Sword-like object

Sword-like object (SLO) is a term originaly coined by the Historical Armed Combat Association, and used by sword enthusiasts to mockingly describe cheap, non-functional, or inaccurate sword replicas, typically built as purely decorative pieces. The term is thus one of subjective stance and not objectively definable; many historical swords were of inferior quality and did break or deform.

It is also used to refer to weapons that resemble swords in some aspects of form and/or function, but are clearly not.

Sword replicas

Many cheap modern sword replicas are built for decorative purposes and are either too brittle or too fragile for any practical use; simply swinging them around can cause some of these to break, usually at the welded-on tang (the blade and tang are a single piece of metal in most real swords). In some the broken tang may result in an uncontrollable flying blade, much to the dismay of the owner and any bystanders.

The Danger of Stainless Steel

Another shortfall of most SLO is that they are made of industrial stainless steel, which cannot take very much stress compared to carbon steels. One graphic example of this is an infamous video circulating the internet. In the video a salesman bangs a "practice katana" on a table, supposedly to demonstrate its durability. On the third hit the blade breaks in two and the loose piece bounces up and stabs him!

Another example of the shortfalls of stainless steel in SLO is that when used to cut, huge chips will be taken out of the blade, if it does not break outright.

The Ten Pound Sword

At the other end of the scale, sword replicas touted as "battle ready" are often unrealistically robust and heavy, so that while they will not break even under more stress than a historical sword could have endured, they are too heavy and unwieldy for effective use, and would qualify as a mace or club rather than a sword.

Non-Derogatory Uses

In a broader, analogical sense, the term "sword" is also used for weapons and instruments that resemble swords in shape and/or function, but are not as effective in combat. They may also utilize different construction, such as lacking the sharp blade and/or tip which could deliver wounding blows. These are also considered sword-like objects, but the term is not considered insulting.

Practice weapons

In both Europe and Asia, wooden "swords" were created to practice fencing without the physical danger of a real sword. These were known as wasters in Europe and bokken in Japan. Special sparring weapons, such as the bamboo shinai and the steel federschwerter, were also devised and used.

Certain martial arts styles, such as kendo, use shinai as their primary weapons, both in training and in competition.

Stick Fighting

Many martial arts styles, including escrima, jojutsu, and la canne, focus on the use of sticks as weapons. In many cases, these styles were based on actual schools of fencing, and their techniques strongly resemble those of true sword fighting.

Sources and References

External links: