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PaintingFences |
Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 7:05 AM EDT
I was wondering about getting a katana, not a full length one, to replace the hockey stick that is currently my melee weapon. I'd obviously not buy one of the crappy $30 from a replica shop or something, but a properly crafted one. Is this a better option than something like a machete or hatchet?Please leave your thoughts Do you find this valuable? |
x-wolfhunter |
1. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 8:22 AM EDT
IMO a katana is not the best melee choice. A machete or ax would serve you way better. A katana is made solely for one purpose, killing, while machetes and axes are designed as tools, meaning that they have way more uses than just a melee weapon. For example, setting up camp with an ax, you can a)Chop yourself some kindling and firewood, b)Hammer in your tent spikes, c)Stick it in a tree and hang something on it, just to name a few things that it can do. Setting up camp with a katana, you can a)Pretend to kill a zombie b)Cut a tree a little bit c)Slice a bush in half d)Throw the katana into a river and cry quietly in a corner. Not that an ax would make a better melee weapon (Which it actually might, in a zombie apocalypse). But an ax or some other tool like that has an infinite amount of practical uses as well; you won't be meleeing zombies all the time. 5 out of 6 found this valuable. Do you? |
duterfel |
2. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 8:48 AM EDT
In defence I would have to say that thhe OP was looking for a melee weapon...and not a multi purpose tool/weapon.PF - The shorter versoin of the Katana is called a Wakizashi. It's a hand and a half sword about the size of a machete. I personally love the Katana. In the right hands that sword is a killing machine. I would suggest learning how to use a Katana or Wakizashi before going out and buying an expensive sword that you can't use effectivly. X-wolf is right. The Katana is only designed for killing...and nothing else. If you are looking for a multi purpose weapon...don't pick the Katana. Cold steel has a Katana machete available. Something like that might be a good comprimise. Do you find this valuable? |
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x-wolfhunter |
3. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 9:46 AM EDT
I'm pretty sure he was looking for a post Z-Day melee weapon. A post Z-Day melee weapon needs to be multi-purpos in order for it to be worth carrying. Everything you bring needs to have multiple possible uses, or it's just a uni-tasked waste of space.
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VagabondVance |
4. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 1:05 PM EDT
" A post Z-Day melee weapon needs to be multi-purpos in order for it to be worth carrying. "A weapon is a tool. A tool *can* be weapon. See the difference? Do you find this valuable? |
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Gallowsbait |
5. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 3:18 PM EDT
Crowbar, get the 3 foot long one, you can use it to bash walkers, pry open doors, smash windows, knock holes in drywall.. lots of uses. and you can suspend yourself by a rope if you need to lower yourself somewhere. I would also lay in a 5 foot pry bar too, just like the crowbar but more tool use than weapon, but still very useful.0 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
AndyL89 |
6. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 3:30 PM EDT
The original question was whether or not a katana was a better option than a hatchet or machete, and in short the answer is no.As wolf pointed out, the later two are more versatile and also far easier to maintain properly. Plus a katana needs a lot of training to use to stop you hurting yourself, let alone killing something. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
Carnack |
7. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 3:38 PM EDT
| Post edited: Aug 23 2011, 3:39 PM EDT
"I'm pretty sure he was looking for a post Z-Day melee weapon. A post Z-Day melee weapon needs to be multi-purpos in order for it to be worth carrying. Everything you bring needs to have multiple possible uses, or it's just a uni-tasked waste of space."Not always. It really does depend on the persons personal system. In the "What is better" sense it depends on what you want. If I need a weapon that sword will be head and shoulders above a hatchet or even a machete. It is the better weapon. If versatility matters (and it does to a degree) then take the other options as they are the more versatile choices. But there is no uniformly better choice. It'sall about what you are looking for. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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PaintingFences |
8. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 4:40 PM EDT
In response to Duterfel, I am a black belt in martial arts, and we train with Bokken, which are wooden katanas and Wakizasi made specifically for learning to fight with them effectively. In response to xWolf, I have a small lightweight but very hard wearing hatchet that attaches to the side of my back pack, which I would use for my tool. I also have a Ka-Bar on my belt which would allow for cutting branches and such. Thank you all for replying:) Do you find this valuable? |
chitoryu12 |
9. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 4:50 PM EDT
An actually useful katana is also WAY more expensive than a machete or hatchet while being much less versatile. It's a specialty weapon in a world where you'll want to carry as little as possible.
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DonovanRichter |
10. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 5:13 PM EDT
OP'er, get my favorite weapon instead, not theirs =^_^= Nah seriously though, If you want a katana in particular, I can say from experience that my Masahiro katana, a 200 $ model is actually quite nice. I don't know if masahiro makes wakizashi but I think they would. I abused the heck out of the thing with yard work, replaced its bamboo mekugi (Tang pins) quite a few times and it really hasn't taken much damage... the handle will eventually fall apart and need replacing, (I wouldn't want to rely on it for an apocalypse) lets face it, those thing were never expected to last forever. It will also need near constant sharpening if you want to be decapitating things too. I've seen some Masahiro of similar quality though less beauty for around a hundred I think? Paul Chen has some nice no frills 200 $ models too. =^_^= Do you find this valuable? |
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x-wolfhunter |
11. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 5:22 PM EDT
"An actually useful katana is also WAY more expensive than a machete or hatchet while being much less versatile. It's a specialty weapon in a world where you'll want to carry as little as possible."That's my point precisely. Do you find this valuable? |
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Carnack |
12. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 5:48 PM EDT
| Post edited: Aug 23 2011, 6:00 PM EDT
"An actually useful katana is also WAY more expensive than a machete or hatchet while being much less versatile. It's a specialty weapon in a world where you'll want to carry as little as possible."Cost while a factor is very subjective. If one can afford to drop the cash it's the other factors that will decide things. The thing about specialty weapons is that for the most part they are better at what they do than jack-of-all-trade tools. So the practicality really comes down to what special situations it requires to work. So it comes down to the question of if you the user wants to carry it or not. Do you find this valuable? |
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x-wolfhunter |
13. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 6:24 PM EDT
"Cost while a factor is very subjective. If one can afford to drop the cash it's the other factors that will decide things.I'm not saying to get one thing that does everything. I'm saying that every item should have 3 or 4 uses to it so it hauls its own weight. You know what I mean? Do you find this valuable? |
John_234 |
14. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 6:30 PM EDT
Even if you only want a weapon, a katana is only designed to be used against lightly armored opponents also armed with katana. Slam it against something solid and you're abusing the blade.Though I'm not much a blade guy, I say if you're trained already, find a medium-sized hand and half repro or something sturdy enough to abuse. Do you find this valuable? |
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Carnack |
15. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 6:32 PM EDT
"I'm not saying to get one thing that does everything. I'm saying that every item should have 3 or 4 uses to it so it hauls its own weight. You know what I mean?"I see what you're saying and can agree with it to a point. Generally speaking yes multi-use is a good thing to shoot for but personal taste is a factor as well. Some people will want to use a relativly narrow (use wise) item. When this happens the question of "what does it need to ideally function" must be asked and then you go from there. Do you find this valuable? |
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Carnack |
16. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 6:37 PM EDT
"Even if you only want a weapon, a katana is only designed to be used against lightly armored opponents also armed with katana. Slam it against something solid and you're abusing the blade.How much of the population is considered armored though? Do you find this valuable? |
LastPariah |
17. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 6:41 PM EDT
Try the machete katana from coldsteel. Im going to ask for one for my b day soon XD
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brandon_a_boyer |
18. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 7:05 PM EDT
I'm not going to offer my opinion either way. Carry what you want.I will say that budk is having closeouts on quite a bit of paul chen stuff if you are interested. Do you find this valuable? |
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John_234 |
19. RE: Katanas?
Aug 23 2011, 10:02 PM EDT
"How much of the population is considered armored though?That's not the point, really. The blade is was designed for one exact fighting style and has a hard time with others. Do you find this valuable? |
