Parts of a Sword: Every Piece from Pommel to Point
What is the handle of a sword called? What is the groove down the blade for? Is the "blood groove" real? Every sword, from a Roman gladius to a Japanese katana, is built from the same handful of parts, and knowing their names is the difference between reading a product page and understanding it. Here is the complete anatomy of a sword, from the pommel at the back to the point at the front, with the Japanese terms for the katana included.
The Hilt: Everything You Hold
The hilt is the whole assembly behind the blade, and it has three main parts.
The pommel is the weight at the very end of the hilt. It is not decoration: the pommel counterbalances the blade and pulls the sword's balance point back toward the hand, which is why a 3-pound sword can feel light and quick. Medieval pommels came in wheel, disc, scent-stopper, and lobed shapes; on a katana the end cap is the kashira. The pommel also makes a serviceable hammer in a fight, which is the origin of the word "pummel."
The grip is the handle itself — the answer to the most-searched question about sword parts. It is usually a wooden core wrapped in leather, cord, or wire, sized for one hand on an arming sword or saber and for two on a longsword or katana. On a Japanese sword the grip is the tsuka, wrapped in silk or cotton cord (tsuka-ito) over ray skin (same).
The guard sits between grip and blade and protects the hand. The straight bar of a medieval sword is the cross guard, and its two arms are the quillons. A saber adds a knuckle bow; a rapier builds a cage of rings and bars; a Scottish broadsword encloses the whole hand in a basket. The katana's guard is the round or oval tsuba, with a collar (habaki) that locks the blade into its scabbard.
The Tang: The Part You Cannot See
The tang is the unsharpened extension of the blade that runs through the grip and anchors to the pommel. It is the most important part of the sword you will never look at. A full tang runs the entire length of the grip as a single piece of steel with the blade, and it is the only construction suitable for a sword that will be swung. A rat-tail tang — a thin rod welded to the blade — is a decorative construction that can snap at the weld. On a katana the tang is the nakago, secured by a bamboo peg (mekugi) through the grip, and it carries the smith's signature.
The Blade: Edge, Flat, and Point
The edge is the sharpened side; a double-edged sword has two, a katana, saber, or seax has one, and the unsharpened back of a single-edged blade is the spine. Just in front of the guard on many swords is the ricasso, a short unsharpened section of blade that lets a finger hook over the guard for control — common on rapiers and longswords.
The blade divides into two working regions. The forte ("strong") is the half nearest the hilt, used for parrying and binding because it has the most leverage. The foible ("weak") is the half nearest the point, used for cutting and thrusting because it moves fastest. On a cutting sword, the sweet spot roughly a third of the way back from the tip is the center of percussion, where a cut lands with the least shock to the hand.
The point or tip finishes the blade. Thrusting swords taper to an acute point; cutting swords have a rounded or spatulate one; the katana's angled tip section is the kissaki.
The Fuller: Not a Blood Groove
The groove running down many blades is the fuller, and it is the most misunderstood part of a sword. It is not a "blood groove" — blood does not need help leaving a wound. The fuller is a structural feature, like an I-beam: removing metal from the center of the blade reduces weight by as much as 20 to 30 percent while keeping the edges and spine thick, so the blade stays stiff and strong. A fuller makes a sword lighter and faster, nothing more. On a katana the equivalent groove is the bo-hi, which also produces the audible whistle of a well-executed cut.
The Scabbard and Fittings
The scabbard (or sheath) carries and protects the blade; the metal cap at its mouth is the throat (or locket) and the one at its tip is the chape. A katana's wooden scabbard is the saya, and the decorative fittings on the hilt — the ornaments under the cord wrap (menuki) and the collar at the guard (fuchi) — are collectively the koshirae.
Why Sword Parts Matter When You Buy
Three parts decide whether a sword is functional. The tang must be full. The blade must be a proper high-carbon steel, such as 1095 or Damascus, not stainless. And the guard and pommel must be tight, with no rattle — a loose hilt is the first sign of a sword built for the wall only. Every sword we forge is full-tang in 1095 high-carbon or Damascus steel, sharpened, with a scabbard included. Browse the battle-ready sword collection, read our sword steel guide, or build your own sword and choose every part yourself.
Parts of a Sword FAQ
What is the handle of a sword called?
The grip. The whole handle assembly — grip, guard, and pommel together — is the hilt. On a katana the grip is the tsuka.
What is the groove in a sword blade for?
The fuller lightens and stiffens the blade, like the web of an I-beam. It is not a blood groove.
What is a pommel?
The weighted end of the hilt. It counterbalances the blade and secures the tang.
What is a tang on a sword?
The unsharpened part of the blade that runs inside the grip. A full tang is one solid piece with the blade and is essential for a functional sword.
What is the difference between the forte and the foible?
The forte is the strong half of the blade near the hilt, used for defense; the foible is the weak half near the point, used for attacks.
What are the parts of a katana called?
Kashira (pommel cap), tsuka (grip), menuki (grip ornaments), fuchi (collar), tsuba (guard), habaki (blade collar), nakago (tang), bo-hi (groove), kissaki (tip), and saya (scabbard).
