On Mon, 22 Nov 1999, "Parson aka Deunan" <gte132q@prism.gatech.edu> wrote:
Katana is a traditional combat sword - some versions conflict about whether
the 'official katana' is straight or curved - but I take the curved
version.
The Katana is the long sword which was created because the earlier
swords weren't very effective against Mongol invaders in the (I think) 13th
century. The blade is fairly straight when it's being forged, aquiring it's
curvature in the tempering process. Creating one of these swords is a long
involved process deeply steeped in Shinto traditions. And after the blade is
completed the lower quality are tested on straw dummies, and the best are
tested on the bodies of executed criminals.
It is generally a two handed slicing blade, but ninjas have been known to
wield two. It's size can range from 3 to 5 feet or so.
I was wondering where you got that fact about the use of two katanas. In
all the literature I've have seen and read I've heard of no mention of that.
I've always heard that was simply a "myth" and popularized in comics like
TMNT or other anime.
In point of fact paired swords was the ultimate symbol of the
Samurai. Only the Samurai were allowed to wear two swords. So a Ninja with
two swords, even if they weren't the Daisho long and short, would be a
calculated insult to any Samurai who saw them. Usefull to the degree that an
enraged opponent gets careless, but with the drawback that any samurai aware
of the paired swords used by a non Samurai would be that much more dedicated
and persistant in trying to obliterate the blasphemer.
Oh and the two sword style is a clasic samurai swordsmanship style
created by Miamoto Musashi.
I would definately consider any Kitana armed Ninja a rareity. First
off the Kitana is extremely expensive, and while it's a fantastic cutting
weapon, it's not much good for anything else. You can't stab with one
effectively unless you're highly trained, it's hard to parry with one because
the edge is very fragile, and it's both easy to recognise and hard to
conceil.
-Deunan
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