Archaeology Dictionary:
ricasso |
The blunting of the cutting edges of a sword just below the hilt so that its user can grip the weapon without fear of being cut. Some swords have a notch (ricasso notch) below the hilt to prevent the blades of other swords running down onto the hilt.
| Wikipedia: ricasso |
A ricasso is a part of some sword and knife blades. It is an unsharpened and unbevelled section just above the guard or handle.
The first ricassos (or first labelled as such) were found on larger Western swords beginning in the Late Middle Ages. In use, this allowed the swordsman to choke up, shorten his grip, or half-sword, enabling better control and manipulation of the blade and allowing the weapon to be more effective in thrusting against both armoured and unarmoured opponents. Later longswords, claymores, rapiers and other large blades often had this feature. Many modern knives also include an unbeveled section referred to as a ricasso.
Ricasso in swords (contrary to knives) usually end up with quillons or flukes, which is to the ricasso what the guard is to the hilt. In some swords or weapons the ricasso was used to reflect and block attacks.
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 | Archaeology Dictionary. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology. Copyright © 2002, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Ricasso". Read more |
