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Julian Miranda


Japanese Katana VS European Longsword

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The Japanese Katana and the European Longsword have been the elite warriors weapons
of choice at its time period and have also been the worlds most recognizable, and the most
iconic weapons in history. Both swords were engineered to deliver the blows necessary to defeat
the enemy. But just about anything can deliver the amount of damage necessary to defeat a foe
even when it came down to simple farm tools. Why these specific weapons have caught the eye
of many historians and people of interest alike are very simple. Which sword is better?
Longswords originate from the European region with many minor differences to its
design. The averaged total length of the sword is 39-51in. with the blade averaging at about 35-
43in. The width is about one to two inches then the sharp point. ("History of the Longsword." Works
of Richard Marsden) They are two-handed and were knightly by nature, non-knights also used them
in combat. Longswords gave knights a new way of fighting on foot. It provided a longer reach
than the standard single-handed blades and extra power, easily disposing unarmored and lightly
armored foes.
This weapon was so successful that in the Hundred Years war, English knights
continued to fight on foot with their favored weapons in France throughout the 1300s. The
knights moved by foot for shock battle movements but kept their horses close by for sudden
charges or retreats as needed during the war. ("History of the Longsword." Works of Richard
Marsden) The English utilized tactics using the longsword as their primary weapon, as it was at
its time a very effective weapon in the hands of a skilled warrior. It provided range and was most
effect with lunge attacks, its double edged blade helped greatly during battle, when one side of
the blade would start to get dull in long periods of battle, they would simply switch the side of
the blade that they were using, and it would be just like having a new sword. ("A Brief
Introduction to Armoured Longsword Combat.") In Lore the longsword was the weapon of choice

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for slaying mighty beasts such as dragons, and have been known to be enchanted by mystical
forces, a popular one, the sword in the stone or the sword of King Arthur is one of these many
different enchanted swords of lore.
The mighty longsword began meeting its match throughout the Hundred Years War, as
technological advances with armor have made it difficult to land vital spots or pierce the heavy
plated armor of other knights and swordsmen. As time progressed the Pike Wall formation and
the Bow (any variation of it) became more and more important in the roles of war. ("History of the
Longsword." Works of Richard Marsden) As the pike walls were farther in range and made it more
difficult for a swordsman to reach a target before getting impaled, and the Bows range were no
match for the longsword, its effectiveness began declining in the late 1300s as technological
advances revealed themselves through the course of war.
The Katana, were used by Japanese Samurai, they were the elite guards of Samurai Lords
(Daimyo) and defenders of the land. Daimyo ruled minor territories throughout Japan and
increased their power by expanding to other territories and eliminating their Daimyo. It is
rumored that the Samurai are the most skilled swordsmen in all of history. The Samurai way of
Bushido brought Honor, and Loyalty in the art of sword combat, and in their meaning of life.
Honor and Loyalty are only two of the eight virtues of the Samurai. ("The Bushido Code: The Eight
Virtues of the Samurai.") Katana sword lengths vary from 23-29in. in length. ("A Brief History of
the Katana." Japanese Jujitsu) its effectiveness in battle was flawless in the hands of a skilled
swordsman. The natural curve of the blade made it extremely strong and difficult to break, while
its single edged blade was considered to be the sharpest blade engineered in its time. While the
Katana today is no longer used for military purposes, it was utilized in the first and second world
war as officer weapons.

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In Feudal Japan the Katana was strictly used by the warrior classes of Japan, and anyone
else was prohibited from using them. This deadly sword is a natural evolution of craftsmanship
originating from the much heavier Greatsword, a large straight double edged two handed blade.
With time evolving to a much lighter and agile blade. The Katana is often distinguished from
many other swords by the fact that it sits blade edge up in its sheath, allowing the warrior to draw
the Katana and slice his opponent with a single motion. ("A Brief History of the Katana." Japanese
Jujitsu.)
The creation of the Katana was by Amakuni Yasutsuna, said to have been given the idea
via a dream, where the Divine entered his dream and presented him with an idea, and image
glowing in the darkness of a single edged, slightly curved blade. ("A Brief History of the Katana."
Japanese Jujitsu) With this came the creation of the first Katana and the first army to hold the
Katana is the Emperor and its imperial army at the time. The Emperor and his army marched to
battle, and a year later came home without a single broken or damaged sword, the emperor as he
passed said You are an expert sword maker, none of the swords you made failed in battle. ("A
Brief History of the Katana." Japanese Jujitsu) As time went on other sword smiths of Legend came
to pass and the Katana surviving thousands of years through history and technological evolution
come to a cease in World War II.
Both weapons bring unique traits into battle. The Longsword brings its length and sharp
point giving an edge at thrusting maneuvers, with the Katana curved in nature provides a
stronger backbone and is known for its sharpness giving it the edge in cutting. Overall the
Katana comes out on top when it comes to Engineering giving it the edge in strength and
durability. When it comes down to statistics, the Katana is victorious due to its reliability on the
battlefield and its survival in history. The Katana and Longsword are true works of art and

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engineering. But, the Katana is without a doubt superior to the Longsword, in the battle of
Katana vs Longsword, Katana wins.



























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Works Cited

A Brief Overview of Samurai Sword History - from the Mists of Legend to the Present Day..." Sword
Buyers Guide.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Apr. 2014.

Anderson, Matt, and Shane Smith. "A Brief Introduction to Armoured Longsword Combat." A Brief
Introduction to Armoured Longsword Combat. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2014.

Clements, John. "Longsword and Katana Considered." Longsword and Katana Considered. N.p., n.d.
Web. 04 Apr. 2014

David. "A Brief History of the Katana." Japanese Jujitsu. N.p., 8 Feb. 2009. Web. 04 Apr. 2014.

Marsden, Richard. "History of the Longsword." Works of Richard Marsden. Richard Marsden, 2010. Web.
3 Apr. 2014
Mckay, Brett, and Kate Mckay. "The Bushido Code: The Eight Virtues of the Samurai." The Art of
Manliness RSS. N.p., 14 Sept. 08. Web. 07 May. 2014.