Parts of a Sword
Every part of a sword has a name and a job. The diagram below labels them on a European longsword — free to republish with credit.
The parts, explained
- Pommel — the weight at the end of the hilt. It counterbalances the blade so the sword pivots near the guard instead of dragging at the tip.
- Grip — the handle, traditionally wood wrapped in leather or wire.
- Tang — the blade's steel continuing through the grip. A full tang runs the whole way and is what separates a working sword from a wall-hanger.
- Cross-guard (quillons) — the bar protecting the hand and controlling an opponent's blade.
- Hilt — the pommel, grip and guard together; everything that isn't blade.
- Fuller — the groove down the blade. It removes weight while keeping stiffness — like an I-beam. It is not a “blood groove”; that's a myth.
- Edge — the sharpened side. European longswords are double-edged.
- Point — the tip, for thrusting.
- Forte — the strong half of the blade nearest the guard, used for parrying.
- Foible — the weak half toward the point: less leverage, more speed.
Use this diagram
This diagram is free to republish — on blogs, in classrooms, in game guides — with credit. Copy this line:
<a href="https://battlingblades.com/pages/parts-of-a-sword">Sword anatomy diagram by Battling Blades</a>
See how these parts are made in our hand-forged swords, or read more about fullers. See the real thing in our longsword collection, or compare with the parts of a katana sword.
