Fun but interesting the ultimate zombie survival gun.

[Tartar Horde]

(18 May 2013, 11:14)Talon Wrote: Well I didn't put that across very well,what I meant was the typical xvlll longsword was used for judicial duels,but as you correctly stated Tartar that wasn't it's only use.It was also a knightly tool of war.
I agree that it could sustain extended effective cutting,i don't believe that it would hold up to extended periods of cutting through a human skull (as in zombies).

It's edge's were designed to cut flesh (which it does very well) it's point was optimised for thrusting, but it isn't designed to withstand hacking through the skull repeatedly (as no sword ever was as far as I know)
It would quickly dull the bevels and become a rather blunt steel bar.
Im sure you could make one with a more suitable grind which would stand up to such abuse,but I also believe you would have to make the blade shorter and thicker with less distal taper.I would think that repeated heavy impacts would put a lot of stress on the tang aswel as the blade,a shorter blade to me would hold up better.

My opinion could very well be wrong but for zombies I think the longsword would be far from ideal,i would much prefer a shorter thicker type x Viking blade.

I see you understand Oakeshotte typology Talon, it means we can dispense with such vague terms as "Longsword" and "Bastard Sword" etc
I agree with you on the type XVIII as not a suitable sword for our "Zombie Hordes" because as you point out this type of sword was primarily a thrusting weapon, designed to penetrate gaps and weaknesses in armour. By the time this sword had developed plate armour was invulnerable to sword cuts, and the broad lenticular cutting blades of earlier centuries became obsolete. The severe Distal taper of a type XVIII, allied with its shallow Diamond profile hollow ground blade would make the edge very vulnerable to damage with prolonged cutting.
I like your preference for a single handed type X Scandinavian blade, as a well made one would cut all day without any fear of damage, something like this would be nice, I'll pop it in the post for you
http://www.castlekeep.co.uk/gallery.asp?galleryid=212
Me personally I'd go with a good Type XIIIa. The FORTE of the blade "blunt" so it can be "half sworded", just before COP and to the tip i want the blade sharp enough to cut paper, but not to lift hair, as this is too sharp. At around 3-3.5Lbs it is light enough to use one handed, but when used with two they become very fast and agile. The blade profile is Lenticular and they are dedicated cutters like your Type X, but still retain excellent thrusting ability. You could slice n dice the undead hordes all day long with a good XIIIa
Now I am going to open a HUGE can of worms here and say a Katana would be the last sword I would ever reach for