ricasso
1
9.9
A short blunt part of a sword or knife just above the guard to hold
- noun
- /rɪˈkɑːsoʊ/
- Specialized
:
ricasso
- A well-designed ricasso can enhance the balance of a blade and improve a swordsman's performance.
Examples
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Many katanas feature a long ricasso above the guard for better handling and control.
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Pablo Ricasso
Blog text (28) -
The ricasso of the sword provides a safe grip for the wielder during a close combat situation.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ricasso comes from Italian, where it named the 'unsharpened' part of a blade just above the guard that a fighter could safely hold or place a finger on. So today a ricasso is the blunt section of a sword or knife used for better control.