Single and Double-edged
"Double-edge" redirects here. For the physical theatre company, see Double Edge Theatre.As noted above, the terms longsword, broad sword, great sword, and Gaelic claymore are used relative to the era under consideration, and each term designates a particular type of sword.
In most Asian countries, a sword (jian 劍, geom (검), ken/tsurugi (剣), pedang) is a double-edged straight-bladed weapon, while a knife or saber (dāo 刀, do (도), to/katana (刀), pisau, golok) refers to a single-edged object. In Sikh history, the sword is held in very high esteem. A single-edged sword is called a kirpan, and its double-edged counterpart a khanda or tega.
European terminology does give generic names for single-edged and double-edged blades but refers to specific types with the term 'sword' covering them all. For example the backsword may be so called because it is single-edged but the falchion which is also single-edged is given its own specific name.
Read more about this topic: Blade Weapons, Typology
Famous quotes containing the words single, double-edged:
“Not a single man on earth knows from his own experience the how and where of his birth, only from tradition, which is often very uncertain.”
—E.T.A.W. (Ernst Theodor Amadeus Wilhelm)
“We are double-edged blades, and every time we whet our virtue the return stroke straps our vice. Where is the skillful swordsman who can give clean wounds, and not rip up his work with the other edge?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)