Swords thread

[Morell]

A thread for discussions about swords.
----

...So when it gets wet, it can continue it's natural process of decomposing. Leather really needs care... just like my swords, if I didn't oil my sword, it would start to rust... (not really, it's stainless, but habit is good to have.

I got a few carbon steel blades. Oiling is all part of the joy of ownership. Recently acquired a couple with bog oak scales. Serious mojo there. I put a mustard patina on one of them.

I own Masamune katana for only short time and already have to agree. Taking care of blade after training is really pleasing experience, making it nice clean and shiny again. There is surely some symbolism in sword traditions of Japan and China, probably some purification of the mind and soul. Heh, would definitely beliefe that to be true.

Currently I own two blades, this stainless steel one and plastic training one, which I use often for practice. Can use that one for hitting stuff, just not for cutting.

Do you have any blades?

 

[borbponderer]

As it happens I have a Cheness 30" spring steel katana that I got after an unexpected windfall many years ago. 5160 spring steel. Crane tsuba. It has had criminally little use as the blade is very long and I have relatively little space, but I did enjoy it for some time after I got it.

More practical is my Hanwei Practical Plus Tanto(see what I did there?). That gets handled quite a bit. I'm really more of a knife person than a sword person. I have more knives than I count, although these days I'm more into the non-locking pocket folders as our knife laws are quite strict over here.

I do have some Scandi type blades, mainly from Finland. Soft spot for Marttini knives, and some puukko that look and feel exactly like the sort of thing a wood elf would carry. I've picked upsome Ukrainian made knives recently, from BPS Knives. Amazing value for money those. BPS Savage is the one with the bog oak scales. After I applied the patina you could see the face of a fierce looking bog creature or woodwose emerging froim the pattern, which kind of blew me away at the time.

My other bog oak knife is a recently acquired Michael May folding pruning knife, which is (just)with legal parameters enough that I can actually carry it around without risking prosecution. Just like carrying a mini sickle it is. Also carbon steel, and handmade in Sheffield at an old traditional knifeworks. It was stretching my budget to get it, but when I saw it I had to have it.

Sharpening and stropping is a great pleasure once you get the hang of it. I eyeball it on a flat stone rather than using fancy tools. You can feel when metal is being taken off the edge. Extremely satisfying.

So yeah, big knife nut I am. I consider it one of the kinks in my otherwise relative wokeness.

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 7:09 PM

An error, it was the 33" O-Katana from Cheness. So a really really long blade!

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 7:11 PM

No wait, it was the 30" version.. I was so long ago. I need to measure it

 

[Durward]

I have too many blades to keep track of. A few favorites were "Thor" the American Bowie, from back when making a knife was a love affair, and "Slash" my favorite 14 inch butcher knife. I have 2 Samurai swords that just found me one day. They were hidden away in a secret compartment that I had discovered when the measurements of the house didn't add up. The compartment also had 2 compound bows, arrows, and some other interesting things. The swords are very different. One is a green-plastic handled military affair that looks like something a soldier would have brought back from a cheap souvenir store in 1960's Asia, but it is stainless and holds an edge. The other is obviously much older, with the handle partially rotting off and the steel showing it was likely a mixed metal, so it was likely a good blade when it was made, now rotting from lack of care in the secret compartment, with a leather wrapped and black lacquered saya that is also rotting away. I'm actually more fond of my hatchets, I was just cutting up an apple outside with one of the hatchets the other day and my lady commented with "how the f#$k are you cutting apple slices with that giant hatchet?"
I would hope that everyone that thinks they are backyard Samurai' get the chance to be stabbed at least once in their lives. No training or practice can replace that experience.

 

[borbponderer]

I have too many blades to keep track of. A few favorites were "Thor" the American Bowie, from back when making a knife was a love affair, and "Slash" my favorite 14 inch butcher knife. I have 2 Samurai swords that just found me one day. They were hidden away in a secret compartment that I had discovered when the measurements of the house didn't add up. The compartment also had 2 compound bows, arrows, and some other interesting things. The swords are very different. One is a green-plastic handled military affair that looks like something a soldier would have brought back from a cheap souvenir store in 1960's Asia, but it is stainless and holds an edge. The other is obviously much older, with the handle partially rotting off and the steel showing it was likely a mixed metal, so it was likely a good blade when it was made, now rotting from lack of care in the secret compartment, with a leather wrapped and black lacquered saya that is also rotting away. I'm actually more fond of my hatchets, I was just cutting up an apple outside with one of the hatchets the other day and my lady commented with "how the f#$k are you cutting apple slices with that giant hatchet?"
I would hope that everyone that thinks they are backyard Samurai' get the chance to be stabbed at least once in their lives. No training or practice can replace that experience.

Sounds like the previous owner was some kind of prepper, with that hidden cache. It would be nice to restore the rotted one.

Sword injuries can be horrific and you only have to screw up once. Closest I've come to being stabbed was when I stuck myself in the forearm while fooling about with one of my knives. Blade went in about an inch, and I still have the scar. I wasn't able to stop the bleeding on my own so ended up going to A&E. I got a kick out of it to be honest, which is probably a little bit unhinged of me.

Another time I managed jam a jewellers screwdriver right though my index finger and past the knuckle while I was fixing a pair of glasses. I pulled it out before I could think about it. It was sore for weeks after that.

 

[Durward]

Sounds like the previous owner was some kind of prepper, with that hidden cache. It would be nice to restore the rotted one.

Sword injuries can be horrific and you only have to screw up once. Closest I've come to being stabbed was when I stuck myself in the forearm while fooling about with one of my knives. Blade went in about an inch, and I still have the scar. I wasn't able to stop the bleeding on my own so ended up going to A&E. I got a kick out of it to be honest, which is probably a little bit unhinged of me.

Another time I managed jam a jewellers screwdriver right though my index finger and past the knuckle while I was fixing a pair of glasses. I pulled it out before I could think about it. It was sore for weeks after that.

Are we twins? Lol.
The best was a double-bit axe that I accidentally got stuck in my leg bone and I had to crank pretty hard to get it out. I splashed some water on it, and used some leather and duct tape to squeeze the gash closed, then hiked 5 miles out of that wilderness area. I went to the doctor the next day (long trip out of that area), and they just shook their heads and put some staples over the already closed up gash. I had a knife buried into my thigh by someone, which caught me by surprise. They stabbed deep and yanked it back out, and the red sticky geyser was impressive and they got away while I was trying to stop the bleeding. I got a rod through the palm of my hand, so crucifixion style. That didn't bleed much at all, which surprised me. I also pulled that out myself and never went to the doctor. I have had so many stitches and staples that I started just super gluing and stitching myself. The worst was a chainsaw, mainly because it doesn't leave you anything to put back together.
Anyway, back on the subject, I meditated about the rotted sword, and I felt it wishes to be left as is now. Just let me die in peace. So, I haven't looked at any possible value that would entice me to think otherwise. I put it in a wooden casket, and last time I peeked in, there are more crumbles and dust coming from the wood and leather. So it is falling apart quickly, and when I find the right spot, it will be buried with honors. I will just assume it had a great life and a lot of excitement, and deserves some peace now.

 

[Firetree]

A thread for discussions about swords.
----



I own Masamune katana for only short time and already have to agree. Taking care of blade after training is really pleasing experience, making it nice clean and shiny again. There is surely some symbolism in sword traditions of Japan and China, probably some purification of the mind and soul. Heh, would definitely beliefe that to be true.

Currently I own two blades, this stainless steel one and plastic training one, which I use often for practice. Can use that one for hitting stuff, just not for cutting.

Do you have any blades?

What practice do you do ? I have never owned a real traditional sword , I had a mock up set of katana and wakizashi on a little lacquered stand - just as an ornament . A friend collected a few , and other antique associated trinkets ; he even got a full set of armor , with a certification of who owned it and what battles it was in ! What amazed me was how little and short it was ! and the crazy form and weird mask on it . On part of the old moldy material I was looking at, I found blood stains . Apparently the demise of the owner (according to documentation ) was he was in a battle, horse went down and he got pinned under it and managed to fight off two guys while that was happening , but then got over powered by numbers against him .

I have ( still, in the magic box - storage ) original wooden handled cross hilt chromed bladed matching sword and dagger that was part of initiation ritual gear . I had them made from scratch to my design .

A crazy giant 'pagan ritual ' sword that a friend made for me - it was from a huge old circular saw blade from an old closed down timber mill . The history of that metal ! Sword - 3000 , Trees - 0 . Huge long flared blade, crescent moon hilt and a ball pommel . Huge, unwieldy and has become a garden ornament

Various swords, long and short down to dagger ( 'tanto' ) but wooden , as I like to match with them . I did years of aikido and kobudo and an obscure old form of Okinawan karate which was all incorporated into my sword 'style' ( or varieties of style ) . Not 'blades' as such , put they have been through a lot of 'sword play ' (one can tell on examination , the boken - wooden katana - or the staffs , on close examination will have a patina of little dents all over them - as opposed to smooth ones that have just 'gone against the air ' - kata and kihon ) . But yes, it is relaxing even to sand them back and give them a good oiling .

Interesting point you made about cleaning the blade and any mystical association - as the sword was the Samurai 'soul' .

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 11:21 PM

I have too many blades to keep track of. A few favorites were "Thor" the American Bowie, from back when making a knife was a love affair, and "Slash" my favorite 14 inch butcher knife. I have 2 Samurai swords that just found me one day. They were hidden away in a secret compartment that I had discovered when the measurements of the house didn't add up. The compartment also had 2 compound bows, arrows, and some other interesting things. The swords are very different. One is a green-plastic handled military affair that looks like something a soldier would have brought back from a cheap souvenir store in 1960's Asia, but it is stainless and holds an edge. The other is obviously much older, with the handle partially rotting off and the steel showing it was likely a mixed metal, so it was likely a good blade when it was made, now rotting from lack of care in the secret compartment, with a leather wrapped and black lacquered saya that is also rotting away. I'm actually more fond of my hatchets, I was just cutting up an apple outside with one of the hatchets the other day and my lady commented with "how the f#$k are you cutting apple slices with that giant hatchet?"
I would hope that everyone that thinks they are backyard Samurai' get the chance to be stabbed at least once in their lives. No training or practice can replace that experience.

No need for that .... just sell them on line I have seen some great ( horrible ) accidents .

Or people that use wall hangers ... that can apply to wooden weapon too ; is it designed for actual use or display ?

Here is some fun - two 'demos' ; one, guy in karate outfit in an outdoors demo with a crowd watching , holds the sword up in the air above his head , in preparation to cut down.... and the blade flies off the handle and up behind his head and comes down somewhere in the audience !

The other , two guys in a club I was in - another outside demo - they decided they could do this after a bit of practice ; one lies down with a watermelon on his stomach , the other cuts the watermelon in half ... and I am pretty sure ... is not supposed to cut the other guy either .

The cut stopped a fraction too short , the halves did not fall to either side bu were still joined by the underside part of the melon skin, so swordsman thinks ' I will just give it a little horizontal slice ... while lying down guy thinks 'if I just push my stomach up a bit that will be enough to make the melon split and fall off .' Result ; bottom guy went to the emergency ward and got 28 stitches across his belly .

 

[borbponderer]

Are we twins? Lol.
The best was a double-bit axe that I accidentally got stuck in my leg bone and I had to crank pretty hard to get it out. I splashed some water on it, and used some leather and duct tape to squeeze the gash closed, then hiked 5 miles out of that wilderness area. I went to the doctor the next day (long trip out of that area), and they just shook their heads and put some staples over the already closed up gash. I had a knife buried into my thigh by someone, which caught me by surprise. They stabbed deep and yanked it back out, and the red sticky geyser was impressive and they got away while I was trying to stop the bleeding. I got a rod through the palm of my hand, so crucifixion style. That didn't bleed much at all, which surprised me. I also pulled that out myself and never went to the doctor. I have had so many stitches and staples that I started just super gluing and stitching myself. The worst was a chainsaw, mainly because it doesn't leave you anything to put back together.
Anyway, back on the subject, I meditated about the rotted sword, and I felt it wishes to be left as is now. Just let me die in peace. So, I haven't looked at any possible value that would entice me to think otherwise. I put it in a wooden casket, and last time I peeked in, there are more crumbles and dust coming from the wood and leather. So it is falling apart quickly, and when I find the right spot, it will be buried with honors. I will just assume it had a great life and a lot of excitement, and deserves some peace now.

Crikey, did that knife hit your femoral artery? I'm surprised you're still alive! My meagre little(by comparison) stab wound ended up glued shut at the hospital. It was great honestly, having blood drip out of my coat sleeve during triage. The screwdriver through my finger don't bleed at all, but swelled and ached for ages. Stupid cheapshit soft metal tools, kept needing to grind the tip flat and in the process it got quite sharp.

I would still want to take that blade apart and clean it up, replace any fittings that needed it. getting a decent fit for a replacement saya might be tricky though. Or if you have the right tools it might be fun to rework the blade into something new? Like Anduril, that blade that was forged anew!

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 11:39 PM

A crazy giant 'pagan ritual ' sword that a friend made for me - it was from a huge old circular saw blade from an old closed down timber mill . The history of that metal ! Sword - 3000 , Trees - 0 . Huge long flared blade, crescent moon hilt and a ball pommel . Huge, unwieldy and has become a garden ornament

Post automatically merged: Tuesday at 11:21 PM

Here is some fun - two 'demos' ; one, guy in karate outfit in an outdoors demo with a crowd watching , holds the sword up in the air above his head , in preparation to cut down.... and the blade flies off the handle and up behind his head and comes down somewhere in the audience !

The other , two guys in a club I was in - another outside demo - they decided they could do this after a bit of practice ; one lies down with a watermelon on his stomach , the other cuts the watermelon in half ... and I am pretty sure ... is not supposed to cut the other guy either .

The cut stopped a fraction too short , the halves did not fall to either side bu were still joined by the underside part of the melon skin, so swordsman thinks ' I will just give it a little horizontal slice ... while lying down guy thinks 'if I just push my stomach up a bit that will be enough to make the melon split and fall off .' Result ; bottom guy went to the emergency ward and got 28 stitches across his belly .

A lot of old saw blades seem to get recycled into knives. I mean why waste good steel like that? Lawnmower blades are supposed to be good as well.

Yikes about that accident! Katana tsuka are usually only held in place by a couple of bamboo pegs which really need close attention and maintenance, or the blade can go flying as you described. Poor guy with the 28 stitches!

 

[Morell]

What practice do you do ? ...

Well, unfortunately my job prevents me from regular visit of any school of sword-fighting. Irregular visits would not help me much, I think. So I'm self taught with the sowrd skills.

My plastic katana, the black one, I use for daily or nearly daily practice. Lack of space at home... so there only getting it out of saya proper way, getting it back and few very careful cut exercises. Whenever I can get it outside, I practice more, starting with somehow doing what schools do, I think it's called Iaido, the art of pulling the blade, kill and return the blade. After that I do some waving around with blade, practicing cuts, mainly for body fitness.

I was considering buying a more appropriate stainless steel training katana, but decided against it... for now. Plastic one serves me well for the same purpose of practicing.

To introduce my katanas... the black one I gave name Kurohomura, the black flame. @kusuri helped me with translating into Japanese, thanks a lot! Made sense to me that katana would better have Japanese name than English. I bought that one on Amazon.

Spoiler: Photo from store

Along with that I got crazy enough to buy a Nodachi. That one is stainless steel, decided against carbon steel because both versions are cosplay blades, not sharp, only glued to the handle, so I'm not exactly sure how much it will hold before I have to reattach the blade myself. It's cosplay blade for Sephiroth cosplay, named Masamune, which is, as far as I understand name held in high regard in Japan, concerning swords. Couldn't find meaning in Japanese, but in Chinesse it means Authentic. (love that!)

Since it is 140cm long and I'm 160cm tall, I'm still working on mastering the way to get it out of saya by my belt, which is quite a difficult task to do effectively and safely... With saya in hand it's doable well. Planning on practicing with that one as well... and I want to also cosplay Sephiroth.

Spoiler: Photo from store

---

Sounds like the previous owner was some kind of prepper, with that hidden cache. It would be nice to restore the rotted one.

Sword injuries can be horrific and you only have to screw up once. Closest I've come to being stabbed was when I stuck myself in the forearm while fooling about with one of my knives. Blade went in about an inch, and I still have the scar. I wasn't able to stop the bleeding on my own so ended up going to A&E. I got a kick out of it to be honest, which is probably a little bit unhinged of me.

Another time I managed jam a jewellers screwdriver right though my index finger and past the knuckle while I was fixing a pair of glasses. I pulled it out before I could think about it. It was sore for weeks after that.

And here I thought how bad it was when I cut my finger with my own knife, well sharpened previous day. (my own carelessness)

That is fascinating find, a forgotten katana. Wow! Sad that it doesn't want to be restored. Though it might agree to be recycled for new blade, dying in fire and giving birth to a new blade. Maybe. Can't speak for the blade.

 

[borbponderer]

Well, unfortunately my job prevents me from regular visit of any school of sword-fighting. Irregular visits would not help me much, I think. So I'm self taught with the sowrd skills.

My plastic katana, the black one, I use for daily or nearly daily practice. Lack of space at home... so there only getting it out of saya proper way, getting it back and few very careful cut exercises. Whenever I can get it outside, I practice more, starting with somehow doing what schools do, I think it's called Iaido, the art of pulling the blade, kill and return the blade. After that I do some waving around with blade, practicing cuts, mainly for body fitness.

I was considering buying a more appropriate stainless steel training katana, but decided against it... for now. Plastic one serves me well for the same purpose of practicing.

To introduce my katanas... the black one I gave name Kurohomura, the black flame. @kusuri helped me with translating into Japanese, thanks a lot! Made sense to me that katana would better have Japanese name than English. I bought that one on Amazon.

Spoiler: Photo from store

Along with that I got crazy enough to buy a Nodachi. That one is stainless steel, decided against carbon steel because both versions are cosplay blades, not sharp, only glued to the handle, so I'm not exactly sure how much it will hold before I have to reattach the blade myself. It's cosplay blade for Sephiroth cosplay, named Masamune, which is, as far as I understand name held in high regard in Japan, concerning swords. Couldn't find meaning in Japanese, but in Chinesse it means Authentic. (love that!)

Since it is 140cm long and I'm 160cm tall, I'm still working on mastering the way to get it out of saya by my belt, which is quite a difficult task to do effectively and safely... With saya in hand it's doable well. Planning on practicing with that one as well... and I want to also cosplay Sephiroth.

Spoiler: Photo from store

---

And here I thought how bad it was when I cut my finger with my own knife, well sharpened previous day. (my own carelessness)

That is fascinating find, a forgotten katana. Wow! Sad that it doesn't want to be restored. Though it might agree to be recycled for new blade, dying in fire and giving birth to a new blade. Maybe. Can't speak for the blade.

Weird laws in Britain, you can only buy a "samurai" sword freely if it is hand forged by traditional methods. Otherwise you have to prove membership of a martial arts club. So cosplay type swords, Iaito etc are more restricted than the real thing(!) Fortunately China produces a lot of very nice and affordable forged steel katana.

As far as practice goes with blades, no formal training, although I did a bit of firestaff and fire poi when I was younger. Deep into juggling at the time as well. A lot of the muscle memory translates well, although I definitely have more respect for a live blade than a burning wick. Dabbled in fire breathing for a short while too(way to be a dragon!) but that isn't a career with a future, as mouthfuls of paraffin really aren't pleasant, and I'm not sure the skill translates to anything else.

I have a cold steel plastic bokken. But again, lack of space, and it might upset Alfie the pigeon.

Great thing about so many of these movement based skills is they really translate well to energy work.

 

[Morell]

Weird laws in Britain, you can only buy a "samurai" sword freely if it is hand forged by traditional methods. Otherwise you have to prove membership of a martial arts club. So cosplay type swords, Iaito etc are more restricted than the real thing(!) Fortunately China produces a lot of very nice and affordable forged steel katana.

As far as practice goes with blades, no formal training, although I did a bit of firestaff and fire poi when I was younger. Deep into juggling at the time as well. A lot of the muscle memory translates well, although I definitely have more respect for a live blade than a burning wick. Dabbled in fire breathing for a short while too(way to be a dragon!) but that isn't a career with a future, as mouthfuls of paraffin really aren't pleasant, and I'm not sure the skill translates to anything else.

I have a cold steel plastic bokken. But again, lack of space, and it might upset Alfie the pigeon.

Great thing about so many of these movement based skills is they really translate well to energy work.

Britan laws suck... ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 1:06 PM

Honestly I'm proud and agree with laws of Czech Republic on weapons. The knives and blades are not regulated here anyhow. Only thing everyone will tell you is basic safety. But every weapon is under rule of hidden carrying, Meaning unless you are at place where it is expected for weapons to be used like training grounds, it must be hidden or in proper cover that hides the fact that you have weapon. It simply must never be visible to the human eye. So yeah, I carry either of my blades into the city when I take walk, in the cover over my back, no one even realizes that I carry a weapon.

Ironically even a small knife carried in the public visibly would be frowned upon, but unless held in hand ready to be used, people would probably not bother much. The fact is, the armed attacks are very rare here. When we had shooting in a bar, it took Police about 10 minutes to process the fact that the caller is not making fun of them. Real fail for police, but you get it...

With guns, well... in that moment the law becomes very strict here. once it fits into levels you need licence for, you need not only to pass knowledge tests, you also must pass psychology exam to get the licence. (both repeated every 5 years or so and it costs something) And then you need also to have proper place for the weapon, a locked wardrobe or something to ensure that if the gun is not used, it MUST be locked away.

But also, every year (as far as I know) there is time of amnesty, when, if you have weapon you own illegally for whatever reason, you can in that time bring it to polce, they will take it and you are without any legal problems.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 1:17 PM

I was considering getting weapon licence just in case, however in the end, it costs some money and it doesn't seems like this law will change in foreseeable future. People here keep prattling about gun laws, (usually without knowing much about guns at all) but so far I didn't hear about anyone prattling about knives. So for now it's not needed...

 

[borbponderer]

Britan laws suck... ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!!!

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

There's some wriggle room with the laws if you don't behave like an idiot, but it is extremely annoying that attempts to curtail violence by little scally drug dealers results in a lot of harmless and innocent folks getting swept up in it. And at the end of of the day, if someone wants to do violence badly enough there is always the kitchen knife drawer or the toolbox, or even just a glass bottle.

Zelda man should really have just been cautioned and let get. Maybe a psych referral if he was acting really bizarrely. Anyone functional knows it's a terrible idea to fool around with blades public.

I know a lad who is currently serving eight months for possession of a lock knife in public, but to be fair he has a lot of prior convictions including violence. I think it's the second knife offence that results in an automatic custodial sentence now.

The laws tightened up somewhere in the 90's iirc. Used to be I could carry a locking Opinel with no problems at all. Even got stopped and searched one time, and it was handed back to me afterwards. Friend used to take his sword to the park to practice his form and no-one would bat an eyelid.

The authorities seem to have a real boner for what they call "zombie" knives atm, which is basically anything thing extremely cheap and designed to look as scary as possible, which is what all the little low IQ tykes are drawn to, and which they treat as a status symbol, or so it is said.. Currently they are going after after what they deem "ninja" swords, although I'm not sure how that is defined legally.

The laws are a tangled mess, and I can see how it would be easy to get caught out unwittingly.

 

[Morell]

You are right. The guy with Zelda blade was showing off carelessly, though jail time feels little too much. A proper fee would do enough to teach him a lesson... but you are right that we don't know if it was his first mess with police.

 

[borbponderer]

Honestly I'm proud and agree with laws of Czech Republic on weapons. The knives and blades are not regulated here anyhow. Only thing everyone will tell you is basic safety. But every weapon is under rule of hidden carrying, Meaning unless you are at place where it is expected for weapons to be used like training grounds, it must be hidden or in proper cover that hides the fact that you have weapon. It simply must never be visible to the human eye. So yeah, I carry either of my blades into the city when I take walk, in the cover over my back, no one even realizes that I carry a weapon.

Ironically even a small knife carried in the public visibly would be frowned upon, but unless held in hand ready to be used, people would probably not bother much. The fact is, the armed attacks are very rare here. When we had shooting in a bar, it took Police about 10 minutes to process the fact that the caller is not making fun of them. Real fail for police, but you get it...

With guns, well... in that moment the law becomes very strict here. once it fits into levels you need licence for, you need not only to pass knowledge tests, you also must pass psychology exam to get the licence. (both repeated every 5 years or so and it costs something) And then you need also to have proper place for the weapon, a locked wardrobe or something to ensure that if the gun is not used, it MUST be locked away.

But also, every year (as far as I know) there is time of amnesty, when, if you have weapon you own illegally for whatever reason, you can in that time bring it to polce, they will take it and you are without any legal problems.

Post automatically merged: Yesterday at 1:17 PM

I was considering getting weapon licence just in case, however in the end, it costs some money and it doesn't seems like this law will change in foreseeable future. People here keep prattling about gun laws, (usually without knowing much about guns at all) but so far I didn't hear about anyone prattling about knives. So for now it's not needed...

Your knife laws sound pretty sensible honestly. I'd love to be able to carry a fixed blade. There are legal defences if you can prove you have a "good reason" to have a knife with you, but what that means is very much open to the interpretation of the cop in question, and ultimately the courts. That basically means you "might" be ok with carrying say, a bushcraft knife, in your backpack while hiking, but there is enough legal uncertainty to make it risky. If the cop in question has just had a massive row with his wife, or he simply doesn't like your face, you could be shit out of luck and while you might win in court, or get the case thrown out before it reaches the court, it's a massive hassle, especially if you want your knife returned.

As far as firearms go, there are massive legal hurdles and the licensing requirements are so strict it's not like you would ever truly own your weapon, as it can be confiscated at any time for arbitrary reasons. The entire scene is so elitist anyway, if your face doesn't fit you'll be treated like dirt. Long story short, if you are a rich Tory scumbag who likes to murder grouse at the weekend with your collection of high ticket custom Italian shotguns, you will face few obstacles, otherwise you have to get in line with all the other peasants.

I have a couple of nice air pistols which have relatively few legal restrictions as long as you remain within certain parameters, and they have satisfied my "gun itch" well. But it really it is one law for Them, and another for the rest of us. The must really fear us...

 

[Morell]

Your knife laws sound pretty sensible honestly. I'd love to be able to carry a fixed blade. There are legal defences if you can prove you have a "good reason" to have a knife with you, but what that means is very much open to the interpretation of the cop in question, and ultimately the courts. That basically means you "might" be ok with carrying say, a bushcraft knife, in your backpack while hiking, but there is enough legal uncertainty to make it risky. If the cop in question has just had a massive row with his wife, or he simply doesn't like your face, you could be shit out of luck and while you might win in court, or get the case thrown out before it reaches the court, it's a massive hassle, especially if you want your knife returned.

As far as firearms go, there are massive legal hurdles and the licensing requirements are so strict it's not like you would ever truly own your weapon, as it can be confiscated at any time for arbitrary reasons. The entire scene is so elitist anyway, if your face doesn't fit you'll be treated like dirt. Long story short, if you are a rich Tory scumbag who likes to murder grouse at the weekend with your collection of high ticket custom Italian shotguns, you will face few obstacles, otherwise you have to get in line with all the other peasants.

I have a couple of nice air pistols which have relatively few legal restrictions as long as you remain within certain parameters, and they have satisfied my "gun itch" well. But it really it is one law for Them, and another for the rest of us. The must really fear us...

Yeah. Also people are very peaceful here. We have far more problems with pickpockets than with knife attacks. People don't seem to be considering knives to be weapons here. Just not in the people's minds. I pray that it doesn't change with the way the society changes nowadays.

Part of it might be that we have a lot of people here going to forest for mushroom hunt, always they go with a knife to clean the shrooms at the moment they pick them. No big deal. There are people going fishing here and some kill and process the fish when they catch it, so they need knife too.

I sometimes see people travelling with historical weapons on their back, when they travel for larp or cosplay events. Quite visible, but as they are usually dressed in the costume too, they don't give the emo of dangerous person. Not having trouble with police not even in train stadion of capital. I personally find that little reckless, because even if they do not endanger anyone, someone in the crowd might decide to steal their blade, or accident could happen. Even if the weapon is not real, but cosplay from soft steel or even EVA foam, it should be treated as real weapon and when in the public, should be covered at least. Even if only for psychological reasons.

From my experience here, Police is alright. The big danger here are people who don't know how to handle weapon, but want to feel cool and want to get a hold of it. (adults acting like children) One even borrowed my bokken I used to have, when I was not looking, and while weaving it around, asked if he could borrow it. It was wooden bokken, but definitely gave me a lesson.

 

[borbponderer]

Yeah. Also people are very peaceful here. We have far more problems with pickpockets than with knife attacks. People don't seem to be considering knives to be weapons here. Just not in the people's minds. I pray that it doesn't change with the way the society changes nowadays.

Part of it might be that we have a lot of people here going to forest for mushroom hunt, always they go with a knife to clean the shrooms at the moment they pick them. No big deal. There are people going fishing here and some kill and process the fish when they catch it, so they need knife too.

I sometimes see people travelling with historical weapons on their back, when they travel for larp or cosplay events. Quite visible, but as they are usually dressed in the costume too, they don't give the emo of dangerous person. Not having trouble with police not even in train stadion of capital. I personally find that little reckless, because even if they do not endanger anyone, someone in the crowd might decide to steal their blade, or accident could happen. Even if the weapon is not real, but cosplay from soft steel or even EVA foam, it should be treated as real weapon and when in the public, should be covered at least. Even if only for psychological reasons.

From my experience here, Police is alright. The big danger here are people who don't know how to handle weapon, but want to feel cool and want to get a hold of it. (adults acting like children) One even borrowed my bokken I used to have, when I was not looking, and while weaving it around, asked if he could borrow it. It was wooden bokken, but definitely gave me a lesson.

Society has definitely shifted over here. I have watched it. Used to be you could carry an air rifle over your shoulder with little issue. Perhaps keep it in a sleeve. It was common for country kids to take them outside unsupervised. Nowadays there would be questions, possibly cops(even armed cops) and a prosecution under the firearms legislation. We've really lost a lot of that cultural understanding and I think I will take a massive global trauma to reset it, assuming any of us are left in the aftermath.

I've always liked the look of those mushroom knives, the ones with the little brush. In fact Opinel make one, but I have little use for one where I live. I may still get one for the collection some time.

I'm not a huge fan of cops but you have to be pragmatic, there are some dangerous people out there. There have been several scandals at the Met recently. One firearms officer convicted of multiple rapes. Another raped and murdered a woman. But other cops can be reasonable enough if you are reasonable. I suppose they deal with a lot of stupid crazy people and violent scumbags, I imagine it's easy for them to become jaded and cynical.

We have a guy over here, a Druid, who was big on the eco-warrior circuit, King Arthur, proper eccentric character, he has documented some of his legal issues with carrying his sword Excaliber. Not sure how active he is any more. He must be getting on in years.

So many of of these problems could have been avoided if people were sensible and didn't behave like idiots, Sadly good sense seems to be thin on the ground and people have been acting even more crazy than usual ever since covid.

 

[Morell]

You are right. People behavior is turning worse. Social media definitely change how people act, monkey see, monkey do. And they unconsciously pick up a lot from what they see.

Though it can be used for good too. Spending time watching how people use katanas helps me to get under my skin how they do it and how they behave and all. Finding right videos is very advantageous in that matter.

 

[borbponderer]

You are right. People behavior is turning worse. Social media definitely change how people act, monkey see, monkey do. And they unconsciously pick up a lot from what they see.

Though it can be used for good too. Spending time watching how people use katanas helps me to get under my skin how they do it and how they behave and all. Finding right videos is very advantageous in that matter.

Oh yeah, it can be great and make you a lot smarter if you have sufficient discernment to use it wisely. I have learned so much in the last 25 years since I went online. But like any new media, for example the printing press, and then later the radio, it can easily cause mass unrest as bad actors exploit it to spread propaganda and disinformation, while the powers that be struggle to catch up, or exploit it themselves. And now with AI kicking it all into even higher gear..

Even the homeless people and junkies in my town are spouting racist and fascist talking points, which is insane because they are one of the most marginalised sectors of society who'd be among the first persecuted if those wingnuts manage to gain power. People really have very little understanding of how politics and propaganda works, which is exactly how the most criminal of the elites like to keep it.

As far as swords and knives and weapon ownership goes there is already a massive political and cultural divide. If you care about such freedoms that puts on the right of politics, even if you don't care about much of the rest of that political sphere, or would favour a more left leaning government. Meanwhile the left leans more authoritarian and loves to play nanny to protect the people from themselves, and so demonises the sort of people who would prefer to keep such freedoms.

The entire thing really is rigged. I sometimes lurk on the edge of prepping circles and I would love to say, "hey, talk to the old gods, get right with your local spirits and love nature, and the spirits will take care of you in return", or at least some such like that.

I firmly believe the future is going to become so chaotic that it might take some more metalphysical help to navigate it it safely. But so many of them are hardcore Jesus freaks or Trumptards who are prepping for all the wrong outcomes. And likewise you can't really bring up anything weapon related besides ceremonial tools in so many of the witch spaces, because so often they are woke to the point of being lobotomised by it.

 

[Firetree]

Well, unfortunately my job prevents me from regular visit of any school of sword-fighting. Irregular visits would not help me much, I think. So I'm self taught with the sowrd skills.

My plastic katana, the black one, I use for daily or nearly daily practice. Lack of space at home... so there only getting it out of saya proper way, getting it back and few very careful cut exercises. Whenever I can get it outside, I practice more, starting with somehow doing what schools do, I think it's called Iaido, the art of pulling the blade, kill and return the blade. After that I do some waving around with blade, practicing cuts, mainly for body fitness.

Iado has some good techniques , but some will get you 'killed' in a match , especially yhe way they draw the sword . Some of my favorite drills relate to the different types of draws and situations ... no time to draw , use sword while in the saya . Both draw at same time . or one does not draw and the other does ( the draw occurse AS the other attacks , many variations on that . Then there is the unarmed 'stop draw', stopping the other drawing , then in comes the specific aikido techniques ( many of which are developed from you drawing sword while someone tries to restrain your arm stopping you ) . 'impolite attacks ' ; you are walking along and pass another , he draws and cuts down your back behind you . Many situations to make up - fun .

waving the blade around might be good for exercise , but if you watch a good swordsman there is not much of that , the key is body movement and position

My two fav movies that actually have skilled swordsmen in them - the 'yin and yang 'of 'Sword of Doom ' and 'Twilight Samurai' .

I was considering buying a more appropriate stainless steel training katana, but decided against it... for now. Plastic one serves me well for the same purpose of practicing.

To introduce my katanas... the black one I gave name Kurohomura, the black flame. @kusuri helped me with translating into Japanese, thanks a lot! Made sense to me that katana would better have Japanese name than English. I bought that one on Amazon.

Spoiler: Photo from store

Along with that I got crazy enough to buy a Nodachi. That one is stainless steel, decided against carbon steel because both versions are cosplay blades, not sharp, only glued to the handle, so I'm not exactly sure how much it will hold before I have to reattach the blade myself. It's cosplay blade for Sephiroth cosplay, named Masamune, which is, as far as I understand name held in high regard in Japan, concerning swords. Couldn't find meaning in Japanese, but in Chinesse it means Authentic. (love that!)

Since it is 140cm long and I'm 160cm tall, I'm still working on mastering the way to get it out of saya by my belt, which is quite a difficult task to do effectively and safely... With saya in hand it's doable well. Planning on practicing with that one as well... and I want to also cosplay Sephiroth.

Spoiler: Photo from store

Drawing the odachi is an art in itself ! Here is a hint with swinging a sword indoors ... watch out for neon light tubes on the ceiling ... they can really go off !

---

And here I thought how bad it was when I cut my finger with my own knife, well sharpened previous day. (my own carelessness)

That is fascinating find, a forgotten katana. Wow! Sad that it doesn't want to be restored. Though it might agree to be recycled for new blade, dying in fire and giving birth to a new blade. Maybe. Can't speak for the blade.

 

[Morell]

Iado has some good techniques , but some will get you 'killed' in a match , especially yhe way they draw the sword . Some of my favorite drills relate to the different types of draws and situations ... no time to draw , use sword while in the saya . Both draw at same time . or one does not draw and the other does ( the draw occurse AS the other attacks , many variations on that . Then there is the unarmed 'stop draw', stopping the other drawing , then in comes the specific aikido techniques ( many of which are developed from you drawing sword while someone tries to restrain your arm stopping you ) . 'impolite attacks ' ; you are walking along and pass another , he draws and cuts down your back behind you . Many situations to make up - fun .

waving the blade around might be good for exercise , but if you watch a good swordsman there is not much of that , the key is body movement and position

My two fav movies that actually have skilled swordsmen in them - the 'yin and yang 'of 'Sword of Doom ' and 'Twilight Samurai' .


Drawing the odachi is an art in itself ! Here is a hint with swinging a sword indoors ... watch out for neon light tubes on the ceiling ... they can really go off !

I'm aware of that. If these schools were teaching effective fighting and killing techniques, they would be far harder to reach, and even entering them would be difficult and possibly quite problematic. But you are right, it can be limiting and in real fight it's very different from formalized ritual fights of these schools. I think that ritual fight well describes what they do.

I don't really have intention on fighting anyone... except myself. (lol) Also I probably will stop oiling that Nodachi, or do it far less. Pulling it out one-person means holding the blade, which oils my hand and than the handle. Don't want to clean oil from the handle, needless issue. And since it's stainless steel, cleaning it from my hands with alcohol or something should do the trick well enough.