Ban on imitation Samurai swords(UK Barf Alert)

BBC News International Version ^ | 12/12/07 | BBC News

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Imitation Samurai swords are to be banned after a spate of attacks in the UK, say ministers.

The Home Office has confirmed plans to outlaw the weapons in England and Wales after putting forward the idea earlier this year.

Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said there was a clear danger to the public posed by easily-available swords.

The proposal is expected to stop short of banning genuine Japanese swords held by collectors or genuine enthusiasts.

In March 2007 the Home Office proposed banning imitation Samurai swords after representations from both MPs and the public. Ministers in Scotland had proposed a similar move in 2006.

Calls for a ban came after a number of high-profile incidents in which cheap Samurai-style swords had been used as a weapon.

The Home Office estimates there have been some 80 attacks in recent years involving Samurai-style blades, leading to at least five deaths.

While genuine Samurai swords are part of Japanese history and change hands for large sums of money, there is a trade in imitation blades which can be bought over the internet for as little as £35.

Under the proposals, the government will ban the import, sale and hire of Samurai swords from April 2008.

Anyone breaching the ban will face six months in jail and a £5,000 fine.

[JEC]

When they came for the cheap swords I said nothing, for I did not own a cheap sword.

When they came for your brain, they found nothing...

[JEC]

Swords for me, but not for thee. Define garbage.

Pressed knockoffs made to look like the genuine thing. They sell them by the dozen in the "cheaper than dirt" catalog.

[Clint Williams]

Pathetic

[ExSoldier]

Calls for a ban came after a number of high-profile incidents in which cheap Samurai-style swords had been used as a weapon.

Did any of these attacks result in decapitations preceded by the comment: In the end ... there can be only ONE... and followed immediately by spectacular light shows and eerie electrical type of effects?

[ExSoldier]

I personally wish that they would just ban these cheap imitations altogether. They are literally garbage and can be easily gotten by almost anyone.

You're kidding, right? One man's garbage is another's treasure. I have a wooden Bokken that I use in Aikido. You'd ban that as well? Are you of Australian ancestry by any chance?

[spunkets]

"Pressed knockoffs made to look like the genuine thing. They sell them by the dozen in the "cheaper than dirt" catalog."

Pressed? It sounded as though you might be knowledgable about these things. Does hammer forging detract from the spiritual value of hand forging? Is it the through hardening of "Cold Steel's" blades you object to, as is common in all other swords whether modern, or not? Can't be the carbon steel, because that's what a traditional katana blade is. Copies of nihonto start at ~$400 and most are above. Depending on the particulars, the copies are eqivalent to nihonto as working blades. One could spend $29K for nihonto, or buy a copy for $400-900 and have the equivalent working blade.

A modern tech version of the blade below is ~$3000+ and still doesn't match it's edge hardness and toughness, and overall blade toughness. This one goes through 3" maple, has been used to dismantle cars and is not dulled much by hitting rocks, or going through sandy wood. It was a working blade for 12 years before it finally gave up the ghost. I'd be an idiot to spend $25k+ for nihonto, which would be destroyed rather quickly doing that. The copies are just fine, excluding the metal working tasks.

[spunkets]

Aikido? Don’t you mean Kendo?

[Grizzled Bear]

[ExSoldier]

Aikido is at it's heart a SWORD art.

Example: BOKKEN KATA

[spunkets]

Thanks. I always thought of it as a neutralizing type of grappling art.

[dbwz]

As the owner of a very genuine and expensive (gun), I personally wish that they would just ban these cheap imitations altogether. They are literally garbage and can be easily gotten by almost anyone. Those of us that have the real thing would never use the (gun) for anything other than keeping in our own personal collection.

How does that sound??

Sounds like a lot of gun owners right here in the US.

This is GB's equivalent of banning "Saturday Night Specials".

[mamelukesabre]

There’s something else that makes good knives and is much easier to come-by...and takes far less effort to shape into a knife.

lawnmower blades.

They are made from an excellent alloy for knifemaking.

[mamelukesabre]

So...what is the exact cutoff date for the UK “preban” samurai swords?

[mamelukesabre]

I agree. I did laugh though.

[dr_lew]

Et qui nolunt occidere quemquam, posse volunt. - Juvenal

( And even those who do not wish to kill anyone would like the means to do so. )

[JEC]

Are you of Australian ancestry by any chance?

Sicilian and others.

[ExSoldier]

Proud heritage. Why on Earth would you do so bold a lineage such disrespect by advocating creeping government tyranny?

[Hardastarboard]

one of the best materials to make a knife or sword out of is an old car leaf spring

I love my fellow FReepers. I really do.

[JEC]

As you say, “Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote”.