The Japanese Sword

      There are few weapons that carry the same mystique as the Japanese sword.  It is forged under rites that are directly connected to Japan's Shinto religion, and labeled the "Soul of the Samurai," the Japanese sword serves as both a work of art and as a deadly weapon. For literally hundreds of years, the Japanese sword also served as a symbol of rank for the Samurai class.
         According to legend, there was a swordsmith by the name of Amakuni that created the first true Japanese sword sometime around 700A.D. Although there were small changes in the overall design of the blade during the next thousand years the actual shape of the weapon has changed very little since it was invented. 
       I do not believe that there will ever be a weapon that will fill the dual role or last as long as the Japanese Katana sword has.  Alot of that may have to do with the fact that  no one ever sees the romance of single combat anymore, we prefer to use weapons to just kill from as far away as possible.  We will never again see the likes of the men and weapons like we have for the past 1000 years.