European Longsword vs Japanese Katana the truth

[RussiaPrussia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpEC38sL3iU


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hy_A9vjp_s

[Methmatician]

To post videos you need to just need to use the last bit of the link (qpEC38sL3iU), after the =

[Onur]

I cant understand German but i know that no European weapon was any better than it`s eastern counterpart in the medieval era. Whether it was bow, hammer, sword or anything, eastern weapons was much more superior because eastern people was much more advanced in blacksmith and weapon crafting.

[Linet]

Which sword won? :icon_ask:...if i got it right, the German longsword :viking1:?

[Sarmatian]

I cant understand German but i know that no European weapon was any better than it`s eastern counterpart in the medieval era. Whether it was bow, hammer, sword or anything, eastern weapons was much more superior because eastern people was much more advanced in blacksmith and weapon crafting.

Agreed. But you shouldn't mix superior damascus blades with Japanese katanas. It's two absolutely different civilizations.

[TheMagnificent]

The curved swords (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scimitar) of the Near East are more flexible in use, because they are in general lighter, and they leave a wider cut behind. The shape of the curved sword ensures that the cut will start on a small surface area and then spread, following the curvature of the sword and widening the cut.
The straight European swords must cut all at once because of their shape, so they encounter more resistance.

But if I remember correctly they also tested the curved sword of the Near East in the same documentary. Or it must have been a different episode or something, because I remember that I've seen a German documentary on this.

[Leon_C]

The longsword is definitely more robust and would probably last you more battles, The katana is just very good fruit knife.

[Hayalet]

Katanas may be superior in duels or other one-on-one type combat, but not in formations or tight spaces.

[Leliana]

Screw the Asian katanas and Arab butter sabers, we Europans have Excalibur! :cool:

http://cdn1.hark.com/images/000/035/607/35607/original.0

I don't think people can compare the weapons. Europeans, Arabs and Asians had different armies and different fighting styles. Steppe riders need different tools to people who fight on hills, in the forests or in the mountains. And lax horde formations need different armor and tools than tight knights armies.

European armies in the middle ages had their focus on strong armor, the Asians had more light armor for mobility.

The European weapons were good enough and now the whole world uses European or European-American arms. :P

[Graham]

Claymore ya bas!

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs50/i/2009/288/e/f/Scottish_Claymore_by_Terrorking96.jpghttp://scottishorigenes.com/sites/default/files/field/image/Figure%201%20(Durer's%20Gallowglass).jpg

[Leliana]

Claymore ya bas!

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs50/i/2009/288/e/f/Scottish_Claymore_by_Terrorking96.jpg

I'd call it 'the Bloodletter', with +3 Strength and +2 Fortitude! :cool:

[gold_fenix]

Falcata, the iberian sword admired by greeks and roman and copied by these last
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1zsjqHecM1rrjmgoo1_500.jpg

[Linet]

Falcata, the iberian sword admired by greeks and roman and copied by these last
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1zsjqHecM1rrjmgoo1_500.jpg

Oh, i have heard of it :blink: ...i didnt know that thats how it looks like :icon_ask:
As i see the philosophy of it is the same to our ξίφος :viking1:. thin close to the hilt and larger up for maximum damage :dev ...no wonder we appreciated your falceta.

[gold_fenix]

Oh, i have heard of it :blink: ...i didnt know that thats how it looks like :icon_ask:
As i see the philosophy of it is the same to our ξίφος :viking1:. thin close to the hilt and larger up for maximum damage :dev ...no wonder we appreciated your falceta.

it was a sword similar to ξίφος were never have been related, really it isn't it was a ibero or celtic sword

[Linet]

it was a sword similar to ξίφος were never have been related, really it isn't it was a ibero or celtic sword

Yes...but i never said they are related :blink:....i said they have the same philosophy :old:

[Sarmatian]

European armies in the middle ages had their focus on strong armor, the Asians had more light armor for mobility.

You seem to have very little knowledge of Eastern weaponry. In many periods of time Eastern armor was far superior to Western in both protection and mobility. When Europe was wearing nothing but simple plain leather Sarmatians and Scythians widely used scale armor. When European crusaders wore nothing but a tunic on top of a simple chainmail Mongols, Persians, Russians etc were equipped with complex lamellar armor that was unmatched at the time.

[gold_fenix]

Yes...but i never said they are related :blink:....i said they have the same philosophy :old:

i know, but it is curious that are same without had contact, the conection minoan Tartessos perhaps hahahaa

[Žołnir]

Longsword is cooler ofc. But Schiavona is coolest; :) http://forum.slavorum.com/index.php?topic=1111.0

[Qemist]

All slow two-handed swords lose to a rapier. A hole in the heart will kill; you don't have to cut your opponent in half.

[Vasconcelos]

All slow two-handed swords lose to a rapier. A hole in the heart will kill; you don't have to cut your opponent in half.

You're mixing different ages and technologies, it's like comparing a rifle to a blunderbuss. :p

[Mr.crowley]

Katana is better than longswords

[Neanderthal]

Machete > Katana

[Pontios]

I was always fond of the Shashkas. Anybody here ever hear of them? I have seen documentaries about them saying it is much faster to hit with than a Katana because of its shape you are able to swing it as soon as you take it out.
http://www.art-grani.ru/mod/katalog/data/media/5/shashka-gurda.jpg

[Tyfani]

Well, I think katana exists longer, but we cannot know which one is better... Any blacksmith arround here?

[Pretan]

http://img7.joyreactor.com/pics/post/gif-katana-sword-542777.gif

[Onur]

EDkoj932YFo

[Lemon Kush]

Katana is clearly the superior weapon!

[Annihilus]

The Japanese put the curve in their swords to be effective against the armor of the Mongols.

[Smaug]

I like Serpent-Breath.

[Cail]

Katanas were state of art, incredibly expensive weapons for nobility, one sword could take months to make. European longswords were mostly mass produced. Comparing them is incorrect. European knights (i.e. nobility) were lancers, the sword was a secondary weapon. Also, katanas remained relevant weapons (and thus advances were maid in their development) in Japan for much longer than the longsword in Europe, which was replaced by sabers (first in the Eastern Europe, later spread to the west), which is much better suited for mounted combat (and just a superior weapon overall).

[Lemon Kush]

http://www.ewtodanmark.dk/magazine/Data/Pictures/p09/Kubrat's-Sword1.jpg

The sword of Khan Kubrat, founder of Great Bulgaria.

[Incal]

Katana is faster. Hence, more lethal.

[Vesuvian Sky]

swords, smords:rolleyes:

My composite bows deliver maximum damage and can take out the enemy from yards away, enough power to punch through the rib cage of the sabre tooth cat!:cool:

Hell even my Mary Rose replica English longbow delivers a nasty little punch.:D
But don't just take my word:

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/1688/tumblrlgyv9eggzy1qg4prk.jpg


But for the record, kitana. Japs sure know they're way around knives and swords. Bushido = Way of the samurai!:cool:

Note: kyudo is a pretty bad ass Japanese archery tradition and the yumi could put the English longbows to shame as well.

[pinguino]

Japanese katana was superior to the European swords. Japanese are smarter, after all.

[AlexandraD]

Katanas were state of art, incredibly expensive weapons for nobility, one sword could take months to make. European longswords were mostly mass produced. Comparing them is incorrect. European knights (i.e. nobility) were lancers, the sword was a secondary weapon. Also, katanas remained relevant weapons (and thus advances were maid in their development) in Japan for much longer than the longsword in Europe, which was replaced by sabers (first in the Eastern Europe, later spread to the west), which is much better suited for mounted combat (and just a superior weapon overall).

this is true, weapons are very specific to their areas and the people who wield them. the armour was also very different - so while the katana is the deadliest blade in the east, it was not made to 'stab' through chainmail, or even slash through it.

weapons are developed to be advantageous against certain enemies... its hard to compare two different weapons that were made to fight against two (or more) different kinds of enemies and armour ;p


I was always fond of the Shashkas. Anybody here ever hear of them? I have seen documentaries about them saying it is much faster to hit with than a Katana because of its shape you are able to swing it as soon as you take it out.
http://www.art-grani.ru/mod/katalog/data/media/5/shashka-gurda.jpg

thats how the katanas were designed too :P they were made so that your first strike would also be you unsheathing the sword. the best warriors were those able to strike down their enemies with simply unsheathing their katana (:

[HardStepFutureForce]

european swords are too manly for japanese

[RussiaPrussia]

EDkoj932YFo

dude its an american docu, the german smith was real smith who made his own swordes. I bet they just bought some fake longsword made in china.

[RussiaPrussia]

i dont get the western obsession with samurai swords espacially by americans here

japanese know them self that european swords are superior to katanas. Maybe they wont admit it directly bu subconsciously they are fascinated by european middle age culture and therefor it speaks for itself.

http://www.nintendojo.com/content/issueHeaders/issue-15-long-live-the-jrpg.jpg

just look at all their rpgs games, always middle age dudes wearing longswords. Did you ever remembered any jrpg with asian culture in it???

[Vesuvian Sky]

Forget the Gunny episode on the Katana vs. Long Sword debate, this 'expert' clearly shows us that 'one does not simply stop a kitana':


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_oTUVtUqcM

[RussiaPrussia]

Forget the Gunny episode on the Katana vs. Long Sword debate, this 'expert' clearly shows us that 'one does not simply stop a kitana':


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_oTUVtUqcM

this is very dangerous he should lose some weigh first

[Vesuvian Sky]

this is very dangerous he should lose some weigh first

He may be better suited for sumo rather then ninja/samurai skills...