I have been mulling this concept over and determined to open it to debate. I have a partially serrated blade that, from tip to hilt, is around 20 inches, maybe longer. I do not have it on me, so I can't get an exact size. I tend to think about this as a knife, but I have visible further sized blades be known as swords (handmade wakizashi swords). Is the whole sword/knife aspect determined through size, or Is there a extraordinary factor to keep in mind?
-
Guest - Earn a FREE TubeBuddy Upgrade for being active on the forums! Click Here to learn how you earn free upgrades for TubeBuddy!
Other Whats the difference between a knife and a sword?
- Thread starter eoin78
- Start date
Lots of theories on this. Many contradictory theories...
Length is used sometimes - over a foot long is a sword, except when it is not. A German messer is a "long knife". They can be almost a meter long, yet 'Knife' is German for 'knife'. So... size does not matter...
Swords have hilts, except when they do not.
Single edge/double edge?
I think of more of the intended use. Is my machete a long knife or a short sword? I think it is a long knife. My bolo is a knife, but I would not carry it around in the US. I can carry it in the Philippines (ok, I have never taken it to the city ha ha). Those are both knives. We use them for cutting brush and bamboo, not cutting people. I would not generally use a sword to cut bamboo or harvest rice.
When I retired, I left all my knives & swords with my son. Most are costume pieces - we were very active in the renaissance fairs.
Length is used sometimes - over a foot long is a sword, except when it is not. A German messer is a "long knife". They can be almost a meter long, yet 'Knife' is German for 'knife'. So... size does not matter...
Swords have hilts, except when they do not.
Single edge/double edge?
I think of more of the intended use. Is my machete a long knife or a short sword? I think it is a long knife. My bolo is a knife, but I would not carry it around in the US. I can carry it in the Philippines (ok, I have never taken it to the city ha ha). Those are both knives. We use them for cutting brush and bamboo, not cutting people. I would not generally use a sword to cut bamboo or harvest rice.
When I retired, I left all my knives & swords with my son. Most are costume pieces - we were very active in the renaissance fairs.
I can probably narrow it down to one sentence.
Swords are big, knives are small.
Swords are big, knives are small.
I think of them in terms of HOW you use them versus length. Swords are typically used in a weapon-on-weapon fights and have a lot of design elements that make them effective for that use. Knives seem more like a utility item that CAN be used as a weapon, if needed.
I think if you watch those documentaries on the history of weapons, many of them were re-purposed farm implements or tools, where as swords seem to have been designed specifically for combat.
I think if you watch those documentaries on the history of weapons, many of them were re-purposed farm implements or tools, where as swords seem to have been designed specifically for combat.
Seriously man. Is this really a topic to discuss.
...and you joined the conversation, so I guess so ha ha
Seriously though, this is the "off topic" forum.
even though not a relevant topic to the community, swords are lengthier and knives are shorter
This is the off-topic board. It doesn't have to be relevant. If people want to talk about out it, this is the place to do it. You may not want to talk about it, but other people might.