Sword
From Wookieepedia, the Star Wars wiki.
Swords were archaic bladed weapons used primarily before lightsabers were invented. Like lightsabers, they came in different forms (long, short, double-bladed, etc.) and could cut through many materials of lesser hardness than themselves.
Different types of sword made from different metals were sharper or harder, therefore able to do more damage, and powered swords (with vibro technology) could cut through most things. Regular swords were made out of metal (such as aurodium, obsidian, or others), plasteel, or highly bonded poly-layered ceramics. Many swords, particularly at the time of the Jedi Civil War, were able to block lightsabers, and cut through things such as personal energy shields. This was possible because certain minerals (such as cortosis or phrik) existed that were resistant to lightsabers, and were used in the creation of such weapons. Lightsabers themselves were considered a type of sword, and were sometimes referred to as "laser-swords."
This gave the Sith and Jedi more variety in what they could choose to fight with, and many turned away from the traditional lightsaber. One such Dark Jedi who used a sword as opposed to a lightsaber was Ludo Kressh. Kressh's war sword was double-bladed, and, like a double-bladed lightsaber, was very dangerous to use. Naga Sadow also used a Sith sword. It was generally the Sith or Dark Jedi who used swords because it was thought to be "barbaric" by the Jedi, while ordinary people were better off using ranged weaponry. It was said that some Sith and Dark Jedi preferred the more visceral feel of metal cutting flesh to a blade of virtual light doing the same thing.
Sith blades were generally blended with cortosis (and therefore were a form of cortosis alloy) to protect them against lightsaber sparring damage. A pure cortosis blade or a blade made from cortosis ore also had the ability to cause lightsabers to short out for a small period of time on contact due to its metallic properties and energized state in this pure form. However, due to the fact that cortosis ore is extremely brittle, it was not often used like this.
Although an ancient and obsolete weapon by the time the Galactic Empire rose to power, the Sanyassans were known to use swords during the Galactic Civil War. Mustafar bandit swords were another more modern variation, and other swords were used by primitive cultures and certain martial arts/combat forms.
[edit] Appearances
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords
- Darth Bane: Rule of Two
- Jedi Apprentice: The Mark of the Crown
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars Starfighter: Crossbones
- The Approaching Storm
- Boba Fett: Hunted
- Shatterpoint
- MedStar II: Jedi Healer (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars: Purge
- Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight (Mentioned only)
- Star Wars 10: Behemoth from the World Below (First mentioned)
- Star Wars: Galaxies
- Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (First appearance)
- Ewoks 4: Valley of Evil
[edit] Sources
"Who Is That Alien? Ithorians & Gamorreans" - Star Wars Kids 8
- Arms & Equipment Guide
- Alliance Intelligence Reports
