Combat sword, I'd want a nodachi or a Chinese Two Hand Sword.

I was trying to attend what Jim said: speed. The Katana is one of the best, if not, the best sword in history. It is extremely quick in the trained hand. It is also light, as you have pointed out.

It is true that other swords might outweigh the AK, extra guard, steel butt caps, etc. But balance is also one thing. Handled heavy knives feel much "lighter" and "quicker" in the hand. I'm not sure if the Katana is heavier, but it is much better balanced (as so many people have pointed out) so that it can be a more well executed weapon.

As, I said before, I'm not looking for a weapon ( go ahead, slap me, everything is a weapon, and knives definitely are categorized as 'weapon') but a useful tool. If I have and AK strapped to my back maybe I can stop using my thigh rig. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

That would be quite nice to not have two 4-5 lb rigs on each leg.