Men and their weapons

[Okurkabinladin]

Ever since history was recorded for the first time by our ancestors in caves. Men stood above others with their tools. Perhaps we elevated those tools as they did elevate us.

As an alchemical symbol the sword is a symbol of purification. Here we experience the metaphorical sword cleanly piercing the spiritual soul of man. This symbolic action sacrifices physical bondage to release a path to ethereal (enlightened) freedom.

In Buddhism the sword symbolism deals with discrimination of thought. In this light, swords cut away ignorance.

The swords of the Congo tribe in Central Africa are deeply symbolic of transition.

In Chinese symbolism dreams of swords indicate birth gender.

Freud would have us believe the sword in our dreams is a phallic symbol.

FOCUS: Please, do you share your opinion on meaning of handheld weapons. Perhaps share your favourite one (factory made assault rifles, nukes and aircraft carriers, while admirable piece of technology, do not count). How do they make you feel? Do you believe men should feel comfortable with them?

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[Sithara007]

Swords and axes are good for the purpose of posing for photos, but in practical situations they are useless (especially if your enemy owns an assault rifle). Personally, I don't own a gun. But I would feel more secure and safe, if I could get hold of one of them.

[Mometaskers]

Swords and axes are good for the purpose of posing for photos, but in practical situations they are useless (especially if your enemy owns an assault rifle). Personally, I don't own a gun. But I would feel more secure and safe, if I could get hold of one of them.

I'd also like to own and master one, though I'd probably go with guns for sniping. I feel those go along with my personality more.  Yup, guns are great, but if we're ever in a post-apocalyptic scenario, melee weapons would become useful again once everyone runs out of ammo.

Personally, I'd prefer being proficient with a spear or ax rather than a sword. A warhammer would look cool though, impractically it may be now. (It was primarily used to crush people wearing chain mail.)

[audaciousbeing]

The era of hand held weapon is gone for defence as even the most backward nation of the world never arm its citizen or soldiers with this implement the reason for that is not far fetched. Our lives have been greatly regulated by governments and its agent. Aside that, even if I am an expert in handling this weapon, I still cannot carry based on the fact that they are mostly outlawed in most spheres of the society because how do I go to office with my suit on and still hold a knife or sword. They are used as symbol of authority and nothing else.

[matuson]

Swords and axes are good for the purpose of posing for photos, but in practical situations they are useless (especially if your enemy owns an assault rifle). Personally, I don't own a gun. But I would feel more secure and safe, if I could get hold of one of them.

You are not right. When a person is good with a knife is also a very serious weapon in our time. I have a pistol and assault rifle. I know whereof I speak. If you have a gun, and the enemy is proficient with a knife is at a distance of ten meters from you, believe me you do not have much of a chance.

[nickbelski]

As for me I instinctively feel about swords with respect and fear. I am frightened by their destructive power on the human body, but they have some kind of beauty, especially japanese handmade swords, which are works of art.

[TheCoinGrabber]

Swords and axes are good for the purpose of posing for photos, but in practical situations they are useless (especially if your enemy owns an assault rifle). Personally, I don't own a gun. But I would feel more secure and safe, if I could get hold of one of them.

You are not right. When a person is good with a knife is also a very serious weapon in our time. I have a pistol and assault rifle. I know whereof I speak. If you have a gun, and the enemy is proficient with a knife is at a distance of ten meters from you, believe me you do not have much of a chance.

Not to mention, knives are concealed weapons, that's why they've always been associated with stealth and assassination. IMHO, children should be taught martial arts in school and that included use of these weapons and tactics to disarm them. Gun classes then come later in high school.

[freedomno1]

Ever since history was recorded for the first time by our ancestors in caves. Men stood above others with their tools. Perhaps we elevated those tools as they did elevate us.

As an alchemical symbol the sword is a symbol of purification. Here we experience the metaphorical sword cleanly piercing the spiritual soul of man. This symbolic action sacrifices physical bondage to release a path to ethereal (enlightened) freedom.

In Buddhism the sword symbolism deals with discrimination of thought. In this light, swords cut away ignorance.

The swords of the Congo tribe in Central Africa are deeply symbolic of transition.

In Chinese symbolism dreams of swords indicate birth gender.

Freud would have us believe the sword in our dreams is a phallic symbol.

FOCUS: Please, do you share your opinion on meaning of handheld weapons. Perhaps share your favourite one (factory made assault rifles, nukes and aircraft carriers, while admirable piece of technology, do not count). How do they make you feel? Do you believe men should feel comfortable with them?

Tools have been used to separate us from the lesser species the primitive species and to develop and grow our society through efficiency over time.
The sword is a good weapon it keeps unity with the body and the soul can be fluid or liquid soft or hard for me a handheld weapon has a use to protect. In this modern era the weapon may not be a traditional blunt tool object to kill but one to protect in that case my favorite one is a BOOK and we should be comfortable with applying our knowledge as that is the ultimate weapon ^^.

[Palmerson]

Swords and axes are good for the purpose of posing for photos, but in practical situations they are useless (especially if your enemy owns an assault rifle). Personally, I don't own a gun. But I would feel more secure and safe, if I could get hold of one of them.

You are not right. When a person is good with a knife is also a very serious weapon in our time. I have a pistol and assault rifle. I know whereof I speak. If you have a gun, and the enemy is proficient with a knife is at a distance of ten meters from you, believe me you do not have much of a chance.

Not to mention, knives are concealed weapons, that's why they've always been associated with stealth and assassination. IMHO, children should be taught martial arts in school and that included use of these weapons and tactics to disarm them. Gun classes then come later in high school.

Thus it is necessary not to forget to educate children so that they their knowledge is not directed against people, though of course if children are well-behaved then the ability to use weapons they do not need.

[pinkmann]

I always liked swords and other weapons. When I was a kid my friends and I would make our own. We used wood and would sand the edges and paint the swords to make them look more real. Then we would have mock sword fights. Not that we knew what we were doing.. I wonder if these games are just ingrained in our subconscious from past dna or its programming from the movies we watched.

These days you just order your swords and other medieval weapons online, sharpened or dull your preference.

http://www.handmadesword.com/
https://www.reliks.com/

[protokol]

I find it interesting how different cultures have very different designs of melee weapons. From scimitars from the Middle East, kukris from Nepal, medieval weapons such as morningstars, war hammers and flails, Japanese katanas, the list is exhaustive. Also many weapons were designed with specific warriors in mind - heavy, bludgeoning weapons for large, strong soldiers, and lighter, sharper weapons for the more nimble fighters.

Similar to modern weaponry, it seems that war has always been a catalyst for new and experimental technology. I'm sure that even in ancient times, the manufacturers of the best weapons would have been very well paid.

It's worth mentioning that ranged weapons, such as spears and longbows, would have been a significant technological advantage (both for hunting and war) when they were developed, and may have significantly changed history.

However, more recently the saying "the pen is mightier than the sword" is certainly becoming truer than ever. While originally the pen was literally writing and drawing propaganda, in these modern times the pen is a metaphor for the video camera. And its moving pictures can be spread within moments across the entire globe, edited to follow certain agendas and ideologies.

What's more, we are currently in an era where a computer and webcam have huge amounts of power and influence, I'd go so far as to say the keyboard may be the next evolution in handheld weaponry. Here's an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohmajJTcpNk

[killgald]

A rounded shield and an axe are the symbols of the nordic people, raw winters and strong life are the simbolic of this tools or weapons they used to survived, not ever tools perfect created.

[Sithara007]

Swords and axes are good for the purpose of posing for photos, but in practical situations they are useless (especially if your enemy owns an assault rifle). Personally, I don't own a gun. But I would feel more secure and safe, if I could get hold of one of them.

You are not right. When a person is good with a knife is also a very serious weapon in our time. I have a pistol and assault rifle. I know whereof I speak. If you have a gun, and the enemy is proficient with a knife is at a distance of ten meters from you, believe me you do not have much of a chance.

Very difficult to agree with you. But then, I have to admit that I have never used either a knife or a gun. Anyway, if I use either of these weapons, it will be for self-defense only. Perhaps for that purpose, a knife is more suitable when compared to a pistol.

[Mometaskers]

I find it interesting how different cultures have very different designs of melee weapons. From scimitars from the Middle East, kukris from Nepal, medieval weapons such as morningstars, war hammers and flails, Japanese katanas, the list is exhaustive. Also many weapons were designed with specific warriors in mind - heavy, bludgeoning weapons for large, strong soldiers, and lighter, sharper weapons for the more nimble fighters.

Similar to modern weaponry, it seems that war has always been a catalyst for new and experimental technology. I'm sure that even in ancient times, the manufacturers of the best weapons would have been very well paid.

It's worth mentioning that ranged weapons, such as spears and longbows, would have been a significant technological advantage (both for hunting and war) when they were developed, and may have significantly changed history.

However, more recently the saying "the pen is mightier than the sword" is certainly becoming truer than ever. While originally the pen was literally writing and drawing propaganda, in these modern times the pen is a metaphor for the video camera. And its moving pictures can be spread within moments across the entire globe, edited to follow certain agendas and ideologies.

What's more, we are currently in an era where a computer and webcam have huge amounts of power and influence, I'd go so far as to say the keyboard may be the next evolution in handheld weaponry. Here's an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohmajJTcpNk

I'll try to keep my agreement with you short. True wars are not fought in the battlefield but in the hearts, minds and belly of people.

[Eternu]

First i would like to say that like most of men out there i also like guns and all other kind of weapons. Second is that i work with weapon every day, because i work as an security officer. There for i do not take any kind of weapon likely. We all have different opinions and understanding about weapons or guns, call them how you like. I like to keep my opinion on minimum and basic purpose of guns. People tend to say they are for protection, i always say they are made to kill and nothing more. Weapons are dangerous stuff, and they have sole purpose... too kill.

[Xester]

Aside from guns of course, a sword would be my favorite.  It feels like you are a warior from the Roman empire.  It really feels like something special and you are so strong.  The fact that it is made from metal and requires special skills to use it.  Another favorite is bow and arrow.  It would feel like you are robin hood.  It feels really different.

[Okurkabinladin]

Swords and axes are good for the purpose of posing for photos, but in practical situations they are useless (especially if your enemy owns an assault rifle). Personally, I don't own a gun. But I would feel more secure and safe, if I could get hold of one of them.

I started the thread mainly because of metaphysical aspects of these tools of death   but, I am picking up the glove, Sithara.

Swords and axes are not merely used for posing on photos - they are still used today as they were used for thousands of years. As a sidearms. Because they work.

Ranged weapons were preferred even by our stone age ancestors for obvious benefit of staying out of harm. With spear being among the oldest known tools. Obviously, today (especially, if you live in United States and not restrictive socialist state like most of humanity) there are even more potent tools for death, guns, but that doesnt degrade meaning or usage of the former. It complements them.

Attacker with a knife can cross 5 metres (16 feet) in less than second, thats not enough for you to draw and point a gun, but perhaps enough to draw a knife of your own.

The era of hand held weapon is gone for defence as even the most backward nation of the world never arm its citizen or soldiers with this implement the reason for that is not far fetched. Our lives have been greatly regulated by governments and its agent. Aside that, even if I am an expert in handling this weapon, I still cannot carry based on the fact that they are mostly outlawed in most spheres of the society because how do I go to office with my suit on and still hold a knife or sword. They are used as symbol of authority and nothing else.

You make a good point. Swords didnt fall out of fashion, because everyone and their grandmother owned assault rifle. They fell out of fashion, because they stopped being socially acceptable. Matt Easton cites that as primary reason, why 19th century Americans and Englishmen started to wear bowie knives (which did fit under coats) and concealed sword canes.

[NoNetwork]

Weapons, words that one might call a tool for battle, but now the weapon for fighting men is money. 

Weapons are just mere tool to fight other men, but I think these tools are useless, it may be made from gold or sillver, diamond or other else, but the important weapon a man has is what they are fighting for, without these goal, weapons are useless.

[joebrook]

It's not surprising at all everything we do we must have a way to make it deadly,  we always looking for new ways to kill our fellow men all because we want to be feared.

[criptix]

You use a battleknife + handgun in CQC. Never played MGS or did a special training in the army?