Sword

Sword, ancient weapon consisting of a handle and a metal blade with a sharp point and one or two cutting edges. Leaf-shaped Bronze Age swords gave way to short, flat blades in Rome, and these to longer laminated iron (in Damascus) and tempered steel (notably in Toledo). Asian curved cutting blades (the Turkish scimitar) inspired the cavalry saber. The Japanese samurai used a longer, two-handed version. The thrust-and-parry rapier became the weapon of the duel and of fencing.