Ricasso

A ricasso is an element of some edged swords (which can normally deliver cutting damage via their full blade, having either one edge or two) where a proximal length of the blade beyond the crossguard is unsharpened.
==Advantages==
This has several advantages:
*halfswording can be done to reduce Reach in Close Combat with less risk of cutting one's hand if unarmored
*a short-reach Defensive Grip version of a murder stroke can be performed using an unarmored hand to grip the ricasso
**this would not help with standard grip (full Reach by gripping the sharp edge near the tip) version of a Mordhau though
*less concern about parrying via the ricasso since it will not blunt or chip any edges that require sharpening
*makes it possible to do a "blunt choke" with a sword, if desired
==Drawbacks==
There are also some drawbacks:
*unable to do close-range cutting attacks via that section of the blade when wielding it by the handle: requires wrap shots with the distal portion of the blade which has a sharpened edge
*also provides a possible handhold for an opponent to grab the blade with less risk of suffering a cutting injury to the hand
*the inherently Aggressive Parry supplied against unarmed attacks by melee weapons would deliver blunt damage (as would happen if parrying with the flat of the blade) rather than cutting damage, if doing proximal parrying via that blunt edge rather than distal parrying via a sharpened edge of the blade.
==Canon==
It's unclear as of yet if GURPS has rules for the impact of this contrast.
As of now there doesn't even seem to be much in the way of distinction between single-edged and double-edged swords, either in regards to attacks/parries or when someone is grabbing them (TG13 "Special Cases") so any possible "ricasso rules" would probably compliment a larger approach to how edged weapons "crunch" with the rules.
Defensive Grip on MA111 does note:
:If using a two-handed weapon, Defensive Grip involves moving one hand forward to “choke” the weapon or grip it by the ricasso.
It does not mention any added risk for ricassoless blades though.
==See also==
*handguard
Category:Rules