Sohei vs Janissary Weapon Preview

Sohei Weapons
Katana: There as never been a sword so beautiful, so deadly, and so recognizable than the katana. The blade was a thin, slightly curved, and capable of cutting right through human bodies. As impressive as it's killing power was how the weapon was made, which only the most skilled of blacksmiths could do. The weapon was composed of Tamahagane, a specialized Japanese steel, which was folded upon itself numerous times to increase it's strength & durability. When the Katana was completed, it was immediately put into water to cool. This action created the signature curve that the west recognized as a Katana blade.

http://deadliestwarrior.wikia.com/wiki/Katana

Naginata: Another commonly used weapon by the Sohei. Standing in a 7 feet, 5 feet of the weapon composed the shaft, while the remaining 2 feet were the blade (sometimes the blade was 2 1/2 to 3 feet). Masters of the weapon (almost always women, since the men that went into battle used the Yari, a similar weapon) were capable of unleashing a fluid series of attacks, all of which would either slash or stab.

http://deadliestwarrior.wikia.com/wiki/Naginata

Yumi: Before the Samurai mastered the Katana, archery was their calling card, and their tool in such endeavors was the Yumi. As long as the Naginata, the Yumi was made from a single piece of wood, reinforced with leather to made the bow a bit more durable. Because of the Yumi's length, the arrows shot from it had tremendous force behind them. Some archers even mastered the tactic of shooting their opponent's eyes out, bypassing any need to shoot at an armored body.

http://deadliestwarrior.wikia.com/wiki/Yumi

Tanto: If all else failed, the Sohei would pull out this small yet deadly blade. Small is an accurate description of the Tanto's size, and they were usually only 5.9 to 12 inches in length. Despite the size, the Tanto was actually quite deadly. The blade was made out of the same steel as the Katana was, and the way it was crafted closely followed that of it's larger bretheren. There were many variants, as some could pierce armor more easily, while others were more concealable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tant%C5%8D

O-Yoroi Armor: Contrary to popular belief, not all fighting monks in Japan were without armor. In fact, many of them wore the traditional armor of the Samurai, the O-Yoroi. This form of armor was composed of 6 pieces: The Do (chest armor), Kabuto (helmet), Mengu (facial protection), Kote (sleeve protection), Sune-ate (shin protection), and finally the Hai-date (thigh armor). The metal of choice for the O-Yoroi was iron, where it would be lacquered so as to resist corrosion, then all of these components would be tied together so as to allow the wearer mobility while wearing a somewhat heavy yet protective suit of armor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8C-yoroi

Janissary Weapons
Kilij: A weapon that nobody messed with, the Kilij killed opponents by the hundreds. Like many similar swords from the Middle East, it was a curved blade, but that's were things stay the same. Unlike other curved swords, the Kilij's curve was nowhere near as drastic, and the tip of the blade was weighted. This essentially added bludgeoning power to a hack and slash weapon. One other advange that the Kilij had over it's bretheren was it's weight, as this weapon generally weighed 3 pounds. This allowed a warrior to swing the weapon around and not expend much energy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilij

Ottoman Axe: Although you wouldn't expect to find this kind of weapon in the Middle East, there are always exceptions. Like the mace (see below), the axe was made completely from metal. The shaft was created from a piece of steel, but it was thin. As for the axe head, there were various designs, but they usually weren't so large as to become cumbersome. Similar to the Kilij, the axe was a light weapon that would swing through the air without tiring the warrior.

http://shop.islamic-arms.com/Rare-Indo-Persian-Islamic-Ottoman-Axe-32568.htm

Ottoman Bow & Arrow: The Ottoman were master archers, even when black powder weapons were available. The bow that the Ottoman Empire used was based off of the famous Asiatic Composite Bow, and it shows in it's construction. The core of the bow was preferrably made from maple, animal horn facing the archer, sinew on the back of the bow, and held together by animal glue. The arrows fired from this bow were tipped with iron, bone, or bronze.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_bow

Ottoman Mace: A weapon used by the Turkish since their earliest days, the mace later became a symbol of authority held by the numerous rulers of that land. Regardless of it's position, Ottoman Maces were almost always made from a single piece of metal from the shaft to the head. Most common types of heads were flanged or a completely round ball, although a few were also created for ceremonial and parade usage.

http://www.turkishculture.org/military/weapons/antique-ottoman-maces-169.htm?type=1

Plated Chainmail & Helmet: Unlike the O-Yoroi the Sohei wore, the Janissary wore a much lighter form of armor. In fact, the Janissary wore a specialized form of chainmail, outfitted with metal plates in the front, underside, and back. This essentialy was like a minaturized breastplate, only lighter. In addition to the Plated Chainmail, the Janissary would wear a  Zischagge, a kind of helmet that would later be worn by the Germans and the English.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Istanbul.Topkapi067.jpg