| Swords, the Noblest of Weapons. | | | | sheathed in protective leather or metal |
| | | | scabbards that are attached to the waist. |
| Of all the different weapons that are in use | | | | Swords that are intended to be used as |
| today, and of all the different weapons that | | | | weapons are usually quite utilitarian and |
| have existed throughout history, swords are | | | | are not elaborately decorated as are many |
| by far the noblest. Yes, swords are brutally | | | | ceremonial swords. |
| effective weapons. But they are far more | | | | |
| than that. | | | | Swords in War and in Peace, Past and Present. |
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| In the past, reigning monarchs and members of | | | | Swords have been used as weapons since time |
| royal families, members of the nobility and | | | | immemorial, in hundreds of different cultures |
| various other prestigious men, all carried | | | | and in just about every region of the world. |
| swords not just as weapons, but as a | | | | Throughout the passage of time, weaponry |
| traditional, highly visible sign of their | | | | swords have been made of bronze, iron and |
| status. Even today, swords and their close | | | | steel (later, tempered steel) and, as noted |
| relatives - such as scimitars - continue to | | | | above, these types of swords were designed |
| be a cross-cultural signal of high | | | | for killing efficiency rather than beauty. |
| achievement or high social status. | | | | |
| | | | But in addition to being used as coldly |
| In the military, swords were, and still are, | | | | efficient weapons of war, swords have also |
| traditionally carried only by commisioned | | | | been used for ceremonial purposes for at |
| officers and, in some cases, mounted | | | | least one thousand years. And although they |
| cavalrymen. Swords are used to cut, thrust, | | | | are no longer used as actual weapons, they |
| strike and slash, and they have the longest | | | | continue to be used ceremonially. Swords |
| reach of any edged weapon. During the Middle | | | | play an important role in some military |
| Ages, any knight considered his sword to be | | | | weddings and in certain military rituals, and |
| his most important weapon, and with the | | | | they still are part of a commissioned |
| possible exception of his horse, probably | | | | officer's dress uniform. The investiture of |
| the most important possession he owned. The | | | | a knight (being "dubbed" a knight) |
| edged weapons carried by rank and file foot | | | | traditionally was, and still is, performed |
| soldiers, usually knives, dirks or daggers, | | | | by the man being touched on the shoulder with |
| were much smaller than swords and much less | | | | the flat of the sword of his monarch or |
| deadly, with much shorter blades. These | | | | lord. Swords are even used by Masons during |
| smaller bladed weapons were also much less | | | | certain Masonic rituals and ceremonies. |
| prestigious to carry and conveyed no signal | | | | |
| of the bearer's social status. | | | | Ceremonial swords are most often made of gold |
| | | | or sterling silver, and their blades and |
| Sword Nomenclature. | | | | scabbards are often very elaborately |
| | | | engraved or inscribed. Sometimes the sword |
| A sword consists of a very long single-edged | | | | guard and/or the scabbard are bejeweled. |
| or double-edged blade and an attached hilt, | | | | |
| which is a collective term that includes the | | | | Traditional swords, sabres, rapiers, |
| pommel, the grip and a simple or elaborate | | | | cutlasses and scimitars. Swords that were |
| guard. The swords of some cultures use | | | | used in mortal combat, such as Japanese |
| straight blades, while other cultures | | | | Samurai Katana swords, and ceremonial swords |
| designed swords or sword-type weapons with | | | | such Masonic swords. They all have a noble |
| slightly curved blades. But the basic | | | | past, and they all signify tradition and |
| underlying design of all swords is remarkably | | | | prestige. |
| uniform. Swords are typically carried while | | | | |