The sabre GM displayed bears a remarkable resemblance (guard-design aside) to the liǔyèdāo (willow leaf sabre) that was a very common sidearm during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Form follows function:
The saber is a very popular weapon world wide... and that Dao and the Marine Corps saber are in fact probably related on some level. The curved swords of the Middle East and later the Dao family were influenced by contact between those two regions (notably under the rule of the Mongol empire, but also just normal trade) and the European saber rose from the Middle Eastern scimitar, in particular the Mameluke sword. A variant of which our officers still carry. (The original being earned during the Tripoli campaign by Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon after the fall of Tripoli to a detachment of Marines and allied local forces, during the Battle of Durna, in 1805, this was the first fortress of the old world to be put under American colors in victory.)
As to Jace, I'm not sure what the hell he's talking about honestly. I assume a cat walked onto his keyboard or something.
For some interesting comparative work... GET ON MY QUARTERDECK and form up for mail call!
Now I have some issues with that particular comparison and think it could actively be better done, but the bottom line is there is no such thing as an ubersword. In the hands of a bumbling idiot a Katana or Broadsword is no more effective then or dangerous then anything else. (I mean it's still a big chunk of sharp steel, but unless you know what you're doing any sword is surprisingly hard to use). One "myth" that I think Jace was attempting to bring up was that Marines in the Pacific actively shot sword armed Japanese officers and NCOs as a priority. That's true. Do you want to get into close combat with a nutcase swinging a sword? I sure as shit don't.
As for my personal tastes in swords, seeing as I don't have the need to waste my time fantasizing about carrying a sword into battle I stick with my preferred backswords of their varying breeds world wide, which I simply prefer because I like them better. It's not a matter of East or West being better, I just enjoy the visual appeal and slashing focus on the weapons more. (Doesn't hurt that I trained with the Marine saber a little). In particular I enjoy the craftsmanship inherent in the Katana, and I enjoy owning tools and weapons of pedigree (My M1 Garand rifle was specifically selected because it came out of Springfield Armory for example). As an amateur historian owning historical artifacts, and items from families that have been doing certain trades for centuries (if not longer in many cases) has a distinct appeal. I also believing in knowing how to use what I own. When I picked up a rapier I studied Capo Ferro (the Italian school of Rapier fencing), when I picked up a cutlass I studied the traditional Marine Corps manual on Cutlass fencing it is a very short manual, and quite simple, which befits the cutlass itself.) So it stands to reason when I get my Bastard I'll study with an ARMA chapter, and a Katana a Kenjutsu or Iaido master. Learning the styles associated with the weapons, and the history of the weapons themselves is half the fun!
It's a lot easier with collecting guns though. I already know how to shoot so it's not like I need to relearn it every time I pick up something new at the local gun store.
Side thought. If you forced me to carry a sword into the field today, I know exactly what I'd select based on modern combat requirements, and my own field and training experience. A machete. It's light, durable, more then compact enough to delivery powerful blows on unarmored or soft armored targets in close quarters, and outside of active fighting it's a field utility tool, which gives it double value for it's actual weight.
Force me (and you would have to force me) to add a "traditional" sword to my kit (and watch me to ensure I don't ditch the thing in my vehicle or foot locker the second whoever's making me haul it around and I'd select a cutlass for similar reasons as above. I'm not worried about armor. I am worried about powerful, simple strikes at close quarters, and the cutlass was made for such work. Like me ol'Irish gran said "A rapier may be witty, but a cutlass makes'em gutless"
The sabre GM displayed bears a remarkable resemblance (guard-design aside) to the liǔyèdāo (willow leaf sabre) that was a very common sidearm during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Form follows function:
Oddly enough the USMC swords are based off Mameluke swords because of their actions in Tripoli in the early 1800s and has become tradition in the USMC. As to where the Mameluke's got it...
Point of contention, this is both correct and wrong. The USMC officer's sword is a Mameluke style scimitar/saber. The USMC NCO Saber (M1859 and it's two variants forward) is based on the M1850 Foot Officer's Saber. (U.S. Army) HOWEVER like I said about, the Mameluke sword and similar styles of backsword were highly influential on the development of the European saber, which the M1850 was a classic example of, if slightly shortened for infantry work as it was designed for infantry as opposed to cavarlymen. So while it is not a direct influence like the Marine Officer's scimitar above, the general influence over time means the NCO Saber also owes much to the Mameluke scimitar.
M1850:
