Typically, dealers would use that term to denote a sword manufactured of steel superior to 440c, with a tang that is not a bolt welded on near the handguard. A "wallhanger" has a 440c or worse with a lengthy welded tang. Swords for battle will be at least semi-sharp. One should cut easily with no effort at all. The term comes from the fact that these swords were designed for combat preparation rather than exhibition or sport. They were not intended to be worn like a modern fencing weapon but kept in place by a scabbard or belt hook and used as needed. Thus swords were not meant to be displayed or admired as art objects; they were tools for use in war. During the late medieval era, when swords were becoming more finely crafted and expensive, it was common for soldiers who had served their king in battle to go home and create weapons "of their own" design. These custom blades were often highly decorated with symbolic images and may have been worth several hundred dollars in today's money. They provided their owners with personal shields and weapons for display or sale only after further serving the king. Because swords were such important weapons, there were strict rules regarding how they could be made. Only certain metals could be used for the blade; others were restricted to the hilt or pommel. The best quality swords were made from extremely hard materials such as iron or steel.