Earlier today, me and my coworker, who is also into weaponry, were having a discussion like we have every weekend. We were discussing swords and philosophy behind them. He told me something rather interesting, that personal weapons that a person has a connection or bond with should be giving a name to symbolize that it is more than a mere object but a part of you, an extension of yourself. He began giving me examples such as Needle, Arya Stark’s sword from the HBO series Game of Thrones and Sting, Frodo Baggins’s sword from The Lord of the Rings. After he left to go home, I began thinking about what he said. I have a relationship, so to speak, with a few of my blades and decided to give them names.
My Remington F.A.S.T. folding knife is my primary EDC (Every Day Carry) knife. I purchased it last year while on vacation at Chautauqua Lake at the Wal-Mart in Lakewood, NY. I was browsing the sporting goods section when I found it hanging on the rack of the hunting aisle for about $20. It was the last one they had in stock. After a while of thinking if I should get it, I ended up buying it, mostly because a few days before I had purchased its big brother, the Remington F.A.S.T. fixed blade. It has a long, aggressive look to it with partial serration that looks like teeth. It looks reminiscent of a shark’s head and has a rubbery handle, so I decided to give it the name, “Shark.”
As a secondary/back-up folding knife, I have my United Cutlery Rampage. I purchased this knife online a few years ago for about $15. It’s a drop point, spring assisted opening knife. When I first got it, it was my go-to primary EDC knife. After a while the pocket clip began to loosen up and shortly after the blade became dangerously loose. I decided to put it away and not use it, so it stayed in my footlocker (nicknamed, “the Toy Box”) until recently, when I purchased the tools I needed to repair it. Now that I repaired it, it’s as good as new. I decided to give it the nickname, “Scorpion.” This is due to drop point blade looking to me like a scorpion’s stinger, as well as it’s opening speed being quite fast like a scorpion striking it’s prey.
My coworker talked about how he has 2 “go to” swords. One for carrying around on the street and the other for when he goes to war, should the need ever arise. If ever I need a sword or any other long blade to carry on the street, I would have to go with my Cold Steel Two-Handed Katana Machete. Although Cold Steel calls it a “machete,” it is more like a weapon, a sword. Also, contrary to what Cold Steel calls it, it really isn’t a katana, but more akin to a ninja-to. I have decided to name the Katana Machete, “Vampyr” (pronounced: Vam-peer). One, because it has tasted my blood and that makes it mine forever. Two: it’s a strong, tough, menacing-looking blade that looks like its just looks like it is made for killing.
What really initiated this conversation between us was the fact that I was planning on getting a more traditional katana, in lieu of my shirasaya which hangs at the top of my wall rack. The katana I want to get is mostly all black and is made of stronger steel and has a better grip than my shirasaya. I have already given it a name, “Lilith.” I chose it because of its sleek, curved, sexy-looking blade like a beautiful woman, as well as being a blood-thirsty killer. This would be my “go to war” sword.
A lot of people don’t understand the appeal of blades. One of the many issues of today’s society is that people tend to focus and place an importance on the exterior and ignore the interior. They just see blades a dangerous piece of steel that can harm them, they do not see the beauty and the hard work put into the blade, nor the advantage of having one around. An object is only evil when it is used for evil purposes. A knife, like a gun, is a tool with many uses, it is not just a weapon, it is much more than that. When a sword or knife needs to be used as a weapon, they are lighter than guns and do not require ammunition. They are also silent for when the need arises that you be stealthy, such as in an urban survival situation where there is a gang of thugs running throughout the streets. All you need to keep a blade ready-to-go is a sharpening stone and some oil, depending on the type of steel you have.
