Sword (from Old English sweord, cognate to Old High German
Schwert, literally "wounding tool" from a Proto-Indo-European
root *swer- "to wound, to hurt") is a term for a long edged
weapon, fundamentally consisting of a blade, usually with two
edges for striking and cutting, a point for thrusting, and a
hilt for gripping. The basic intent and physics of swordsmanship
remain fairly constant, but the actual techniques vary among
cultures and periods as a result of the differences in blade
design and purpose. The names given to many swords in mythology,
literature, and history reflect the high prestige of the weapon.
Hilt of the 18th century smallsword used by Captain John Paul
Schott in the American Revolutionary War Humans have
manufactured and used bladed weapons from the Bronze Age
onwards. The sword developed from the dagger when the
construction of longer blades became possible, from the early
2nd millennium BC. Swords longer than 3 feet were very uncommon
and not practical during the bronze age as this len