Learn about medieval weapons


 

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Swords, the Noblest of Weapons

Swords, the Noblest of Weapons.typically carried while sheathed in
Of all the different weapons that are inprotective leather or metal scabbards
use today, and of all the differentthat are attached to the waist. Swords
weapons that have existed throughoutthat are intended to be used as weapons
history, swords are by far the noblest.are usually quite utilitarian and are
Yes, swords are brutally effectivenot elaborately decorated as are many
weapons. But they are far more thanceremonial swords.
that.Swords in War and in Peace, Past and
In the past, reigning monarchs andPresent.
members of royal families, members ofSwords have been used as weapons since
the nobility and various othertime immemorial, in hundreds of
prestigious men, all carried swords notdifferent cultures and in just about
just as weapons, but as a traditional,every region of the world. Throughout
highly visible sign of their status.the passage of time, weaponry swords
Even today, swords and their closehave been made of bronze, iron and
relatives - such as scimitars - continuesteel (later, tempered steel) and, as
to be a cross-cultural signal of highnoted above, these types of swords were
achievement or high social status.designed for killing efficiency rather
In the military, swords were, and stillthan beauty.
are, traditionally carried only byBut in addition to being used as coldly
commisioned officers and, in someefficient weapons of war, swords have
cases, mounted cavalrymen. Swords arealso been used for ceremonial purposes
used to cut, thrust, strike and slash,for at least one thousand years. And
and they have the longest reach of anyalthough they are no longer used as
edged weapon. During the Middle Ages,actual weapons, they continue to be used
any knight considered his sword to beceremonially. Swords play an important
his most important weapon, and with therole in some military weddings and in
possible exception of his horse,certain military rituals, and they still
probably the most important possessionare part of a commissioned officer's
he owned. The edged weapons carried bydress uniform. The investiture of a
rank and file foot soldiers, usuallyknight (being "dubbed" a knight)
knives, dirks or daggers, were muchtraditionally was, and still is,
smaller than swords and much lessperformed by the man being touched on
deadly, with much shorter blades.the shoulder with the flat of the sword
These smaller bladed weapons were alsoof his monarch or lord. Swords are even
much less prestigious to carry andused by Masons during certain Masonic
conveyed no signal of the bearer'srituals and ceremonies.
social status.Ceremonial swords are most often made of
Sword Nomenclature.gold or sterling silver, and their
A sword consists of a very longblades and scabbards are often very
single-edged or double-edged blade andelaborately engraved or inscribed.
an attached hilt, which is a collectiveSometimes the sword guard and/or the
term that includes the pommel, the gripscabbard are bejeweled.
and a simple or elaborate guard. TheTraditional swords, sabres, rapiers,
swords of some cultures use straightcutlasses and scimitars. Swords that
blades, while other cultures designedwere used in mortal combat, such as
swords or sword-type weapons withJapanese Samurai Katana swords, and
slightly curved blades. But the basicceremonial swords such Masonic swords.
underlying design of all swords isThey all have a noble past, and they
remarkably uniform. Swords areall signify tradition and prestige.



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