Sword

weapons · history · martial arts

Blade Shape Matters. Straight blades with pointed tips are built for thrusting, while curved blades are better for slashing. Some swords are clever hybrids designed to do both really well.

Longer Than a Knife. What makes a sword different from a knife or dagger is that its blade is much longer, giving it more reach and power when you swing it.

Hilt is the Handle. The hilt is the fancy word for a sword's handle, and it connects the blade to where you grip it.

Different Everywhere. Swords looked and worked differently depending on where people lived and when they were made, so there's no single perfect sword definition across all history.