| Blade construction varied over the years based | | | | The 'tang' can be created as part of the blade, |
| on the material and technology used. In the early | | | | referred to as a 'full' tang. A 'full-tang' is preferable |
| years of metallurgy, blades were short. The | | | | and was normally how blades were created |
| length was limited by the material used until such | | | | anciently. This style of tang was necessary for |
| time as smithing technologies improved to | | | | durability in battle. |
| increase the tensile strength of the material. | | | | In some modern instances, to minimize |
| Bronze was first turned into blades due to the | | | | manufacturing time and create a blade for display |
| lower smelting temperature and produced a | | | | rather than actual use or authentic creation, a |
| better blade. Iron was next, which although | | | | separate rod of steel or iron is welded to the |
| softer, had ore material that was more readily | | | | blade and then the hilt is formed or fitted around |
| available and therefore used to outfit entire | | | | it. This type of tang is referred to as the 'rat |
| armies. | | | | tailed' tang. This type of tang is structurally |
| Later the construction of the blade was altered | | | | weaker and will most likely break off at the |
| yet further by introducing 'fullers'. The 'fuller' was | | | | welding point if the Sword were to be put into |
| a ridge that ran down the center of the blade. | | | | action. |
| This left a groove like structure that eliminated | | | | The curvature of the blade maintained an |
| metal material and therefore made the blade | | | | important feature of the sword. The curved |
| lighter, but was able to maintain its' strength, | | | | radius of the blade was purposed to create a |
| much like a steel I-beam used in construction. | | | | sawing effect on the battlefield, rather than simply |
| The 'ricasso' was a short area of the blade | | | | delivering a heavy cut. By employing this feature |
| immediately above the hilt on the blade side of | | | | the efficiency of the blade was improved and |
| the 'cross guard' which was not sharpened at all. | | | | thereby reduced the amount of effort required to |
| This area was gripped by the finger for better tip | | | | do the needed damage. |
| control. Some blades did not have the 'ricasso'. In | | | | The curvature radius was altered and based on |
| some other instances however, the 'ricasso' was | | | | the country of origin. The middle eastern regions |
| large enough for a hand to fit around it and was | | | | had a curvatures of radius closer to the hilt than |
| therefore wrapped in leather. The purpose was to | | | | those of their European counterparts, which |
| allow the other hand to be used to better | | | | accommodated the different battle techniques. |
| manipulate the blade, especially dealing with large | | | | The radius curvature was designed to be |
| swords such as the enormous German | | | | effective at the length that the warrior would use |
| Zweihänder. | | | | the weapon. So a longer curvature further away |
| The 'tang' is the part of the blade that extends | | | | from the wielder, would be intended to be used |
| into the hilt under the grip. This is also the part of | | | | at a longer distance. |
| the blade to mark the manufacturers' information. | | | | |