Shogun 2 Total War

[Koshinn]

Or a wakizashi.

I don't know how many samurai carried wakizashi into battle. Around a castle or traveling, sure. But into battle?

[trvelbug]

A katana would not penetrate the plate mail of a knight. Not chainmail either, although it would break bones and cause internal bleeding through chainmail.

To beat a knight, you either need to apply a LOT of force in a very small area (like a pick, lance, or longbow at extremely close ranges), or apply extremely precise attacks, like with a dagger. As much as my asian heritage hates to admit, a knight would probably take apart a samurai 1v1. You have to remember that both a knight and a samurai spent a large part of their life training for combat and war. While you might be able to say that a samurai has superior martial skills than a knight, a knight has his own form of martial arts that is extremely effective. In a fist fight, a samurai would win, but with armor and weapons, a knight wins.

the katana was also a piercing weapon.
since good quality katanas could cut through a machine gun barrel im sure it could pierce medieval armor. im not sure if it could penetrate it with a slash since chainmail(inside the plate) is quite effective at blunting slashing attacks

[fzhfzh]

They usually look for weakspots in the neck area and go for decapitation rather than trying to slice/pierce through your armour.

[thewinteringtree]

Well, if it's your average samurai, definitely not.

But if it's someone of considerable ability and stature, I'm pretty sure they'd bring it at least. There are also two-sword styles that use a wakizashi.

Anyway, like I said, I don't think there'd be much of a difference between your average samurai and average knight. And your average soldier will be the difference in a war, not your fencing instructors.

[fzhfzh]

Well, I doubt there's "average" samurai, because samurai back then was always the well trained elites like the commandos. Simply because sword is a very bad weapon for war if the wielder is not skilled, the bulk of foot soldiers in almost all ancient Asian (and probably European as well) armies are always the spearmen who don't need much training.

[trvelbug]

i also dount theres an 'average' knight since you had to be a noble and v rich to afford the armor itself. having an armor and horse and a small retinue would be equivalent to having a jetplane by todays standards.
also you have to have some good martial training since those things would weigh around 50lbs. youd have to be v skilled to wield a heavy two handed sword wearing full battle without tiring in a few swings or losing balance.

[thewinteringtree]

I find it hard to believe that there may not have been a large number of "average samurai", or poorly skilled samurai, who have the title, but not the famed ability. Perhaps they became samurai because of political connections, family ties, or some other means.

Not everyone is a Sasaki Kojiro or Yagyu Jubei.

Edit: I'm watching Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman right now. Katsushin vs. Wang Yu omg

[trvelbug]

They usually look for weakspots in the neck area and go for decapitation rather than trying to slice/pierce through your armour.

well no doubt, but the point we were trying to make is that medieval armor is not impervious to a katana strike

[fzhfzh]

Well, yes, it still comes down to skill vs skill, if both are skilful, the armour won't be of much help.

[trvelbug]

I find it hard to believe that there may not have been a large number of "average samurai", or poorly skilled samurai, who have the title, but not the famed ability. Perhaps they became samurai because of political connections, family ties, or some other means.

Not everyone is a Sasaki Kojiro or Yagyu Jubei.

Edit: I'm watching Zatoichi Meets the One Armed Swordsman right now. Katsushin vs. Wang Yu omg

im sure there were a few. but your 'average' samurai and 'average' knight were most assuredly skilled. these were elite martial societies and warfare was their business. being unskilled could lead to a quick death.