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While I'm a military member, my job does not require the carrying of personal weapons (unfortunately...there's been times I wished it DID, being unarmed in a war is disquieting), but I've long been highly interested in them, from swords all the way to toys like the XM-8.

Kewl! So if by chance an XM8, hopefully refined to M8 standard by then, should come your way as either an issue piece or a personal purchase item, what sort of sword do ou figure would make a good partner item to go with it.

Sure, a bayonet or fighting knife is the most probably useful companion item for one such, but it doesn't hurt to have either the skills or attitude that goes with the wear of edged cold steel for defence, whether silent methods are preferred over noisy ones or should ammo be limited for expenditure on any but the most high-profile hostile targets.

Plenty of room for varied opinion here too, likely based on wide variances of training and maybe a personal experience or two. I've yet to actually use a sword in a lethal confrontation, but once swung an entrenching tool during an interpersonal dispute that came pretty close.

Actually, I already have it...

The Ontario Cutlery "Black Wind" katana. It features a 20-inch chisel point blade and a ten-inch handle suitable for one or two handed use. It is all one piece of high-carbon steel covered with a polymer coating (excepting the edge, which on mine is shaving-sharp). The scabbard is solid Kydex polymer with an almost infinite array of mounting/carrying options. Oh, and it's also only about a hundered bones, from Brigade Quartermasters.

I have about a half-dozen of Ontario's latest products, and I've been satisfied with every one. Their "Raider Bowie" travels on P-3s with me at all times, because I know for a fact it will get me out of a downed aircraft if need be, and resharpen easily afterwards. Great stuff, at superb prices. Not pretty, but then, who cares?