Can a Toledo rapier beat a Japanese katana in a fight?

Question

Toledo swords are very flexible and made primarily for penetration. Katanas are slicing devices. Which one would dominate in a fight between experts?

Answer 1

sword versus sword nuthin beats a katana

Answer 2

Toledo has had an enduring reputation throughout history for producing the highest quality swords. The rapier would not snap in half. Rapiers are not fencing foils. They are quite strong.

On the other hand hand, katanas are relatively fragile. The sharpening and folding processs is great, but the isolationist Japanese didn't have access to really good steel. It's more likely for the katana to fracture.

Also, European swords became increasingly more focused on thrusting for a good reason (stabbing is more effeicient). I've read a lot about swordsmanship, including a treastise from the 1800's. Thrusting gives you more range, is a quicker attack, harder to block, and a stab will incapicitate far quicker than a slash will. Europe was exposed to all knids of cultures and ideas, and Japan was not.

Katanas are really cool, but they are not "The Ultimate Weapon" like everyone thinks they are. If you ever have the chance to heft a rapier or saber, you will see my point.

Answer 3

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RE:
Can a Toledo rapier beat a Japanese katana in a fight?
Toledo swords are very flexible and made primarily for penetration. Katanas are slicing devices. Which one would dominate in a fight between experts?

Answer 4

If you are talking simply about quality of the blade then the Katan would win out, the Toledo blades, while good for their area, were no where near the quality of the Katana (which may have been folded 200+ times in the forging process). The Toledo rapiers were not designed for strength and power. There were intended to be light, flexible thrusting weapons. Contact with a Katana would have seriously damaged the Toledo blade, leaving it bent, notched and useless.

Answer 5

Rapier was banned in Japan for killing too many samurai n duels. The samurai counter by making a Katana like rapier. The European was banned from bringing Rapiers/weapon in japan and Samurai was banned from missing with the European by Death.

Answer 6

Katana because it is much thicker and would break a thin sword like a rapier on contact. It also is used for defence in most martial arts schools as well as offence. also the sword attacks a wider area on the body by slicing. the rapier is not sharp on the sides so it has to go in stabbing motions and if the thrust doesnt kill the opponent then the oppent can just twist very quickly and break the rapier while it is still in the body and attck freely. it is very unliky that you can pull a rapier from an opponet in the heat of battle without damaging it because it is so thin. that is why the rapiers were used in duels instead of large scale combat

Answer 7

Rapiers are built for penetrating attacks. Katanas are much stronger and made for slashing attacks, I believe the katana would be able to break a rapier and would therefore be a better weapon, but I am not an expert.

Answer 8

this question is asked a lot... it wall depends on the swordsmen. the katana is all about strength and the rapiers are about speed... i love tha katana but the rapier would wind just because of the speed... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl4xpy7i_Bw this is interesting you should watch it

Answer 9

Your Katana fighter is better trained, and the Art is faster as well what you need to do is realize that the Toledo will need a lucky shot to win; the Katana makes his shots and luck is out of his picture.

Answer 10

Those two wouldn't be in a fight together. If they were, the rapier would probably snap in two upon contacting the katana.