A sword is a hand-held weapon made for cutting, which is often made of metal. It has a long blade, and a handle called a hilt. It can be used either for cutting, slashing or stabbing, depending on the type of sword.
The first weapons that can be described as "swords" date to around 3300 BC. Found in Arslantepe, Turkey, they are made from arsenical bronze, and are about 60 cm (24 in) long.
Swords created from bronze were made by blacksmiths in Ancient Egypt. Soon other cultures adopted them, and they began to spread quite quickly.
Sword swallowing was first introduced in India in 2000 BC where it was a demonstration of divinity and power. From there, it spread to China and Japan for theatrical performance.
The Sword of Goujian is a completely untarnished 2000-year-old sword that was found in an ancient Chinese tomb. It has an unusual sharpness for its age, which is due to its unique copper composition and the air tight scabbard it was found in, keeping the sword sealed from the elements.
Before iron became increasingly common from the 13th century BC, the use of swords was less frequent. However, the easier production and availability of iron compared with bronze permitted for the first time the equipment of entire armies with metal weapons.
The Aztecs made swords embedded with prismatic obsidian blades that are far sharper than even high quality present day steel razor blades. (See picture below).
Viking smiths used the bones of their dead ancestors and slain animals to strengthen their swords, hoping to transfer the spirit into their blades. This did strengthen their swords though because the carbon in bones combined with iron led to the formation of a primitive form of steel.
Ulfberht swords were a group of medieval swords found in Europe, dating to the 9th to 11th centuries that were made of a metal called “Crucible Steel”. Unlike the iron swords of the period, which contained very little carbon and some impurities, and so were brittle and broke easily, the crucible steel swords contained more carbon and were practically free of particulates and impurities. The exceptional quality of this steel made them so valuable that forgers faked the name Ulfberht on lower-quality swords, the equivalent of a fake designer logo.
Portuguese soldiers used black swords in the Age of Discovery in order to not reflect the light and announce their presence on ships, avoiding also its rusting when used near salt water.
Miyamoto Musashi of Japan (c. 1584 – June 13, 1645), was regarded as one of the greatest swordsmen of all time. He won his first duel at the age of 12, beating his Samurai opponent to death with his wooden sword.
Musashi became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels (next is 33 by Itō Ittōsai). He is considered the Kensei, sword-saint of Japan.
For all their swashbuckling reputation, Alexandre Dumas' Three Musketeers would have taken 20 seconds to reload and fire a musket, which explains why the all-action heroes tended to use swords instead.
The sword began to lose its pre-eminence in the early 19th century, reflecting the development of reliable handguns. However, at the outbreak of World War I infantry officers in all combatant armies still carried swords as part of their field equipment. Since the late 1920s and early 1930s, this historic weapon has been discarded by armies, except as a ceremonial part of uniforms.
Winston Churchill presented Joseph Stalin with a ceremonial Sword of Stalingrad in 1943. It was constructed of gold, silver, and crystal. Stalin kissed the sword and handed it to Marshal
Voroshilov - who promptly dropped it.
Nobuo Fujita, the Japanese pilot who attacked a town in Oregon during World War II returned years later to present his family's 400-year-old samurai sword to the city as a symbol of regret.
It took humanity approximately four times longer to switch from copper swords to steel swords than it took to switch from steel swords to nuclear bombs.
The three swords that are used in fencing have evolved from different weapons of combat. The foil developed from the light French court sword and was also the practice weapon of the 17th century. The epee evolved from the 16th-century rapier used by the French musketeers. The saber derives from the slashing cavalry sword of the 18th-century Hungarian hussars.
At weddings, the bride normally stands to the left of the groom so that his sword hand is free to defend against other suitors.
Today, in order to become an approved member of the Sword Swallowers Association International, they require you to swallow a blade between 15 and 20 inches in length.
 |
| Pixiebay |
The first weapons that can be described as "swords" date to around 3300 BC. Found in Arslantepe, Turkey, they are made from arsenical bronze, and are about 60 cm (24 in) long.
Swords created from bronze were made by blacksmiths in Ancient Egypt. Soon other cultures adopted them, and they began to spread quite quickly.
Sword swallowing was first introduced in India in 2000 BC where it was a demonstration of divinity and power. From there, it spread to China and Japan for theatrical performance.
 |
| Swords found together with the Nebra skydisk, ca. 1600 BC.By Dbachmann, |
The Sword of Goujian is a completely untarnished 2000-year-old sword that was found in an ancient Chinese tomb. It has an unusual sharpness for its age, which is due to its unique copper composition and the air tight scabbard it was found in, keeping the sword sealed from the elements.
Before iron became increasingly common from the 13th century BC, the use of swords was less frequent. However, the easier production and availability of iron compared with bronze permitted for the first time the equipment of entire armies with metal weapons.
The Aztecs made swords embedded with prismatic obsidian blades that are far sharper than even high quality present day steel razor blades. (See picture below).
 |
| https://www.disclose.tv |
Viking smiths used the bones of their dead ancestors and slain animals to strengthen their swords, hoping to transfer the spirit into their blades. This did strengthen their swords though because the carbon in bones combined with iron led to the formation of a primitive form of steel.
Ulfberht swords were a group of medieval swords found in Europe, dating to the 9th to 11th centuries that were made of a metal called “Crucible Steel”. Unlike the iron swords of the period, which contained very little carbon and some impurities, and so were brittle and broke easily, the crucible steel swords contained more carbon and were practically free of particulates and impurities. The exceptional quality of this steel made them so valuable that forgers faked the name Ulfberht on lower-quality swords, the equivalent of a fake designer logo.
Portuguese soldiers used black swords in the Age of Discovery in order to not reflect the light and announce their presence on ships, avoiding also its rusting when used near salt water.
Miyamoto Musashi of Japan (c. 1584 – June 13, 1645), was regarded as one of the greatest swordsmen of all time. He won his first duel at the age of 12, beating his Samurai opponent to death with his wooden sword.
Musashi became renowned through stories of his unique double-bladed swordsmanship and undefeated record in his 61 duels (next is 33 by Itō Ittōsai). He is considered the Kensei, sword-saint of Japan.
 |
| Miyamoto Musashi wielding two bokken. Woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi |
For all their swashbuckling reputation, Alexandre Dumas' Three Musketeers would have taken 20 seconds to reload and fire a musket, which explains why the all-action heroes tended to use swords instead.
The sword began to lose its pre-eminence in the early 19th century, reflecting the development of reliable handguns. However, at the outbreak of World War I infantry officers in all combatant armies still carried swords as part of their field equipment. Since the late 1920s and early 1930s, this historic weapon has been discarded by armies, except as a ceremonial part of uniforms.
Winston Churchill presented Joseph Stalin with a ceremonial Sword of Stalingrad in 1943. It was constructed of gold, silver, and crystal. Stalin kissed the sword and handed it to Marshal
Voroshilov - who promptly dropped it.
Nobuo Fujita, the Japanese pilot who attacked a town in Oregon during World War II returned years later to present his family's 400-year-old samurai sword to the city as a symbol of regret.
It took humanity approximately four times longer to switch from copper swords to steel swords than it took to switch from steel swords to nuclear bombs.
The three swords that are used in fencing have evolved from different weapons of combat. The foil developed from the light French court sword and was also the practice weapon of the 17th century. The epee evolved from the 16th-century rapier used by the French musketeers. The saber derives from the slashing cavalry sword of the 18th-century Hungarian hussars.
 |
| Pixiebay |
At weddings, the bride normally stands to the left of the groom so that his sword hand is free to defend against other suitors.
Today, in order to become an approved member of the Sword Swallowers Association International, they require you to swallow a blade between 15 and 20 inches in length.
Modern day Japanese swordsmiths are required by law to use traditional Katana forging techniques, despite the fact that modern day steel does not need to be folded multiple times.
All of the actors in Pirates of the Caribbean learned how to work swords in Pirates School, which included getting trained by the late famed swordsman Bob Anderson, who also was the lightsaber master that fought battles as Darth Vader in Star Wars movies.
At 12 minutes, the climactic fight scene in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith holds the record for the longest sword fight in cinematic history.
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