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Sword, short
Sword, Blade, Sidearm, Classical, China, Middle East, Swiss, Pirate, Central Asia, Latin Europe, Africa
Short swords were common in the early Classical period because early iron weapons were not strong enough to be made longer than two feet or so, being too likely to bend upon contact with shield rims, helmets, or enemy weapons. As iron gave way to steel in the late Iron Age (circa 4th-3rd Century BC) short swords were gradually eclipsed by longer weapons three feet or more in length (see Spatha). But short swords remained popular, and in the later middle-ages, even as longer and longer weapons were adopted by knights and professional infantrymen, short swords made a comeback as a popular sidearm, particularly for archers and marksmen. They remained popular in parts of Central Asia such as the Caucasus mountains into modern times. For game purposes a short sword means any non-specific (i.e. not covered under another sword sub-type) double edged sword between 21"-29" in overall length, with little if any hand protection, a small grip and a sharp point suitable for thrusting.
Kindjal Short Sword with gilded hilt, from Georgia, 18th Century. These weapons were very popular in the Caucasus region and also in Russia and Ukraine. They were often finely made and decorated. This 
Short Sword, Kindjal with ornate silver hilt, Dagestan 19th Century. This is a +5 Ehren weapon. 
Lusitanian short sword, iron, 4th Century BC. Twin lobed pommel is typical of many Iron Age swords particularly from the Iberian peninsula. 
Short Sword – Baselard, aka “Schweizerdolch, or Schweizerdegen” – all three terms also apply to the Baselard type dagger. 
A Short Sword, the magnificent Sword of Goujian, 600 BC, Hubei province, China. The blade is mostly bronze but is constructed of several different alloys, maintains an unusually sharp edge and is high 
Short Sword, Kindjal with ornate silver hilt, Dagestan 19th Century. This is a +5 Ehren weapon. 
Short Sword with gold hilt fixtures, Bronze, Eastern Zhou province, China, 4th Century BC. This would be a +8 Ehren weapon 
Bronze Sword of the octagonal or 'Achtantschwert' type, 13th Century BC, Germany
| Name | Size | Reach | Speed | Defense | Base Damage | Attack Types | Primary Attack Types | Armor Pierce | Grapple | Hardness | HP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sword, short | S | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1-6 | SCP | P | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 |
Short Sword, Kindjal with ornate silver hilt, Dagestan 19th Century. This is a +5 Ehren weapon. Lusitanian short sword, iron, 4th Century BC. Twin lobed pommel is typical of many Iron Age swords particularly from the Iberian peninsula. Short Sword – Baselard, aka “Schweizerdolch, or Schweizerdegen” – all three terms also apply to the Baselard type dagger. A Short Sword, the magnificent Sword of Goujian, 600 BC, Hubei province, China. The blade is mostly bronze but is constructed of several different alloys, maintains an unusually sharp edge and is high Short Sword, Kindjal with ornate silver hilt, Dagestan 19th Century. This is a +5 Ehren weapon. Short Sword with gold hilt fixtures, Bronze, Eastern Zhou province, China, 4th Century BC. This would be a +8 Ehren weapon Bronze Sword of the octagonal or 'Achtantschwert' type, 13th Century BC, Germany