Spoiler Alert: The reason I did not include the kanabo was because it was very rarely if at all ever used in battle, it was more of a symbol of the demons of Japanese folklore.
The Rajput: India's first line of defense against foreign invaders who mastered a multitude of bizarre and lethal weapons…
Vs…
The Samurai: Japan's military force, whose speed, reflexes, combat skills, and loyalty reflected the greatness of the warrior.
Who…is…deadliest?
"Today, we have the most similar warriors from different regions, both believed in honor and a lot of weapons training, along with death in battle being a better option than surrendering and disgrace." Mack said.
"Well, it's that time to look how they stack up." Dorian said.
Rajput:
Circa: 900
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 145 lbs.
Weapons and Armor:
Khanda
Chakram
Katar
Steel Helmet
Coat of 10,000 Nails (Including steel arm and hand guards)
Dhal Shield
Samurai:
Circa: 1550
Height: 5'3"
Weight: 135 lbs.
Weapons and Armor:
Katana
Yumi
Naginata
Kabuto Helmet
Dō-maru and Leather
Special Weapons:
Katar vs. Naginata
"The katar is an Indian punching dagger, made of steel, usually under a foot and length and around 2 pounds, because it's so short and fairly heavy, you add a hard punching stab to this, it could go through anything. It usually was made with one blade, sometimes two, or even one blade with a spring that opens it into three. It is recorded to have gone through plate armor and Rajputs considered it very skilled to kill a tiger with this." Dave explained.
To test the punching power of the katar, a gel torso is fitted with leather to the neck and dō-maru on top of that, and just like the warriors of the time, the expert will wield on in each hand, one with the special spring katar. Geoff gives the countdown and the expert opens the scissor katar in his left hand and thrusts with the one on his right hand, going straight through the middle of the dō-maru and into the chest of the target and rips it out with a spurt of blood splashing his chest. He ignores this and stabs into the right side of the target with the scissor katar, going through the leather and into the body. He spins around clockwise and slashes into the targets neck with his single bladed katar, flopping its head back and severing the throat and major arteries all the way to the spine. He then finishes with a simultaneous stab to upper part of the chest with the scissor katar, right above the dō-maru and into the leather, the middle spike of the katar sinking further in than the outside two. "Wow, I was not expecting this. You actually went through this armor and leather and punctured straight through the heart, you may even went through the spine since most of your blade was in him, regardless, it's an instant kill. The stab to the side would hit two separate parts and the spleen, so this did penetrate very deeply, which is weird because the force you exert is spread on three points so this may not have the force to go through the armor if it was open." Dorian said.
"Not only can it attack, with it open, we can trap your arm and stab you with the other." the Rajput expert said.
"Back to it, you the sliced his head almost off, this is without a doubt a kill, I can see down to his stomach. Then you stabbed in the upper part of the chest and the other blades, again, only slowed you down, you only got about three inches into the body, and maybe only nicked the heart, so it may not me a kill." Dorian said.
"But, I still have another one, so if that didn't kill, this one will." he said.
"But, you have to be close up to do that, if I keep you at a distance, which the naginata does, you can't hurt me." the Samurai expert said.
"The naginata was a very clean cutting weapon, 7 feet long, 3 of that was blade, 4 pounds, and a curved blade with the steel formed in the same way as the katana, giving it a nice, swooping cut from a distance." Dave explained.
The test is set up again with a pressure sensor on the head of the target, the helmet placed on top. The coat of 10,000 nails is placed on it, velvet on the outer layer with steel studs poking out, all supported by steel plates on the chest, each shoulder, stomach, and the hips. Underneath was two layers of leather and in between the layers was butted chainmail. Geoff gives the countdown and the expert gives an overhead chop at the target, slightly denting the helmet. He comes down and thrusts at the target, stabbing between chest and stomach plates, two thirds of the blade sinking into the flesh. He pulled it out smoothly and slashes and the chest, only scratching the chest plate. He comes back and stabs at the plate, getting through it and into the body. "Alright, let's take a look. First on the sensor, we only got 20 psi translated to the skull, there was much more force on the helmet but that's what got through, it wouldn't slow him down. Then you stabbed him right in the stomach, that would cause a lot of bleeding and trauma so he would die. The slash to the chest wouldn't hurt him or slow him down, and then you thrust through it and would stab into his heart and spine and kill him instantly." Dorian said.
"Well, we have to use the katar up close and the naginata needs distance, but your armor is less superior, it only has steel in the more vital areas, but by the stomach, it's leather, under that is silk lacing, tying the leg armor to the body armor, so from the stomach to the mid thighs, you're exposed, not to mention you only have a leather suit covering your unarmored areas, so we can take you apart, piece by piece." the Rajput expert said.
So which special weapon gets the edge? "I'm all katar after that, it's much quicker and does more damage." Geoff said.
"The scissor katar is so menacing, you focus so much on it you don't even notice the other going into your stomach, edge katar." Mack said.
"Not to mention you can hold two of them, edge katar." Dorian said.
EDGE: Katar
Coming up, a razor sharp flying guillotine goes against one of the most lethal bows in history. Later, Mack looks at the training these warriors went through to forge them into warriors.
Long Range:
Chakram vs. Yumi
"The chakram is very simple yet deadly in its use. Twelve inches in diameter, 9 ounces of hardened steel, it is recorded to be able to take off limbs and heads." Dave explained.
"We've seen the yumi perform before and it will take a lot for this weapon to compare because you'll have to utilize it up closer since the yumi outranges you." Geoff said.
To test the accuracy of the weapon, the expert is given two chakrams, one for the neck and another for the lacing area of gel torso fitted with a kabuto and do-maru. Geoff gives the countdown and the expert throws his first chakram, striking the neck and slicing down to the spine. He grabs his next and throws the chakram, hitting the lacing dead center of the body, slicing into intestines. "Let's check the wounds, the first cuts down into the spine and stops a fraction of an inch in, but this is without a doubt a kill. Then this cut through the lacing and hit the small intestine, the bleeding would be profuse bleeding and death." Dorian said.
"Another evil trick we have is spinning it around our finger 30 to 40 times and letting it fly, it would cut arms and legs, even heads off." the expert said.
"But while your spinning it we can shoot you with a yumi and walk away." the samurai expert said.
So which long range weapon gets the edge? "I have to go with the chakram, not only because of the trauma it caused, but also because of the weaknesses of the do-maru." Dorian said.
"That's a good point but you have to be fairly close with it compared to the yumi, edge yumi." Mack said.
"Even if the armor of the rajput is superior the samurai will aim for the eyes, face, neck, or other exposed areas, edge yumi." Geoff said.
EDGE: Yumi
Coming up, the training methods these warriors experienced clash. Later, a heavy hacking sword goes against the lightning-quick steel of the samurai.
Training:
Gatka vs. Bushido
"Why did gatka influence the rajputs?" Mack asked.
"It was basically how they started their fighting. As a boy they started with sticks, knowing the movements of it and how to keep it moving, then to their weapons, swords, axes, spears, and so on, and keep those moving. But not just moving them, but moving them quickly, so you can block and attack in an instant. Because of this, the rajputs were able to repel invaders up to the beginning of the Mughal Empire."
"How was bushido influential to the samurai?" Mack asked.
"It was the way of the warrior, it was not written, not spoken of, it was known. If you fight for something bigger than yourself, you were bound to bushido, to fight fearlessly, without pain, and shun payment. It was to fight to the death of you or a combatant for you lord. To lose was a worse fate than death and they undid this by committing seppuku, ritual suicide."
Which training method gets the edge? "Between these two, I can't decide, it's between a mastery of a huge arsenal of weapons and a code of conduct to your death, edge even." Mack said.
Close Range:
Khanda vs. Katana
"The khanda was a staple in Sikh faith as a symbol and weapon. It was 3 feet long and 3½ pounds, the spike pommel could be used as a weapon and another grip for a two handed swing." Dave explained.
A sensor is placed on the chest, stomach, and top of the skull of a gel torso and given another set of do-maru and kabuto. Geoff gives the countdown and he slashes at the do-maru, denting it. He swings around and slashes at the stomach, denting it even further due to the leather instead of steel. He brings back again and swings at the hips, cutting through the lacing and straight through the hip, cutting a quarter of the way through the body. He brings his sword down and swings with a powerful, overhead chip, bouncing of the helmet. "Nice job we got over 100 psi on the first two swings so you're definitely breaking ribs, over the right spot it can kill. The next you're getting even more due to the leather armor, you'd contuse the intestines and even cause internal bleeding, this is a kill. But you cut through the hip on the next strike so the bleeding is unstoppable at this point, it's a kill. Finally, only 12 pounds registered to the skull so you would not hurt the man." Dorian said.
"Well this is a pretty hefty sword, so if the katana was up close with it, it would be no comparison." the samurai expert said.
"We're testing the same katana as what the Miyamoto expert used, only this time the armor of the opponent is different." Geoff said.
A new torso is brought in with the rajput coat of 10,000 nails, steel helmet, and dhal shield. Sensors are placed under the shield, chest plate, and helmet of the target. The expert is given five hits, a slash and a stab at the shield, slash at the armor and a stab at the chestplate, and a hack at the helmet. Geoff gives the countdown and the expert thrusts into the shield, the very tip of the katana punctures through the shield. He the slashes at the shield, which makes a slight scratch. He brings his sword back again and stabs at the chest plate, getting the blade through it and into the armor. He slashes at an area not protected by the plate, slicing into the velvet and leather. He comes back under and swings overhead, chopping a small dent in the helmet. "Well on the shield we did not get enough force to break bone or hit the man behind it, the stab to the armor was stopped just short of hitting the man behind it. The slash was absorbed by the leather, velvet, and chainmail so no injury their either. Then to the helmet, we only got 34 psi, so it would stun but not kill." Dorian said.
"But if I stab anywhere but the plates, the katana will go through." the samurai expert said.
"But that may be a swing too late." the rajput expert said.
Which close range weapon gets the edge? "The khanda has my edge, it can do damage even if it doesn't penetrate the armor." Geoff said.
"Also, if you keep a weapon moving, you can deliver a big swing with less energy as opposed to holding it then swinging, edge khanda." Mack said.
"For me, the more trauma you get, the more you win me over, edge khanda." Dorian said.
EDGE: Khanda
Finally, the team assesses the X-factors with Rob Daly. "To start it off we've got ferocity, and we had to give it to the rajput for constantly being invaded, we gave the rajputs a 94 to the samurai 90. Next, we have training, and we set them dead even at the highest level due to how their training worked and affected them, both the rajput and samurai get a 100 for training. Next, we have physicality, and we gave the rajput a 95 and the samurai a 93 because of the rajput's intense attacks with all ranges of weapons from gatka. Next, we have intimidation, and we had to give it to the rajputs for the diversity and effectiveness their weapons had, we have the rajput a 93 and the samurai an 82. Finally, we have killer instinct, and since they started their training at the same age it will be close, but the rajputs was more fight and kill for glory and the samurai was fight for glory, so we gave the rajput a 97 to the samurai's 94." Dave explains.
"Let's see who the deadliest warrior is." Geoff said.
Dave clicks a button and the simulation begins.
OOOO O Rajput Ø
oooo o Samurai ø
In a forested flat area of India, five rajput warriors sit down for a meal near a fire. They say a prayer and continue with their meal. However, their meal is interrupted by the scurrying in the brush coming their way. They ready their weapons and wait for it to come through. They are surprised when five men in large helmets and small armor come out of the forest, not recognizing them as samurai. But the rajput notice the weapons in their hands and think they are invaders, one of the rajputs throws his chakram, striking the samurai closest to them in the throat, blood spurting out instantly (ø). One of the samurai spins his naginata around and slams it into the ground, then pulls out his yumi and knocks an arrow and fires, sending the arrow into the throat of the rajput who threw the chakram, knocking him off his feet and flat onto his back (Ø). Two rajputs grab their katars and the others grab their khanda swords and dhal shields as the samurai grab their weapons of choice. A rajput opens his scissor katar and runs at the samurai who fired the yumi. The samurai slashes horizontally at the rajput, but he is blocked by the scissor katar. The rajput doesn't slow down and stabs the samurai in the chest with his katar, cutting through his heart and into his spinal cord (ø). As the samurai falls dead, another samurai approaches the rajput and slashes at his thighs, cutting his hamstrings and forcing him to his knees. The samurai holds his katana close to the rajput's neck and brings his sword up, but the rajput brings his katar up at the samurai with an uppercut, stabbing through his chin and up through his brain (ø). But another samurai walks in front of the rajput and stabs back at him with his naginata, stabbing him in the throat, and he swings to the side cutting all major vessels on the right side of the rajput's neck (Ø). The other rajputs advance and the samurai is met by a leaping rajput, but he steps out of the way as the khanda swings down into the ground, and he thrusts forward with his naginata, stabbing the rajput in the stomach, he rips to the side and nearly disembowels the rajput, sending him spinning to the ground in a torrent of blood (Ø). But his victory is short lived, he is attacked by the last katar rajput and stabbed in the face and stomach simultaneously (ø). This rajput turns to the last samurai and runs and leaps at him, but comes down on the samurai's katana, piercing his lung (Ø). The samurai pushes him off his sword and turns to the rajput, holding his khanda and dhal. The rajput charges at the samurai and the samurai spins a full 360 with his sword outstretched but the blow is blocked by the shield. The rajput capitalizes and gives an overhead chop to the samurai's left arm, severing it 3 inches above the elbow. The samurai retaliates and stabs the rajput in the thigh, permanently weakening his leg. The rajput, in pain and fury, smashes the dhal into the samurai's face, stunning him and dropping him to his knees. The rajput finishes his fight and brings his khanda up again and slashes deep into the face of the samurai (ø). The rajput rips the khanda out of his leg and shouts in victory, then limps back to his village.
Rajput Samurai
Khanda-55% Katana-45%
Chakram-39% Yumi-61%
Katar-53% Naginata-47%
Armor Fail Rate: Armor Fail Rate:
Helmet: 4% Helmet: 2%
Armor: 52% Armor: 45%
Shield: 7% No Shield
2,688 Wins 2,312 Wins
X-Factors
Ferocity: 94 Ferocity: 90
Training: 100 Training: 100
Physicality: 95 Physicality: 93
Intimidation: 93 Intimidation: 82
Killer Instinct: 97 Killer Instinct: 94
"The reason the rajput one was up-close the samurai could not stop him doubled with the fact of the superior training methods of the rajput." Mack said.
Next week: It's a battle of the ancient world's most dominant warriors: The Spartan Hoplite: The warrior whose whole life was based on war and military training.
Vs.
The Roman Centurion: The brutal commanders who carved the Roman republic into and empire.
Who will be…the deadliest warrior?