[Low-Tech] Smallsword with the Bronze Age 'Rapier?'

[RyanW]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

It's why the Chinese word "dao" (which is literally "knife" or by extension "single-edged blade") is translated as "saber" when it's part of a compound name for swords even when they're 5 feet long ("zhanmadao"). <shrug>"Horse beheading knife" would be odd too.

Well, the German term messer (also literally translates to knife), but sees very similar use. The (IMO doubtful) story is that peasants couldn't own a sword, but weren't no rule against five foot long knives.