2006-11-26 16:01:41 · 9 answers · asked by Brian Lee 1 in Sports ➔ Martial Arts
Well, first, I'll tell you the difference between a knife and a dagger as many have alluded to before. A knife is a bladed instrument meant primarily for cutting, while a dagger is the same but meant primarily for thrusting or stabbing. Thus, the size of the knife or the purpose of it has nothing to do with being a weapon or a tool. A classic Bowie knife style is certainly not a tool but a weapon. However, MOST knives are tools and MOST daggers are/were weapons. Also, MOST knives are single edged and MOST daggers are double edged. However, these are all generalizations and not definitions.
Now, the major difference is between a knife and a sword is the length. In Merriam-Webster, they define a sword as "a weapon (as a cutlass or rapier) with a long blade for cutting or thrusting that is often used as a symbol of honor or authority."
The question becomes just how long is long? Generally, anything with a blade under 6 inches is certainly a knife or dagger. Anything over a foot long is almost certainly a sword or at least called a "short sword." If the blade is between 6 inches and a foot in length it could be called anything from a "long knife" to a "short sword."
Even when a new law was passed in the Australian state of Victoria outlawing the carrying of swords, the length of the blade was not detailed or even mentioned in the law. So, the issue of what blade length actually constitues a sword gets really dicey. In my own humble opinion, if the blade could actually cut off your head in one shot, it's a sword. If it would take more than one hit to decapitate you, it's a knife.
Hope this helps...
2006-11-26 18:01:42 · answer #1 · answered by hitman142002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'll give you definitions of both which pertain to more modern times.
A knife is the tool that you use in the kitchen to slice up vegetables and make all sorts of food with.
A sword is the thing that nerds like to buy and hang in their rooms so that they can role play as D&D characters.
2006-11-26 17:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by makyshark 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the length and the purpose. a sword is used for combat, a knife generally isnt. daggers however are used for combat, and those are just small swords, generally with more detail around the hilt and always one handed. knives are used for cooking, carving, and many other things, but arent designed for fighting. ANd although marines do have combat knives, the equivelant medeival times wouldve been a dagger
2006-11-26 16:11:57 · answer #3 · answered by i must be bored, im on Y answers 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Would you like to be running onto a battle with a knife and the other country coming at you with swords?
It has to do with a protection issue
2006-11-26 16:09:57 · answer #4 · answered by Chris C 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A knife will only stick into someone, a sword will go through them or put another way....length.
2006-11-26 16:05:07 · answer #5 · answered by onottopilot 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd say about 12 to 24 inches . (depending on the size of the knife)
2006-11-26 22:21:16 · answer #6 · answered by Ray H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the knife is shorter and a sword is longer
2006-11-26 16:13:09 · answer #7 · answered by ®ÔµM ¸showboy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
sword is big knife and
knife is small sword
:)
2006-11-26 16:05:42 · answer #8 · answered by Fishi 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the only difference is the length
2006-11-26 16:06:00 · answer #9 · answered by freddy j 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋