[Updated: 21 August 2006] Your souvenir sword may save you some day

AdmundfortGeographer

Getting lost in fantasy maps

• Aug 10, 2006

• #1

http://www.startribune.com/467/story/604366.html

A link to a story about robbery victims, outnumbered, who struggled with burglars. A fellow's souvenir samurai sword, purchased in Germany, saved the day... and one would-be burglar ended up leaving his fingers behind.

[Edit 8/12/2006] See further down for update.

[Edit 8/23/20060 My most recent post below has a link to a fellow who lives in the apartment where the fight took place. He has photos of the apartment halls, walls, and windows... It's not pretty.

 

Last edited: Aug 23, 2006

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Dark Jezter

First Post

• Aug 10, 2006

• #2

Zed's dead, baby. Zed's dead.

 

T

trancejeremy

Adventurer

• Aug 10, 2006

• #3

Why would a place in Germany sell sharp samurai swords as souvenirs? I mean, were there Samurai in medieval Gemany?

 

Dannyalcatraz

Schmoderator

Staff member

Supporter

• Aug 10, 2006

• #4

Who said it was particularly sharp?

Heck- I bought a fantasy dagger with an edge so dull I could grasp its blade tightly in my hand...but I drew that same dagger across my palm and gave myself a nice little cut!

Now imagine swinging a 3' blade of similar quality at someone in anger... Damage will be done!

As for why they sold them in Germany, you could ask the same question about why they sell them in America.

 

AdmundfortGeographer

Getting lost in fantasy maps

• Aug 10, 2006

• #5

Dannyalcatraz said:

Now imagine swinging a 3' blade of similar quality at someone in anger... Damage will be done!

Click to expand...

And put it in the hands of a guy "with a powerful golf swing"!

 

T

trancejeremy

Adventurer

• Aug 10, 2006

• #6

If it cut off someone's finger, it had to be sharp. Powerful golf swing or not. I've got one that is for display purposes, and not only would it not cut a finger off, if you hit anything with it it would probably bend in two.

And I can see it being sold in Germany, just not as a souvenir. I mean, souvenir implies it's sold at a gift shop or something like that, not a weapon store or martial arts supply store or somesuch.

 

D

Dioltach

Legend

• Aug 10, 2006

• #7

On a side note, when did "burglarize" become a word? In fact, when did it become OK to make a verb by sticking "ize" on the end? Whatever happened to just learning the proper verb (in this case, "burgle")?

Sorry, it's just a pet peeve of mine.

 

ddvmor

I'm a little teapot!

• Aug 10, 2006

• #8

Dannyalcatraz said:

As for why they sold them in Germany, you could ask the same question about why they sell them in America.

Click to expand...

Because there were American Samurai. I saw The Last Samurai. I know these things! It's true, I tell you!

 

Nyaricus

First Post

• Aug 10, 2006

• #9

The 'powerful golf swing' made me chortle. And yes, I just said chortle.

 

Umbran

Mod Squad

Staff member

Supporter

• Aug 10, 2006

• #10

trancejeremy said:

If it cut off someone's finger, it had to be sharp.

Click to expand...

No, really, it doesn't. Not if the fingers were against a hard object (like a gun).

Think on it - your typical sword spends a lot of time wacking against metal things (other swords and armor), it can't stay sharp for long at all, but it still does its job. With reasonable power behind it, if it is only as sharp as a butterknife, it can take off fingers. Not neatly, but it'll remove them.

Powerful golf swing or not. I've got one that is for display purposes, and not only would it not cut a finger off, if you hit anything with it it would probably bend in two.

Click to expand...

It isn't as if all display swords are made of the same stuff. So, this one was made of better steel.