EDIT of the Main Post to include Some Cut Testing info.......
It is all included here as well, as I couldn't add any pictures to the main post....
My Concerns about how sharp the edges were on my
Unsharp KatanaI use that term loosely, I decided to do a Comparative cut on a Pool Noodle to see how "Stage/Theatrical swords" should act...
I Used My Practical Paul Chen Viking Sword
And as you can see Its cuts clearly couldn't make it through a pool noodle, In fact about a third of the way in it disippated its cuts momentum enough that the pool noodle started to rip, rather than cut.
The Ryan Unsharp Katana (For Iaido)
Cut Cleanly at the top (I was standing too far away and it didn't go through the back of the noodle).
I botched my second cut and 2/3 of the way through it started to rip the noodle because my blade turned.
And Completely cleanly severed on my Third cut as well.
These cuts clearly show that all your soft bits are at risk using this sword. Comparatively to my Practical Viking blade, I don't think I could even stab someone with it its so rounded.
Ryan did NOT falsely advertise this sword. As he lists it as Unsharp (Meaning he has not sharpned it)
It does however lead us to believe that its not going to cut easily (This would be poor wording Not False advertising)
I decided to explore what kind of damage this thing could actually do.....
Cutting the Milk jug was absalutely No problem, Nor was the Thrust a difficult task
This is actually Kind of scarey, My Practical Viking just knocked the grass mats around..... that's it (Hence no pictures)
However this Unsharp Katana did a real number on things.
For reference.... My Mats were not all that secure, I broke my Peg before I did this.. so Everything was wabbley.... I am willing to bet it is possible this would go right through that mat on a good hit if it stood more solidly.
When we take this into account... (my background is Paramedic AND Theater)
If the accidental Contact were to take place at the elbow . The blade traveling from the inside of your elbow joint could thoreticaly pass between the bone contacts and sever your Ligaments & Artery exiting out on the elbow side of your arm, completely amputating it at the elbow. This could be done with the Standard force required for full speed stage combat.... (However most theatrical groups slow it down, and the movies use Rubber swords for the close in full contact fighting)
This is of course the PERFECT accident
A Slash to the Cardboard Box was again No hard task, though it did not exit out the other side, The same could be said for the Stabbing Thrust as well
A 2 Liter Bottle filled with water, the slashing cut glanced off and threw the bottle to the ground, Twice. However after one Glancing Thrust the second showed more definitive results.
Ultimatly my next step would have been doweling, but it is stronger than the 2 L Bottle.. so it was not a needed test.
I think people get the picture here.
Without Serious modification (Rounding the edge of the blade and blunting the tip) This is most definately a Deadly weapon. Losing a finger by accident is completely within its abilities.