Rapier vs. Katana

[Odd]

[Lux-Vertas]

[Odd]

[Lux-Vertas]

[Odd]

[Mr Meow Meows]

Assuming that both swordsmen are at their peak and are both masters of their respective styles, then I'd have to say that a Samurai would win.

Here's my reasoning:
While a good European Fencer does in fact use a Rapier, everyone is also forgetting side arms, punches, and kicks. A "master" fencer doesn't rely solely on their Rapier, but also on their surroundings and other weapons on hand, which is usually a dagger or two and their fists and kicks. Generally, a fencer wouldn't wear heavy armor, or any armor at all, so to be as light and quick as possible.

Samurai, on the other hand, focus solely on 2 main weapons, the Katana and the Wakizashi. Now, the Katana is actually slightly heavier than a Rapier if I remember correctly. It CAN be used one handed, letting it's owner utilize a Wakizashi as well in their off hand. The Wakizashi is used mainly for quick jabs, blocks, and disarmament. A Samurai's armor is just under that of Knights armor. It's lighter and made of both leather and metal.

A Rapier may be able to pierce through a Samurai's armor with ease, but you'd have to be in close quarters with a Samurai. Even if the Samurai was disarmed completely, they are still trained to kill with their hands and literally fight to the death. Though a Fencer would put up a great fight, and severely damage a Samurai, they wouldn't win.

But all that is assuming they fight head on on equal terms. Naturally, Free Roam Fencers back during the appropriate era in time where a lot more sneaky and would probably convince the Samurai that they win and want to live do the Samurai, honor bound, would let them live. Upon turning away, the Fencer would draw his dagger and stab either the neck or the back.


EDIT: The ironic thing is, I use a Fencing style to block/deflect and a Samurai's style to attack. I free form, but those are my mainstay styles.

[Lux-Vertas]

I see what you mean Meow, but they are two different sword styles, it would be like comparing ancient Greek Wrestling (Right down to in the Nuddy) to, say, Tai chi

It depends who gets the upper hand early on, but A minor Historic Fact:

When the Mongols Tried to take over Japan the Samurai JUST managed to over come the Mongols due to their speed, and these were guys who mopped up European Knights with ease (If their Khan Didn't Die European History would be Different)

[Mr Meow Meows]

[Lux-Vertas]

True, but you can't go any where by brute force or by purely style

and they both use different styles, I have never seen a fencing mach won by a slice or a cut...

Fencing also looks a bit... Wimpy and feminine for my liking!

[Vidd187]

[Iregyura]

I have to say, most probably a katana user. First of all, while fencers are light and have lots of speed, they depend too much on their surroundings, in my opinion. What if they were in a bare room with nothing? Plus, they usually use lots of other small tools, and that's not solely using only their Rapier. However, they do have a high chance to win as well, since their agility may help them escape unharmed.
On the other hand, however, katana's are heavier and are slower, but more effective. One effective slash and you're down, unless you have superhuman abilities. However, their amours and stuff samurai's wear are really heavy but protective, but sometimes lead to a bad ending anyways.
*Note that I'm talking about a Rapier user and katana user battling each other...And that the Katana user is a samurai...haha...

[wolfiewheeee]

If they are both properly trained and stand even chances without the sword? A Katana. Hands down. A Rapier is faster, but the katana, well all the reasons (there's a lot) I can think of have already been stated, so I wont spamm up this topic with stuff that's already been stated. Although I do have to say, some of it seems to be focusing on the people who TRADITIONALLY use them and not the sword itself.

[Jazzeroki]

You also need to keep in mind what the combatants are wearing. Most samurai usually wore some kind of armor. Fencers usually only wore clothing. The Rapier wasn't really designed to pierce armor so again I tend to think the fight would go to the Katana user.

[saiyouri]

I say katana is better. Mostly because I like them alot. But they are an amazing weapon. All the attacks a samurai could do with them is amazing. I read a book about samurais and they listed a bunch of attack stances with the katana and each of them were just amazing to see.