There are many different parts of a sword. This article will discuss the full tang, cross-guard, Scent stopper, and fuller. These parts of a sword are very important and should be familiar to you. Understanding these parts of a sword will help you use your sword with more ease.
Full tang
Full tang is a sword design term used in the sword world. It refers to a blade and handle that are made from one piece of steel. However, not all full tang swords are made with this construction. Some have a handle that is not welded or glued to the blade, increasing the risk of the sword breaking. This makes full tang swords extremely dangerous.
Full tang swords have a blade that is welded to a pommel. This makes it much more durable than a sword with an unwelded tang. The tang is usually made of low carbon steel. The pommel, which is a flat disc, may have additional features.
Cross-guard
When talking about swords, you will often hear the term “cross-guard.” It is a reference to the cross-guard part of the blade. This part extends towards the base of the blade and overlies it. The cross-guard can also extend beyond the base and function as a rain guard or decorative element.
The cross-guard part of a sword is also known as the crucibus. Its name comes from the Latin words for the crucibus, which means cross. Other words that refer to the cross-guard of a sword include “culpo” and “dritti,” which refer to striking with the sword. Other terms used to describe this part of the blade are “decresare,” which means “to step back,” and “dente di chinghiale,” which means “boar’s teeth” (protecting the blade from an attack).
Scent stopper
Scent-stoppers are part of the pommel of swords. They are made to resemble the top of a perfume bottle. They are considered part of the hybrid hand-and-half sword classification. Their shape helps create extra room in the blade. This part of a sword is not very visible when the blade is fully mounted. It is made of steel and resembles an antique perfume bottle cap.
Fuller
Fullers are part of a blade’s design, and they can help keep the blade rigid and lighter. The extra rigidity, however, only applies to the plane of the edge, and it does not reduce the rigidity of the blade when it is perpendicular to a flat surface. The type of fuller is important for a blade’s purpose. It can be rebated, dull, or sharp.
Fullers remove weight from the blade without compromising its shape. A single-edged double-edged sword without a fuller would have a single center spine and a diamond-shaped cross section, which would be quite flexible, especially on a three-foot-long blade. A fuller, however, introduces a second spine to the blade, which stiffens it up. For this reason, the difference between fuller-equipped and unfullered blades is significant.
Toshin
Japanese swords are marked with different terms and phrases. The markings are fairly accurate but the terminology can change slightly depending on the phrase used. The basic terms in Japanese include the hamon, boshi, kojiri, and koiguchi. The kojiri, or mouth of the scabbard, is made of buffalo horn or metal.
The word koshirae is derived from the verb “koshirareru” and means “to make.” The Japanese word for “toshin” is “sword-furniture.” In general, tosogu refers to parts of the mounting itself. Other components include the kanagu and gaiso, which are metal parts. Depending on the type of weapon being made, the word toshin is often used to refer to the body of the sword.
Foible
The Foible is the weakest portion of the sword blade. It is used to block an attack with the forte. The term for this part of the blade is often confused with the Foil. A Foil is a blade with a rectangular cross-section that has been buttoned to make it less dangerous for practice.
The foible is the upper-third of the blade closest to the point. Most attacks use this part. A beat attack, for example, slaps the opponent’s blade away at the foible and then moves in for a point.