The sword makes the man!

The title of this essay is a bit of a misnomer. The sword doesn't really make the man but the type of sword a man wields does say a lot about who he is.

There are many variations of swords and these variations are caused by two different aspects. The first aspect is the functionality of the sword. Sowrds, in times gone by were designed for actual use. A warriors life depended on the way his sword was made.

Today this isn't true anymore. Swords have now moved into the realm of artistic and aesthetic expression. Now a sword is an indicator of the wielders personality and alignment in his world.

Let me explain the concept of "The Sword Defines the Man" with some examples.

Example swords and how they define the wielders personality

There are two distinct traits that we will examine. The first trait is the alignment of the sword wielder. Is he good or is he evil? The second trait we will look at is the wielders wealth. Does he possess riches?

This is an Uruk-Hai Chopper. What does it say about it's wielder. We can construe a couple of important facts. First of all, the shape of the blade is menacing. It is a brutal weapon that can be used to slice an opponent but it also can be used to swing and stick an opponent. What happens after the swing and stick? You can almost visualize the bent point of this sword sticking firmly in a foe and holding tight. The wielder then can pull the foe in nice and close for that personal in fight. This unusual shape definitely denotes a wielder that is evil in alignment. It almost gives a shout of glee at the in close and personal carnage.

What else can we construe from this sword? Well it is an extremely plain sword. There are no frills. It is strictly down to business. That denotes that the wielder does not possess riches.

So summary of this type of sword: Evil and Poor

The Fire Demon Sword - Here is another nasty sword. It has a very unusual blade serration. This configuration promises that the sword will go in a foe and will make a real mess when coming back out. It screams evil! The objective of this sword is to cause maximum damage! It is also a sword that is finely wrought with lots of ornate design around the hand guard and the pommel so this says Riches!

Who would wield this sword? A sword like this would be wielded by an evil lord. Someone who has riches and is in command of many minions. This sword says "Fear me and Respect me for I am evil and powerful".

Summaryof this sword: Evil and Rich

Now for the Swords that are of a good alignment

This is a very simple and straight-forward sword. There are no frills and this says "I don't have a lot of money but I managed to get a sword that I can use so I will use it for good!" This is a traditional Viking style sword. Function over form is the theme. Viking Sword

What does this sword say? It is made of rare materials (Silver and Gold) and it has ornate carving on the cross guard.

This sword definitely says I am good and I am wealthy. The shape of the handle is reminiscent of the cross. This denotes a religious tone which reinforces the theme of good. Leadership and wealth in this sword. Richard The Lion Heart Sword of the Crusades

This sword makes a special statement. It is obviously the weapon of a person who would only do good. But even though it fairly simple and straight forward is has an extemely elegant design. This sword says "I am good and I have money but I choose not to flaunt my money." The Sword of Strider

Samurai Swords | Fantasy swords | Medieval Swords |Dragon swords

Books

• The Secret History of the Sword
• Complete Bladesmith: Forging Your Way to Perfection
• The Craft of the Japanese sword
• The Samurai Sword: A Handbook
• Amazon.com Swords
  
  

Weblinks

• Wikipedia article on the sword
• How Stuff Works article on sword making
• The Lord of the Rings swords