A sword is a type of blade weapon used by soldiers. A short sword has a blade that is usually less than two feet in length, and the crossguard of the hilt can be found under its grip, while a long sword's crossguard can be found over the grip. It is this design which distinguishes what kind of sword it is. The difference between an arming sword and a saber comes from how these weapons were used during the medieval period: 

An arming sword was primarily carried for self-defense or for use in mounted combat; while sabers were primarily weapons that were used against other armored combatants where both parties could engage on foot or horseback. These real swords generally come in two sizes. The first is known as a "traditional" or "full-size" short sword. These swords are made bigger than other swords, and the handle will be longer than its blade. 

This type of sword is used by most historical fighters because it is strong and sturdy, and because it has a long enough handle to allow for effective use when hitting an opponent (multiple men will be able to get their hands on the hilt while holding the weapon). If used in hand-to-hand combat under normal circumstances, this sword has the potential to inflict much more damage upon an opponent than a shorter blade can.

Features of a Short Sword

A sword is an article of manufacture that was designed to cut and thrust, or sometimes simply from a heavy blade with one sharpened edge. A short sword is a long knife of sorts. These swords are often made to be concealed for safety or personal protection. Depending on the use, they can come in a variety of sizes as well as styles and shapes. It is important to be aware that there are big differences between swords and cool knives even if they do look similar at first glance. 

As mentioned above, the blade is the most important component of the sword. The main purpose of this sword is to cut and thrust which means that it has to be able to withstand the stresses of combat, sharpen itself and strike with force. This sword varies just as much in size and shape as it does in how long they are or what materials are used in making them. 

For instance, different types of short swords may be hidden in your hand if you were attacked. This means that they have to be small enough to fit or conceal in your hand without showing but strong enough for you to use while being concealed inside a secured pocket or sheath on your belt.  In my opinion, the qualities that make for good short swords are:


  • Thin blades 

A thin blade gives you the ability to get in close with your opponents and will likely cause them more pain if you manage to land a hit. It also makes it harder for your opponent’s weapon (if they have one) to do significant damage if they manage a swing at you first. 

  • Heavy Handle 

A heavy handle is helpful for two reasons. 1st, a heavy handle will make you think twice about swinging your sword wildly at your enemy. A wild swing is easy to parry or block and has a lot less force behind it than a carefully aimed blow from a weapon with a heavy handle. 

2nd, when defending yourself against someone else’s weapon, you want to have something in your hand that is weighty enough to push that opponent’s blade away from you. The heavier the handle on your short sword, the more likely that is to happen.

  • Slightly Curved Blade 

When I say slightly curved I mean just enough to prevent the tip from getting stuck in someone when thrusting it into them or stabbing them.

A short sword needs to be able to lie flat against your opponent in a thrust or be able to poke them in their eyes when doing an overhand block by your face. In my experience, the best way to accomplish these two things is to have a blade that is slightly curved and that has some neck on it, that is that part of the blade you hold onto before making contact with your opponent’s weapon/body.

Either way, when thrusting a short sword you might find yourself in a situation where you are trying to make contact with your opponent's sword blade, but it is locked into place on their body and won't move. If this happens, you will need to change your strategy. 

You can either try kicking the sword downward (from above) or push upwards on the hilt of their sword to free it from their body and then stab them in an overhead blow, or both - if both tactics fail, then either use your knees or elbows while out of reach of their weapon to attempt a stab at it. Another idea would be to try kicking them hard with your shin or knee.

Historical and Modern Uses

A short sword is a type of sword with a blade shorter than one hand length. The term can also refer to a sword that is not designed to be wielded two-handed. The defining characteristic of this sword is that it can be drawn quickly from the scabbard/sheath without having to remove it from the belt first, and may be used in one or both hands. This makes it very effective for quick attacks and thrusts with cutting power due to its lightweight but also highly maneuverable. 


In this respect, this sword is similar to the Japanese katana, although the Japanese sword can be drawn from the scabbard two-handed while its Western counterpart is only drawn with one hand. Historically, several other types of short swords existed that were used by various cultures of Eurasia and Africa. There was extensive use of these single-handed medieval swords in stage combat and fencing due to their handling characteristics and ease of use.

In the Middle Ages, the short sword was widely used in cut-and-thrust combat in close-quarter fighting against armored opponents in battle. The longsword, which it resembles, was also used for similar purposes but was more commonly paired with a shield.

This sword retains its popularity in modern personal combat. It is sometimes known as a butterfly knife (due to the way the handle is shaped to allow one- or two-handed use). These knives tend to be all metal, and most of them feature a clip-point blade with slanting sides and a small swedge. Many civilian uses include activities such as camping and survival knife work.

The Enhanced Popularity and Demand of Short Swords

The concept of the short sword was first introduced in the popular fantasy series "Halo", known as "Halo" in Japan. The swords were first seen in the game 'Halo 2: Multiplayer' and were called "Falchion". In the game, the blades are made out of plasma and are extremely durable, being able to take a beating and still be usable. The curved shape makes it easier to penetrate armor-like shields without an opening. 

In most games, short swords are mostly utilitarian and therefore used as tools rather than for show or fighting skills. There is also a large variety of short swords from all different eras and cultures. One example is the Falchion, a type of sword used during the 14th century. The Falchion was used in England and Western Europe, usually as a side arm or in conjunction with another sword. They were mostly used by knights for combat or as a backup weapon if the knight ran out of supplies. 

Some people believe that it was mass-produced because they were quite cheap considering their skill and power. However, not all short swords are made for battle or utilitarian purposes. Some are made strictly for show such as ceremonial swords or as part of a fashion statement. Another famous example is the katana sword from Japan. Katanas were commonly worn by martial arts masters because they increased their overall abilities when fighting.

These swords are not as popular as other weapons in video games. In a wide range of games, they don't seem to be popular at all. However, these swords are used occasionally and often people who use them seem to be especially skilled with them. These swords may not be the go-to weapon, but it is important for someone who wants to fight with a sword that can quickly change directions.