Canon Facts  Backstage Info  Speculation

On occasion such ancient weaponry can even prove to be a significant advantage. The modern battlefield is an environment where dampening fields can be commonplace, and although regenerative phasers can operate within most forms of field there are still occasions when phasers, disruptors or even simpler weapons will not function. In such cases the side with the most skill at swordplay will often have a crucial advantage.
 

Probably the most famous of all edged weapons, the first bat'leth is said to have been forged when Khaless the Unforgettable dropped a lock of his hair into the Kri'stak volcano and then plunged the burning hair into the Lursor lake and twisted it into a blade. Khaless used the weapon to defeat the tyrant Molor before naming it bat'leth, or "sword of honour". The Sword of Khaless was for many centuries one of the Klingons most important relics, but it was stolen about 1,000 years ago by the Hur'q invaders. Many attempts have been made to find the sword since this time, including a mission led by the Dahar master Kor in 2372, but all failed.

The Modern bat'leth is a simpler and less ornate weapon than the original. The weapon vaguely resembles a double-ended scimitar, with three handholds built into the back edge of the main blade and an additional pair of points inside the main ones. The weapon is usually held along the inside of the arm, and a whole form of martial art has been developed around this weapon. Size and mass vary according to the preference of the user, but a typical warriors fit is 116 centimetres long with a mass of 5.3 kilograms. The bat'leth is composed of Baakonite.
 

Although far less famous than the bat'leth, the smaller size of the Mekleth makes it a more effective weapon at closer ranges and in the right hands it is more than capable of holding its own. The mek'leth is also more easily concealed. The weapon is relatively uncommon even amongst Klingons, as it takes significantly more skill to use effectively.
 

The d'k tahg is a vicious three bladed knife carried by almost every Klingon. It is commonly used in hand to hand combat, but more importantly it is of great ceremonial value to the Klingons. To a Klingon warrior the d'k tahg is a representation of his or her personal honour - to take the knife from a warrior is to steal their honour, and is a terrible insult. The d'k tahg features in many Klingon rituals.