I agree with most of what you said Bypah and Ted, quite right.
Its intersting, I think in the past 200 years in the west, men have become "blade shy" remember untill the early 19th century many men wore a sword of some kind as normal. In 16 century London, Shakespeare had his own sword, (its a great basket handled rapier about 3.5 foot long, saw it in Stratford Upon Avon at his house) Ben Johnson killed a man with his rapier and an actor in Shakespeares company killed 2 men and finally got killed himself in a fight. Marlowe was killed by a 2 inch deep dagger wound above the eye at Deptford after a drunken fight about a tavern bill. These were equivalent to their Colts, Glocks, barettas, Jerichos of today.
These were the artistic elite. So lord knows what everyone else was donig
As late as the 1850s, guys were duelling with swords on Wimbledon common, a favourite venue.
Anyone seen the Duellists? A great movie about a 20 year long duel.
The pic is graphic, but may be instructive to younger people looking in, maybe with "romantic" notions of weapons. Thats the reality, saturday night in an A&E unit, 100+ stitches, AND you lost your wallet and mobile. Not cool.
Interesting that the wounds look exterme and graphic, but they are not fundementally life threatening.
In the cavalry, at the dawn of the 20th Century in the Uk, got the use of the sabre point to a fine art. A 3" thrust was an instant kill. Anyone trooper using the slash as opposed to the point, was disciplined in training.
The 1908 pattern sabre is the most scientifically designed sword ever to be generally issued I believe. It had a highly advanced ergonomic and efficient handle, to "point" the sword tip to a precise spot. Its hard to find one for under £2000 now.
The FS knife is really a mini rapier, if thought like that. Its effects are akin to an edged weapon version of a bullet wound.
some times you can find both!! 
