Hi Dan,
Happy New year to you too.
Then if spears were so much more important than swords why do they seem generally less sophisticated in design and execution? Maybe they were made more quickly, in greater quantity and therfore more haphazardly? And if true, where are they all? Ever tried to find a nice old yari blade?
Not impossible by any means but really tough compared to finding great old swords.
And you never really answered that last sentence. If the sword was used in battle as little as you seem to claim, why so much attention to it?
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Me
Hey Tobs
I never claimed any of it. I repeated what I had read. If you go back and read the original post on that "other" forum, and then the "respondants reply" back then, then mine, you will see what I mean. I think you know where to find it ..yes?
It so happens that I have strong reservations about it as well. Maybe even stronger than your own. But you never asked me that.
I frequently play devils advocate and argue the merits of both sides to see what people think. I have done this before as well without ever offering my personal views of the given topic.
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>snip of excellent conjecture<
Dan, generally I agree with almost all you contentions to one degree or another.... it's just in the "degrees" where I find reason for comment and ocassional skepticism.
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me
Of this particualr topic at hand, I have never given anyone an opinion of mine. You know why? I don't have one.I have offered conjecture, but thats it. What do I know?
You have Karl and others of his calibur doing exhaustive
research. My hats off to them. I am sure they are intent on being thorough, and the results will be interesting.There are men who do this for living and have spent years doing it. We may all be skeptical about it, I am sure they are to, its a tenant of their discipline to be skeptical, but I am willing to sit back and listen to their findings.
The rest is just opinion. Some qualified, most not. Deductive reasoning based on what MEN (gees how UNdependable is that!) wrote or what they gave testimony to what happened can be a trap. Even if it is compared with other lists. We lie, we cover up, we remember incorrectly, we dream of glory and try to fit the actions to the dream, we artifically elevate events to magify our causes...not for me to sift through that ilk.
Cut to the year 2250
Lets have someone read the casualty and enemy Kill reports from Nam as reported by the U.S. and NVA. They both LIED!!
Lets ask a Japanese PHD in American warfare to go over there 275 years later and reinvent battles and causes of injury.
That would be interesting as well
Karl and others have their work cut out for them. Must be fun and exhausting to be a detective of history. I hope some of these guys can get funding for this type of work
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Now if we can get back that discussion a while back about quenching ... was it Viking steel in Yak piss... or something like that. God the stuff I learn here on E-budo from you guys cracks me up! Joe Svinth, where are you!
Keep the fun coming!
Tobs
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Oil and water and that was about it.
Sort of like peoples opinions and outlooks here sometimes..they don't mix well
Dan
[Edited by Dan Harden on 01-14-2001 at 06:09 PM]