DarkRyderOmega's Guns 'n Gear

[DarkRyderOmega]

Well, I was finally able to take pics of my diminutive armory a short time ago. Please remember that these pics were taken with a camera phone, so they will look bad.

And yes, I know I need to lose the orange paint.

First up is a pic of my USPc:


Next is a pic of all myguns and gear:


Another pic of all my gear from a different angle:


I'll try to get more pics up soon.

[Josh Walrus]

Looks sweet to me, and HK based! Yum!

Nice equipment man!

[DarkRyderOmega]

Thanks, Walrus! I didn't really plan on an all HK setup, but I like it. Oh, and if some of you are wondering, that long black thing to the left of my boots is my weapon for knife kills. It's techinically a wooden seppaku sword.

[ghost457]

awesome!!!!!!!! i love HK's!!! *drools* i want the USPc, is it KWA or KSC?

[DarkRyderOmega]

KWA.

[mattjones]

I really like the HK theme...can't say I know too much about everything you have there, but it's enough to make me jealous

darkryderomega said:

It's techinically a wooden seppaku sword.

Just a point of clarification. The traditional samurai carried one or two long swords (katanas) and always one smaller one (name fails me at this point, but basically never used unless it was uh-oh time). Seppuku is an art accomplished in three motions. The sword used for it is first plunged into the gut just under the ribs on one side of the abdomen. Just stabbing yourself is not honorable enough for someone that devoted his entire life to the sword, so the second motion is to draw the sword across to stomach opposite to the point of instertion. Finally, just to show one's true grit and honor (seppuku was generally only commited when the samurai was mortally dishonored, it was a way for him to make ammends and prove that he is still a man of honor and chivalry), the blase is turned 90 degrees while in the gut and pulled upward into the ribcage with whatever force can still be mustered. Given that, the thought of harikiri with a rounded wooden sword makes me cringe. But it's an interesting thought to use it for knife kills.

[TofuGuy]

For further clarification there are 3 swords, a katana, which was used in most battles. Then a shorter one called something like waskashi or something (Sorry I'm horrible at remembering stuff like that), that was use if a battle broke out inside or as a secondary like matt said. The third is a tanto, which was used in sepaku cermonies.

[DarkRyderOmega]

I originally bought it to practice 2-swords kendo(I forget the name for 2 sword fighting). I even considered using the long one I have, but that can't really be called a knife . If you guys want, I can get some pics of my samurai/kendo gear I have.

[BoredKender]

dark ryder- i posted a thread in discussion a short while back and was told that wooden swords (bokkens, shotos and the like) would be considered bludgeoning weapons and are not permitted on the field. just a heads up bro

for reference:

bokken = wooden katana
shoto = wooden wakasashi

[DarkRyderOmega]

OK, then. I'll have to stick with the little rubber knife I have. I'll try to get some more pics up today, hopefully they'll be better.

[Munin]

The most common romanization of the shorter sword is "wakizashi," although BoredKender is right in that it is also commonly called a shoto (literally "short sword"). "Nito" refers to two-sword forms. Also, FYI, you don't use bokken or bokuto (wooden swords) for kendo, as it's far too dangerous to actually hit someone with it. In kendo you would use shinai, which are made from split bamboo. A bokken is a weapon in its own right, and people often died from duels in which bokken were used (Miyamoto Musashi is said to have killed Sasaki Kojiro with a bokken fashioned from a boat oar).

Also, seppuku is commited with the shoto. Only women commit seppuku with a tanto, in which case it's not done by cutting the hara, but rather by slitting one's own throat.

[BoredKender]

bokkens were also used in training forms (katas) to younger students to get them used to the feel and size. most martial arts schools encourage sparring with bokkens with semi-contact

[Munin]

We use bokken for kata practice, but for any kind of blade-on-blade or blade-on-body work we typically use fukuro shinai (split bamboo wrapped in a leather bag). Much less harsh on the body if you get whacked.

[DarkRyderOmega]

Also, FYI, you don't use bokken or bokuto (wooden swords) for kendo, as it's far too dangerous to actually hit someone with it. In kendo you would use shinai, which are made from split bamboo.

Both bokken and shinai may be used, although shinai are more common. When I was in Japan, I talked with a teacher at the high school, who is also a kendo instructor, and he said that you may use bokken, but instead of striking your opponent, you have to have enough control to stop the sword before you actually hit him. thats why some dojos use them: self control. I do have a shinai that the kendo instructor gave me as a gift...I'll get some pics up if you guys want .

[BoredKender]

there's also the nut-jobs like me and my buddies that use bokkens and real steel swords for sparring. it's all about control...

would love to see the shinai ;D