While the sword may seem to be a simple instrument on the surface, it is actually somewhat complex. There are parts of a sword which serve different purposes and may vary from sword to sword.
            The first part of the sword is the pommel. It is usually a sphere or at least in somewhat a circular shape. It serves two purposes. First of all, it helps to keep the sword from slipping out of the wielder’s hand because it is larger than the hilt. Secondly, it helps by acting as a counter weight to give the sword a more balanced feeling to it.
            Next is the hilt. The hilt is the part of the sword the wielder grasps, which is right above the pommel.  This is usually made of leather, but it serves no real purpose besides giving the wielder a place to hold the sword.
            The tang is a part of the sword that holds things together. While it’s not visible, the tang is very important as it helps to keep the sword from breaking. It’s attached to the blade of the sword, but the part of the blade that is considered the tang is thinner than the blade and it sinks into the hilt, therefore securing the hilt to the blade.
            The cross guard is the part of the sword that covers up the transverse from blade to tang. It sticks out from the sides of the swords and its only real purpose is protect the wielder’s hands from an opponent’s blade, which may slide down the blade of the sword and cut the wielder’s hand.
            The next part of the sword is the ricasses. It’s not common on most swords, and is found only on larger swords. It serves as a second hilt, essentially. While it’s part of the blade, its not sharpened, so the wielder can place his other hand there to get better control of the sword.
            Another part of the sword, called the fuller, is found on most blades, but there are exceptions. It’s the groove that runs down the blade of the sword, and its not really essential to a good blade. While it was once believed that its purpose was to serve as a drainage ditch for blood on the sword, it is actually simply there to use less material and make the sword lighter.
            The back is found on one edged swords, where the edge is obviously the sharp side of the blade. The back is the other side of the blade that is not sharpened.
            The edge is simply the sharp side of the blade; some swords have one edge, some have two, and some have none, particularly the rapier.
            The main part of the sword is the blade. The blade is not the entire sword with the hilt and pommel included, but it is the metal part and pretty much every other part of the sword stated. Some blades are thin and light, while others are heavy and thick, and some are curved. The different types of blades essentially make different types of swords.
            The flat is the wider sides of the blade, which are to the right and left of the edge and the back. They are also where the fuller is at.
            The tip is, well, the TIP of the sword. It’s used to pierce armor and to impale an opponent rather than to cleave him. Overall the tips are pretty much alike on most swords, the only real variation being if the tip is curved or not.