Since some of you don't know the attibutes of certain weapons I went out of my way to show you some details for common weapons that I've seen and read:

Katana:

(IMG:http://www.gungfu.com/pics_general/pics_swords/swords_emperor_series_big.jpg)

The katana is designed for two specific functions, cutting and thrusting. Rather than slashing, chopping or slicing, the sword is made to cut through a target in a straight line. Cuts that do not cut all the way, or follow an arc on their way through the target can easily result in a warped or rolled edge.

There are other reasons for the curvature of the blade. Samurai were primarily cavalry, often charging on horseback into battle. A curved blade is much more effective in a cavalry charge than a straight one. This is the same reason curved sabres were given to officers and cavalry units in Europe and America in the 17th and 18th centuries. (Got to put some history into this :lol: ) Katanas were more like an eastern equivalent of rapiers, one wouldn't often use a katana on an open battlefield and in battles, they served as a secondary weapon.

Of coarse their are different kinds of katanas, but I'm using a more general thought.

Wakizashi/ Kodachi's One of the only two weapons I feel are worth learning to use since I can use two at once.

(IMG:http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/cas/images/1015gtj.jpg)

Wakizashi/ Kodachi's are made with different shapes and were generally thinner than katana. They very often had much less niku (lit. 'meat', the measure of how convex the edge is) and therefore cut softer targets much more aggressively than a katana.

A Wakizashi/ Kodachi was used as a samurai's weapon when the Katana was unavailable. When entering a building, a samurai would leave his katana on a rack near the entrance. However, the Wakizashi would be on his person at all times, and therefore, it made a sidearm for the samurai, similar to a soldier's use of a pistol. The samurai would have worn it from the time they awoke to the time they went to sleep. In earlier periods, and especially during times of civil wars.

The Kama:

(IMG:http://tkdtutor.com/15Weapons/Offensive/Images/Kama.gif)

Originaly a farming tool to weed plants. Because the farmers were not allowed to carry weapons they used their tools to defend themselves. This weapon is most know for its use by ninjas.

The BO:

(IMG:http://www.katsudojo.com/bo.jpg)

A large staff (about 2 M) used as a self defense weapon by the common people, who were not allowed to carry weapons. If one of these weapons were to made of bamboo, it flexiblity would be used to deliver quick and sharp blows to the opponent, but because of it's flexibility it becomes a poor defensive weapon. There also a similar weapon called the "Jo" which was a shorter staff (about 1.35 M) also used as a selfdefense weapon by the common people. Also, the "Keibo" a small stick (about 35 cm) used for fighting in small area's and the the "Ebo" a very small stick (about 15 cm) perfect as a defense weapon and easy to cary around.

This weapon, a simple short staff made from a length of maple, is used in the martial art Aikido. Jodo, the art of the Jo stick, teaches both offensive and defensive techniques whereby one can attack using thrusts or blows to vital spots, or block strikes, bar an oppenents' limbs and control them, or even disarm an aggressor. The weapon itself is still effective in the hands of a beginner, since the jo stick is so well balanced to deliver hits.

The Tonfa:

(IMG:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/Tonfa.jpg)

Known more commonly as a side-handle baton in America, the tonfa was a originally a traditional weapon of Japanese origin. Delivering high-power thrusts, strikes, and blows, the tonfas offensive capabilities are matched evenly with its ability to block, entangle, and control an opponent. Tonfas were extensively employed by police officers in the United States for decades during the 20th century before losing popularity to the expandable baton toward the end of the millenium.

There are numerous ways to defend and attack with the tonfa. Defensively, when holding the handle, the shaft protects the forearm and hand from blows, and the knob can protect from blows to the thumb. By holding both ends of the shaft, it can ward of blows. When holding the shaft, the handle can function as a hook to catch blows or weapons.

The Jitte:

(IMG:http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/cas/images/2052gt.jpg)

The jitte is a traditional Japanese weapon similar to a truncheon, consisting of an iron or other type of metal shaft with a hook attached to the side. Primarily a defensive weapon, the jitte's hook is used to catch or deflect blows from a sword. The jitte can also be employed offensively to deliver thrusts and strikes, or to pin an opponent.

Manriki-gusari:

(IMG:http://www.karate-mart.net/images%5Cproducts%5Cninmanchain.jpg)

Comprised of a chain with blunt weights attached to either end, the Manriki-gusari for its complex name is a simple weapon. The user of this weapon can entangle an opponent with one end and strike the opponent with the other. Easy to conceal, variations on this weapon are making a comeback.

Nunchaku:

(IMG:http://www.battleorders.co.uk/acatalog/C127.jpg)

Made famous by their appearance in popular culture as a ninja weapon, the nunchaku has created a cult following amongst teenage gang members, especially in Asian street gangs. Made from two lengths of wood or metal attached at the ends by a chain or cord, this martial artists' weapon uses a difficult to master but visually impressive spinning movement to defend and strike.

Shuriken:

(IMG:http://lolao.home.texas.net/SW20.jpg)

Though these throwing weapons are romanticized for their supposed deadliness, in
actuality they are better at being an annoyance (though a painful one) to their target. A great deal of skill must be developed to throw them with any accuracy, and even then their effectiveness is limited.

The Naginata (My personal favorite.)

(IMG:http://www.dragonscavern.com/shop/files/spears/d_82.jpg)

A pole arm with a single, curved blade on one end, is employed with sweeping, circular motions and, as an extension of the wielder, channels energy in a harmonious display of beauty and precision. The Naginata is a weapon with a rich history, utilized and refined from the Nara Period (710-784 A.D.) to today. Employed initially by the Bushi, it later found itself the specific weapon of the Sohei or Buddhist monks. It is the school of the spear and, as such, is a shafted weapon. The length of its oval shaft varied, from 5' to 8', depending on battle conditions and personal requests. The most striking feature, however, was the blade; it could be anywhere from 10 inches to more than 2 feet, and was sharpened on a single side, fashioned in the manner of either Sakizori or Uchizori. As with most shafted weapons, it was most devastating when utilizing sweeping, circular motions. However, thrusts with the blade and also the heavy Ishizuki on the butt end were acceptable tactical alternatives.

The Yari:

(IMG:http://pierrot.jp/title/saiyuki_movie/characters/yari.jpg)

The Japanese spear didn't differ largely from that of other countries. During the Civil War Era, spear was the most standard weapon of bushi.

The Yumi:

The Japanese bow was the main battlefield weapon for the bushi until the 1530's. A typical Japanese bow is 2.3m length, made of bamboo with a string of silk and pine resin. An arrow is made of bamboo and bird feather. Bamboo is the best material for bow in the plant kingdom. Though inferior to modern composite archery bow in penetration and accuracy, it was a deadly weapon, too until the musket was brought from Europe in 17th century

Although bowmen were still deadly at close range, they were light skirmishers unsuited to prolonged hand-to-hand combat and were understandably vunerable to a commited attack by cavalry. Consequently they were often deployed behind physical barricades, such as stakes and poles driven into the ground.

Katar:

(IMG:http://www.antiquearms.co.uk/dagger%20image/katar8332.JPG)

A katar, also known as a Bundi dagger, is a type of short punching sword used in Persia and northern India. It is notable for its horizontal hand grip, which results in the blade of the sword sitting above the user's knuckles. Typically the sword was used in close range hand-to-hand combat, effective in armour piercing. The blade was often folded or corrugated for additional strength. "Hooded katars" are katars with a shield extending over the back of the user's hand. Katars ceased being in common use in the 19th century.

Sai- (pronounced sigh):

(IMG:http://www.uoguelph.ca/~rksiadz/Sai-Round2.jpg)

The sai was developed for planting rice or vegetable seeds. It resembles a trident and has central, rounded or octagonal shaped steel blade approximately 16 inches long. On either side of the blade there are two prongs that are wrist guards. Sais can be used for a number of things such as stabbing, slashing, punching, blocking, and even throwing. It is believed that farmers who used the sai would carry three at a time. One sai for each hand and one was kept in the belt to throw if necessary. Legend states a strap of some sort was occasionally tied to the handle so the farmer could retrieve it.

Mace/ Morning Star:

(IMG:http://www.fisk-knives.com/Mace.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.kimball.k12.sd.us/Webpage/Mace.gif)

An advance on the club, a mace is a wooden, metal-reinforced, or metal shaft, with a head made of stone, copper, bronze, iron or steel. The head is normally about or slightly thicker than the diameter of the shaft, shaped with flanges, knobs or spikes to allow greater penetration of armour. The length of maces can vary considerably. The maces of foot soldiers were usually quite short (two or three feet). The maces of cavalrymen were longer and better designed for blows from horseback. Two-handed maces could be even larger.

One of the earliest images of a mace- or club-like weapon is on the Narmer Palette. Maces were used extensively in the bronze age in the near east. The mace passed out of general use in the iron age, where swords, spears and axes became the dominant weapons. The ancient Romans did not use maces, probably because they had no need for a heavy, armor-smashing weapon. The armies of the Byzantine Empire used maces, especially from horseback.

The morning star was a medieval weapon resembling a mace, but with a large spike on the end and smaller spikes around the circumference. It was also known as the godendag (from the German for "good day") and the holy water sprinkler (from its resemblance to the aspergillum sometimes used in the Catholic Mass). It was used by both cavalry and infantry; the horseman's weapon typically had a shorter haft than the footman's, which might be up to six feet long. It came into use in the beginning of the 14th century. The name "morning star" is often erroneously applied to the military flail (also known as the therscol), a similar weapon, but with the head attached by a short chain.

Halberd:

(IMG:http://www.long-sword.com/catalog/images/5Star/Halberds/20-2067.jpg)

Halberds are a two-handed pole weapon that came to prominent use during the 14th and 15th centuries. The word "halberd" comes from the the Dutch "Hellebaard", which literally translates to "Hellbeard". The halberd consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft. It often has a hook or thorn on the back side of the axe blade for grappling mounted combatants. The halberd was cheap to produce and very versatile in battle. Its length allowed it to deflect spears and pikes, its point allowed to keep sword-wielding opponents at distance, and the hook would be used to draw armored opponents to the ground. The axe blade was for cutting into unarmed opponents and horses. Halberds were the primary weapons of the early Swiss armies in the 14th century. Later on, the Swiss added pikes to better repel knight attacks, with halberds used for medium distances and short swords.

Broad Sword/ Knight sword/ Two-handed sword:

(IMG:http://www.historicsupplies.biz/photos/cas%20iberia/mainscas/2034-GT.gif)

A two-handed sword, used as a general term, is any large sword that requires two hands to use. Two-handed swords made for combat use are actually quite light, averaging around 2.5 to 3 kilograms, with the heaviest examples reaching 5 kilograms. Even so, with the mass distributed over a length of close to two metres, effective use would have required considerable strength. The swords have hilts mounted side-rings and enlarged cross-guards of up to 12 inches across. Along the blade, some 4-8 inches from the upper gaurd, parrierhaken ("parrying hooks") shaped like lugs or flanges acted as a guard for the ricasso to prevent other weapons from sliding down the blade. These could be used in the attack of an opponent.

Gauntlets:

A gauntlet is a protective glove and a form of armour used to protect wrist, hand and fingers or the whole arm. Gauntlets exist in many forms, the least protective being a glove of thick but still flexible leather, all the way up to fully articulated metal plates. Gauntlets were essential in combat to prevent the users hands from being chopped off by errant blows from swords. Also, these gauntlets allowed a devastating punch to be delivered to any unarmored area of an opponent.
Historically, gauntlets were a very important armour part, since the hands and arms often are the easiest part of the body to hit with a hand to hand weapon. This being the case, many types of gloves were constructed. Some of the more popular were chainmail mittens and the plate glove, where each finger is protected by a separately articulated metal casing. For the common soldier, rugged gloves of thick leather were often the only option, maybe with plates of boiled leather or metal riveted on.

Rapier:

(IMG:http://www.cashenblades.com/rapier.jpg)

A rapier is a relatively slender (they could have blades over an inch in width), sharply pointed sword with a blade at least 90 centimetres in length, often sporting an elaborate hilt and hand-guard. For most of its period of use, the rapier was double-edged, some later rapiers were single-edged (with a sharply triangular blade) or edgeless. A rapier is capable of both cutting and thrusting attacks, but the thrust is the main attack in all rapier fighting styles.

The rapier began to develop at around 1500 as the Spanish "espada ropera", or "dress sword". The espada ropera was a cut-and-thrust civilian weapon for self-defense and the duel, while earlier weapons were equally at home on the battlefield. As a result of the geometrical theories of such masters as Camillo Agrippa and Ridolfo Capo Ferro, the rapier developed, by the year 1600, into a primarily thrusting weapon. The rapier became extremely fashionable throughout Europe with the wealthier classes, but was not without its detractors. Some people, such as George Silver, disapproved of its technical potential and the duelling use to which it was put.

While by the year 1700 the rapier had been replaced by the lighter smallsword throughout most of Europe, this weapon is probably the oldest European sword that still has a living tradition; that is, fencing masters exist that can trace their lineage of teachers back to the 18th century and before. Two of the most famous of these current-day masters are Maestro Ramon Martinez and Maestro Andrea Lupo Sinclair. Others have learned from these maestri, and currently Europe and America are experiencing a revivial of historical fencing.

War Hammer:

(IMG:http://www.fisk-knives.com/War_Hammer3.jpg)

A war hammer is an archaic weapon of war intended for close combat, the design of which resembles the hammer. The war hammer consists, like the tool it resembles, of a handle and a head. The handle may be of different lengths, the longest being roughly equivalent to the halberd, and the shortest about the same as a mace. Long warhammers were pole weapons meant for use against riders, whereas short ones were used in closer quarters and from horseback. Later warhammers often had a spike on one side of the head, thus making it a more versatile weapon.

Warhammers were developed as a consequence of the ever more prevalent metal armours of the medieval battlefields during the 14th and 15th centuries. The war hammer could deal blows of tremendous force to the target, especially when mounted on a pole, and by impact alone do damage without penetrating the armour. The spike end could be used for grappling the target's armour, reins, or shield, or could be turned in the direction of the blow to pierce even heavy armour. Against mounted opponents the weapon could also be directed at the legs of the horse, toppling the armored foe to the ground where they could be dealt with.

Cross-bow/ Arbalest

(IMG:http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/iedu_En/tk/graphics/tkz32131.jpg)

The arbalest was a late variation of the crossbow. It was much larger and the actual "bow" part was made of steel. A good crossbowman could shoot two bolts per minute. Since an arbalest was much larger than earlier crossbows, it had a greater force. Arbalests were nearly claimed inhumane and were abolished by the Pope since an inexperienced crossbowman could kill a knight with a lifetime of training.

Battle Axe:

(IMG:http://www.weaponscentral.net/medievel/Double%20Dragon.jpg)

The battle axe is a weapon used to cleave skulls and or decapitate, depending on whether it is a 1 handed or 2 handed one, weighs an average of 25 lbs. Their users, due to the movements required to wield, often build up abnormally large muscles in their shoulder on the side used. Not to be confused with the hatchet, the battle axe usually has a blade around two feet long.

Double Bladed Sword:

(IMG:http://www.destinyone.com/echelon14/2003_1015_052648AAX.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.destinyone.com/echelon14/2003_1015_052725AAX.jpg)

Hook Swords:

(IMG:http://www.usawushu.com/shop/weapons/big/DoubleHooks.jpg)

The Double Hooks (sometimes called �Tiger Hooks� or �Tiger Head Hook Swords�) are traditional Northern kung fu weapons that have been gaining in popularity. Not only are they granted great distinction because of their outlandish � though distinctly attractive � appearance, but also because of their great inventiveness and utility. Unlike other weapons, most of which have only one or two striking surfaces, the Double Hooks can be used at a variety of ranges in a multitude of ways. The dagger-blades and the crescent moon guards can be used for slashing and stabbing at close range. The blades and hooks can cut, penetrate, and even catch enemy weapons (or the enemy) at medium range. And the swords can be hooked together and lashed out for great, sweeping cuts at long range.

Ok, I got permission to post this. Sorry about the picture, I couldn't find one other than this one.

Kunai Knives.

(IMG:http://www.naruto-kun.com/images/weapons/Kunai.jpg)

Kunai knives are commonly used by ninjas. They are highly dangerous, as they can be used for both throwing as a projectile for far distance attacks, or used for melee attacks in close combat. They are really good weapons for ninjas in particular, who need the manuverability.

I know it's not as good as the others, but I thought it would be good to put up.

I got a better pic of it (IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/DarknessMaster/kunai.jpg)

Well, kunai's are good at melee attacks but they prove unaffected by a heavily armored fighter. Throwing knifes and other throwing weapons only proved usefull when trown into weak points that most armor couldn't cover, such as below the neck. It is nothing more than a large, 10 to 15 centimeters long, flattened iron nail. It could be used as a climbing tool, substituted as a peg, dug the ground, or even thrown like a shuriken.

As for the shuriken: Shuriken are, of coarse, throwing blades. The martial art of wielding the shuriken is called shuriken-jutsu.

The major varieties are the Bo Shuriken and the Hira Shuriken (throwing blades with multiple points, sometimes called Kurumaken but more commonly known in the West as Throwing Stars, due to their distinctive shape). They have been used by ninja and other samurai. These "throwing stars" usually had only four points, as more than four were considered as being too flashy or difficult to handle.

Contrary to popular belief, (video games, Hollywood, etc.) shuriken are not designed as a primary weapon, but rather as a distraction or tactical weapon. In the past, shuriken were sometimes used as a warning means, or to deliver death threat messages to enemies. The first shuriken were actually sharpened hairpins, kept in the hair as a last resort weapon. A common application of shuriken is throwing them skillfully so as to reflect sunlight, as a distracting glint of light could make valuable seconds count. Shuriken could be used on the battlefield in this capacity - a hidden ambush group might throw a volley as a diversion in order to momentarily escape detection and attack or flee.