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Top 20 Encyclopedia (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-02) |
 | | The ricasso or shoulder identifies a short section of blade immediately forward of the guard that is left completely unsharpened, and can be gripped with a finger to increase tip control. |
| | On some large weapons, such as the German zweihander, a leather cover surrounded the ricasso, and a swordsman might grip it in one hand to make the weapon more easily wielded in close-quarters combat. |
| | On Japanese blades the mark appears on the tang under the handle. |
| encyc.connectonline.com /index.php/Sword (2515 words) |
