Hunting sword

{{Short description|Single-handed sword used for finishing hunted game}}

File:Hunting Sword of Prince Camillo Borghese (1775–1832) MET LC-1982 136-007.jpg (1775–1832)]]

A hunting sword is a type of single-handed short sword that dates back to the 12th century, but was primarily used during hunting parties in Europe from the 17th to the 19th century.{{cite book|title=Hunting Weapons from the Middle Ages to the Twentieth Century: With 288 Illustrations|last=Blackmore |first=Howard L |pages=2–74|publisher =Courier Dover Publication|year= 2000|ISBN=978-0-486-40961-0 }}{{cite book|title=Swords & blades of the American Revolution |url=https://archive.org/details/swordsbladesofam00neum |url-access=registration |first=George C.|last= Neumann |pages=[https://archive.org/details/swordsbladesofam00neum/page/93 93–95]|publisher =Stackpole Books|year= 1973|ISBN=978-0-8117-1720-5 }} A hunting sword usually has a straight, single-edged, pointed blade typically no more than {{convert|36|in|abbr=on}} long. This sword was used for finishing off game in lieu of using and wasting further shot.{{cn|date=October 2022}} Adopted by many Europeans, and in past centuries sometimes worn by military officers as a badge of rank, hunting swords display great variety in design. Some hilts featured a thin knuckle-bow to protect the fingers. Others sported a serrated saw edge on the back of the blade. Still others had small matchlock pistols built into the hilt that originated in the early 18th century, with deep firing grooves cut into the fuller of the blade.{{cite book|title=Weapon: A Visual History of Arms and Armor |author= DK Publishing |pages=116–119|publisher =Penguin|year= 2006|ISBN=978-0-7566-4219-8 }}