The Bat'leth is a ceremonial longsword, designed by martial arts enthusiast and Star Trek: The Next Generation effects producer Dan Curry.[1] It is mainly used in Star Trek canon by the Klingons. The bat'leth is a curved blade with spiked protrusions and handholds along the middle of the blade's back and is approximately 5 foot long.[2] In battle, the handholds are used to twirl and spin the blade rapidly.
Canon History
editKlingon oral history holds that the first bat'leth was forged around 625 A.D. by Kahless, who dropped a lock of his hair into the lava from the Kri'stak Volcano, then plunged the fiery lock into the lake of Lursor and twisted it to form a blade.[1] After forging the weapon, he used it to defeat the tyrant Molor, and in doing so united the Klingon homeworld.[1] This first bat'leth was known as the Sword of Kahless and was stolen by the invading Hur'q.[1] The name bat'leth itself means "Sword of Honour" in the Klingon language.[3]
Outside Star Trek
editA replica bat'leth was among the blades surrendered to British police as part of the 2006 knife amnesty.[4] Another bat'leth was also seized in 2009 in Accrington, Lancashire, England.[5] A "replica bat'leth" was used in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in two 7-Eleven armed-robberies in 2009.[6] This sword is sometimes reported by the media to be a double-pointed Klingon crescent-shaped sword[6] or a double-pointed scimitar.[7]
Legality
editIn the United Kingdom, bat'leths are not illegal to possess however they are liable to be seized if they are considered to be "potential evidence of a criminal lifestyle"[5]
Due to the way that the definition of weapons are worded in their respective laws, Bat'leths are illegal to carry in Latvia[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Okuda, Mike and Denise Okuda, with Debbie Mirek (1999). The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-671-53609-5.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Star Trek blade seized". The Sun. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
- ^ "'Star Trek' - Klingon Weapons, Honour, Pain and Sex". BBC. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
- ^ "Lethal Star Trek blade seized in knives amnesty". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2008-07-31.
- ^ a b "Klingon sword seized in Accrington police raids". This Is Lancashire. 2009-07-30. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
- ^ a b "Masked Man Robs Convenience Stores With Klingon Sword". ABC News, Denver. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ "Man holds up store with Star Trek weapon". Metro. 2009-02-05. Retrieved 2012-05-02.
- ^ www.vvc.gov.lv/.../Law_On_the_Handling_of_Weapons_and_Special_Means