Hilt

The hilt of a sword is its handle, consisting of a guard, grip and pommel. The guard may contain a crossguard or quillions. The pommel may be attached to a tassel or sword knot.

Table of contents

1 Pommel 2 Grip 3 Guard 4 Tassel

Pommel

The pommel is a lump at the top of the guard. The name is derived from the latin for a "little apple". In early swords it was a counterweight to the heavy blade but as metallurgy improved the blade became lighter and the counterweight was no longer needed, so the pommel shrunk. It sometimes has a motif such as a lion's head. Indian swords normally had a large disk as a pommel. The pommel serves various purposes depending on the type of sword.

Grip

The grip is the handle of the sword. It was usually of wood or metal, and often covered with leather or shark skin. Shark skin proved to be the most durable in temperate climates but deteriorated in hot climates. Whatever material covered the grip, it was usually either glued on or held on with wire. The grip can be made from anything, usually something that would provide a sure grip, such as leather.

Guard

The guard protects the user's hand from the opponent's sword. In early swords it was usually a straight bar perpendiculat to the blade. In 17th centuary Europe the style was to make the bars increasingly long and curved until almost the entire hand was covered. This is known as a basket hilt.

After the 17th century, the majority of western and Indian swords had a guard which included a metal bars or a plate that extended from the hilt in a loop to the pommel.

Steel or brass is usually used for the hilt, and it is often be cast or engraved with an elaborate pattern.

Guards are often described by the number of bars used - for example a three-bar hilt has three bars coming out of the hilt and extending to the pommel, although the bars generally join together before they get there.

The guard, depending on the type of weapon, can consist of a simple cross piece or a more elaborate cage, designed to protect the hand. In the specific case of the rapier, the guard usually consists of a cup or wire cage, a crossguard (quillons) and a knuckle bow. All of this is designed to protect the sword hand from a blow during a fight.

Some basket-hilted swords had two sets of bars at 90 degrees to each other. These are called quillions.

Tassel

The tassel or sword knot is is a lanyard - usually of leather - looped around the hand to prevent the sword being lost if it is dropped. Although it has a practical function, the sword knots were often very elaborate. For example, the British Army generally adopted a white leather strap with a large acorn knot made out of gold wire for infantry officers at the end of the 19th century. The sword knot was usually looped though a slot in the guard.

Indian swords usually had the tassel attached through an eye right at the end of the pommel.