how easy is it to cut a limb off with a sharp sword?

Answer 1

Not as easy as you would think.

While most swords have the potential to take off a limb, the blade has to hit things just perfect. Make no mistake, you're not going to shear through one of the body's long bones with a sword. You might break the bone, but you won't cut through it. The cut has to hit a joint and go right between the bones if you want a limb to come off.

However, a properly executed cut to an articulation definitely has the potential to remove a limb.

Answer 2

That depends on several factors. First of all the blade has to be durable enough to handle the cut. Just a sharp edge isn't enough if the blade can't make it through the bone without losing its edge. Secondly there is the method of the cut...a diagonal strike will more easily sever the small bones in the fore-arm or lower leg and with sufficient sharpness, durability and strength could even cut the upper bones in the leg or arm. Also a person has to have the physical strength to follow thorough with a strike and not lose momentum midway through. Point of contact is also important. The best place to sever a limb as at a joint (shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, knee hip). Actuallyt he best place to go for severing is the neck, traditionally it was swrods that were used in executions everywhere from ancient Rome to medival Europe. Until the advent of the Guillotine the sword was the moset efficient means of removing someone's head.

It isn't easy..but with the right blade, the right knowledge of human anatomy and the right techniques...it can be done.

Answer 3

It depends on the sword. A good katana, a real one and not some cheap replica, can do it without a lot of effort. Bone has a much higher tensile/compression strength than it does laterally. In tameshigeri the Japanese used tatame and bamboo to simulate the human body, and since they used actual bodies before that, they developed a pretty accurate duplication. I have cut tatame and bamboo and with a true cut I could hardly feel the resistance of the materials.

Swords that were actually "body tested", meaning that they were actually used to cut thru cadavers (usually of executed criminals) were often given certificates of such testing, and the most impressive results were even sometimes inscribed on the tang of the blade. One story that I read somewhere, don't remember the book as it was a long time ago, said that a sword was tested and certificated as having cut thru the pelvic bones of 5 cadavers stacked one on top of the other.

Answer 4

Supposedly cutting Goza replicates cutting the human body. I don't know to be honest. Cutting off a limb could be easy or hard. Depends on your skill with the weapon. My experience is that when I hit a goza properly, it cuts like butter. I don't even really feel the sword hit the target, I just cut the air and the goza slides off. However when I hit it wrong (which happens too) my sword gets "stuck" and the goza, stand, everything go flying. (During these times, it also takes some effort just to keep the katana in my hand since it's attached with about 30 lbs of weight on the end to the stand, etc.)

The only thing I know for sure, is a thumb comes off really easily. I had a student cut off his thumb accidentally in a class drawing his weapon. (He was goofing off.. not the smartest, but you know how people get when they quit respecting the art.) I was just about to yell at them for playing around (young adults mind you) and the next thing I know, he starts to draw, and thumb falls to the floor. He didn't even know it, was a very clean, very easy, very quick cut. Modern medicine fixed this problem and the guy is completely fine.

Side note.. anyone who is doing any sword training should keep whole milk on hand. Doctors told us that we did the best thing by putting the finger in milk. Apparently the calcium and vitamins in WHOLE milk (not half, or 2%) keep the tissue alive longer, which make it easier to repair. Just some advice to add to the medical kit.

Answer 5

Swords can shrink throught the physique if made good. a stainless-steel sword would wreck (not a ideal sword). basically to construct on numerous the above posters. important goals did not recommend attempting to shrink a limb off. Bone would reason chips in a sword and such basically as blocking off blade to blade replaced into not superb on the battlefield. super goals have been the neck, wrists (exterior or interior), legs, knees, etc... delicate tissue goals. purely some concepts

Answer 6

Take your sword and try to cut through a tree branch, or a bamboo pole of approximately the width of an arm or leg bone. It's about the same as cutting through body parts. (Or so I've been told by my sifu.) Actually bamboo is more like bone because it's hollow.

Answer 7

It depends on the sword, but there are archaeological findings from the battle of Wisby (ca. 1361) that show severed legs and arms happened, as gruesome as it sounds. Check out the book "Armour from the Battle of Wisby" on amazon.com. They examined the remains of hundreds of bones found at the battlefield and the markings on them showed leg removal, arm removal, decapitations etc. The research is quite remarkable and thourough.

Answer 8

Um.....travel back in time to feudal japan and let us know...LOL

Seriously, I'm told that bamboo wrapped with modern carpet is suppose to be pretty close to the consistency of a human leg. It's pretty hard to do without good training and technique.

Answer 9

easy.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10117138

when you read it, the "P" they refer to is Pure methamphetamine. He cut their hands of really nicely. though teh wrist is thinner than a thigh, I would say any hack and slash attempt with a sharp sword WILL inflict extreme damage.

Answer 10

I think we and mttkd shoudl get together so we can watch you cut off one of your limbs.