Why do characters hold swords by the blade?

[Seppukeu]

I've been wondering this ever since I noticed and I can't get it out of my head so I decided to do some research. Why do characters hold the sword model by the blade? The only thing I could find was mordhau/half-swording which is a German technique of fighting, not just holding the sword. I figured that meant the swords had a ricasso (a blunt area toward the hilt) but upon importing the sword model into blender I couldn't find any indication of a ricasso on the model. Maybe this is just me being extremely curious and picky, but why do they hold the sword that way if there is no ricasso?

Example of the sword holding. Note the lack of obvious ricasso/blunt edges

The actual model files with no indication of a ricasso

​

 

[Rifal]

Paradox graphic designer does not comprehend the concept of "Sword"

 

[Rifal]

Paradox graphic designer does not comprehend the concept of "Sword"

 

[guinea prince]

It's a special sheath made of virgin tears and elf hair. It's so fine as to be nearly invisible, but it looks so cool when they hold it like that, an inch of blade exposed, and then pull it out with the opposite hand while barking a sharp one-liner.

 

[Axis89]

They forgot to put the sword inside a sheath, then it would be natural to hold it like that, having the sword ready to be drawm by the other hand.

 

[Axis89]

Assuming he is left handed xD

 

[Seppukeu]

They forgot to put the sword inside a sheath, then it would be natural to hold it like that, having the sword ready to be drawm by the other hand.

A sheath would make way more sense than this.

 

[guinea prince]

Assuming he is left handed xD

Look if Paradox wants to make everyone left-handed just so the sword can be on a visually appealing side of the Sim, then I am all for this timeline.

 

[Antediluvian Monster]

It doesn't make any sense, yeah. Heck you really shouldn't be touching carbon steel blades with bare hands for no reason as your greasy fingertips are acidic. And you'll get oil on your hands.

The decorum of hanging around with a drawn sword is also bit questionable.

 

[sreckom92]

No idea why, but it's not like holding the sword like that is any problematic.
You're not going to cut yourself or anything.

 

[x4077]

Have you seen the rest of the AI? It is any surprise that it doesn't know which end of the sword is the pointy one?

 

[Antediluvian Monster]

No idea why, but it's not like holding the sword like that is any problematic.
You're not going to cut yourself or anything.

If you are careful then no you won't cut yourself. But touching carbon steel blades with your greasy fingers can cause etching of the blade. I'd want to give a sword a good scrubbing and throw fresh coat of oil after holding it like that.

(Edit) Not sure what there is to disagree with?

 

[RaccoonCity]

There are things in this life that one doesn't understand.

 

[Onisuzume]

Well, other than the very sudden very extreme distal tapering, I'm not really seeing an issue other than the part about needing to oil your blade afterwards.
The blade is almost never sharpened that close to the hilt because there's no real way to strike with that part.

E.g. this Albion Knecht Kriegsmesser has a fehlschärfe but its not actually forged differently from the rest of the blade.

And this other sword by Albion, an Oakeshott type XI, which is a lot more similar to the sword in the original post, has no visible fehlschärfe either, but that portion of the blade will definitely be unsharpened.

The Soborg

Albion Armorers International Inc. Exacting recreations of historical swords. Semi-custom options available. Veterans eligable for 10% discount.

www.albion-swords.com

Usually, one can assume that the first 25-33% of the blade (from the hilt) is unsharpened.
Also, half-swording wasn't specifically a German technique, just a general longsword technique from the late medieval era and renaissance because you'd have no other way of dealing with an opponent in plate with your sword. (One could just try to wrestle them to the ground and stab them with a dagger though, as was more common.)

 

[Drstrangelove5]

Also, depending on the time period and where you are, those might have meant to represent thrusting swords. Slicing swords require sharps edges, but have little use against heavily armored foes, where plate or chain is being worn. According to some historians, thrusting swords would not have needed sharpening for this reason, or at least no where near that end of the weapon. (Although as already mentioned, in general, there's no reason to sharpen either type in that area.)

(This not to say that it's a thrusting sword. I can't tell one sword type from another.)

How sharp were medieval Swords ? - Darksword Armory

An analysis of edge sharpness during the middle ages It is one of those devilish questions that can confound people even today: how sharp was a Medieval sword? The problem lies with the question – there is an underlying assumption that when it comes to how they are used, Medieval swords can be...

www.darksword-armory.com

 

[Murray Rothbard]

I'm going to go with underpaid asset creator on this one. Or they made a sword in a sheath and decided it wasn't cool enough so they went with the sword model, and no one noticed the character was holding it wrong.

Have you seen the rest of the AI? It is any surprise that it doesn't know which end of the sword is the pointy one?

Equally plausible.

 

[Antediluvian Monster]

Here's Skallagrim bashing with reasonably sharp sword held by the cutting edge:

 

[Vityviktor]

This thing is quite annoying. The first time I saw it during a Dev Diary I thought it was something that would be fixed before release. I can't understand why.

Just make them grab the swords by the grip!!

 

[Axis89]

So this blew into a full metallurgy science debate xD

Just put that sword back i to its sheath! his in his own office goddamnit! Who is he? Governor Arnold with his Conan sword cutting taxes?

 

[Onisuzume]

Here's Skallagrim bashing with reasonably sharp sword held by the cutting edge:

Just... don't let it slip if you're holding it like that.

Also, depending on the time period and where you are, those might have meant to represent thrusting swords. Slicing swords require sharps edges, but have little use against heavily armored foes, where plate or chain is being worn. According to some historians, thrusting swords would not have needed sharpening for this reason, or at least no where near that end of the weapon. (Although as already mentioned, in general, there's no reason to sharpen either type in that area.)

(This not to say that it's a thrusting sword. I can't tell one sword type from another.)

Well, given that the game ends in 1456 (iirc), and plate armour only started to really become a thing around the late 14th century (with jack of plates being a bit earlier), you wouldn't see too many specialised thrusting swords yet. If anything, most dedicated thrusting swords like the espada ropera are from the renaissance and for mostly civilian use. For the battlefield, one tends to see the pollaxe, halberd, bec de corbin, lucerne hammer, etc. instead for use against opponents in plate.

Back onto topic: yes, it would make more sense to have the sword in a scabbard when holding it like that.