Is it true that a katana sword can stop a 9 mm bullet fired from a handgun?

Answer 1

A 9mm bullet will not be stopped by any bladed weapon I know off. I have seen a korean show (a ripoff of mythbusters) that tried it out by placing both the sword and the gun on blocks and lining them up by the millimeter, which you would have to do to get a an actual effect from the blade, a couple millimeters off and the bullet will simply deflect the blade.

Modern 9mm bullets, like most bullets today, are designed to "splash" (Fragment) upon impact with human flesh. This lowers the bullet's armor piercing capability but wrecks havoc on unarmored targets. A 9mm bullet would, if perfectly lined up, splash and fragment on the blade (while running a good chance of snapping the blade). The forward momentum would not be terribly slowed, however and you would be injured.

Armor-Piercing bullets pose an intresting question, but I believe that the human hand could not take the 300-500 fps impact from the bullet and both sword and wrist would snap and dflect, only minimally slowing down the bullet.

Answer 2

I have seen the video you are probably basing this question on, and it is a load of crap. First to answer Mr. S- The sword would break if it is shot on the side. Hardened steel does not mean indestructable.

The video in question shows them firing a bullet at the edge and the sword coming out unscathed. You have to think about the precise shot needed to actually destroy the sword and the odds of that are very slim. Imagine matching up the tip of the bullet with the edge of the sword and you will see how difficult this is. The edge is almost paper thin! The blade will just deflect the bullet offline. Even with the gun in a secured mount with a remote firing device, the bullet is not THAT accurate. As a shooter, I can tell you even competition weapons cannot be that precise.

So to make a long story even longer. No a katana cannot stop a bullet. They are not magical weapons. Katanas are beautifully constructed, but not some mystical weapon with super powers.

Answer 3

I'm curious to know what prompted such a question in the first place? Is it from some type of RPG?

The traditional katana was made by multiple folding and beating of the blade so that it gave a very hard resilient cutting edge but graduated more pliable layers towards its back edge to allow give when struck or striking. It is much more susceptible to breaking from the side because of this manufacturing process.
So in reality it probably would break if hit sideways, and like mentioned already I wouldn't want to be behind it if a bullet made contact with its edge!!! Chances of this happening in real life? negligible

Answer 4

Interesting how Mr. What wants it both ways: 1) a bullet is just a soft piece of hot lead... 2) watch out for pistols firing "armor-piercing" bullets.

A Katana should stop a bullet fired at the flat of the blade. It's hardened steel.