Good reading Implume - well written.... Looks like you did some research. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> I enjoy reading certain aspects of history. I should research more. Now the trick is for me to remember ....

Your comments about the potential tip failure on a differentially heat treated Katana fairly well goes with my theory. Not to be confused with how Swamp Rat tips will hold up.... but, from what I know, I agree: Traditional Katana's with their hard and brittle edges would likely have been prone to failing if they had been thinned with a swedge.

However, I don't think there would likely be any reason to have concerns about tip failure on Swamp Rats. "Some" of the Battle Rats had swedges.

Oh, for the record, I'll take the .45 over 9mm in most cases. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> And prefer .40 for smaller guns.

I am personally quite fond of my Para P-14 with double stack and 14 rounds of sweet thumpin' .45 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

.