Just going on with that thought
Just going on with what dbeaird was saying I was wanting too say that this was and is not a completally Japanese practice. Though many units all over the world in the past used many differant weapons, they all had something too back up on, usually the sword. Also, this happens in the modern military as well. Though they use knife fighting instead of sword fighting. Though the guns bows spears, and whatever the main weapon of the time is, may be very well the most devestating weapon in the world, it just doesn't fit into every situation. That whole round peg for round hole thing.
Chris Baker.
one more point on the sword.
Forgive me if I'm stepping on Dr. Friday's toes ( the last thing in the world that I would want to do) but I would like to say another point about the "glorifacation of the Japanese sword" as it were. I just wanted to say that this is hardly limited to the Japanese! Western culture has plenty of myths and legends about the sword as well, both Modern as well as archaic. Need I bring up King Authur or Zorro? How about the three Muskateers or the Scaramuce to say nothing of Beowolf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, the Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Star Wars, Robin Hood, the Princess Bride, Black Beard, ( need I go on?). Simply put, there is just somthing about this weapon that touches up and fasinates us. Just look at the fact that we are around our computers talking about a weapon that has effectively lost its military use and is considered more a thing of beauty than a thing of war. Yet, here we all are, many of us devoting our lifes to the study of a weapon that is in many ways obsolete. Heck, I would bet that the SWord forum on E-budo is the one that gets more posts than most others if not the most. I know I check this one before checking anything else.
Chris Baker.