History Main / GunsVsSwords

* ComicBook/ElsaBloodstone in ''Comicbook/{{Nextwave}}'' was a combat specialist, and mostly stuck to using guns, but upon facing a bunch of samurai robots, she declares "[[RuleOfCool Samurai Robots beat guns. Every time]]." So she drops her guns, pulls out her own sword, and proceeds to face them that way. And by sword we mean Shovel.

* In the ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', the advantages of each are highly situational, depending on the material of the weapon and the specific opponent out of the setting's FantasyKitchenSink. A shotgun loaded with {{silver|HasMysticPowers}} or ColdIron can be devastating against a TabletopGame/{{Werewolf|TheForsaken}} or [[TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost True Fae]], but would only annoy a TabletopGame/{{Vampire|TheRequiem}}; on the other hand, a trained spear fighter can tear a vampire a new one. Also, as an UrbanFantasy setting, there's the matter of acquiring, licensing, and transporting your weapons, since RealityEnsues if you carry a zweihander or uzi down a busy street...

Also take note that [[JustForFun/GunCounterpart both sides have more in common than you might think]], at least thematically

* Sword slashes covers more range and are more practical in close quarters!

* Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda''

[[folder:Comics]]
* In a team up event, Comicbook/{{Blade}} and Comicbook/ThePunisher meet on a rooftop. [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/2f/d0/b12fd0d59c2dfd2bdc986db1eed4a8cf.jpg Punisher has a gun to Blade's head and Blade has his sword to Punisher's neck.]]

* Miho wields her katanas against guns all the time in ''Comicbook/SinCity'' and wins.

* The extra "After Days" chapter of the ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS'' manga featured Nanoha vs Signum in an exhibition match, complete with combat commentary that contrasted the fighting techniques of the two combatants. Nanoha is TheAce with her BeamSpam-dispensing BoomStick. Signum is a MasterSwordsman from Ancient Belka. Who will win? [[spoiler:[[EvasiveFightThreadEpisode It ends in a tie]]]].

-> ''"You can’t help but respect a man who brings a sword to a gunfight… and f***ing '' wins.''"''
-->-- '''Mark Meechan aka. WebVideo/CountDankula''' - in reference to "Mad" Jack Churchill

* While people think that early battles pitted guns against swords in the First world war (see UsefulNotes/WorldWarI), most of the militaries of western Europe had by the 20th century recognised the ineffectiveness of traditional cavalry tactics in the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian and Boer wars. Films like ''Film/WarHorse'' dramatise an [[HonorBeforeReason cavalry officers]] charging [[MoreDakka machine guns]], but by 1900, horses were used more to move infantry rapidly than it was for shock. Cavalry, however, was still deployed sometimes only for the purpose of ''defeating enemy cavalry''; in such cases, they were armed with pistol, sword, and lance. Many military men also resisted abolishing the bayonet and the sabre because they felt the weapons improved morale.

* While people think that early battles pitted guns against swords in the First world war (see UsefulNotes/WorldWarI), most of the militaries of western Europe had by the 20th century recognised the ineffectiveness of traditional cavalry tactics by the 1870s. Films like ''Film/WarHorse'' dramatise an [[HonorBeforeReason cavalry officers]] charging [[MoreDakka machine guns]], but by 1900, horses were used more to move infantry rapidly than it was for shock.

** That said, sword-armed cavalry still had one last victory against guns at [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_of_the_Savoia_Cavalleria_at_Izbushensky Izbushensky]] during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, when the Italian cavalry regiment, the Savoia Cavalleria, discovered that almost four times their numbers in infantry with artillery support had surrounded them during the previous night and so charged and routed the enemy. That said, everyone involved quickly understood the charge succeeded partly because [[WhoWouldBeStupidEnough the Soviets weren't expecting the Italians to be that crazy]] and partly because the cavalry was armed not just with sabers but also with carbines (indeed, the squadrons who still had to charge supported the charging ones with their guns), pistols, grenades, and, much to the Soviets' surprise, ''light artillery'' (every Italian cavalry regiment was supported by horse artillery).

* Some early battles of UsefulNotes/WorldWarI played out like this. In the opening months of the war, the Germans had settled down into the trenches and had adopted the attrition tactics that [=WW1=] is remembered for; however, what most people forget is that [=WW1=] was an entirely new kind of war, and introduced tactics like tanks, artillery barrages and air support that had simply not existed beforehand. Therefore, the British and French kept trying to use the tactics they had been using in the colonial wars for decades- which were based pretty heavily on cavalry charges to break the lines. The British cavalry relied on their sabres much more than their pistols (because it's hard to aim a gun whilst riding a galloping horse), and some French cavalry regiments did not even carry guns because [[HonorBeforeReason it was ungentlemanly]]; meanwhile, the Germans were tooled up with [[GatlingGood machine]] [[MoreDakka guns]]. [[{{Deconstruction}} For an example of how well swords versus guns worked in this situation]], watch the first hour of ''Film/WarHorse''. They eventually learned better, and [=WW1=] changed the face of warfare forever.

* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': A Romulan who threatens Elnor in "Absolute Candor" is confident that a tan qalanq is no match for a disruptor, but Elnor proves him wrong in "The Impossible Box" and "Nepenthe" because a lone [[MasterSwordsman Qowat Milat]] can easily [[NeverBringAGunToAKnifeFight carve up several adversaries equipped with energy weapons]] with just a sword.

* All of the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' games feature plasma-sword wielding Elites, alien commanders who charge into battle against gun-toting humans. Multiplayer and campaign missions often see the gun vs sword debate play out literally, when the covenant plasma sword faces a human 8 gauge shotgun. There is even a multiplayer mode called infection dedicated to scatterguns or pistols vs swords.
* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' deliberately omits effective close combat firearms and has melee weapons buffed in its mechanics to make them practical. This culminates in Demoknight loadup which only uses melee weapons but is still pretty competitive.
* ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'': The AxCrazy orderly Cleaver holds the opinion that guns tend to make people sloppy and careless, making it that much easier for him to get up close and personal with his {{kni|feNut}}ves.
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3'': While Dante also uses a sword he also uses his guns [[ICallItVera Ebony & Ivory]]. His EvilTwin Vergil sticks to his sword and only uses a gun in the final battle with Arkham.

* During Bob and Mynd's first encounter in ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'', Bob, who is armed with a blaster, [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/010710c mocks Mynd for choosing to wield a lightsaber against him]]. Mynd, in response, [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/010711c goads Bob into attacking first]], and [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/010712c as it turns out]], Mynd has shielding to protect him.

* In ''Anime/CowboyBebop'', Spike uses a gun, and his rival, Vicious, uses a katana. They're shown to be equal fighters, at least partially because Vicious recognizes the limits of his weapon and uses stealth to get up close. Having said that, both times they fight, Spike has already taken at least one gunshot wound. But since it's a HeroicBloodshed show, it can be questioned whether they [[OnlyAFleshWound slow him down]].

* ''Anime/GunXSword'' fits in with the above examples. Van uses a sword, Ray uses a gun.

* In the [[SoBadItsGood really terrible]] anime ''Anime/MusashiGundoh'', everyone dual-wields a gun and a sword, except for the main character, who just uses guns.
* The protagonist in practically every continuity of ''Franchise/{{Zoids}}'' ends up using a blade-wielding mecha against plenty of guns.
* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' Season 2, in his last battle [[WarForFunAndProfit Ali Al-Saachez]] claims that close range combat is the best. He's then defeated by [[FriendlySniper Lockon Stratos]] and his Gundam's beam pistols.
* The ultimate confrontation of ''Anime/AfroSamurai'' involves this. Afro, as per the title, uses a sword, while his nemesis, Justice, uses guns.

* The extra "After Days" chapter of the ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS'' manga featured Nanoha vs Signum in an exhibition match, complete with combat commentary that contrasted the fighting techniques of the two combatants. Nanoha is TheAce with her BeamSpam-dispensing BoomStick. Signum is a MasterSwordsman from Ancient Belka. Who will win? [[spoiler:[[EvasiveFightThreadEpisode It ends in a tie]]]].

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' has [[PluckyComicRelief Jean-Pierre Polnareff]] (sword) and [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Hol Horse]] (gun) holding a silly, shonen-esque debate on whose weapon is better. [[spoiler: Judging from the final outcome, Polnareff wins. He successfully kills Hol Horse's accomplice, while Hol Horse not only runs away, but his apparent headshot on Avdol also [[WhatAnIdiot misses at the last second.]]]]

* We get this late into ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' once [[spoiler:the Military Police's Central 1st Brigade gets introduced and they clash with the Survey Corps]].
* In ''Anime/BakumatsuKikansetsuIrohanihoheto'', Akizuki Yojiro uses a katana, Getsuruito(Moon Tear Sword), while Kanna Sakyonosuke uses a dual pistols, Remington Model 1858.

* The climax of the fight between Mireille and a brainwashed Kirika in ''{{Anime/Noir}}'' has them having a stand off; Mireille with her gun and Kirika one of Chloe's knives. [[spoiler: And then the watch Mireille threw into the air hits and the ground and it's music starts playing.]]

* ''Film/TheLastSamurai'' portrays this quite well, [[ArtisticLicenseHistory but it should be noted that the real revolution on which the movie was based]] featured firearms being used on both sides, rather than samurai refusing to use such weapons.
* ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'' pits a gangster with a revolver against a [[PlayingBothSides shitstirrer]] with a katana.

* Although it's not ''strictly'' guns versus swords, in ''Film/TheExpendables'' Barney Ross and Lee Christmas are in constant disagreement over which weapon is better: guns or knives. Barney favors guns, Lee favors knives.
* Ash clearly demonstrates the superiority of a double-barreled shotgun over a broadsword in ''Film/ArmyOfDarkness''.
* The final confrontation between Tom Welles and Machine in ''Film/EightMM'' has the former wielding a pistol and the latter a knife. [[spoiler: Machine hides the blade until he can throw it at Welles, making him drop the gun, but Welles manages to yank the knife out of himself and fatally stab Machine.]]

* In ''Literature/{{Destroyermen}}'', the titular sailor quickly introduce muskets to the [[CatFolk Lemurians]]. However, since the [[LizardFolk Grik]] tend to favor hum- err.. Grik wave tactics, most battles devolve into melee anyway, with Grik warriors slashing with their swords, or using their natural weapons (claws and teeth). This doesn't devalue the guns, though, as they still tend to even out the odds (the Grik are far more numerous). Still, guns have to be supported by melee fighters, even after breech-loaders are introduced. Later on, though, the Grik start manufacturing their own firearms, so combat becomes less about melee and more about musket/bullet volleys. Bayonet charges still happen, though. This is also true with the war against the Holy Dominion, as Dom troops also use muskets and bayonets.
* Similarly, in ''Literature/TheLostRegiment'', when the Americans start arming the local Medieval Russians with guns, they prove to be fairly effective against the sword-and-bow armed [[HumanAliens Tugars]]. Despite their size (an average Valennian is around 9 feet tall, and they tend to fight on horseback), a single bullet can kill one as well as a human. In later books, the other hordes start producing guns of their own in order to destroy the growing threat of the Republic, despite their natural aversion to new things.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' is all about charging the enemy before he can gun you down, or shooting him before he can reach you. Though many units designed for close-combat use SwordAndGun as the rules make having a pistol and melee weapon the same as having [[DualWielding two melee weapons]] for lots of melee weapon types except you can shoot with the pistol, combining two great tastes in one.

* In ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'', Mitsurugi's bio mentions that he lost a duel against a rifleman, and wants to find the Soul Edge because it's superior to any other weapon, including guns (he also spent a good part of his time devising techniques against firearms).
** Expanding on above example: Mitsurugi's ending in ''VideoGame/SoulBlade'' gives you a special, first-person-perspective fight against a soldier wielding an old, front-loaded rifle, dubbed 'Tanegashima' after the old Japanese word for firearms. If you don't do EXACTLY the right thing the moment the battle starts, you'll get shot, and get the 'bad ending' (which is also the canonical one, as stated above). However, if you step to the side the moment the battle starts, you can dodge the bullet, then quickly close the distance before the rifleman can reload, and cut him down - giving you a Good Ending where Mitsurugi declares that he has no need for the Soul Edge, since his own badass sword-skills are enough to take on even firearms.
** Mitsurugi eventually abandons his pursuit of Soul Edge when he becomes strong enough to defeat riflemen on his own.
* Played straight in ''VideoGame/{{Gunz}}''. Your character is equipped with guns and swords. Swords do more damage, can deflect bullets, and glitch up the game in advantageous ways. Guns are guns.

* ''VideoGame/FableII'' allows the protagonist to use both guns and swords and faces enemies that use both. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but a character can theoretically use either exclusively.
* In ''VideoGame/Onimusha2SamuraisDestiny'', you can have a competition with the gunfighter to see which is better: Your katana or his rifle, seeing who can kill the most enemies in a fixed period of time. Of course, this is a katana against a 16th century matchlock. In real life, the gunman would have only been able to shoot a handful of times in the timeframe involved.
* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'', Leon and Ada [[CutscenePowerToTheMax have a flashy knife-to-gun fight]]. In the end, Leon gets the upper hand, disarms Ada and holds his knife to her throat. [[WorthyOpponent He lets up,]] [[UnresolvedSexualTension though.]]
* In ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyModernWarfare2'', a ludicrously effective strategy is using Marathon (for unlimited sprinting), Lightweight (to move faster), and Commando (which lets you stab enemies from a longer distance away) - and use a pistol with a tactical knife attachment (to stab faster). Essentially, this lets you dash everywhere and stab everyone for a one-hit kill. Granted, if someone sees you coming, they can gun you down from a distance pretty easily, but ninja-ing your way through the maps is still quite effective.
** Marathon and Lightweight mean a player sprints all the time and so fast one can easily run straight at claymores--their explosion is delayed by a fraction of a second, enough for a runner to be in the safe zone when it blows up. Even more ludicrous when said runner uses Commando to stab an enemy hiding behind the claymore...

* While guns in ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' are good weapons, halfway through the game you get a sword that [=OHKOs=] most enemies you meet and allows you to take on bots in close combat.
* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'' has a surprisingly high amount of bladed weapons for a sci-fi game. Protoss Zealots for example can easily cut down most of the conventionally armed Terran Infantry, and the sequel even gives them a charge ability to quickly close the distance.

* In ''{{VideoGame/Medabots}}'' this is on display with the JapaneseBeetleBrothers Metabee and Rokusho. Metabee specializes in long-range weaponry including a rifle, sub machine-gun, and ''missile launcher'', while Rokusho's signature weapon is a pair of scissors fashioned into a BladeBelowTheShoulder.

* The climax of the fight between Mireille and a brainwashed Kirika in ''{{Anime/Noir}}'' has them having a stand off; Mireille with her gun and Kirika one of Chloe's knives. [[[spoiler: And then the watch Mireille threw into the air hits and the ground and it's music starts playing.]]

* The ending sequence for the ''Film/VForVendetta'' movie - the bad guys shoot up V with submachine guns. But, thanks to his superhuman strength (and metal chest plate) recovers enough strength to kill them all with his many knives before they can reload.

* ''Series/StarTrekPicard'': A Romulan who threatens Elnor in "Absolute Candor" is confident that a tan talanq is no match for a disruptor, but Elnor proves him wrong in "The Impossible Box" and "Nepenthe" because a lone [[MasterSwordsman Qowat Milat]] can easily [[NeverBringAGunToAKnifeFight carve up several adversaries equipped with energy weapons]] with just a sword.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* In ''Series/TheWalkingDead'', the question is posed as to which is more efficient after the zombie holocaust after Michonne joins the cast. Michonne's sword proves invaluable, as it can be used to kill endless waves of zombies without running out of ammo, though its obviously much less effective when fighting human enemies. One of the best things about her sword is that it enables the crew to safely kill zombie hoardes while saving their firearms ammo for more formidable threats like armed hostile humans.
* As ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}'' has pointed out, katanas cannot cut through gun barrels, because the barrels are quite strong indeed.
* ''Series/MockTheWeek'': "A lot of you will be wondering, why there are so many wonderful treasures on display here, at the British Museum. Now, it is quite simple, really: Gun beats spear!"
* The hero and villain of ''Series/TheFollowing'' exemplify this trope- gun toting FBI agent [[Creator/KevinBacon Ryan Hardy]] and KnifeNut SerialKiller Joe Carroll.

* In a famous scene from ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', Indiana Jones is confronted by a formidable sword wielder. [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim So Indy just shoots him]]. Allegedly [[ThrowItIn a hasty rewrite]]. An epic SwordFight was planned but Creator/HarrisonFord had a minor back injury when it was due to be filmed. [[RuleOfFunny Comedy]] and [[CombatPragmatist pragmatism]] took the day. Another version has Ford suffering from diarrhea that day.

* ''Film/{{Yojimbo}}'' pits a gangster with a revolver against a [[PlayingBothSides shitstirrer]] with a katana, both of whom say their respective weapons are best.

* ''Film/TheLastSamurai'' portrays this quite well.

[[caption-width-right:300:Kinda like this, but less physical... normally]]