Cossack25A1
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To evaluate swords, the price is not the most thing. The highest rank of sword in Japan is Tang sword, the sword from China Tang dynasty.
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The shape and craftwork of Japanese sword was copied from Tang sword.
If we are talking about most valuable sword, in Japan catagory is Tang sword.
If we are talking about most practical sword, the Japanese sword and Tang sword is not suitable for army. The cost of Tang sword is too high and too fragile. Even one of the strongest dynasty Tang could not afford their army. The blade of Tang sword and Japanese sword are very easy to be curved, because it is too thin. In the battlefield, you have to shapen the blade, and the sword becomes fragiler and fragiler. The Japanese sword has the same problem.
So there is another question, we compare the sword for troops or for leaders? There are big difference. A highest rank Japanese sword is almost perfect except duration problem, but the price is too high to equip the whole army. The sword to against Japan shown in #6 is wrong.
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This is the specially produced sword to against Japanese in Ming dynasty. They are used in small battles, and at that time China has complete steel industry, we can afford those fragile swords. Normally the sword in use is like
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The high durability is most important thing to warfare far away from the logistic centers. For such warfare there is no difference between the soldiers and leaders. Leaders have to use the same weapon like a soldier, because the special weapon is very easily ruined or lost.
If I am an officer in the capital, i will chose the first sword #6, because this kind of chinese sword is for decoration for officers, beautiful and tasty.
If I am an soldier I will choose the chian mail, the last pic #5 or second sword #6. I need a sword can be used 100000 times. the chian mail should be a sword for cavalry, the second sword #6 is for normal soldier.
Are sword #14 for warfare in jungle? They may need sword to clean the road, also practical.
It was original used for agriculture, most likely cutting off weeds, grass or other foliage, but its slashing capability made it also useful as a weapon.