live my life by the sword.

...also I like to cut stuff, and there is the zombie problem...
 
Well, having been around a lot of foreign military and police agencies personnel, I have on two occasions seen what you would call a tactical sword being carried by millinery guys.

The fist one I saw was carried by a guy that was part of an Israeli training group that came down to Sonora to teach antiterrorism tactics to some of the local Air mobile soldiers station there. One of the Israeli guys carried a short Wakizashi sword on his vest; a lot of the guys gave his the weird look.
Since I am a knife guy and had the balls, I asked his what kind on sword it was and what it was for?
He told me that it was made by Wally Hayes sword. And that he carried it to cut the hand of terrorist before they pushed the button on the bombs they carried. I gave him a blank stare, then he said “what did you think it was for hunt vampires? “
They guy was obviously a bit crazy, but after asking around, I found out that he really carries that thing around whit him. I carry a tomahawk, but that guy wears a sword on his back, that’s just to cool.

People carry funny stuff some times like this guy, that’s part of the anti kidnapping group in Baja. Numchuks !!!


 
wnease said:
I think it's a special kind of art piece for most people. The modern sword represents a marriage of historical significance to modern democratic values... uh oh, drinking and posting again...

To me a sword reminds me of the past and expresses some desire to be part of that, and a modern version represents a huge relief because I don't have to live my life by the sword.

...also I like to cut stuff, and there is the zombie problem...
Click to expand...

So, what's the modern sword handle? A sword from the past used materials from the past. Where are we now? Can a modern material be used in a way to help make a sword that could be just as "alive" as a sword from the past? Can that same sword be used to cut "stuff" as well as go to battle?
How does a regular guy know how a great sword feels? How do I order a modern sword that is better than the original design?
Sorry for all the questions, I don't want to live by the sword, but don't want to kill myself beating on a sword like object.
 
I'm not sure a sword has a practical use in the "modern" world. Swords really aren't utility tools but rather weapons designed to kill people. That said, a sword can provide for self-defense when a superior weapon is not available.

There all kinds of sword designs from the past. All seemed to work fine for the task at hand - putting hurt on another. Modern materials will make any sword "better" but I'm not sure a "modern" sword design has much to offer in improvements over the older. If you want great examples of old designs with new materials that work as intended see swords from Albion (http://www.albion-swords.com/) and Angus Trim (http://www.triedandtruearmory.com/econ/).
 
Technology has improved steel and made a better blade. With technology, one has consistency.
 
Every time I hear "tactical sword" I think of Jack Churchill.

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For me a sword especially a Katana serves as a symbol of Bushido

it is more than a weapon it is a tool that when trained with properly can elevate your senses and your personal level of performance physically and mentally

It can be an object that you use to focus on to improve yourself

It also never runs out of bullets :D
 
Other than home defense the only other reason I can think of is defense against dangerous animals.Maybe it would be useful to carry a blade of that size if you were in the wilderness in addition to your smaller knife.I also suppose that if someone would carry around a decent-sized tomahawk like edwood than I don't see why it would be so much of a stretch to carry a short sword.
 
Part of the reason why I started this thread is because I am not totally sure why I like swords (modern and historic) so much and I thought seeing other people's feelings might help me to understand my own.
The reason that I can best articulate is largely a symbolic one. Swords have been a symbol of power, authority, status, and honor in most (if not all) world cultures for more than 3000 years. I think people (maybe not everyone) still have these associations somewhere in their brains and we like swords because of what they represent to us. The design, style and materials of swords throughout history have been a combination of available materials, technology and fashion. These things are different today than they were at any other point in history, so it would only make sense for us to design swords based on the same things. We have high tech steel today, so why not use it for our swords? We have nigh tech materials like carbon fiber, G10, micarta, and 550 cord. So why not use them?
But why do they need to be functional? Swords like the swamp rat waki or the scrapazashi are built to very high performance standards, as are those made by custom makers like William Nease. If they are just symbols, why do they need to be functional? I think the answer is easy. Would you rather have a porsche or a life-size model of a porsche?
Thus the purpose of modern swords is not necessarily a functional one. While I loathe to use the word 'spiritual', I think it comes close to what I mean.

- Chris
 
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