Swords

[The Skarzs]

Right.
So, in this topic, I wish to discuss those admirable and royal weapons: swords.
Feel free to tell what your favorite sword is, and your reasons for making that decision.
I would like to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of any and all swords.

As a personal favorite, I like the falcate. While it is seen in many materials, sizes, and virtually unending shapes, I find it has great striking and slashing power, as well as the weight more to the top, giving it more inertia. There is a weak spot at the point between the thinner and thicker parts of the blade, but if made right, it can be rendered obsolete.
This weapon can sustain more damage than some other swords, but it is hard to maintain and the balance is wonky.

[Jetthebinturong]

For no apparent reason, shamshirs are my favourite swords followed closely by katanas which I actually have a reason for liking. A well made katana can shear through armour like butter and they are incredibly cool and almost elegant

[Rainshadow]

  I've never held an actual sword before, but if I were to use one, I think I'd find a scimitar, a rapier, or a longsword (hand-and-a-half) to be most comfortable to use.  Funny, I like the smaller, one-handed swords for their maneuverability, but I like swords like greatswords and claymores for their strength.  That's probably why I take a liking to the longsword, now that I think about it...

[The Skarzs]

A well made katana can shear through armour like butter and they are incredibly cool and almost elegant

I beg to differ. While a well-made katana may be good, sharp, and tempered properly, equally well-made armor can effectively block any slicing penetration. I have seen (even tested) how a katana can cut through thinner gauge steel, that is only when the katana starts the cut from the edge of the material. If you were to hit a breastplate, the most it would do is heavily dent it. I am only saying this from experience.
Shear would not be the word I would use; damaging to armor would be my terminology.

But they are very cool swords.

Another sword that I think is cool: the Roman Gladius.

[The Shade]

I scimitars, don't really know why. Just their shape I guess. Gladius's are awesome too.

[Jetthebinturong]

A well made katana can shear through armour like butter and they are incredibly cool and almost elegant

I beg to differ. While a well-made katana may be good, sharp, and tempered properly, equally well-made armor can effectively block any slicing penetration. I have seen (even tested) how a katana can cut through thinner gauge steel, that is only when the katana starts the cut from the edge of the material. If you were to hit a breastplate, the most it would do is heavily dent it. I am only saying this from experience.
Shear would not be the word I would use; damaging to armor would be my terminology.

But they are very cool swords.

Another sword that I think is cool: the Roman Gladius.

Hmm, fair enough

I find gladii boring, don't really like stabbing swords, slicing ones are much cooler in my opinion

[The Skarzs]

So, you like the curved ones.
Y
eah, the curved ones slash more effectively than straight ones, and straight swords stab more effectively. Though both can do both.

[Jetthebinturong]

Depends entirely on the kind of sword, gladii are exclusively for stabbing and completely useless for slashing whilst the longsword equivalent, the spatha, can be used either way

[The Skarzs]

True, but they can cut.
Have you heard of a kukri knife?

[Rusvul]

Kukri are awesome.

[FloweringStar]

I like shamshir. The design is elegant, and the name is fluid and simple.

[Tam and Martin]

I like shamshir. The design is elegant, and the name is fluid and simple.

SHAMSHIR ARE AWESOME!   

[Jetthebinturong]

True, but they can cut.
Have you heard of a kukri knife?

Are those those boomerang shaped machete things?

I like shamshir. The design is elegant, and the name is fluid and simple.

I like shamshir. The design is elegant, and the name is fluid and simple.

SHAMSHIR ARE AWESOME!   

Oh look, it appears like some people agree with me. One of the true gods of the universe my book is set in wields a pair of shamshirs named Alsrender and Salandar, both meaning the same thing, foe ripper, in two different (fake) languages

[The Skarzs]

Have you heard of a kukri knife?

Are those those boomerang shaped machete things?

Yeah.

[FloweringStar]

Although, technically, shamshir and scimitars are practically the same thing...

I also like katana, because they are designed for one hit kills. Fights that end quickly are more my style than long, drawn out bouts of swordplay.