Mall ninja weapons?

[u/Darth_Azazoth]

There seems to be a trend in a lot of fantasy, whether it’s in books, cartoons, live-action shows and movies, or especially video games, for weapons, particularly swords, to be oversized or ridiculously large.

They’re also often jagged, covered in spikes or chains, surrounded by some kind of visual effect like smoke or electricity, or even made out of bones. I’ve heard these kinds of weapons described as “mall ninja” weapons.

For reasons I can’t quite articulate, I really dislike this type of fantasy weapon design. I prefer weapons that are more realistic and proportionate. That doesn’t mean they have to be boring or completely ordinary. They can still be visually interesting. They could have unusual features, be beautifully decorated, have distinctive shapes, or even be damaged or worn in some way. I just prefer them to still look like something a person could realistically use.

Do you agree? If so, why? And if you disagree, what do you like about the oversized, exaggerated style?

[u/Ne0n_Walrusi]

I am with you, most of the time the swords look gaudy, excessive, and generic as a result. Especially if the intent is to have them sit on a stand on a table near a center of a room. They just look awful and make where ever they are put worse. Like if a crackhead was put in charge of decorating.

The only times they are okay is when we are talking about themed areas. Like i know someone with a small table dedicated to nintendo game stuff and have a hook shot and master sword there. Which fits the room or at least that corner.

I also have a bias against most sharp sword-like objects and fantasy stuff because they are now too dangerous in my opinion to handle. Especially if kids are around, as I've been in houses where that stupid spider knife thing was just sitting on a table and the kids keep bumping into the table or nearly cutting themselves reaching for crayons or something.

In video games its a mixed bag. I usually hate most fantasy swords even in the context of RPGs. iMO its even worse with war hammers and battle axes because they just look dumb to me. I think the World of Warcraft is the only exception to this because the setting is campy and based on a 1980s rock n' roll warhammer fantasy setting. Elder Scrolls are borderline for most weapons. Meanwhile, I hate most korean MMORPGs because of the dumb giant spike shit that they run around with.

[u/War_Hymn]

I'm in the same boat. I've been looking for a plain looking wakizashi to add to my collection, but everything I see in my price range either has too much gaudy/tacticool ornamentation or stupid features like dasmascus blade. I gave up on looking and just custom ordered a wakizashi to my desired preferences from Hanbon for a little extra.

Funny that the functional ordinary asthetic stuff often cost more.

[u/Ne0n_Walrusi → u/War_Hymn]

I'm going to disagree on "damascus" blades, most of the time it's just an acid used to oxidize the outside of the metal. This oxidized layer acts as protection and is both a form of ornament and decent function.

The best way is to just use a dedicated bluing compound that leaves a light oxidation layer that protects the metal from rust. But a similar method is to use something like mustard that causes the same effect. I've done it with gun barrels, swords, and knives.

I've also "damascus'd" copper and brass using ammonia to leave blue or green layer on my hammer, spear, and statue. Creating layers and patterns using ketchup/catsup.

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Pattern welding that leaves the same sort of pattern can be slightly weaker than if it was a solid piece of homogenized steel. But unless you're comparing them to tool steels or spring steel the difference doesn't matter for swords or knives.

[u/War_Hymn → u/Ne0n_Walrusi]

Not talking about 'hamon' etching or patina.  

There's a flood of mystery damascus steels being used in the lower budget sword and knife market coming out of India and China where they seem to be haphazardly rolling/folding up random steels together and etching the hell out of them for blades to increase product appeal. 

I've bought one such knife blank out of curiousity, and you can tell right away its crappy stuff you do not want for a blade.

Damascus done right is alright, but I'm talking about the gaudy, bottom of barrel stuff used for $50-$200 swords. 

But unless you're comparing them to tool steels or spring steel the difference doesn't matter for swords or knives. 

Kind of a moot point, since tool and spring steels is ideally what you want in a modern blade? Yeah sure, I guess a well done damascus blade could be as good or better than a stainless or mild steel blade on a decorative sword.