[voicereason]

I am a firearms enthusiast, myself, but I think I'd concede that the decline of the sword, and the attendant advent of firearms did have a decivilizing effect on society.

Probably had a lot to do with the fact that the sword required people to get "up close and personal" and could require great effort on the part of those weilding it.

[PoorMuttly]

"...up close and personal" In actual, recorded swordfights, the combattants, after resording to "pommelling" eachothers' faces as best they could, grappling on the ground...ultimately tried (and succeeded) in one biting the other's nose off. I have perhaps more than one, but definitely one direct relative who did this. We, although aghast, are not ashamed. "It was the only way for him to survive." We are grateful that he did. He had a family to protect...and he did that too.