in commerce, a thin slender piece of metal, either forged by the hammer or run and cast in moulds, to be afterwards sharpened to a point, edge, or the like.

Sword-blades are made by the armourers, knife-blades by the cutlers, &c. The English and Damascus blades are most esteemed; amongst the French, those of Vienne in Dauphiny have the preference. The conditions of a good blade of a small sword are, that it be light and tough, apter to bend than break. When it will stand in the bend, it is called a poor man's blade.