| Swords, the Noblest of Weapons. | | | | traditionally carried only by commisioned officers |
| Of all the different weapons that are in use | | | | and, in some cases, mounted cavalrymen. Swords |
| today, and of all the different weapons that have | | | | are used to cut, thrust, strike and slash, and they |
| existed throughout history, swords are by far the | | | | have the longest reach of any edged weapon. |
| noblest. Yes, swords are brutally effective | | | | During the Middle Ages, any knight considered his |
| weapons. But they are far more than that. | | | | sword to be his most important weapon, and with |
| In the past, reigning monarchs and members of | | | | the possible exception of his horse, probably the |
| royal families, members of the nobility and various | | | | most important possession he owned. The edged |
| other prestigious men, all carried swords not just | | | | weapons carried by rank and file foot soldiers, |
| as weapons, but as a traditional, highly visible sign | | | | usually knives, dirks or daggers, were much |
| of their status. Even today, swords and their | | | | smaller than swords and much less deadly, with |
| close relatives - such as scimitars - continue to be | | | | much shorter blades. These smaller bladed |
| a cross-cultural signal of high achievement or high | | | | weapons were also much less prestigious to carry |
| social status. | | | | and conveyed no signal of the bearer's social |
| In the military, swords were, and still are, | | | | status. |