Destructive Sword Test.... Machine Gun vs. Katana

The Double D · 14th August 2006, 08:52 PM

Back in the days when I taught firearms to new police recruits all of use instructors would split bullets and break balloons. We used an axe blade and an old mauser bayonet. My particular favorite was turn the gun upside down and fire the gun with my little finger. The drill was to teach that all that was required to hit the target was proper sight alignment.

We fired 9mm ball, 38 Spl WC and JHP, 357 Magnum JHP and 45 ACP ball.

The axe and bayonet blade had been used for years before I arrived and was still there being used after I left a year or two later. No damage to the blades.

We did not however fire a 30 cal machine gun at the blades.

katana · 14th August 2006, 09:38 PM

Hi DD......guns are not my forte....never even fired live rounds...

Anyway....back to the thread.....Is there any data on the effective cutting abilities / strength of various sword designs, and or blades formed by differing forging techniques / type of steel (carbon content) used ?
It would be very interesting to see direct comparisions between the various ethnographic swords that originate from around the world.......

BSMStar · 14th August 2006, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Double D

We did not however fire a 30 cal machine gun at the blades.

Take a look at the difference in kinetics between a 9mm and a 30 cal... and I can not help but feel that due to the spin from rifling, that it greatly added to the punch (and fatigue) on the blade (when examining how the blade failed, spinning on its anterior axis).

sabertasche · 15th August 2006, 12:45 AM

Guys, I find the content of these video somewhat obscene. A real shame to destroy good swords. I looked at the sword vrs MG and I think that was a .50 cal heavy machine gun!

The funny video is the two gommers selling crappy samurai swords ala "The Shopping Channel". 3 smacks on the flat of the blade and it breaks, impailing the seller. Very funny - I hope he's ok and learned a lesson.

Greg

The Double D · 15th August 2006, 03:30 AM

Actually, my first thought was the same as Greg, that's a 50 BMG M2.

To me it was a stupid test. Some 50 BMG rounds have a tungsten steel penetrator insert.

Was it a good sword? Take another look at the video, the sword delaminated

ariel · 15th August 2006, 01:58 PM

The next step: how long will Mona Llisa stand against a flamethrower?
There is no limit to stupidity......

Lew · 15th August 2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ariel

The next step: how long will Mona Llisa stand against a flamethrower?
There is no limit to stupidity......

Ariel

The blade was made specifically for this test by the sword maker why is it stupid? The maker did this to prove a point that properly made blades can hold up to great amounts of punishment. It is not like they took a Masamune out of the museum and shot at it.

Lew

Valjhun · 15th August 2006, 05:09 PM

Is that goemons' sword?

Crazy, the world is going down, the ancestors of thoose swordsmiths are turning in their graves... I totaly agree with SenSei, stupidity to the limit. The fact that the sword was born for such a test only confirms and escalates the stupidity of thoose people... There are at least a 1000 tests wich can confirm the quality of a sword. Not so glamourous as that test but also not so rednecked. Why? Unless you are a dragon ninja, you'll never have to parry gunshots with a katana

BSMStar · 15th August 2006, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

The blade was made specifically for this test by the sword maker why is it stupid? The maker did this to prove a point that properly made blades can hold up to great amounts of punishment. It is not like they took a Masamune out of the museum and shot at it.

You have every right to call me stupid or crazy...

Just think of the PR the Smith will get from this demo... it will be more than worth the price of the blade. As difficult as the test is to accept (even for me), its no different that taking a brand new "Beamer" and crashing it into a concrete wall at 60 MPH... to show what punishment the car will take and let you "walk" away. Great advertisement... I want one.

ariel · 16th August 2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LOUIEBLADES

Ariel

The blade was made specifically for this test by the sword maker why is it stupid? The maker did this to prove a point that properly made blades can hold up to great amounts of punishment. It is not like they took a Masamune out of the museum and shot at it.

Lew

I missed the point. If it is a new sword and if it was made specifically as a "crush dummy", then... go ahead! Make my day!

BSMStar · 15th August 2006, 02:02 PM

I stand corrected...

It is a M2 50 cal... making it more amazing (since the 50 was designed in WW2 to penetrate armor). Freaking amazing to stand up to 7 rounds of 50.

The rounds appear to be tipped.

Jeff Pringle · 15th August 2006, 03:36 PM

The standard 50BMG round has a hardened steel core that's about 2" long, wrapped in lead and copper, you run across them occasionally in the Mojave desert. The steel isn't hardened to the same level as a sword, but it's still an intimidating projectile

15th August 2006, 05:09 PM	#8
Valjhun Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 692	Is that goemons' sword? Crazy, the world is going down, the ancestors of thoose swordsmiths are turning in their graves... I totaly agree with SenSei, stupidity to the limit. The fact that the sword was born for such a test only confirms and escalates the stupidity of thoose people... There are at least a 1000 tests wich can confirm the quality of a sword. Not so glamourous as that test but also not so rednecked. Why? Unless you are a dragon ninja, you'll never have to parry gunshots with a katana Last edited by Valjhun; 15th August 2006 at 05:28 PM.

15th August 2006, 02:02 PM	#11
BSMStar Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO USA Posts: 312	I stand corrected... It is a M2 50 cal... making it more amazing (since the 50 was designed in WW2 to penetrate armor). Freaking amazing to stand up to 7 rounds of 50. The rounds appear to be tipped. Attached Images

14th August 2006, 08:52 PM	#1
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	Back in the days when I taught firearms to new police recruits all of use instructors would split bullets and break balloons. We used an axe blade and an old mauser bayonet. My particular favorite was turn the gun upside down and fire the gun with my little finger. The drill was to teach that all that was required to hit the target was proper sight alignment. We fired 9mm ball, 38 Spl WC and JHP, 357 Magnum JHP and 45 ACP ball. The axe and bayonet blade had been used for years before I arrived and was still there being used after I left a year or two later. No damage to the blades. We did not however fire a 30 cal machine gun at the blades.

14th August 2006, 09:38 PM	#2
katana Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent Posts: 2,653	Hi DD......guns are not my forte....never even fired live rounds... Anyway....back to the thread.....Is there any data on the effective cutting abilities / strength of various sword designs, and or blades formed by differing forging techniques / type of steel (carbon content) used ? It would be very interesting to see direct comparisions between the various ethnographic swords that originate from around the world.......

15th August 2006, 12:45 AM	#4
sabertasche Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 149	Guys, I find the content of these video somewhat obscene. A real shame to destroy good swords. I looked at the sword vrs MG and I think that was a .50 cal heavy machine gun! The funny video is the two gommers selling crappy samurai swords ala "The Shopping Channel". 3 smacks on the flat of the blade and it breaks, impailing the seller. Very funny - I hope he's ok and learned a lesson. Greg

15th August 2006, 03:30 AM	#5
The Double D Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the banks of Cut Bank Creek, Montana Posts: 189	Actually, my first thought was the same as Greg, that's a 50 BMG M2. To me it was a stupid test. Some 50 BMG rounds have a tungsten steel penetrator insert. Was it a good sword? Take another look at the video, the sword delaminated

15th August 2006, 01:58 PM	#6
ariel Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 5,503	The next step: how long will Mona Llisa stand against a flamethrower? There is no limit to stupidity......

15th August 2006, 03:36 PM	#12
Jeff Pringle Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 189	The standard 50BMG round has a hardened steel core that's about 2" long, wrapped in lead and copper, you run across them occasionally in the Mojave desert. The steel isn't hardened to the same level as a sword, but it's still an intimidating projectile